MICROS technical support? (Is this a case of vendor lock-in?)

[gibbons98]

Hello,

Sorry if this is in the wrong board, but I didn't find any information elsewhere about this.

I am from Mexico where MICROS is also distributed and as far as I know it is one of the most used POS solution for restaurants and hotels. One client, for which we've made some small custom solutions, came forward to us recently asking us to develop an invoicing system for their restaurants. For this we need to extract the check information from the MICROS POS terminal (they have both 3700 and 9400 series) once it's paid and send them to a central system where the invoice is created and then validated and signed by the SAT (Tax Administration Service). Since we need to extract the information of the POS I looked at the documentation in the MICROS installation and found out about MICROS scripting using SIM/ISL. Unfortunately the documentation that comes with the installation only has a manual that doesn't cover in a clear manner the case I'm looking for and after reading it I have some doubts about the way an ISL script is deployed to the POS terminal. So, I called MICROS Mexico to find about if there are any technical training courses or technical support for MICROS and they literally told me that no one but certificated companies are allowed to develop MICROS interfaces and if I want an invoice system, then the client should contact directly one of these MICROS certificated providers and they will make the entire development. They also told me that right now there is no way to certificate new companies for developing systems that integrate with MICROS.

Is this a particular case in Mexico or is a world-wide policy? Is every company that implements MICROS stuck in a vendor lock-in situation? I've looked around this forum and found some people that are making custom solutions with MICROS integration and received technical training from MICROS with a fee. Is there any open knowledgebase, training or more in depth information about ISL?

Thanks.

 

[CathalMF]

9400 isn't a Micros system. I assume you mean 9700.

I would think your best option would be to query the database directly rather than use ISL.
ISL is a very basic scripting language used to extend the functionality of the workstations. Its a bit of a pain to work with at times.

3700 uses a Sybase database and 9700 uses either MSSQL or Oracle (assuming you're using 9700v3 or above. If you're using below v3 then its uses some flat file db that i don't understand).

Oracle has recently purchased Micros so you will probably find it impossible to get certified training. But there are others around





Do you want some custom SIM scripts developed. Contact me via my website

http://www.microspostools.com/

 

[hosehead78]

Agree with CathalMF, there is no Micros 9400, there is 9700. Please let us know which version you are running and if it 9700 v3+, what database they use (MSSQL or Oracle). It is suggested to read the database than try to create something through SIM scripting.

I know Micros Las Vegas offers training on their 9700 system, from time to time. Sometimes you can also catch a SIM Scripting Class, however it is based on how many seats are filled, so if it is a low amount of seats they won't do it. As for the Micros Interface and being certified, this is also true because of PCI Compliance and other security issues that have to be in place for micros to support them.

 

[PosGuyUS]

It is unlikely your client is the first to need this. I would suggest calling Micros or the local dealer and find out who everyone else uses for the invoices and then contact that company.

 

[gibbons98]

Hello everyone,

Thanks a lot everyone for your replies. Yes, I was mistaken it's a 9700 not 9400, although I'm not sure if it's above or below v3 since I've only had access until now to a 3700 system. The reason I want to extract the information directly from the Terminal using ISL instead of extracting it from the database is that I don't want to be dependent of the DBMS used for any future versions of Micros, plus I believe it's a faster and more reliable method, since the information is obtained immediately. Of course, you guys know more than I do, so I don't know if my logic is correct.

@CathalMF: What do you mean there are others around? Are there any "unofficial" training options?

@PosGuyUS: Yes, I believe it's not the first client who needs this. As I said in my original post I called Micros Mexico and they literally told me that only certified development providers can be granted the knowledge to develop systems that connect to the Micros equipment, e.g. the invoicing system. They also told me there is no technical support or training to develop ISL scripts to extract information from the terminal or technical support regarding the database's schema for any client, only user-level support. I asked the representative to send me the list of certified providers, but he was reluctant to do so, since it must be requested by the client. My question is if world-wide there is actually no technical support and given this how are the custom ISL scripts and integration developed by some of the people from this forum. Is there any official training involved or do they only use the documentation that comes with the installation and through testing and exploring the schema they develop them?

Hope I made myself clear

Regards.

 

[hosehead78]

How and what information are you needing when the transaction is finished on the workstation? If you are not going to pull data from the database, how are you storing it or will you be storing it electronically?

 

[hosehead78]

Also, are you looking at sending the information to a Database (the "central system") or flat file?

 

[CathalMF]

@gibbons98 - I meant that there are plenty of people on this forum that know how to program in SIM. Myself included.
Drop me a message via my website below if you want to know more.



Do you want some custom SIM scripts developed. Contact me via my website

http://www.microspostools.com/