This guide is intended for customers who have MealViewer integrated with their Edison software. It will highlight the features and settings required to create an interface between MealViewer and Edison in order to digitally display menu information in your cafeterias.
| Optional MealViewer Integration Setup | |
| MealViewer Menu Groups | MealViewer Display Groups |
| MealViewer Blocks | MealViewer Menu and Display Groups Mass Update |
MealViewer Menu Groups, Blocks, and Display Groups are not required; however, they should be established before enabling Synchronization.
| Required MealViewer Integration Setup |
| Enable MealViewer Integration |
| Enable Agent Mode |
| MealViewer Status & Sync |
MealViewer Menu Groups
MealViewer Menu Groups are "buckets" which allow you to categorize the different recipes served in a cafeteria. Set up the Menu Group names here.
Establishing MealViewer Menu Groups
MealViewer Menu Groups are not required for MealViewer or MealViewer Display Group integrations.
- From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select Advanced Setup. Then, select MealViewer Menu Groups.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and click on the cell next to the asterisk*.
- Enter the Menu Group. When finished, select Save Changes.
Assign MealViewer Menu Groups to your Recipes (if applicable)
Assign the MealViewer Menu Groups to your recipes on a menu (if applicable).
- From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select Recipes & Menus, then select Menus.
Add a new menu to the list of available menus by clicking Add New or select an existing menu and select Edit.
- Select a MealViewer Menu Group from the drop-down menu to assign the Menu Group to the associated recipe.
In the example below, the Mexican PIzza and Black Beans over Rice are assigned to the "SouthWest" Menu Group, the Beef Teriyaki Dipper is assigned to the "Asian" Menu Group, and so on. Anything assigned to the "Default" menu group will be available at any line.
MealViewer Blocks
In MealViewer, Blocks determine at what time and location menus are displayed on digital signage and also how menus will be grouped within Digital Suite. They are configured within MealViewer; however, you are able to establish Blocks within Edison to be sent over with your menus when syncing with MealViewer. You can assign the Blocks to menus in the Menu Templates screen.
- From the Advanced option, select MealViewer Blocks.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and click in the cell next to the asterisk*.
- Enter the Block. When finished, select Save Changes.
If the Block you need for a menu is one of the existing Meal Types (Breakfast, Lunch, Snack), you do not need to add a Block.
Assign MealViewer Blocks to Menus (if applicable)
Blocks are displayed on the Menu Template Maintenance Screen under the MealViewer Block column (if applicable).
The MealViewer Block column is only available if you have created Blocks in MealViewer Block Maintenance.
Perform the following steps to assign a Block to an existing menu template.
- From the Recipes and Menus tab, select Menu Templates.
- Select a menu template to edit.
Select a MealViewer Block from the drop-down menu.
The MealViewer Block drop-down menu is only available if you have created Blocks in MealViewer Block Maintenance.
- Click Save Changes when finished configuring your menu.
Once you have created and assigned MealViewer Blocks, they will be visible in a new column within your Site Planning.
You may select a MealViewer Block when adding a menu within your Site Planning.
Recipes within a menu that come over to site planning will be assigned to the MealViewer Block associated with the menu.
- Select Menu Planning from your Home tab (a site must be selected).
- Select a menu from the calendar by double-clicking on the day.
- Select Add.
- Select Add a Menu.
- Select the menu that you would like to add to the Serving Plan.
- Select the MealViewer Block you would like to associate with the menu.
MealViewer Display Groups
After you have put together your MealViewer Menu Groups and have assigned them to your recipes, you can create Display Groups.
Establishing MealViewer Display Groups
If you need to create multiple MealViewer Display Groups, proceed to MealViewer Display Groups Mass Update.
Display Groups are the result of the assignment of MealViewer Menu Groups to a line. When the Menu Group is attached to a line with other Menu Groups, it is then communicated to MealViewer that this is how your menus should be displayed on your digital signage.
- From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select Site & Categories, then select Sites.
Select a site and then select Edit Site.
Select the checkbox of the MealViewer Menu Group which is associated with each line.
In the example below, the Line 1 Display Group will show recipes from the All American Line and the Hot Line. The Line 2 Display Group will show recipes from the Asian Line and SouthWest Line. The Line 3 Display Group will show recipes from the Gluten-Free Bar, Salad Bar, and the Vegan bar. The Line 4 Display Group will show all recipes which have not been assigned a Menu Group.
MealViewer Menu Groups Mass Update
- From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select Recipes & Menus.
Hover over Mass Update and then select MealViewer Menu Groups.
Select a MealViewer Menu Group for each applicable menu
When finished, select Save Changes.
Search for what you need on this page by pressing Control + F.
MealViewer Display Groups Mass Update
The Mass Updates option allows you to easily apply changes to all sites affected by a change in MealViewer Display Groups.
- From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select Sites & Categories.
Hover over Mass Update and then select MealViewer Display Groups.
Edit the Display Groups by selecting the checkboxes of the MealViewer Menu Groups that you want to associate with each MealViewer Display Group.
When finished, select Save Changes.
Search for what you need on this page by pressing Control + F on your keyboard.
Perform the following steps to add a MealViewer Display Group.
- Select Add Display Group.
- Select the checkboxes next to the sites you want to apply the new Display Group.
