Micros e7 Touchscreens

[AVSebastian]

We bought the restaurant couple months ago and it came with micros POS (2 workstations). The micros rep came in and did the "site survey" for like an hour and said that one of the workstation is broke and we have to replace it, the mainframe has to be replaced as well cause it's running on XP and it's out of date for the micros system according to him. However we're on the tight budget right now and trying to use what we can. I was able to reboot the system and bring up the "broken" workstation to live, also was able to access to the system itself and did the necessary changes for the new stuff and new menu. I never worked with micros before and have couple of questions about the touchscreens (speed screens). So after I reprogrammed the menu I was able to access it through the manager screen on workstations however if I use the server clock-in it goes straight to the speed screen which their used before. How do I make the server to be able to access the menu without going to the manager's screen? I tried to reassign the buttons on the speed screen but some of them say that the max amount of redirection has been reached. I also don't get why touchscreens they had before on there doesn't reflect the managers menu screen. And if you create a new screen how do I assign it to there it suppose to be? The other question is about kitchen printer (Epson U220B), it doesn't print and when I run the printer report it says that all the memory switches are off then it's not. Do I have to get the new printer?
I know I'm all over the place but if somebody can help me with that I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[TobeThor]

Re: XP, contact your credit card processor and ask what it would cost to supply you stand alone credit card terminals for card processing and don't use the Micros for credit cards. Plus it may resolve the EMV issue you are about to face in Oct of this year. Doing that may remove the XP as an issue BUT beware if you connect that Micros computer to the internet as it is a valid risk. If you can avoid connecting the Micros POS to the internet (for any reasons) then XP shouldn't be such a concern.

Re: the kitchen printer, I believe most Micros POS use a POS station to communicate to remote printers, determine which POS is controlling the kitchen printer and troubleshoot from there, (only having two POS should make that rather simple), check connections with a network tester (less than $30) to verify which connections are working properly, also look at the connections at the kitchen printer, soiled or corroded network jack(s) & cables should be replaced BUT take a picture of any connections you cut or re-term so that you know how to properly re-connect the wires. Also don't assume that every network cable is the same when it comes to kitchen printers, the e7 may use a unique cable (for remote printers) that is straight through vs. crossed over cable. Just in case (and if you're a novice), don't throw out old cables but do put them in a marked zip-lock bag if you ever need someone to verify exactly what kind of cable it is. The Micros cables may look like phone cables BUT they are not if you know what I mean.

 

[AVSebastian]

Thank you for your respond TobeThor!
I did set up the stand alone terminal for credit cards. So that's not a problem. As for the printer I checked all the connections and communications set up, it's all seems correct. I feel the problem is in the printer cause it doesn't recognize that the memory switch is on. The cable we use for connecting is RJ-12.
My main problem is in programming the screens for the servers. I can't figure out how to change their screen to the menu screen which I can access only if I log in as a manager... And when I just try to reassign the buttons on the speed screen their have now I run into the following issue:
For example, I have the button "Sandwiches", you press this button and it gives you a choice f sandwiches, you press "Burger" - then you get the temperature choice, you press "Medium" for example and your next choice is add-ons, you press "Add Cheese" and your next choice suppose to be the type of cheese choice but it says "Too many levels of required condiment nesting". How do I fix that?

 

[TobeThor]

Sorry can't help with the programming but the memory switch error you mention is weird, never heard of such a thing. If there's a ptr port on the e7 POS station you may be able to direct connect the printer and use some sort of diagnostics mode on the e7. The RJ12 sounds like you have an IDN interface which is a proprietary six pin comm port, if so you have to have the dip switches set properly; the dip switches determine the ptr's device #, IE: if only dip switch #4 is on that's ptr #1, dip switch #3 on that's ptr #2. Do you have any other ptr's with that same style interface/connection? If you do you can move/swap the kitchen ptr to test comms. Does the kitchen ptr perform a self test IE: turn ptr off, hold down line feed while turning ptr on, it should print a self test, if it prints OK then mechanically the ptr may be OK but the interface card may have failed.

BEWARE: epson ptr's also have a six pin (RJ12) cash drawer port (the RJ12 port by itself) that people will mistakenly plug the Micros ptr cable into; that unfortunately can back feed voltage that the Micros POS does NOT like and may even damage the interface card in the printer. If you've plugged the ptr cable into the cash drawer port while trying to figure out your issue you may have damaged the interface card.

 

[AVSebastian]

I don't think I can connect the printer directly to the workstation...And I have only one printer like this. But all the dip switches set properly and I performed the printer self test which is how I found out that it doesn't recognize that dip switch #4 is on, on the self test report it says that all switches are off...
And I was aware of the cash drawer port, it's even taped on the printer with the note "Cash drawer only"
Looks like I would have to get the new one... Does it have to be the same type of printer? Or I have an options?

 

[TobeThor]

OMG too funny, that's normal! When you have an IDN interface card, Epson doesn't acknowledge the way Dip switches are set on a Micros printer so don't rush to judgement. Jump on EBay and buy an IDN interface card for less than $50 and replace it, easy peezy. If it's not the IDN card then you've got a valuable backup (cuz they fail). If new IDN card has same issue it's wiring or programming.

 

[TobeThor]

BTW, If the POS station is controlling the kitchen printer, IOW that's how it is wired than YES you can connect the printer directly to the e7 POS.

 

[AVSebastian]

Jeez, I feel so stupid! Why didn't I think of it before. Thanks for advice! I'm going to order an IDN interface card And I did connect it to the POS, still didn't work.

 

[AVSebastian]

Just an update:
I took the printer to the other restaurant and it worked just fine there. But still no luck at my place...