CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration

On 2008-07-04 18:12:29 +0200, Nicolay Flaaten
<nflaaten_deltetethis.RemoveThis@online_hatespam.no> said:

> On 2008-07-03 04:19:17 +0200, Lewis <lewisb.RemoveThis@iinet.com.au> said:
>
>> Hi there,
>> I'm wondering if anybody has had any success with incorporating a point
>> of sale type system into filemaker?
>> Is there a plugin of somesort available?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Lewis
>
> I am not sure, but maybe this is what you are looking for?
> Cash register, but in German....
> Nicolay

Sorry, here is the url that I forgot to add to my last posting.

http://www.fileworker-service.de/

Nicolay
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

Hi Harry,
We just bought a cash drawer/receipt printer & Barcode scanner which hooks
up via USB.
I guess the problem I'm having is we already have a very complex Filemaker
database in use (with our inventory mirrored on our website), and I'm
having trouble getting my head around how to incorporate a standard retail
pos into the equation. I was hoping someone here might have an fp7 I might
have a peak at?
To Nicolay,
Fileworker does look suitable, but I'm assuming it is not open source, I'd
like to be able to tweak it... unfortunately Ich spreche kein Deutsch!
I found something similar here,
http://www.christianjames.net/products.html but that seems like an
all-in-one solution.
Thank you both very much for your helpful suggestions!
Cheers,
Lewis

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:04:13 +1000, Helpful Harry
<helpful_harry.RemoveThis@nom.de.plume.com> wrote:

> On 2008-07-03 04:19:17 +0200, Lewis <lewisb.RemoveThis@iinet.com.au> said:
>
>> Hi there,
>> I'm wondering if anybody has had any success with incorporating a point
>> of sale type system into filemaker?
>> Is there a plugin of somesort available?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Lewis
>
> A well-built FileMaker solution can act as a full cash register / POS
> system quite easily.
>
> For a small shop you can get away with just a computer and printer
> running FileMaker (regularly backed up with backups stored off-site of
> course). No plug-ins are needed. The user simply manually enteres data
> via a keyboard, perhaps picking items using a two-step pop-up menu
> system, eg. menu one says "Food Items" and menu two narrows down
> products to just food so they can choose "Cadbury Chocolate Bar".
>
> For a more "sophisticated" (read as "expensive") system you can add a
> handheld barcode scanner and even an electronically opening cash
> drawer, but you would probably need at least one plug-in so that
> FileMaker can choose which "printer" to use (the printer for the
> receipt or the "printer" to open the cash drawer) at the appropriate
> step in the process. The barcode scanner itself doesn't need a plug-in
> and can be set-up to convert the barcode to the appropriate code number
> and then tab to the next field (either Quantity to be manually entered
> or the net item line ready for the next scanned code), with the
> operator starting and ending each transaction process.
>
> I've never looked into it, but it may even be possible to link the
> FileMaker solution to credit card / EFT-POS / cash card purchases as
> well, but many shops do these as two separate processes anyway.
>
> Helpful Harry
> Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)
>
>
> -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to
> news.RemoveThis@netfront.net --
>



--
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 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

On 2008-07-03 04:19:17 +0200, Lewis <lewisb RemoveThis @iinet.com.au> said:

> Hi there,
> I'm wondering if anybody has had any success with incorporating a point
> of sale type system into filemaker?
> Is there a plugin of somesort available?
>
> Cheers,
> Lewis

A well-built FileMaker solution can act as a full cash register / POS
system quite easily.

For a small shop you can get away with just a computer and printer
running FileMaker (regularly backed up with backups stored off-site of
course). No plug-ins are needed. The user simply manually enteres data
via a keyboard, perhaps picking items using a two-step pop-up menu
system, eg. menu one says "Food Items" and menu two narrows down
products to just food so they can choose "Cadbury Chocolate Bar".

