Creating/Recreating a SwiftPOS Back Office Database

 

Description

 

Outlines the steps involved in creating/recreating a blank SwiftPOS Back Office database.

 

To Be Considered

 

  1. If recreating a blank database for an existing SwiftPOS Back Office database, then make sure a backup has been made.
  2. The location of the existing Registration file will need to be known prior to commencing a recreate, as it will be required to re-register the recreated blank database.
  3. Note : If a SQL user other than the default sa user has been configured and is intended to be used to connect to the SwiftPOS database, then it is important to keep in mind that all the required permissions are set during a DB Upgrade. That includes the permissions for the SwiftPOS User role and Server State permissions (Encryption and SSL Connection).

 


Create a New Back Office Database

 

  1. Create a blank database. This can be initiated via:

    1. the SwiftPOS Back Office New Back Office Database menu item, OR
    2. SwiftPOS Back Office > Tools > Change Database menu option and then via the SwiftPOS - SQL Server Connections screen.


  1. For a first time created SwiftPOS Back Office database OR for an alternate database, SQL Server Connections will need to be created/changed.
  2. Login via the Clerk Login screen.
  3. Reset and Upgrade the newly created/recreated database.
  4. Start the SwiftPOS Services once logged into the newly created/recreated database.
  5. The newly created/recreated database should now be available and ready for use.

 


SwiftPOS - SQL Server Connection

 

To access this screen select Add / Edit SQL Database Connections from the SwiftPOS Back Office > Tools >  Change Database menu option. The SwiftPOS - SQL Server Connections screen is used to create/maintain SQL Server Connection(s) to SwiftPOS Back Office databases. It also provides the ability to create a new database.

 

 

Grid

 

  • Name - Displays the names of existing SQL Server Connections.
  • Server - Displays the name of the server.
  • Database - Displays the database name.
  • Service - Select to run SwiftPOS Services. Select only if an instance of SwiftPOS services will be running on this PC. If making a connection to the server from a workstation that is not running the services then do NOT select this option. SwiftPOS Services only run on one machine on any one site or database and that is normally controlled by the File Server.

 

Footer

 

  • Add - Select to open the Connect to Server screen and add an SQL Server Connection to establish a connection to the Back Office database.
  • Remove - Select to delete the selected SQL Server Connection. Note the Current connection cannot be removed.
  • Edit - Select to open the Connect to Server screen and edit an SQL Server Connection for the Back Office database.
  • Tools - Select from the drop down list the following:

    • Check for and Remove Orphaned Services - Select to view and uninstall any orphaned services. If no orphaned services are found, nothing is displayed.


  • OK - Select to save any changes and exit. If the following pop up is displayed, then the Registration file will need to be re-imported. Select OK.

 

Select from the Back Office main screen select Registration (top right hand corner), to import the Registration file.


  • Close - Select to exit.

 

Note : You can add additional databases here if you have the knowledge on how to manage multiple databases on different port numbers that connect to SwiftPOS Touch terminals. For further information click here.

 


Connect to Server - Back Office

 

 

This screen is accessed from here.

 

Server

 

  • Server name - Select from the drop down list of available servers or enter the name of the SQL Server that hosts the SwiftPOS database. Select (local) if the SQL Server is running on the local PC. If the drop down list is empty then check that Microsoft SQL Server is installed and the firewall is configured to ensure that Microsoft SQL Server is visible to the local PC or network. Note : It is recommended to use an IP address (for example: 192.168.0.2) for the SwiftPOS connection rather than a DNS Name, to avoid the DNS name having to be resolved each time the server is interrogated.

 

  • Authentication - Select from the drop down list one of the following:

 

  • Windows Authentication
  • SQL Authentication
     
    • User name -  Displays/Enter the user name. The default user name is sa.
    • Password - Displays/Enter the password. The default password is swiftpos.

