First steps
While TouchTil is very easy for the operator to use, setting up the database does require some planning and understanding of how the system functions. This introduction is divided into four parts:
1. Setting up the database
2. Print templates for receipts/labels
3. Operation at the ordering point
4. Viewing and printing reports
We recommend that you read this introduction before trying to operate the system, and that you experiment with small amounts of data before using the system for real!
On installation TouchTil contains a small demonstration database with some entries in each of the tables. These make it easier for you to practice using TouchTil before entering your own data.
The first time TouchTil is started you will see a display that invites you to enter company name and address that can be used in shortcut tags for inclusion on receipts, labels and tickets. These tags can be used to simplify the design of the receipt, label, ticket and order templates that we will encounter later, but you don’t have to use them. However, the receipt, ticket and order templates provided with the sample database do use these tags, so you should either enter your own information or leave the default values in place.
When you close this screen by pushing the Continue button you will be taken to the Setup and Maintenance screen. This is the screen you or your system administrator will use to change the designs of receipt, labels, tickets and order templates, to backup the database and templates, or to modify the screen and button colours, etc.
This screen shows the name of the database and its server (e.g. your computer’s name for a single computer installation).
You can check that your computer allows you to connect to the trial database by pushing the “Connect to database” button. If you get an error message please refer to the README file in the installation directory for instructions.
This screen permits the printers to be used for printing receipts, delivery labels, tickets and orders to be selected (by pushing one of the Select buttons), and layouts of receipts, labels, tickets and order to be designed (more about that later). This screen is also the place to visit to do database backups, or to import or export the database tables, or archive out-of-date data.
Pushing the Continue button closes the Setup & Maintenance screen and opens the TouchTil Control Centre.
This is the view that will normally be seen when the program is started. Normally the operator will just press the Start button and start taking orders. For the moment, however, we will be examining the other buttons.
If you are using touch screen obviously you just touch the buttons. If you are using a mouse or other pointing device, just click on the required button.
Setting up a database