This section will guide you through the various ways a customer is selected in order to sell a meal/item.
Remember 3 things:
- Who is buying the meal?
- What are they buying?
- How are they paying for it?
There are a few ways to locate a customer from the main screen.
- Customers can key POS numbers, scan fingerprints, palm, or a barcode.
- Cashiers can use the Search button in order to enter POS numbers or name via the keyboard or touch screen.
- Cashiers may choose the Alacarte Cash Sale button.
- Cashiers may use function keys to complete sales (if allowed).
Function key sales for Free or Reduced meals should only be used for Provision 2 schools or if there is unquestionable proof of the customer's benefit status and they are not in the system. Selling Free and Reduced meals through the function keys can lead to audits and penalties.
Customer Selection window
| 1 | Lists all available customers subscribed to the cafeteria. Customer Pick List Tips
If a meal has already been served to a customer, a warning message will appear. Click Ok to continue selling another meal/item to the customer.
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| 2 | Customer information is displayed in the tan areas of the window. The customer's POS ID, name, grade homeroom, automatic sale indicator, balance, meal benefit status (indicated by number code), number of breakfast, lunch and snack meals remaining (as determined by unallocated funds), and unallocated balance are displayed. (This information is also displayed in the POS screen.) |
| 3 | On-screen number pad for entering a customer's POS ID number. |
| 4 | Quick buttons for common Key Help/Function Key options. Common options are Quit Serving-Line, Add Customer from Other School, Adult sales, Display Line Totals, Employee sales, Pause serving line, Review Transaction, and At-Cost Meal sales. |
| 5 | Search by Name brings up the Name Search window. Enter some or all parts of a customer's name. Then, click Ok.
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| 6 | Key Help (Ctrl-F1) brings up the function key help window. Review all Key Help options above. |
| 7 | Network connectivity icons display if the network is functioning properly between the serving line and the main/back office computer. (This information is also displayed in the POS screen.) |
| 8 | The Chat button allows you to send and receive messages between other serving lines and the main/back office computer. (This information is also displayed in the POS screen.) |
Main Screen when Utilizing an Input Device
If input devices are utilized on the serving line, the devices and device status are displayed under the identification screen.
Function Key Help (Ctrl-F1) - Brings up the Special Keys (also known as Function Keys) window in the Customer Selection screen and the POS Sale screen.
| Key Stroke | Description | Function |
| F1 | Free Student | Allows the sale of a meal/item to a free student that has not been entered into the system or the student's application qualifies him/her as Free. This should not be used unless there is unquestionable proof of the student's benefit status. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok twice to complete the sale. You must enter the student's name to complete the sale.
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| F2 | Reduced Student | Allows the sale of a meal/item to a reduced student that has not been entered into the system or the student's application qualifies him/her as Reduced. This should not be used unless there is unquestionable proof of the student's benefit status. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. You must enter the student's name to complete the sale. Refer to the F1 details to view the Name required for function key sale window. |
| F3 | Paying Student | Allows the sale of a meal/item to a paid student that has not been entered into the system or the student's application qualifies him/her as Paying. This should be used if there is any question to the student's benefit status not already in the system. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. You must enter the student's name to complete the sale. Refer to the F1 details to view the Name required for function key sale window. In cases where more than one price category is needed for a paying student, the end-user will be prompted to make a selection. (i.e. Hometown Middle feeds grades 5-9; however, 9th grade is charged $3/meal versus $2.50.) Additional Paying Student function keys are established in Customer Maintenance → Status at the Back Office and Central Office level.
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| F4 | Helper Student Sale | Allows the student to eat a reimbursable meal without being charged. F4 should be selected prior to entering a student worker's number. |
| F5 | Adult | Allows sales to teachers/adults to be recorded. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| F6 | At Cost Meal | Allows the sale of At Cost items to students. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| F7 | Catering | Allows catering sales to be recorded. Select all necessary items sold, collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| F8 | Employee | Allows sales to cafeteria employees to be entered. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| F9 | "Special" Adult | Allows sales to adults other than those already stated to be entered. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| F10 | Toggle Customer Input | Toggles the customer input devices (peripheral devices) on and off. |
| F11 | Toggle Images | Toggles customer images on and off. |
| F12 | Alacarte Sales | Brings up items for à la carte sales to be entered. Select all necessary à la carte items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| Key Stroke | Description | Function |
| Shift F1 - F12 | Quick Sale #1 - #12 | Allows the sale of an established meal/item. This function can be performed from the main screen or while in the sales screen. |
| Key Stroke | Description | Function |
| Ctrl F1 | Function Key Help | Brings up the Special Keys (also known as Function Keys) window. |
| Ctrl F2 | Skip Auto Sale | Allows skipping an automatic sale if the Auto Sale feature is turned on. |
| Ctrl F3 | Print Receipt | Allows a receipt to be printed for the last transaction (payment, sale, refund) if a printer is connected.
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| Ctrl F4 | Open Cash Drawer | Opens the cash drawer. |
| Ctrl F5 | At-Cost Adult | Allows the sale of At Cost items to teachers/adults. Select all necessary items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale. |
| Ctrl F6 | Display Line Totals | Brings up the Line Totals window to show descriptions of reimbursable, at-cost, and other items sold as well as payments and the total number of meals and items sold on the serving line. When the serving line has been shut down or the program is restarted, a new batch is created; therefore, line totals only reflect the current batch and may seem inaccurate.
