A printing apparatus with a cash drawer control function, and a control method therefor

The object of the present invention is to provide a high reliability printing apparatus whereby the user can output pulses to external devices connected to the printing apparatus at any time, the load on the host device is reduced, and operation is user-friendly. This printing apparatus comprises a real-time command interpreter that functions even when the printing apparatus if off-line and interprets control commands simultaneously with receiving data. The printing apparatus can therefore output pulses to the external device even when printing is in progress or the printer is off-line.