For a more "sophisticated" (read as "expensive") system you can add a
handheld barcode scanner and even an electronically opening cash
drawer, but you would probably need at least one plug-in so that
FileMaker can choose which "printer" to use (the printer for the
receipt or the "printer" to open the cash drawer) at the appropriate
step in the process. The barcode scanner itself doesn't need a plug-in
and can be set-up to convert the barcode to the appropriate code number
and then tab to the next field (either Quantity to be manually entered
or the net item line ready for the next scanned code), with the
operator starting and ending each transaction process.

I've never looked into it, but it may even be possible to link the
FileMaker solution to credit card / EFT-POS / cash card purchases as
well, but many shops do these as two separate processes anyway.

Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

-- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to news RemoveThis @netfront.net --
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
operating the POS system?
Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!
Cheers,
Lewis

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:11:20 +1000, Lewis <lewisb RemoveThis @iinet.com.au> wrote:

> Hi Harry,
> We just bought a cash drawer/receipt printer & Barcode scanner which
> hooks up via USB.
> I guess the problem I'm having is we already have a very complex
> Filemaker database in use (with our inventory mirrored on our website),
> and I'm having trouble getting my head around how to incorporate a
> standard retail pos into the equation. I was hoping someone here might
> have an fp7 I might have a peak at?
> To Nicolay,
> Fileworker does look suitable, but I'm assuming it is not open source,
> I'd like to be able to tweak it... unfortunately Ich spreche kein
> Deutsch!
> I found something similar here,
> http://www.christianjames.net/products.html but that seems like an
> all-in-one solution.
> Thank you both very much for your helpful suggestions!
> Cheers,
> Lewis
>
> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:04:13 +1000, Helpful Harry
> <helpful_harry RemoveThis @nom.de.plume.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2008-07-03 04:19:17 +0200, Lewis <lewisb RemoveThis @iinet.com.au> said:
>>
>>> Hi there,
>>> I'm wondering if anybody has had any success with incorporating a point
>>> of sale type system into filemaker?
>>> Is there a plugin of somesort available?
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Lewis
>>
>> A well-built FileMaker solution can act as a full cash register / POS
>> system quite easily.
>>
>> For a small shop you can get away with just a computer and printer
>> running FileMaker (regularly backed up with backups stored off-site of
>> course). No plug-ins are needed. The user simply manually enteres data
>> via a keyboard, perhaps picking items using a two-step pop-up menu
>> system, eg. menu one says "Food Items" and menu two narrows down
>> products to just food so they can choose "Cadbury Chocolate Bar".
>>
>> For a more "sophisticated" (read as "expensive") system you can add a
>> handheld barcode scanner and even an electronically opening cash
>> drawer, but you would probably need at least one plug-in so that
>> FileMaker can choose which "printer" to use (the printer for the
>> receipt or the "printer" to open the cash drawer) at the appropriate
>> step in the process. The barcode scanner itself doesn't need a plug-in
>> and can be set-up to convert the barcode to the appropriate code number
>> and then tab to the next field (either Quantity to be manually entered
>> or the net item line ready for the next scanned code), with the
>> operator starting and ending each transaction process.
>>
>> I've never looked into it, but it may even be possible to link the
>> FileMaker solution to credit card / EFT-POS / cash card purchases as
>> well, but many shops do these as two separate processes anyway.
>>
>> Helpful Harry
>> Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships
>> ;o)
>>
>>
>> -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to
>> news RemoveThis @netfront.net --
>>
>
>
>



--
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 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:39:28 +1000, Lewis <lewisb RemoveThis @iinet.com.au> wrote:

>I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
>Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
>can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
>inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
>operating the POS system?
>Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!

This sounds like it would be a fascinating project to work on. Yes,
you can have a separate FMP file for your Kiosk. That's how I would
do it. Keeping the inventory and POS systems separated but linked
would be more reliable. And backing up (and testing retore of)
everything regularly is a must.

Good luck.

