Getting Started – Help Center

Hardware

It is best to refer to your original user guide to effectively troubleshoot hardware, having said that here are a few tips

Pin Pad - make sure that the pin pad has an external power supply (or the POS has a USB Port with a power supply)
Magnetic Stripe readers
Increasing Memory Size allocated to the Application
Optimus Computer (Inventory Scanning)

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Magnetic Stripe Readers

Tablet MSR

Should I use an HID vs Keyboard MSR?

What MSR do I need?

POS MSR

If the light on the magnetic strip reader is flashing regularly this means that you may have a hardware failure. Different POS machines use different card readers, sometimes manufacturers change their readers from year to year. begin by trying to identify the MSR you are using and then refer to the hardware manual for troubleshooting tips.

ID Innovations

The Touch Dynamics Flex POS uses the IDInnovation MSR, the user guide on their web site states the following on hardware errors :

Hardware Errors

Each time the Card Reader is powered it will go through a system check and verify that all of its hardware is functioning properly. If the Card Reader finds a problem it will sound a series of error beeps and/or LED changes. The following is a list of error beeps and LED changes and their meaning.

Classic Line SLOW BLINKING ORANGE LED CPU ERROR LOW,MED,HIGH BEEP PROM ERROR FAST BLINKING ORANGE LED RAM ERROR LOW FOLLOWED BY 2 HIGHER BEEPS EEPROM ERROR

Value Line FLASHING RED LED, 3 BEEPS CPU ERROR FLASHING RED LED, 4 BEEPS MEMORY ERROR FLASHING RED LED CONTINUOUSLY DECODE CIRCUIT ERROR

There is a manual attached here, but you should check the hardware manufacturer site for their most current guides.

HID or Keyboard MSR

HID Benefits

Reads the card data quicker
More secure

(Support info: Integrated by vendor - currently IDTech and MagTech and devices for each. As new MSR devices are requested these need to be added to the code)

Keyboard MSR Benefits

May be seen as more reliable (TechStorm's opinion)

Problem with keyboard MSR - when you add the android thinks you are adding a keyboard (which it is not) - and the Android keyboard needs to be disabled.

(Support info: Requires an alpha/numeric keyboard in the build)

Steps to switch a MSR from HID to Keyboard or reverse

This is done on a regular computer (not tablet)

Download http://www.magtek.com/support/software/demo_programs/usb_swipe_insert.asp

Download/Install the utility.
Open/Launch the software.
You should see a message “Attach Device…” in the upper left corner.
Attach a Magtek USB MSR to your PC and wait for the software to recognize/acknowledge it.a. If it doesn’t automatically recognize the MSR, you may need to hit the “Rescan” option next to the File menu.
Once the device is recognized by the software, choose FILE à OPEN. Navigate to the default installation directory (if not automatically there), and choose the desired configuration text. (I.e., “Change To HID.txt” or “Change to Keyboard.txt”)
The software status will update and show that the file is “loaded” and ready to download.
Press the DOWNLOAD button on the right of the screen.
The status window should update to show the commands being sent and the status of the device. It can take a few moments to process, but when it’s completed, the status will indicate such.
After downloading the commands to change mode, rescan (using the option next to the File menu) to verify that the device has actually changed to the desired mode.

Increasing Memory Size

TO INCREASE THE MEMORY SIZE OF THE APPLICATION FROM 256 MB TO 512 MB.

Please do the following in the POS.

Open C drive
Open the retailcloud folder
Open POS System folder
Select Execute (bat file) and go to File and click EDIT
Edit the execute.bat file and change the following line

java -Xmx256m -Xms256m -jar -classpath lib/ POSGUI.jar to java -Xmx512m -Xms512m -jar -classpath lib/ POSGUI.jar

Save the file and Close
Restart the application

US Open instruction Sept 2016

Open Notepad
Drag a execute.bat file to the notepad3
Update the below line ( change 256 to 1024 )start javaw -Xmx256m -Xms256m -jar %POS_HOME%\POSGUI.jar > logs/output.log 2> logs/error.logTOstart javaw -Xmx1024m -Xms1024m -jar %POS_HOME%\POSGUI.jar > logs/output.log 2> logs/error.log
Save the notepad file
Kill the javaw.exe from the task manager
Open the POS app ( it should launch quick )

Optimus Computer (Inventory Scanning)

The Optimus Mobile Computer is used for scanning inventory into the system. Some basic information is as follows:

Program has been configured identically for both types viz Optimus S and Optimus R. In the program following 4 fields have been configured to display on the device terminal. They are

ItemId
Quantity
Price
Description

There are three input methods supported by the application development tool. These methods configured while creating the OPT file will govern how input shall be given to the end device. The three methods are

Scanner : This method will allow entry in the device only through scanners.
Keypad : This method will allow entry in the device only through device keypads and
Both : This method will allow entry in the device either through device keypads or through scanners.

I have used the last method (Both) as a means to enter values in the device, so that both scanner and keypad can be used.

To use this program on the device, following process will need to be followed

Open the Optimus application from all programs.
Click on the “File” menu and then “Open”.
Browse to the Inventory_Managment_RType.opt or Inventory_Managment_SType.opt file (Where ever you have stored on your computer).
On your Optimus unit, press “ESC” until you are at the main menu. Choose the “Utilities “option, then the “Transfer Files” option, and finally the “Get Program” option. Confirm the unit’s baud rate and method of communication. Place the unit in its cradle, or if the unit has the ability for direct connection, connect the communication cable to the unit.
From the Optimizer program, choose the “Tools” menu item, then “Communication”, and finally “Download Program”. The Optimizer window will minimize and the download window will open.
Choose the correct option for your download type:

If you are going through a cradle, you should download via “Cradle-IR”‌
If you are directly connected, you should download via “RS232 or IrDA”.
Make sure the COM port number matches the port number into which your cradle or unit is plugged.
Make sure the Baud rate matches the baud rate of the unit. Press OK and downloading will commence.
After download is complete, choose the “Run Program” option on your Optimus. A screen will come up with “Item:” “Qty:” ,”Price:” and “Description” displayed. You can now begin collecting data.
After you are finished, press “ESC” on the Optimus until you get to the main menu. Choose the “Utilities” option, then “Transfer Files”, and finally “Send Data”. Confirm the unit’s baud rate and method of communication. Place the unit in its cradle, or if the unit has the ability for direct connection, connect the communication cable to the unit.

‌11. From the Optimizer program, choose the “Tools” menu item, then “Communication”, and finally “Receive Data”. The upload window will open.

Select a directory and a file name to save your data into.
Choose the correct option for your download type:
If you are going through a cradle, you should download via “Cradle-IR”.
If you are directly connected, you should download via “RS232 or IrDA”.
Make sure the COM port number matches the port number into which your cradle or unit is plugged.
Make sure the Baud rate matches the baud rate of the unit. Press OK and uploading will commence.
After upload is complete, you will be asked if you would like to view your data. Select “Yes” and a text file shall appear with the data you have collected.

The following is the configuration file:

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