Menu Board Designer

 

Back Office > Touch Settings > Menu Boards > Designer

 

Description

 

This feature is used to design electronic Menu Boards, with the option of including Call Names/Numbers/Tables. It also allows the placement Product information onto the Menu Board picture and forms the basis of what is going to be displayed on electronic Menu Boards located in Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, etc.

 

  1. Start the designer with a background graphic image that can contain as much static information as required. This may include the entire menu or could simply be a blank canvas.
  2. The next part is to start building up data fields on the Menu Board that contain Product information.
  3. Headings and other information can simply be placed on the Menu without having to link to Products.
  4. The pricing for different sized Products are linked directly to the PLU for that Product. There is no PLU offset required.
  5. Up to two prices can be displayed per Product. This is mainly used in clubs where Customer/Members and a non-Customer/Member prices are displayed side by side. The Price Levels are selected here. You may also setup Advertising for use on the Menu Board by selecting the Menu Board Type of Advertising. Once you have setup the Advertising you can then link a Advertising Image/Video (MP4) file to the Menu Board.
  6. Once you have finished the Menu Board Design, send an update to the Menu Board terminals using the Send Update button.

 

To Be Considered

 

  1. Note : When installing multiple Menu Boards make sure that all the Menu Boards have been configured to completion before attempting to invoke them. Not doing this may result in the Menu Boards not starting.
  2. Product Information/Price changes will NOT be displayed unless a Full Update is requested at the Table tracking Master terminal or Full Update is sent to the Table tracking Master terminal from the SwiftPOS Back Office.
  3. This feature replaces the previous, namely Menu Board (Standard) Setup and Menu Board (Standard) Operation.

 


Menu Designer

 

 

This screen is accessed from here. See the example of the above design below.

 

Menus

 

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

 

Note : A Menu Design cannot be deleted if it has been used in the Scheduler. It will first need to be removed from the Schedule.

 

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

    • Add a Simple Item - Select to add a basic text box to the Menu Board, that is not linked to anything.
    • Add a Product Item - Select to add a Product to the Menu Board.
    • Add Slide Show Item - Select to add a Slide Show to the Menu Board.
    • Add a Video Item - Select to add a Video Item to the Menu Board. For more information ...
    • Add a Call Item - Select to add Call Names/Numbers/Tables items to display the names/numbers/tables to be called when an order is ready.


  • Edit - Select to Cut/Copy/Paste/Delete/Undo objects on the Menu Board.
  • Format - Select to Align/Resize/Space/Centre/Order objects on the Menu Board.
  • Zoom - Select to Zoom in/out of the Menu Board so you can view more detail on the screen.

 

Toolbar

 

Select from the toolbar options to action/edit Menus:

 

 

Properties

 

  • Description - Displays/Enter a description for the Menu Board. For example : Coffee Menu or Winter Food Menu.
  • Width/Height - Set to match the screen size (in pixels). The most common size are:


    • For Landscape mode - 1920 x 1080
    • For Portrait mode - 1080 x 1920.


  • Background Colour - Select Set to set the colour of the background.
  • Background Image - Select to open the Images screen and select an image for the background. It is recommended that images are already sized to match the screen size.
  • Grid Size - Displays/Set the grid size (in pixels). The default is 10. Adjusting the grid size will affect how items are moved/sized in the design.
    • Snap to Grid - Select to snap items to the grid. Assists with aligning.

 

  • Zoom - Select to zoom in/out of the design. For example, when designing for a Menu Board that is to be displayed on a screen that is twice the resolution of the screen the Menu Board is being designed on, then there may be a need to zoom in and out to view a particular detail.

 

Item Properties

 

  • Item Text - Displays/Enter the text to be displayed when an item has been marked as out of stock.
  • Item Image - Select to open the Images Menu screen and select an Image.
  • Background Colour - Select Set to set the colour of the background or select Clear to ensure the background of the selected item is transparent.
  • Text Colour - Select Set to set the colour of the Text.
  • Font - Select to choose the font of the Text. Please ensure that the fonts chosen are displayable on the Menu Board PC that is displaying the menu. If very special fonts are required then it is recommended that these be created as part of the background image. If you are using non-standard Windows fonts, that you will have to manually copy them to the Menu Board Computers so that it looks the same on all Menu Boards.
  • Text Alignment - Select to from the drop down and select the appropriate positioning of the text within Item.
  • Text Direction - Select from the drop down list the appropriate direction of the text.
  • Wrap Text - Select to ensure the text is wrapped. Used when displaying Product Notes.
  • Lock Size and Position - Select to ensure the selected item cannot be moved or resized.
  • Move/Size - Select the arrows to either move/resize the selected item either up/down or left/right.
  • Product Details - Select to open the Product Data screen. This button will only be displayed when a Product Item is added/selected. For more information ...
  • Call Item Details - Select to open the Call Items Details screen. This button will only be displayed when a Call Item is added/selected. For more information ...
  • Change PLU - Select to open the Products screen to select an alternative Product for selected item.
  • Slide Show Properties - Select to open the Slide Show popup to select a Slide Show that will be played. This button will only be visible when a Slide Show Item is added/selected. For more information ...