--
FW

FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced on Windows XP Pro SP2
FileMaker Server 8.0 on Windows 2003 Server R2
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

In article <op.udssccm2emzv1u.DeleteThis@monkey.local>, Lewis
<lewisb.DeleteThis@iinet.com.au> wrote:

> I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
> Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
> can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
> inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
> operating the POS system?
> Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!
> Cheers,
> Lewis

You can have a separate file or under newer versions of FileMaker Pro
you can simply separate Tables within the same file. Either way you
would have different Layouts for different purposes: entering
transactions, printing a receipt / invoice, keeping track of stock,
etc.

Basically you would probably need to have a Table for individual
Transaction / Invoice records which uses a relationship to another
Table for Invoice Items (ie. one record for each line item on the
invoice - one for "5 x widgets" another for "6 x doohickeys", etc.). As
it is created each line item record would automatically copy the
current price from the Inventory Table.

Then, depending on how your existing inventory system is set-up, you
might need a button to run a script at the end of processing each
transaction which prints the receipt and subtracts the appropriate sold
items from the inventory. Or you might be able to have the Inventory
Table automatically work out the remaining stock using a Relationship
from the Inventory Table to the Invoice Items Table.

Either way, you would also need a method to add back when new stock
arrives, which you might already have or could require another new
Table (Stock Orders), which could mean the Stock Remaining could be a
calculated number using Relationships, based on product codes, to the
InvoiceLineItems and StockOrders Tables.
eg.
StockRemaining = Sum(StockOrders::Quantity)
- Sum(InvoiceLineItems::Quantity)

Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

-- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to news.DeleteThis@netfront.net --
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

Helpful Harry wrote:
> On 2008-07-03 04:19:17 +0200, Lewis <lewisb.TakeThisOut@iinet.com.au> said:
>
>> Hi there,
>> I'm wondering if anybody has had any success with incorporating a point
>> of sale type system into filemaker?
>> Is there a plugin of somesort available?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Lewis
>
> A well-built FileMaker solution can act as a full cash register / POS
> system quite easily.
>
> For a small shop you can get away with just a computer and printer
> running FileMaker (regularly backed up with backups stored off-site of
> course). No plug-ins are needed. The user simply manually enteres data
> via a keyboard, perhaps picking items using a two-step pop-up menu
> system, eg. menu one says "Food Items" and menu two narrows down
> products to just food so they can choose "Cadbury Chocolate Bar".
>
> For a more "sophisticated" (read as "expensive") system you can add a
> handheld barcode scanner and even an electronically opening cash
> drawer, but you would probably need at least one plug-in so that
> FileMaker can choose which "printer" to use (the printer for the
> receipt or the "printer" to open the cash drawer) at the appropriate
> step in the process.

Depends. The driver for the Receipt printers I work with (Epson
TM-T88IV) includes an option to open the drawer before or after printing
(the cable to to drawer actually conects to the printer itself). BTW,
previous models of this printer (TM-T88III) used to be very slow when
used with Filemaker, but the TM-T88IV is plenty fast.

HTH

Marc


The barcode scanner itself doesn't need a plug-in
> and can be set-up to convert the barcode to the appropriate code number
> and then tab to the next field (either Quantity to be manually entered
> or the net item line ready for the next scanned code), with the
> operator starting and ending each transaction process.
>
> I've never looked into it, but it may even be possible to link the
> FileMaker solution to credit card / EFT-POS / cash card purchases as
> well, but many shops do these as two separate processes anyway.
>
> Helpful Harry
> Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)
>
>
> -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to news.TakeThisOut@netfront.net --
>
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

Thanks for your support Wolf!
Have you Made a POS system in Filemaker before?


