Video Printer Emulator
Last edited: December 15, 2003 08:19 AM

The VPE(Video Printer Emulator) is used where the customer wants a monitor in place of a global printer, such as a kitchen or drive thru. Additionally it can be used as a router or multiplexer for both VPE’s and printers.  It consists of a CPU that acts as a controller, a bump bar plugged to the game port, and a VGA monitor.  As it emulates a printer, Touchnet drives it by using a print template with special codes embedded in it.
Hardware Cabling

Serial Cable –  COM2 on controller to appropriate serial port on server.
        2 — 3  Transmit
        3 — 2  Receive
        5 — 5  Ground(on DB25 connectors this is pin 7)
        4
        6 –    Jumpered(on DB25 connectors jumper 5, 6, and 20)
        8 /

        Note1:  The jumper is only installed on the server end of the cable.

        Note2:  When running from a DB25 to a DB9 do NOT reverse 2 and 3.

Bump Bar – 4 switches with one side common ground wired to DB15 game port.
        Button 1 – Pin 2  – Move mark left
        Button 2 – Pin 10 – Move mark right
        Button 3 – Pin 7  – Mark order
        Button 4 – Pin 14 – Bump marked order
        Common  – Pin 4
Software

The following programs are required on the controller:
        VPE.EXE
        MIDTSR.EXE
        (MCF file)

To run VPE the commands at the DOS prompt are:
        MIDTSR (MCF file)
        VPE

MCF Files
        MID2.MCF – supports standard COM1 and COM2
        MID6.MCF – supports Personal Computing Tools 4 Port Card(IRQ7)
        MID6_MIN.MCF – supports 4 Port Card running on Minisys(IRQ5)

*** Note – Be sure to use .MCF Files dated no earlier than 11/5/93!  These have the proper buffer settings!!! ***
You will now see a bouncing ball screen saver.  On receipt of the first order the screen saver will disappear and the first order will appear. One order will have a highlighted border around it.  When this is a single line then it shows where the mark field is.  When this is a double line then this order is marked for the BUMP Button.  This way you can use the LEFT and RIGHT buttons to place the mark field over the proper order, push the MARK button to mark that order, and push the BUMP button to remove that order.  Alternatively, there is an option called SPEED BUMP that automatically marks the oldest order.  This allows them to bump orders with one button, eliminating the use of the MARK button.

A keyboard can be substituted for a bump bar for setup and test purposes. The keys work as follows:  (On the numeric Keypad)

      Bump Bar
      Button;    Action                          Keyboard Alias
     

---

   

---

                         

---

            1;…..Highlight Left                          4 <-
            2;…..Highlight Right                        6 ->
            3;…..Mark                                    0 INS
            4;…..Bump                                    . DEL
        1 & 2;…..Summary screen (toggle)                +
        3 & 4;…..Recall last order bumped                8 ^
1 & 2 & 3 & 4;…..Options Menu                            *
                  Exit VPE                                ESC
OPTIONS MENU

The options menu is called up by pressing all 4 buttons simultaneously.  Buttons 1 and 2 move the cursor up and down respectively and button 3 selects that option.  The menu allows you to place sample orders on the display(useful for training and demos), set the colors, change speed bump mode, and set the minutes before orders will go into alert status.
STYLING

The Touchnet software outputs to a VPE essentially the same way that it outputs to a printer.  It first runs the order through a print template and then issues a Print To command to route the output to the correct device as
defined in the Printer Definitions.  The template does have some additional restrictions to conform with VPE’s input requirements.  By adding a header to the print template, VPE’s can be daisy chained or multiplexed through a four-port card.  This header is then stripped off allowing the next device to treat it as a normal print request.  Output can be passed through multiple devices by having multiple headers.
        1.  Product names cannot be more than nine letters to avoid truncation by the VPE.
        2.  The Consolidate Quantity option must be turned off on the Print Template.
        3.  The first three characters of text in the Print Template are not displayed.
        4.  The line containing the variable Check Number must start with [VPE TICKET] to include the brackets.
        5.  The line containing the variable Order Type must start with [VPE HEREGO] to include the brackets.
        6.  The last line of the template should have [VPE END].
        7.  VPE’s or printers that are not directly connected to the server must start with [PASS THRU](number) where number is the port the VPE outputs to.
        Example template:

        {Category 1}

       

---

        {Category 2}

        [VPE TICKET]####      (where #### is the variable Check Number)

        [VPE HEREGO]$$$$$$$    (where $$$$$$$$ is the variable Order Type)

        [VPE END]       

Revisions

9/1/93

An optional header can now be added to a print template allowing the
output to be passed to another device.  This allows VPE’s to be daisy
chained.  It also allows printers and VPE’s to be multiplexed using
Personal Computing Tools 4 Port Card.  Other 4 Port Cards could be used
but would require a new MCF file to support it.  The header uses the
format [PASS THRU]2 for standard VPEs.  The number 2 can be substituted
with 3 to 6 if supported by the MCF file.  Also required is an [END PASS]
Trailer to indicate then end of the print job!  If output has to go
through multiple devices, then a header and Trailer is required for
each device.
        Example template:

  [PASS THRU]4

        [PASS THRU]2

        [PASS THRU]2

        {Category 1}

        [VPE TICKET]####      (where #### is the variable Check Number)

        [VPE HEREGO]$$$$$$$    (where $$$$$$$$ is the variable Order Type)

        [VPE END]

        [END PASS]

        [END PASS]

        [END PASS]

Two new MCF files have been added to support the 4 Port Card.  MID6.MCF is used when the card is in a standard AT.  When in a Minisys, MID6_MIN.MCF is used.

3/16/95

The VPE module has been obsoleted by the VPEN(Video Printer Emulator Network) module.