 

Products

 

  • Category/Group/Family - Select from one or more of the drop down lists Category/Groups/Family to filter the Products displayed in the list of Products.
  • Sort by PLU - Select to sort by PLU Number.
  • Sort by Description - Select to sort by Product Description.
  • Include Inactive - Select to include inactive Products displayed in the grid.

Note : Products can now be dragged and dropped onto the Menu Board. Once dropped the Product Data screen below will be displayed to facilitate the selection of the type of data about the Product that is to be displayed.

 

Footer

 

  • New - Select to add a Menu Board.
  • Open - Select to open the Menu Boards screen to select from one of the existing Menu Boards.
  • Save - Select to save changes.
  • Send Update - Select to send a Full Update to the Menu Boards. Note : Updates sent using this key will not include Product Information/Price changes. Only changes to the Menu Board Design and layout will be sent. To ensure Product Information/Price changes are updated at the Menu Boards request a Full Update at the SwiftPOS Touch terminals or send a Full Update from the SwiftPOS Back Office.
  • Close - Select to exit.

 

Example

 

 

Options

 

  • Online - Select to either Connect or Disconnect to SwiftPOS Back Office.
  • Event Log Reader - Select to open the Event Log Viewer to view logs.
  • Settings - Select to open the Menu Board Settings screen to configure settings.

 


Product Details

 

 

This screen is accessed from here.

 

  • Product Data - Select from the drop down list (as depicted by 1 above) one of the options available.
  • PLU Number - Select to open the Products screen and select a Product.
  • Out of Stock Behaviour - Select from the drop down list (as depicted by 2 above) one of the options available.
  • To customise the way data displayed. select one or more of the options available. Namely, Currency Symbol, Hide Cents, Force Uppercase, Force Lowercase and/or Force Title Case.

 


Slide Show

 

 

Slide Show Filename - Select from the drop down list one of the Slide Shows available. These would have been created here.

 


Call Items Details

 

 

This screen is accessed from here.

 

  • Number of Cells - Display/Enter the number of cells (orders) that will be displayed in the Call names/number window on the Menu Board.

  • Orientation - Select either Horizontal or Vertical to set the orientation of the Call names/number window.

  • Colour - Select to set the Main/Alternate/Border and Text colours.

  • Font - Select to set the font.

  • Text Alignment - Select to set the placement of the call names/numbers in the cells.

  • Wrap Test - Select to wrap text.

  • Clear Cells Time - Displays/Enter the time that needs to lapse before the cells will be cleared.

 


Adding Video Files to Menu Boards

 

Menu Boards now supports the displaying of Video files (.mp4 files only). This however, is limited to relatively small video files.

 

To add Video files to Menu Boards do as follows:

  1. In Back Office> Touch Settings > Advertising :
    1. Select New and the select New Video File Advertising option. The Video File Advertising screen will be displayed.
    2. Select Set Video File and select the Video (.mp4) file to be displayed on the Menu Board.
    3. Configure the remaining settings as required.

 

  1. In Back Office> Touch Settings > Menu Boards > Designer :

 

    1. Open the Menu Board to which the Video file is to be displayed on.
    2. Select Items > Add Video Item. A Video Item object will be added to the Menu Board. Drag and resize it to the display position and size required.
    3. Select Video Properties in the Item Properties panel on the RHS. This will open the Video screen.
    4. Select Local Video, and select from the drop down list the required Video file. Select Preview to confirm the correct file has been selected and that it plays correctly.
    5. Select OK to exit.
    6. Save the changes and close the Menu Designer screen.

 

  1. Double click the C:\SwiftPOSMenu\SwiftPOS.MenuBoard.exe file to start Menu Board.
    1. Once started right click on the Menu Board and select Settings.
    2. Select Tools > Request Full Update.
    3. Select OK
    4. Wait for the Menu Board to be refreshed with the update.
    5. The Video File should now be displayed.