On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:25:28 +1000, FastWolf
<wolfsofast.TakeThisOut@nospamcomcast.net> wrote:

> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:39:28 +1000, Lewis <lewisb.TakeThisOut@iinet.com.au> wrote:
>
>> I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
>> Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
>> can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
>> inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
>> operating the POS system?
>> Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!
>
> This sounds like it would be a fascinating project to work on. Yes,
> you can have a separate FMP file for your Kiosk. That's how I would
> do it. Keeping the inventory and POS systems separated but linked
> would be more reliable. And backing up (and testing retore of)
> everything regularly is a must.
>
> Good luck.
>



--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:32:57 +1000, Lewis <lewisb.RemoveThis@iinet.com.au> wrote:

>Thanks for your support Wolf!
>Have you Made a POS system in Filemaker before?

Can't say that I have.

--
FW


>
>
>On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:25:28 +1000, FastWolf
><wolfsofast.RemoveThis@nospamcomcast.net> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:39:28 +1000, Lewis <lewisb.RemoveThis@iinet.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>> I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
>>> Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
>>> can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
>>> inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
>>> operating the POS system?
>>> Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!
>>
>> This sounds like it would be a fascinating project to work on. Yes,
>> you can have a separate FMP file for your Kiosk. That's how I would
>> do it. Keeping the inventory and POS systems separated but linked
>> would be more reliable. And backing up (and testing retore of)
>> everything regularly is a must.
>>
>> Good luck.
>>

FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced on Windows XP Pro SP2
FileMaker Server 8.0 on Windows 2003 Server R2
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

Nicolay, good to see you here!

Just wanted to add that I have done someting similar to a POS system.
Not with a drawer, but with bar codes. The investment in a bar code
scanner should be well worth it. Symbol is a good brand and is now
owned by Motorola, btw. It has a stand so you can place it on the
counter.

If you test the input from e.g. a EAN-13 bar code in TextEdit, you
will probably find that a trailing CR is hard to get rid of. But this
can be used if you have a custom dialog appear when the user is
expected to scan an item.

Jens Rasmussen
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

Hi everybody,
I'm not completely sure how newsgroups work, but I think I deleted a
really informative message from someone regarding this & the use of the
TROI plug-in, is it possible for it to be re-posted?
Lewis

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:32:47 +1000, Helpful Harry
<helpful_harry RemoveThis @nom.de.plume.com> wrote:

> In article <op.udssccm2emzv1u RemoveThis @monkey.local>, Lewis
> <lewisb RemoveThis @iinet.com.au> wrote:
>
>> I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
>> Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
>> can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
>> inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
>> operating the POS system?
>> Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!
>> Cheers,
>> Lewis
>
> You can have a separate file or under newer versions of FileMaker Pro
> you can simply separate Tables within the same file. Either way you
> would have different Layouts for different purposes: entering
> transactions, printing a receipt / invoice, keeping track of stock,
> etc.
>
> Basically you would probably need to have a Table for individual
> Transaction / Invoice records which uses a relationship to another
> Table for Invoice Items (ie. one record for each line item on the
> invoice - one for "5 x widgets" another for "6 x doohickeys", etc.). As
> it is created each line item record would automatically copy the
> current price from the Inventory Table.
>
> Then, depending on how your existing inventory system is set-up, you
> might need a button to run a script at the end of processing each
> transaction which prints the receipt and subtracts the appropriate sold
> items from the inventory. Or you might be able to have the Inventory
> Table automatically work out the remaining stock using a Relationship
> from the Inventory Table to the Invoice Items Table.
>
> Either way, you would also need a method to add back when new stock
> arrives, which you might already have or could require another new
> Table (Stock Orders), which could mean the Stock Remaining could be a
> calculated number using Relationships, based on product codes, to the
> InvoiceLineItems and StockOrders Tables.
> eg.
> StockRemaining = Sum(StockOrders::Quantity)
> - Sum(InvoiceLineItems::Quantity)
>
> Helpful Harry
> Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)
>
>
> -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to
> news RemoveThis @netfront.net --
>



--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

Hi everybody,
I'm not completely sure how newsgroups work, but I think I deleted a
really informative message from someone regarding this & the use of the
TROI plug-in, is it possible for it to be re-posted?
Lewis

