Micros POS - Write API ? 2

[mdtech1]

Hi all!

We're developing a web app that allows Micros POS owners to change prices and menu details from our website. In addition, we will allow the owners to print a food order from the webapp to the kitchen.

We don't have a Micros License yet.

- Do we need a license?
- We've read about their ISL/SIM language. Do they have any other API available ?
- Until we get an License, how do we test our code ? Would Micros provide us with a way to intall a POS Virtual Machine? Or provide documentation?

They are hard to reach.
Would appreciate if anyone could share a contact.

Thanks!
Ben

 

[DrZogg]

Hi,

To interface with Micros traditionally you will need a SIM licence code as you know. In regards to assistance, Micros will do little / nothing to assist you, they are very protective of their baby, which is understandable as they have invested a lot of energy into it.
To be honest, what you are proposing is already in existence as the Manager Procedures module is actually written in Dotnet / ASPX / SOAP model, so is already doing what you propose. A clever person would simply link to the login page, its all there.

You would be reinventing the wheel.

 

[DrZogg]

Oh, I just read the last part. There is already methodology for web orders but cannot comment.

You will find the toughest part of this will be working with Micros. Being their proprietary software, they choose who to work with and who not to. They can also opt to not support any system someone else has altered, and use this point to scare people into not using your solution. I guess its fair to say they have invested a lot of time & effort in building this system, its best they make a return.

Secondly, unless you have credibility with these sites, they will not want you to touch their IT system, they get touchy because they are users & not techies.

What country are you in?

 

[mdtech1]

Thanks DrZogg. We are based in the US (northeast). Our business model is a little bit different than what we suggested but the problem we want to solve is the same. Not really the place to talk business

We want to have an interface that will communicate with this Manager Procedures module. For example our web page would have a field where you can change the price of an item, it would change the price in the Manager Prodecures module and on the POS.

As for the web ordering. Why can't you comment?

Finally how can we get our hands on a virtual machine? We never programmed on a POS.

 

[MikeRose]

The API for web ordering is a bit complicated. I believe you need an API key before building your own app, i can double check, I have the documentation.

As far as changing the prices and creating a web app that can interface with MICROS, that is possible without any extra licensing

You can access the micros database through port 2638, I use SSIS to collect data and do other things.

If you go to

http://www.posdataexpress.com

(might be the worst looking page ever right now)

Give them a call for more info on working with the MICROS db

 

[mdtech1]

Thanks MikeRose for your response.

Just to make sure I understand. We do need to get the basic 15k license do develop any kind of app. We don't need an extra license to change prices and menu, right?

Do you do consulting job by any chance? We are looking...

BTW, fun nickname!

Thanks

 

[DrZogg]

Hi Mike,

There are no options for Web App licensing in Licmanager that I can see, however there are new devices available now of type POSAPICLIENT and POSAPIWEBSERVICE. These are set up like regular workstations, and The Licence Code seems to be the same as a Workstation.

I am figuring that the PosAPIWebService is called via a DotNet asax file (calls a Dotnet service). This is the part I am working on now. You may be right another licence being needed such as licenses.licx which you can see in the Manager Procedures directory. I am trying to nut out C# and the CodeBehind concepts to do basic queries like Pick Up Open Check.

Have you given it a crack yourself?