Re: POS Cash Drawer with Internet Explorer? by Tom
Tom
Mon Jul 21 15:19:25 CDT 2003
To control the cash drawer and bar code scanner you'll have to lower the
security settings on the browser, and have Activex components control them.
You could use Citrix like Ray suggested, but I suspect that would be pricey
and has a little bit of upfront configuration.
If you wrote a fat client application, that gets updated automatically by a
server, you could have the best of both worlds.
Just my opinion.
If your committed to using IE, then you'll just have to bear in mind the
limitations that are there, and be sure to code around them.
"Scott A. Keen" <scott@scottkeen.com> wrote in message
news:uzWMz67TDHA.940@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> What's the main beef with using IE for the client? Is it that it's too
much
> hassle to write ActiveX controls to download to the client? Or is it that
> savvy users could mess-around with the URL and post bogus data?
>
> We're really looking to make a thin-client app, with all the processing
done
> by the server. It also makes deployment of updates much easier.
>
> I guess we could also write an ActiveDocument that gets loaded as an app
> inside of an IE web browser. I always thought that sort of thing was kinda
> kludgy.
>
> Really, the goals are:
> 1) thin client
> 2) easy deployment
> 3) works with cash drawer and bar code scanner devices
>
> I hope this isn't one of those, "pick any 2 out of 3" deals.
>
>
>
> "Tom B" <shuckle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:u3Ithi7TDHA.2260@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Not much point in using PDA's as Cash Drawers were specifically
mentioned.
> >
> > Everything else I agree with. I'm sure you could write a bunch of
ActiveX
> > controls to be downloaded and installed on the IE client. But you're
> > probably better off writing an actual application anyway.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Chris Barber" <chris@blue-canoe.co.uk.NOSPAM> wrote in message
> > news:%23sGQ8K7TDHA.3796@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > Still - fraught with issues - not least of all security and the
> potential
> > > for fraud by IE savvy employees.
> > > Believe me - I've fired a few when I used to run bars a few years ago.
> > >
> > > Still - if they can use WinNT for service station internet kiosks and
> > > display screens then I suppose anything is possible. Have you
considered
> > > wireless PDA's with bar code scanners on them - my business partner
has
> > had
> > > a fair bit oif experience with that stuff. As long as no cash changing
> > hands
> > > then it should be OK.
> > >
> > > Have fun.
> > >
> > > Chris.
> > >
> > > "Scott A. Keen" <scott@scottkeen.com> wrote in message
> > > news:OaPgrG7TDHA.1552@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > > > LOL! It's in the concept planning stage. It's for a couople of local
> > > health
> > > > clubs which have a low-volume point-of-sale counter for the
occasional
> > > > member who wants to buy a bottle of water or a protein bar. Not high
> > > volume
> > > > retail.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Chris Barber" <chris@blue-canoe.co.uk.NOSPAM> wrote in message
> > > > news:OBsl176TDHA.2316@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > > Reliability would be horrible.
> > > > >
> > > > > Who the heck thought that one up? Let me know what brand the
stores
> > > are -
> > > > I
> > > > > reckon I could have a big shopping spree coming up!
> > > > >
> > > > > You would probably need a custom written browser add-in to be able
> to
> > do
> > > > > anything (unless you run it as a .htc and you could then
instantiate
> > > local
> > > > > side DLL's to do the work). But .... how to get the DLL's to the
> > client
> > > > > machines and get them installed - oh the fun we could have messing
> > with
> > > > > that!
> > > > >
> > > > > Chris.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Scott A. Keen" <scott@scottkeen.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:OpweZv6TDHA.1912@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm getting tasked with writing an ASP application deployed
> > throughout
> > > > the
> > > > > > company's intranet where all the workstations will be running
> > Internet
> > > > > > Explorer 6.0.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It's a retail business, and some of the workstations are
> > Point-Of-Sale
> > > > and
> > > > > > will need to have cash drawers and bar-code scanners.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The project managers want this as a web-application because of
the
> > > ease
> > > > of
> > > > > > deployment and updates to the other stores. The problem is, I
> don't
> > > know
> > > > > how
> > > > > > to activate the cash drawers from within IE. Is there any kind
of
> > > > ActiveX
> > > > > > control which can be plugged into IE to allow control over the
> cash
> > > > drawer
> > > > > > from within IE? We don't have the cash drawers purchased yet,
and
> > are
> > > > > > waiting to find out if anyone makes an ActiveX plug-in control
and
> > > cash
> > > > > > drawer which will work from IE.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Scott
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>