- Select the menu groups that should be attached to the Display Group.
- Enter a Description for your new Display Group.
- Make any changes needed to the new Display Group. You may unselect or select additional menu groups for certain schools.
- When finished, select Save Changes.
Perform the following steps to remove a Display Group.
- Select the Display Group that you would like to remove. You may only select one Display Group at a time.
- Select Remove Display Group.
Select Yes to permanantly delete the Display Group.
After you select yes, the removed Display Group will turn red and have a line crossed through it.
- When finished, select Save Changes.
Enable MealViewer Integration
The Mealviewer tab allows you to establish real-time communication with MealViewer. In addition to establishing communication, safety checks are in place to ensure communication does not occur in the Edison database if copied into a test environment.
- From the Admin & Maintenance tab, select System Settings.
Select the MealViewer tab to enable/disable MealViewer sources and configure MealViewer settings.
MealViewer Server URL - Use the drop-down menu to select the URL of the MealViewer server.
API Key - The MealViewer API Key for your District. Select Test Connection to ensure the connection between Edison and MealViewer is set up correctly.Enable MealViewer Integration - Place a checkmark in the box to enable MealViewer integration.
Full-Refresh on Next Sync - When checked, a Full-Refresh will be performed on the next sync.A Full-Refresh syncs all Site date for each Site.
Note: Any words in italics indicate MealViewer Terminology.- Recipes (Items) including nutrition, allergens, and serving sizes.
Note: Nutrition should always be recalculated for a recipe if items/ingredients have been changed. - Recipe Categories (Item Types)
- Menu Count Types (Age Groups)
- Site name
- Menu planning data listed above (and in accordance with the Exclude 0 Planned Counts and Do Not Display Externally settings) including MealViewer Display Groups and MealViewer Blocks (if established).
Sync Interval - Enter the number of minutes between synchronizations. To disable automatic synchronization, enter 0. By default, the system will send a MealViewer sync every 15 minutes.
Synchronize Dates - Enter XX (the number of) days in the past (if you would like to send records for days prior to today) through XX days in the future - Enter the number of days in the future you would like to send records.
Synchronize Sites - Use the ellipses icon to open the MealViewer Site Filter and establish sites for synchronization.In the MealViewer Site Filter window, use the magnifier tool or drop-down menu to select a Specific Site, By Category, or Named Site Filter. You may also select All Sites.
Synchronize Meals - Select one or more meal types to sync.
Safety Checks - Safety checks ensure communication does not occur if the Edison database is copied into a test environment.
Expected SQL Server Instance - Enter the SQL server name used in your production environment. Use the drop-down menu to select how SQL Server should be compared to the running server.
Normal - Use this option if you only have one SQL server that could be considered correct. The SQL Server instance must match the text entered verbatim.
Reg. Ex. - You may use this option if you have multiple SQL servers that could be considered correct. The SQL Server instance must match the regular expression entered.
Ellipsis - Clicking the ellipsis icon loads the information from the currently running SQL Server and quickly sets the correct values above for running in the current environment.- Recipes (Items) including nutrition, allergens, and serving sizes.
Enable Agent Mode
Prior to proceeding to the next step, Agent Mode must be enabled. For MCS Cloud installations, the HSS support staff need to enable the Edison agent node for the district. For on-premise installations, agent mode is enabled in Admin Console.
- Right-click on the Admin Console icon and select Run as Administrator, then log in to the system.
From the Applications drop-down menu, select Connection Methods. Double-click on Edison and select the checkbox to Enable MCS Agent for this Application. Click Ok, then choose Close in theConnection Methods window.
Do not close Admin Console within proceeding to step 3 and 4.
The service must be stopped and restarted in order for changes to take effect.
- From the Server Admin drop-down menu, select Service Control and then select Stop Service. Click Ok once service has stopped.
- From the Server Admin drop-down menu, select Service Control and then select Start Service. Click Ok once service has started.
- When finished, close Admin Console.
Synchronize MealViewer with Edison
This Option allows you to view the status of your MealViewer sync and to also perform a manual sync between Edison and MealViewer.
From the Synchronize option, select MealViewer Status & Sync.
MealViewer Server Connection - Indicates the successful or unsuccessful connection to the MealViewer Server. Check your MealViewer Settings here.
Automatic Data Synchronization - Indicates if the last attempted sync failed or if automatic data synchronization is disabled.
Data Synchronization is a service run through an Agent that enables integration communication between MCS Edison and MealViewer.
Details - Shows sync status information.
Complete - The processing of the sync request succeeded. MealViewer should reflect the newly synced data.
Pending - The sync request is still processing and will need more time to complete.
Failed - The processing of the sync request failed. No changes will be visible in MealViewer. Click Sync Now to try the sync again.
Last Completed Sync - Shows the date and time of the last completed sync.
Last Attempted Sync - Shows the date and time of the last attempted sync.
Next Expected Sync - Shows the date and time of the next expected sync.
Sync Now - Select this button to run a manual sync and send any changes to MealViewer. You will see a series of processes as synchronization is completed.
When Full-Refresh is enabled, you may use the calendar tools to select a date range for the sync. When a date range is selected, MCS will only send data within the specified date range.
Note: You may only select up to a 30-day date range.