 

Note : If a SQL user other than the default sa user has been configured and is intended to be used to connect to the SwiftPOS database, then it is important to keep in mind that all the required permissions are set during a DB Upgrade. That includes the permissions for the SwiftPOS User role and Server State permissions (Encryption and SSL Connection).

 

  • Network Protocol - Select from the drop down list below, the preferred Network Protocol used to establish connection.

 

Note : For more information ...

 

Database

 

Select one of the following:

 

  • Connect to database - Select from the drop down list of available databases or enter the name of the  database. The default database name is TABLETRACKING.

 

Connection


  • Connection time-out - Displays/Set the timeout in seconds to establish a connection. Default is 30.
  • Execution time-out - Displays/Set the execution timeout in seconds.
  • Encrypt connection - Select to enable.
  • Trust server certificate - Select to enable.
  • Reset All - Select to ensure any changes are reset to the original settings.

Security

  • If you have a Self Signed Certificate then you need to enable the Check Box to ?Trust server certificate? Basically saying to trust any certificate on the server.

If you have ?forced security? on the SQL Server then you don?t need to ?Encrypt connection? because it is already forced.

If you have purchased an SSL and registered it correctly then both of these check boxes would be left off.

 

Footer

 

  • Create New Database - Select to open the Create New Database screen to create a new SwiftPOS database.
  • Connect - Select to establish a connection
  • Cancel - Select to exit without saving settings.
  • Test Connection - Select to test the database connection settings configured above.

 


Connect to Server - Table Tracking

 

 

This screen is accessed from the Table Tracking Database Connection option.

 

Server

 

  • Server name - Select from the drop down list of available servers or enter the name of the SQL Server that hosts the Table Tracking database. Select (local) if the SQL Server is running on the local PC. If the drop down list is empty then check that Microsoft SQL Server is installed and the firewall is configured to ensure that Microsoft SQL Server is visible to the local PC or network. Note : It is recommended to use an IP address (for example: 192.168.0.2) for the Table Tracking connection rather than a DNS Name, to avoid the DNS name having to be resolved each time the server is interrogated.

 

  • Authentication - Select from the drop down list one of the following:

  • Windows Authentication
  • SQL Authentication
     
    • User name -  Displays/Enter the user name. The default user name is sa.
    • Password - Displays/Enter the password. The default password is swiftpos.

 

  • Network Protocol - Select from the drop down list below, the preferred Network Protocol used to establish connection.

Note : For more information ...

 

Database

 

Select one of the following:

 

  • Connect to database - Select from the drop down list of available databases or enter the name of the  database. The default database name is TABLETRACKING.

 

Connection


  • Connection time-out - Displays/Set the timeout in seconds to establish a connection. Default is 15.
  • Execution time-out - Displays/Set the execution timeout in seconds.
  • Encrypt connection - Select to enable.
  • Trust server certificate - Select to enable.
  • Reset All - Select to ensure any changes are reset to the original settings.

 

Footer

 

  • Create New Database - Select to open the Create New Table Tracking Database screen to create a new database.
  • Connect - Select to establish a connection
  • Cancel - Select to exit without saving settings.
  • Test Connection - Select to test the database connection settings configured above.

 

Running Multiple Instances of Back Office Simultaneusly

 

 

You can achieve this by using a /S:{Name} command line argument when running SwiftPOS.EXE You can do this easily by creating a shortcut to the SwiftPOS.EXE on the desktop and adding the /S:{Name} to the end of the command line.

 

The {Name} corresponds to the Name given when you setup your SQL Server Connections in SwiftPOS Back Office. Not the Database name:

 

(64 bit OS) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Samford Software\BackOffice\SwiftPOS.exe" /S:TRAINING

(32 bit OS) "C:\Program Files\Samford Software\BackOffice\SwiftPOS.exe" /S:TRAINING

 

Change Database Server

 

Description

 

If you are running a Bureau Service or Franchise Head Office with multiple Franchise Concepts across multiple Countries then you need to be able to run multiple instances of the services on the same PC. The other option is to use virtualised servers where each Franchise Concept is in a different workspace. If you want Voucher operation, you would need to run NetPOS.Net on separate Computers. There are long term plans to allow multiples of each interface in NetPOS.Net, however that is a huge development task

 

Note : If you are using multiple databases then you need to ensure that your SwiftPOS Touch terminals are all different numbers because they share the same update directory. This will be changed in 2013/2014. Leave gaps of 10 or 100 for Terminal ID?s per database.

