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P.O.S. Apps

Started by michaelhenry, 2009.08.23, 01:15:22

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michaelhenry

Are there any Point of Sale apps for OS/2 eCS?
Bro. Michael Henry
Pastor
First Christian Church of Sheridan

IBManners

Hi,

OS/2 use in business has declined to the extent that you would be pressed to find support for any POS system under OS/2 - eComStation these days, and older POS systems that work natively under OS/2 might be hard to track down.

I use  Triumph in an OS/2 DOS session with no problems, I haven't had a need to update it since 2000 so I cant speak for the latest versions, or how it goes internationally (Australian package) http://www.triumph.com.au/website/main.html.

Checkings it's current requirement :-

QuoteA text mode version of Triumph Accounting is available for use on Linux and Unix.

And

QuoteThe minimum requirement of a single user system is Windows 98 on a Pentium based computer with 32MB of free memory, 256 colours at 800x600 screen resolution and 100MB of free disk space.

I've used Triumph to run 2 business's in the past, a Mining Sales and Service company, and IT Sales and service companies with an annual turnover in excess of 7 figures, at the same time. Networks fine under OS/2, works with common cash draws and has all the base print drivers for Epson/HP/Oki and a few other dotmatrix, laser, inkjet printers for different forms.

Having a quick look around, current packages that run under OS/2 seem to be more on the personal finance side, like Moneydance http://moneydance.com/, I cant see that changing in the future.

Maybe someone will prove me wrong :-)

Cheers
I am the computer, it is me.

warpcafe

Hi,

well, by coincidence I recently thought about doing a (rather small) POS software "from scratch".
A customer of mine keeps bugging me for something "tailormade" although he actually only would need a cash register of a more sophisticated type.

Just wondering... what are basic requirements for it, leaving aside stuff like printing, touch-screen, cash drawer control and customer amount displays (since I doubt that we'll be able to have drivers for this). Or - to put it differently - would it make sense to start creating something alike if it wouldn't support the external "devices". For printing, well, I guess there would be "some" way of getting it to work.

FYI, I have already created a small POS but that was for Windows only and very low-end.
It supported different tax rates by date range, article groups, and all the basic shebang...

I decided that if I ever would do that again, it would be available for OS/2 and eCS only. Would be nice to have a POS "solution" for eCS... perhaps that would find a niche. :)

Cheers,
Thomas
"It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority.
By definition, there are already enough people to do that"
- G.H. Hardy

Saijin_Naib

I think it would. Nearly every market I shop at in the US is using IBM hardware for POS, with sometimes a AdvancedPOS tablet for signatures. I believe they are running WinXP with a full-screen text-mode app.

RobertM

Various IBM and NEC hardware will work. As well as various older Micros stuff.

To build your own, you either need EloTouch SERIAL touchscreens, or be willing to download their driver kit and port the USB versions (or write your own).

Giant (the supermarket chain) used IBM hardware and dual displays  - so apparently newer hardware does work for it - but you may be unlikely to be able to get the touchscreen or other drivers.

Rob


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Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
Star Trek New Voyages
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warpcafe

Hi,

talking about hardware... you know, some time ago I discovered a website (I guess it was somehow linked to by a case-modding page) that offered touchscreen TFT panels (without case, only the panles) that came with an embedded PS/2 controller. This means that you can attach the touchscreen as a simple PS/2 mouse. From the perspective of an OS/2|eCS user that was interesting :)

getting back to software - I didn't intend to create a one-size-fits-all, all-purpose POS software.
In the beginning, it was planned as something as simple as a cash register (without the cash drawer ;) ) but should include things like
- standalone and clienet/server
- data file encryption
- printer-independent forms management (basic forms editor, printing...)
- variable handling of currencies, taxes, articles/-groups

At a later stage, perhaps as "add-on", there could have been
- stock management
- cash basis accounting / determination of taxable income (revenues / expenditures)

But it's hard to "design" something that could work in different tax regulations (e.g. Germany, US...), therefore it should be crafted with accuracy, keeping in mind a concept of "cores" and modular architecture. The best would be to make it open-sourced (and well-documented!) so that these modules could for instance be developed by other people (tax rules Germany / tax rules US / ...)

The final obstacle would be the intended programming language. My favorite choice would be REXX, but when it comes to create "nice'n'fancy" programs, there are limits to REXX. Also, "nice printing" is perhaps not really REXX sweetest spot, but I have yet to look on some idea I had recently on overcoming or working around that part.
I certainly don't want to create a free, open-sourced piece of software, yet having to rely upon third party software that is commercial :)

Cheers,
Thomas
"It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority.
By definition, there are already enough people to do that"
- G.H. Hardy