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| Ctrl F7 | Add Customer from Other | Brings up the Add Customer Subscription window. This allows you to search for a customer/student fed at another location and subscribe that student to your cafeteria as a Regular Attender or Guest.
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| Ctrl F8 | Reset input devices | Resets input devices in cases where there is an error. If the error continues to occur, the device options may need to be revisited to ensure accuracy. To complete resetting the device, click Ok.
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| Ctrl F9 | Pause serving line | Allows the serving line to be paused in order to access the computer's desktop or other programs. You must re-enter your password in order to access Newton POS again.
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| Ctrl F10 | Quit Serving-Line | Brings up the Quit Newton POS window to begin the process of quitting the serving line at the end of meal sales.
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| Ctrl F11 | n/a | |
| Ctrl F12 | n/a |
| Key Stroke | Description | Function |
| Alt F1 | n/a | |
| Alt F2 | Group Search | Lists students by groups or homerooms. |
| Alt F3 | Change Commonly Sold Item | Brings up the Pick Auto-Sale Item window allowing you to change the most commonly sold item. (e.g. Hot Line Lunch to Salad Bar Lunch) |
| Alt F4 | Quit Serving Line | Brings up the Quit Newton POS window to begin the process of quitting the serving line at the end of meal sales. |
| Alt F5 | Set Auto-POSID-Prefix | Allows the user to select and keep the first numbers of the student POS ID. |
| Alt F6 | Review Transaction | Brings up the Pick a transaction to review window to show all transactions that have occurred on the serving line.
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| Alt F7 | Toggle Fast-Sale | Toggles Fast Sales on and off. Fast Sales allow you to complete a sale without selecting an item, receiving payments, allowing charges, or giving change. This is ideal for cafeterias in which meal numbers are counted and it does not matter to whom the meal is served. |
| Alt F8 | n/a | |
| Alt F9 | Transfer Money | Allows you to transfer money between siblings. Enter Transfer Money information. Then, click Ok.
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| Alt F10 | n/a | |
| Alt F11 | Toggle Single-Click Select | Toggles the ability of a single-click and double-click when selecting a customer from the serving line. |
| Alt F12 | n/a |
Alacarte Cash Sale - Brings up items for à la carte sales to be entered. Select all necessary à la carte items sold and click Ok. Collect payment, give change, and click Ok to complete the sale.
Skip Auto Sale - Allows skipping an automatic sale if the Auto Sale feature is turned on.
Review Transaction - Brings up the Pick a transaction to review window to show all transactions that have occurred on the serving line. The window shows the transaction date/time, POSID, name, number of items sold, and amount tendered. Refer to Alt F6 Review Transaction in the Alternate Keys for further instructions.
Search - Brings up the customer search screen in order to locate a customer.
Search
The Search window is the primary window seen when no input devices have been installed or the F10 (Toggle Customer Input) button has been selected.
Ok - Once the customer's identity has been established through the input device(s), click Ok to continue to the sale window.
Function Keys
Function Keys can be added on the Input Screen. If a command is not available at the Input Screen level, the button will be disabled as it is in the screenshot below (Ctrl F5).
Inform your supervisor if you notice disabled buttons in order to resolve the issue as they are customized at the Serving Line and Serving Line Configs level by authorized personnel.
Main Screen when Not Utilizing an Input Device
This screen also appears when utilizing the Search function from the main screen or if the F10 (Toggle Customer Input) button has been selected.
Searching for a Customer
If you need to search for a customer, you can type all or part of the customer's name or enter the POS ID.
- Use the mouse, touchscreen, or keyboard to enter search information. You may also click the Search by Name button or the on-screen keypad to enter information. Text entries will appear in the Current Customer Name box at the top of the screen. Numerical entries will appear above the on-screen keypad.
Select the correct customer from the list and click the Ok button or double-click on the customer's name.
If the (Alt-F11) Toggle Single-Click Select has been selected, a single-click will bring up the sale window.
Additional Customer Selection Screen Options
Biometric Enrollment
Biometric enrollment occurs on the serving line. You can enroll a customer for the first time or re-enroll a customer.
Click the Enroll button and follow on-screen instructions to complete biometric enrollment.
Complete instructions for installation, setup, and enrollment are available in the Peripheral Configuration Setup & Usage Guides section of this manual.
Utilizing Multiple Input Devices
Multiple input devices can be utilized in the POS system.
Only one hand guide setting will operate in the cafeteria. Attempts to run both the Child Hand Guide and the Big Hand Guide will result in an error.
From the Point of Sale main customer menu, notice there are two (2) PalmSecure Scanner devices running.
As customers pass through the line, notice the first customer recognition has turned green and is noted in the Current Customer window. The second customer recognition is yellow (awaiting the first customer sale to be completed or canceled before proceeding).
Allergy Alert System
The Allergy System adds the ability to specify allergens on items and customer allergies. It also provides the appropriate warning on the serving line.
If a customer has any listed allergies, the Food Allergies window will appear with an audio alert once the customer has been selected. Any food allergies will be listed. Click Ok to continue with the sale.
