Setting up a database

Most of the time that TouchTil is being used it will be displaying the order screen – on which the operator pushes a button to record orders and print things. This screen is shown below.

 

 

On the left hand side is a vertical row of buttons which allow the operator to select the “Category” of the table of buttons displayed in the main body to the right. Each button in the main body identifies a product, and that product belongs to the category that is currently selected. This allows the database designer to divide up a large number of products into a smaller number of logical categories, so that items may easily be located.

For example, a restaurant may well wish to have categories for main course meats, main course fish, vegetables, desserts, drinks, etc. When an order is taken the operator selects the appropriate category and sees the available items displayed on the buttons in the main body of the screen.

TouchTil may be used in two modes. One may be described as “Product mode”, in which the items are physical items, such as meals, drinks, etc., for which bills and receipts are required. The other is “Ticket mode”, where tickets are printed (for example, tickets for a concert, exhibition, zoo, park, etc) and a receipt is printed. The principles of operation are similar for both modes, but this description will discuss the Product mode; we will return to the Ticket mode later.

 

The TouchTil database understands and tracks three tables or lists of things:

Categories – the category table allows the designer to store the names of the categories to be used, and, if required, an image to appear on the button representing that category. The category table also includes a field to indicate if the items it contains are tickets (that may be printed individually). The database will assign a category code to each entry.

Items – these are the items you sell. Each has a name, a price, and a code representing the category to which it belongs. The item name will appear on the appropriate button in the main body of the order screen. Each item may also have a product description (usually longer than the name) and may have an associated image to appear on it, but it MUST have the first three!

Sales – this is a dated list of sales that have been made. This list allows you to track the income at the end of each day or reporting period.

 

The first two tables may be accessed directly using TouchTil forms which allow entries to be added, edited or deleted. The Sales table is used as the basis of various reports, but it cannot be edited from a form. Its contents are added to automatically each time a sale is recorded.