Micros

[bigfellajared]

Hi.

I run a Micros system for a local restaurant and I need to know how I can purge transactions from the system. Basically at the end of a day, the manager would like to be able to delete some of the checks and transactions?

Thanks,

Jared

 

[pmegan]

You can clear all totals, the procedure is different depending on the system you have. None of the Micros systems will allow you to pick specific checks and purge them though. That's a big hole that could theoretically enable either theft or tax evasion, two things that Micros is designed to prevent.

 

[bigfellajared]

Thanks. Do you know what type of database Micros uses...is it Sybase?

 

[pmegan]

If you have a 3700, yes. Newer 9700 systems use SQL Server, and the older 9700/8700 used a proprietary, text-based db.

You need dba level privileges to edit the detail, totals, check & transaction tables, and the database is a convoluted spiderweb so it's pretty much imposible to remove transactions and the totals they post to the reporting tables. Mistakes and mismatched sequence numbers in these tables can cause serious problems with the standard posting and purging procedures, and Micros will at best charge you a fortune to fix it, or at worst refuse to fix it and tell you to restore a backup from before the tables were altered. It's really not worth messing with the tables and procedures they have locked down.

 

[bigfellajared]

ok. thanks. when they asked me about it i figured that maybe there would be a simple way to go in and delete a check or items from it?

 

[pmegan]

No, you can discount, void or return items on a check but you can't make it disappear altogether. Micros makes sure there's a record of everything, like a generel ledger. Once it's there you can write in adjustments but it can't just be erased.

 

[dropinoc]

Could you use Micros or Crystal Report to print the reports you need to show less totals? or you have to input discounts and offsets like VOID tickets?

new to the Micros POS

 

[pmegan]

Discounts and voids can definately be entered. It seems like bigfellajared's employer is looking to erase certain transactions. This can be done through Crystal, but the procedure would be cumbersome, and if an audit was ever performed some questions would come up that would be very hard to answer. As a developer, I wouldn't put myself in a position where I would be responsible for the answers.

 

[dropinoc]

Could I run crystal reports off of my Laptop connecting to the DB? I have been trying to config. it but having a tough time? Pmegan could you contact me if you have some time? I would like to pay you for your services? I am using Crystal report 2008 off my laptop.

Right now I am trying to build some reports off the back up DAtabase.

please help this newbie.

 

[pmegan]

Hi dropinc,

You should be able to set up and ODBC connection on your laptop that will connect to Sybase on the Micros server. You'll probably have to install Micros on your laptop to get the Sybase drivers though. You can uninstall Res afterwards. I haven't tried to do this in years, so can't really give much more information that that.

One thing you should be aware of is that Micros still only supports up to Crystal 9. Ridiculous is you ask me. I don't know if a report written in Crystal 2008 will run through the Micros reports program, but I do know that Micros won't help if you have problems with it.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't take on any side work. My company pays me pretty well for the work I do for them, and I don't want to risk crossing any lines.

Pat

 

[DrZogg]

Hi,
I write reports in Crystal Business Objects 2008, and is fine for RES version 4 and 3.2. But I do know what you mean in regards to crystal versions, in that accounting software such as Sage is running a different Crystal version as its report engine. Similarly RES 3.1 needs its reports written in Crystal 7.
Steve

 

[dropinoc]

thank you for your great help Pat and I respect your answer. Your company is great to have you!