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Attaching a Cash Drawer to FileMaker with the Serial plug-inWith the Troi Serial plug-in it is possible to attach a cash drawer to FileMaker Pro, which can then be opened by a FileMaker script. For this to work you need to install a suitable cash drawer, the Troi Serial Plug-in and add 2 ScriptMaker Scripts to your solution. Below you find a solution that users of the Serial plug-in have found to be a good basis for a Point of Sale (POS). Note that this was tested on Windows only. Troi will be testing it for Mac in the future, but for the moment we assume this works on Mac too. At the bottom of this page you will also find 2 demos:
Purchase the right drawerIt is important to know that you need to purchase a cash drawer that has a serial interface. We recommend you get one from APG Cash Drawer. The best (and least expensive) product for this application is the Model 484 SerialPRO®II interface. This interface will plug directly into the serial port of the computer. It is designed for a standard RS232 serial port. In addition, this interface is powered by the serial port thus eliminating the need for an external power supply. (There are situations where the power supply will be required; Windows NT operating systems have been identified as requiring the power supply.) The serial interface board, with the logic circuitry, is mounted inside the cash drawer. It is not separate from, or external to, the cash drawer. APG has a wide variety of cash drawers (sizes, color, till configuration etc.) that can include the 484 interface. A cable is mounted to the drawer ready for connection to a 9 pin COM port. APG also includes an adapter in case the user only has a 25 pin COM port available. Charged by the serial portThe 484 needs a dedicated Serial port, so it is able to store power from the serial port while the RTS and DTR lines are electrically high. It will be ready for use within about 8-10 seconds. Add these ScriptsIn your solution you need to run a startup script. First define a global text field: gErrorCode global, text field Add these ScriptMaker Script steps: Set Field [gErrorCode, External("Serial-Open", "COM1| baud=9600 parity=odd data=7 stop=10 flowcontrol=RTSCTS DTR=enabled RTS=enabled" ) ] Also create an "Open drawer" ScriptMaker Script: Set Field [gErrorCode, External("Serial-Send", "COM1|UU")] The drawer requires about 8 seconds to recharge before it can open a second time. APG also ships a U.S. compatible 115V to 12VDC power supply with each 484 interface. Address of APGAPG Cash Drawer 5250 Industrial Blvd NE Minneapolis, MN 55421-1012 Phone: (763) 571-9779 x109 Fax: (763) 571-5771 Email: support@apgcd.com Web page: www.apgcd.comExample file for Epson compatible cash drawerContributed by 3 Square Associates This Filemaker Pro file shows the use of Troi Serial
Plug-in with Epson compatible cash drawers. It basically
allows a user to link to the cash drawer, use the startup
script to open the connection and then insert the relevant
cash drawer number codes into the relevant fields. The codes
are then converted to ASCII, put into one string and then
sent to the cash drawer. Example file formatted for
FileMaker 5 through 6. Should work on Mac and Windows.
Example file for M-S Cash Drawer compatible cash drawerContributed by Kevin Frank & Associates This Filemaker Pro file, shown at the DIG FM meeting of November 16th, 2004, shows the use of Troi Serial Plug-in with M-S Cash Drawer models. Example file formatted for FileMaker 6 and 7.
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