Site 1 10 - Terminal ID 11 - Terminal ID 12 - Terminal ID Site 2 20 - Terminal ID 21 - Terminal ID 22 - Terminal ID etc.

Site 3 30 - Terminal ID 31 - Terminal ID 32 - Terminal ID etc.

 

Services check box option - This option determines if you are going to run an instance of the services on this PC. If you are making a connection to the server from a workstation that is not running the services then this option would not be selected. Services only run on one machine on any one site or database and that is normally controlled by the File Server.

Add - The first step is to add a new database here or use the option to create a blank database if you don't already have a database attached is SQL Server. It is important that you use the Username and password when you make a connection here so that the services can run.

 

 

 

Select the arrow in the top right hand corner to access the Database Connections panel. This enables one to quickly change the current database connection to one of the databases listed. Select a database and then log into that database with your normal Username and password. Note : Access to the Database Connections side panel can be hidden by using the /H command in the SwiftPOS Back Office command line. For example, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Samford Software\BackOffice\SwiftPOS.exe" /H or C:\Program Files (x86)\Samford Software\BackOffice\SwiftPOS.exe /H from Start

 


Before you start your SwiftPOS Services for each database that has been added

 

You will require a Software Registration for each database that you install. That is how the software is licenced.

 

Each Database needs to have a different folder for Sales processing. For example:

 

  1. C:\SwiftPOS\Site1
  2. C:\SwiftPOS\Site2
  3. C:\SwiftPOS\Site3
  4. C:\SwiftPOS\Site4
  5. etc....

 

Each Database will need the following :

 

  1. A different Port Number to connect to the database specific SwiftPOS Touch terminals.
  2. To have unique SwiftPOS Touch terminal ID's because they share the same update folder. This will change in 2013.
  3. To have a different Port Number for the Messaging Service if it is being used.

 

Open up Windows Task-Manager and you will be able to see the Service running for each database under the Processes tab.

 

 


Where are the Log-In settings stored?

 

C:\ProgramData\Samford Software\Settings.ini

C:\ProgramData\Samford Software\BackOfficeSQL.XML

 

If you have had failed connections for some reason, you may need to rename these files to make it appear like a new installation.

 

SQL Login Setup

 

Description

 

When you launch the SwiftPOS application you can drop down the SQL Server list and choose a Server and Database located on that Server. If you are accessing the SQL Server on a different port then enter the Server Name followed by a Comma and the port number. E.g.: SERVER-PC,5000 for a PC on Port 5000. If you are on the server you can leave the User Name blank for integrated security but not recommended because services need access to the SQL database when the user is not logged in. You are also able to create a blank database from this menu for new sites.

 


Clerk Login

 

 

Select the arrow on the right hand side to show/hide the available database connections. Select a database connection and login.

 

  • Clerk ID - Enter a number 0-9. The default is 0.
  • Pin - Enter the pin. The default is 0.
  • Remember Me - Select to remember the login details entered.
  • Connected SQL Users - Select to open the Current Client Access List screen:
  • Shut Down - Select to close the current connection.
  • OK - Select to process input.

Current Client Access List

 

 

To view the current list of Clients that are connected to the selected SwiftPOS Database.

 

  • Host Name - Displays the server names.
  • User Name - Displays the Usernames.
  • Client Access Licences - Displays the total number of licences that the software is registered for.
  • Current Client Accesses - Displays the number of licences currently used.
  • Close - Select to exit.

 


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