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SIS 2000+ Food Services

Sec. 15b, POS Designer / Design a POS Configuration
 

This section will take you step by step through designing a POS site layout for use in the Cafeteria module, from a one item food line to more complex ala Carte configurations. Remember, a POS layout sets the appearance of a Cafeteria module food line. It is not a specific food line, it is a menu of items available for sale, and may be used by more than one Cash Drawer (location). This procedure is easy and fun.

Run the POS Designer application by clicking on the POS Designer button from the SIS 2000+ Food Services main menu. The POS Designer screen will display in read-only mode.

Fig. 1 - POS Designer, add New POS display layout
 
 

15b.1 Add a New POS Site display layout
Click on the New button to display a blank new POS display layout screen in edit mode (Fig. 1).

15b.1.1 Complete POS Site information

School -
Focus defaults to the school field. Click on the drop down list box to display schools and select the school associated with this POS display template. If this is the correct school press Tab to move to the Description field.

Meal -
Designates this POS Configuration as used for Lunch or Breakfast. Click on the Meal field to open the list, and select Lunch or Breakfast.

Description -
Type the description for this POS display template. Description is user-defined. Choose a description that will make sense to the user when logging in to the Cafeteria module.  For example, if lines 1-4 use the same configuration, assign a description of 'Lunch lines 1-4'.

15b.1.2 Complete Page Caption(s)
Each page of food items has a user-definable tab caption. Four tabbed pages are available in the Designer. Unused pages are not displayed in the Cafeteria screen.


Fig. 2 - Page Captions
 

Tab to or click on the text field for the first page caption and complete text entry. Caption length is limited to sixteen characters. Move to and complete remaining captions if desired (it is not necessary to use all the pages). Captions are for display purposes and user convenience, and may be changed at any time.
 
 

With the POS Designer in edit mode (see Fig. 1), select the page to receive item buttons (click on tab to bring page to front).

15b.3.1 Insert button
Move the mouse to the current page, place the pointer on the location for the new button and single-click (left mouse button for windows). Click on Yes from the confirmation prompt to continue, No to cancel insert button.


Fig. 3 - Insert new button
 

15b.3.2 Define button
Several areas must be defined for the button -- is the button representing a meal item or an ala Carte item, the specific food item, and button color, text and border depth (3-d appearance).
 

15b.3.2.1 Food Type and Item
If Yes has been selected from the Insert Button confirmation prompt (Fig. 3) the following screen displays (Fig. 4). Click on each list box and select the appropriate definition.

Type -
The Type list box sets this button as representing either a Meal Item or an ala Carte Item. Click on the field, then select either Meal or ala Carte item.

Item -
The specific Item represented by the button. The Meal or ala Carte selection in the Type field determines which items are available. If Meal was selected, then all Meal Items are listed that are available on this date. If ala Carte was selected, then all ala Carte Items are listed that are available on this date.**

**Please note:
Food Items may have effective date ranges. If a button has been created for a food item with effective/expire dates, the button will remain in the Cafeteria display after that item's expiration date, but it will be disabled. See Sec. 5a, Enter Items, Sec. 5a.1.2, Rules for Rate Changes.


Fig. 4 - Button designer
 

15b.3.2.2 Caption line 1 / Caption line 2
Each button may contain two lines of text. Caption line 1 and 2 default to the Item description as entered in Food Service Items. Text for both lines may be edited. Focus defaults to Caption line 1 text field. Re-type line 1 if desired and press Tab, Enter or the up/down arrow keys to move to the Caption line 2 text field.
 
15b.3.2.3 The >ONLY< button caption
If the button Caption line 2 contains the text >ONLY< exactly as shown, the button is assigned a special function in the Cafeteria module. When this button is used to select a food item during a line entry transaction, all food items (saved and unsaved) are replaced by the food item assigned to the >ONLY< button. Milk >ONLY< buttons are a common use of this function.
 
15b.3.2.4 Button Color / Caption Color
The Button and Caption color for a new button defaults to gray for the button, and black for the caption. These default colors may be accepted, of course, but that would make a very dull Cafeteria display. Also, it is helpful to assign "hot" colors to frequently used buttons, and use colors that quickly associate the button with the food item (white for milk, for instance). Button and Caption colors are both selected using the SIS 2000+ Color Select, and may be changed at any time.
 

1. Run the SIS 2000+ Colors editor by single-clicking on the field to the right of the text Button Color or Caption Color (Fig. 5).


Fig. 5 - color selection fields, default colors
 
 

2. Select a Color

Click on a color to select it. The large field at the top of the screen displays the current color selection. When the desired color has been located, click on the Save button to return to the Button Designer screen, which will display the current button or caption color in the color boxes.


Fig. 6 - SIS 2000+ Color designer
 
 

15b.3.2.5 Border Width
The Border Width gives a 3-dimensional appearance to a button. The width may be increased to enhance this illusion -- the greater the width, the more the button appears to extend from the screen. The default setting is 5, click on the up/down arrow buttons to raise or lower the setting (Fig. 7). Maximum width setting is 9 (Fig. 8).


Fig. 7 - Button border, default width
 


Fig. 8 - Button border, maximum width
 
 

When button definitions have been completed, click on the Save button to save this button and return to the POS Designer screen. The newly created button will appear on the page in the selected location. This location is easily changed.
 

15b.3.3 Move a button to a new location
Button positions may be changed at will. To move a button, simply grab the button by an inside corner. How to grab? Using the mouse, move the pointer until it is positioned in an inside corner of a button. Hold down the left mouse button and drag over to the new location, then release the mouse button. The button won't appear to move until the mouse button is released, at which time it will reposition. If you are using a Macintosh, the outline of the button will drag over to the new position. When you release the mouse button, the button will position itself within the outline.

Click on Save to record this configuration. Click on Undo button to revert to the last saved version of this configuration.