On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:53:34 +1000, Lewis <lewisb.RemoveThis@iinet.com.au> wrote:

> Hi everybody,
> I'm not completely sure how newsgroups work, but I think I deleted a
> really informative message from someone regarding this & the use of the
> TROI plug-in, is it possible for it to be re-posted?
> Lewis
>
> On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:32:47 +1000, Helpful Harry
> <helpful_harry.RemoveThis@nom.de.plume.com> wrote:
>
>> In article <op.udssccm2emzv1u.RemoveThis@monkey.local>, Lewis
>> <lewisb.RemoveThis@iinet.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>> I have a more clear idea on what I'm after now...
>>> Is it possible to have a separate "Kiosk" style setup in filemaker that
>>> can access my existing Filemaker database? E.g; one file containing my
>>> inventory and contact tables, the other (Kiosk) generating invoices and
>>> operating the POS system?
>>> Please excuse me if it seems obvious, I'm a bit of a novice!
>>> Cheers,
>>> Lewis
>>
>> You can have a separate file or under newer versions of FileMaker Pro
>> you can simply separate Tables within the same file. Either way you
>> would have different Layouts for different purposes: entering
>> transactions, printing a receipt / invoice, keeping track of stock,
>> etc.
>>
>> Basically you would probably need to have a Table for individual
>> Transaction / Invoice records which uses a relationship to another
>> Table for Invoice Items (ie. one record for each line item on the
>> invoice - one for "5 x widgets" another for "6 x doohickeys", etc.). As
>> it is created each line item record would automatically copy the
>> current price from the Inventory Table.
>>
>> Then, depending on how your existing inventory system is set-up, you
>> might need a button to run a script at the end of processing each
>> transaction which prints the receipt and subtracts the appropriate sold
>> items from the inventory. Or you might be able to have the Inventory
>> Table automatically work out the remaining stock using a Relationship
>> from the Inventory Table to the Invoice Items Table.
>>
>> Either way, you would also need a method to add back when new stock
>> arrives, which you might already have or could require another new
>> Table (Stock Orders), which could mean the Stock Remaining could be a
>> calculated number using Relationships, based on product codes, to the
>> InvoiceLineItems and StockOrders Tables.
>> eg.
>> StockRemaining = Sum(StockOrders::Quantity)
>> - Sum(InvoiceLineItems::Quantity)
>>
>> Helpful Harry
>> Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships
>> ;o)
>>
>>
>> -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to
>> news.RemoveThis@netfront.net --
>>
>
>
>



--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration 

In article <op.ud3zycmyemzv1u RemoveThis @monkey.local>, Lewis
<lewisb RemoveThis @iinet.com.au> wrote:

> Hi everybody,
> I'm not completely sure how newsgroups work, but I think I deleted a
> really informative message from someone regarding this & the use of the
> TROI plug-in, is it possible for it to be re-posted?
> Lewis

Usenet Newsgroups are public bulletin boards, so you can't delete a
message as such ... so always think carefully before clicking on the
"Post" button that you do actually want the entire world able to read
it for the rest of time. )

Depending on how you are reading newsgroups, you can mark messages as
"read" on your computer so that it decreases the amount of messages and
clutter you see. You either have to re-load old messages (which can
depend on how long your newsserver retains messages) in your
newsreading program or use somewhere like Google Groups which has a
longer retention time than most ISP-based newsservers (although you may
have to wait a day or two for new messages to appear).

I can't see anything about the Troi plug-in, but for the "back issues"
of this topic, try this link:
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.databases.filemaker/browse_thread/th
read/f661fa47d758e236/2080f78140dea87a?lnk=st&q=%22CASH+REGISTER%2FPOS+F
ilemaker+Integration%22#2080f78140dea87a

or http://tinyurl.com/6zault


Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

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 >> Stay informed about: CASH REGISTER/POS Filemaker Integration