Transaction Verification Systems(TVS)
TVC 1066/1030 Serial POS Interface

Last edited: December 15, 2003 08:19 AM

It is possible to interface a Touch Menu’s system to output to a TVS security system. The TVS system then overlays the text output onto their video image. This allows the owner to see what is actually being rung up at the workstation on his security monitors back in the office. If the image is being taped, this info will be available when the tape is replayed. As the TVS system can grab standard printer output, there is no need to shell out to a separate executable. Two different methods can be employed to interface to TVS.
First Method

This could be subtitled the easy method. It involves no change to the software whatsoever. Jumper the data and ground wires from the TVS port to the transmit and ground wires on a serial printer port. The TVS system will then grab any data sent to that printer. This method is recommended as it can be easily installed, and will provide most owners with the information they need.
Second Method

If there is no single printer that can be monitored, or the owner would like more information than is sent to the printer, it is possible to set up the interface as a global printer. Define it in Printer Definitions and create print templates to format the data you want to send to the interface. Remember to turn off the Require PLU’s option in the template options if no PLU’s are on the template. Then style in Do Template and Print To commands as needed.
Troubleshooting

Touch Menus does not provide tech support for TVS equipment. If troubleshooting determines the cause to be on the TVS side of the interface, the customer should contact their TVS dealer.

To determine whether Method 1 or Method 2 is being used, check Printer Definitions to see if there is a printer defined for the interface. If it is, Method 2 is in effect. If not, Method 1 is being used.

Method 1 – If the TVS system is not showing data but the printer is working then the problem is with the TVS equipment. If the printer is not working then troubleshooting is the same as for a regular printer.

Method 2 – The interface with this method is seen by Touchnet as a global printer and troubleshooting should be the same as if a global printer had failed. Plugging in an actual printer to this port is a quick way to determine if the problem is with the TVS system or somewhere else in the system.
Cable

TVS can supply the interface cable.

PC DB9 or

Javelin RJ45 – TVS DB25

    GRD  5  — 24  GRD

    DTR  4  -|

    DSR  6  -|  Jumpered

    CTS  8  -|

Note1: The jumper is not needed if the interface is being spliced into an existing printer cable.

Note2: Tying ground to pin 24 is a deviation from the RS-232 standard.
Technical

The TVS interface is quite flexible, being able to autodetect the baud rate, number of data bits, and type of parity. Data is monitored for printable characters(ASCII 20h to 7Eh) and for carriage return/line feeds(ASCII 0Dh, 0Ah). All other characters are discarded. This allows the interface to read standard printer output without being affected by embedded printer escape codes.