Is anyone knowledgeable with Point-Of-Sale software?

I've had a client for some time that owns/runs a few Chinese restaurants locally. Recently, I upgraded one, then two of his Point-Of-Sale (POS) computers from an aging PentiumII systems to new mini Intel Atom systems. As is normal for clients, they NEVER have re-install discs for all that expensive software they originally bought years ago, so I'm stuck with copying old drives to new drives, repairing the OS and drivers, etc. So far, I have been successful in getting everything to work w/o too much pain - this is with 2 printers per system, touch-screen LCDs, one printer is printing Chinese and the other in English, having the cash drawer open when required or on-demand, etc. However, with this newest system built 3 days ago using identical hardware as the previous 2 builds, and using an image of the hard drive from the previous two builds, the POS software locks up when trying to open the cash drawer or when trying to close a guest check, and it's not printing Chinese, just garbled junk. Now, I have told the client MANY times that they REALLY need to start clean: wipe the hard drive (after saving any needed records), install a CLEAN operating system, and install CLEAN and MODERN point-of-sale software, but as I said they don't have the POS install media and are completely unwilling to buy new software.

A N Y W A Y - if you're still reading..... if I can get the cash drawer to open from some other program/process, then I can tell 'em the truth and have proof: "your POS software is so corrupt from being regurgitated over the past 8 years - 6.5yrs before I showed up - it has NEVER been maintained or reinstalled - it is so messed up that it's on YOU! All the hardware works! The printers print, the cash drawer opens, but not from within your messed up POS software for which you cannot possibly hold me responsible".

So - I've done some Googling, but can't seem to find what I need.... I need a Windows-based program that will send an "open drawer" signal to the cash drawer - it's connected thru the printer which is a POS-X Evo-RP1; it uses a cable with 6 leads, 2 leads wider than phone cord. The cash drawer is a POS-X EVO-CD16B. Ideally, when a guest check is finalized, a recp't is printed with amount, tax, tip, etc, then the cash drawer opens. The system locks when trying to get the cash drawer to open, even when trying a "No Sale".

:confused

Thanx....

:-o

 

So what are you kinda looking for is it a program or device.Ive been looking through the net.Found a few sites but not really sure what your asking.

 

I have used http://www.aldelo.com/ post software at the resturant i do tech support for years, and it works flawless.

 

So - it's not the hardware.... I re-installed the drivers for the printers; the cash drawer opens when I use the "Print test page" button in the printer properties. So it's their POS software that's jacked up (which I kind of assumed it was). The POS software basically freezes and becomes non-responsive every time it tries to do anything with the cash drawer: when finalizing a guest check to take payment, when doing a 'No Sale', etc. I was not hired to repair the POS software, I was hired to setup the hardware so it's all functional and all the hardware is 100% functional, it's their software but clients hate hearing that..... maybe I can fix it :confused rolleyes

 

:celebrate PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

As I suspected, it was the POS software. Because it was not installed "clean" for this particular printer configuration, it was trying to cash out and open the cash drawer thru the LPT1 printer port and not thru COM1. All other hardware is the same as their other 2 or systems (same motherboard, same video, etc), except this system had completely different printers: intsead of using one LPT printer and one ethernet printer, this new system is using two COM printers (COM1 and COM2). I basically had to learn how to re-configure their POS software via trial-and-error. They use Profitek software and it has the most cumbersome and non-intuitive and unfriendly GUI I have ever seen. Well, now I know for next time!

 

This is a rather broad definition that can include merchandising aids, displays and the methods used to enable transactions. In our case, we're talking about the hardware and software that runs both the front counter and back office operations of a business.

For a small gift store, a basic POS system would consist of a computer, cash drawer, barcode scanner, receipt printer and the appropriate POS software. A service organization, like a lawn care company, wouldn't need a cash drawer or a receipt printer. But they might want a laser printer for their service invoices. Again, you have the flexibility to easily customize a POS system for your particular business.