 


Video

 

 

This screen is accessed from here and then select the Video Item object added to the Menu Board and select Video Properties in the Item Properties panel on the RHS

 

  • Local Video - Display/Select from the drop down list the Video file to be displayed. For files to display here, they will need to be added to Advertising first. See Adding Video Files to Menu Boards above.
  • Remote URL - Display/Enter a URL.
  • Preview - Select to preview the Video.
  • OK - Select to save and exit.
  • Cancel - Select to exit without saving.

 


Menu Board Settings

 

 

This screen is accessed by right clicking on the Menu Board and selecting Settings or right clicking the Menu Board icon in the Windows System Tray.

 

TCP Settings

 

  • Terminal ID - Displays/Set the Terminal ID to one of the Menu Board type Terminals that has been configured in the SwiftPOS Back Office.
  • Host or IP - Displays/Enter the name of the PC hosting the SwiftPOS Connect Service. This can be connected locally or over the Internet.
  • Tenant ID - Displays/Enter the Tenant ID. This is generally the name of the SwiftPOS Back Office database to which the terminal normally connects to.
  • Access Code - Displays/Enter the Access Code (Database Reference ID) specific to the SwiftPOS Back Office database configured in Tenant ID above.
  • Security Policy - Refer to Security Policy Options & TCP Secure Connection Settings for more information.
  • Port - Displays/Set the Port to the same one that has been configured here.
  • Auto Reconnect in X Secs - Displays/Set the number seconds to lapse before attempting to reconnect to the Host or IP server.
  • Connected - Displays Green when a connection to the the SwiftPOS Connect Service is active or Red when there is no current connection.

 

Database

 

  • Connection - Select to create a connection to the SwiftPOS Table Tracking database. For more information ...

 

General Settings

 

  • Menu Board Schedule - Select from the drop down list of the Menu Board Schedules available. Menu Board Schedules are configured here. If there are no Schedules listed in the drop down list then go to Menu Board Scheduler, open up the Menu Boards that are being sent to the required Location and select the Send Update button. This is normally only required if the Table Tracking database has been cleared at a site and an update is required to be sent out to the Table tracking Master terminal. This is not sent out on a regular update because it could increase the network traffic when not required. Ensure that a Table tracking Master terminal is selected for the same Location and that the Menu Boards are installed in the same Location. Also, there must be a SwiftPOS Touch terminal in the same Location as the Menu Boards. This is because the SwiftPOS Touch terminal manages the Product updates for this Location.
  • Alternate Language - Select from the drop down list.
  • HTML Mode - Ticket 1240 and 4581 - It is a check box marked HTML Mode. When checked this will change the way the Menu Board works. Currently it draws a bit map and displays it on the main screen, the new way creates a HTML file (Stored in the user files) and displays that in a browser window on the main screen. There are some limitations with HTML mode and some advantages. You can no longer right click on the main screen and if you want to get to the menu to exit or adjust settings, you need to click on the icon in the system tray. Vertical Text is also not supported. You can now place objects in front of a Advertising Image/Video (MP4) object. I had a quick look at this and it does display a transparent background Video file very well. HTML 5 Browser mode - The Google CHROME browser is the only browser that supports MP4 video files at this stage. Reseller Help - For Web Server Setup information.
  • Full Debug Logging - Select to enable. Note : This should only be enabled when recommended.
  • Auto-restart Menu Board Monitor - Default is enabled. If for some reason the Menu Board stops, it will automatically restart.

 

HTML Mode Settings

 

  • Refresh HTLM Every X Secs
  • HTML 5 (new Borwsers Only)

 

Footer

 

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

    • Reset Last Update Date - Select to trigger a full update to be sent to the Menu Board. This is only required for testing.
    • Request Full Update - Select to obtain a full update from the SwiftPOS Back Office.


  • Ok - Select to exit and save settings.
  • Cancel - Select exit without saving settings.

 


Getting Started

 

  1. Design your Menu board layouts using this designer.
  2. Set up the Menu board Scheduler to display different Menu Boards at different times during the day.
  3. Add Terminal ID's for the number of Menu Boards that you are licenced to install.
  4. Add the Terminal ID's to the list of Terminals here.
  5. Install the Menu Board application here on the PC's that drive the large screens.
  6. Send a full update out to the Menu Boards.
  7. Design your Advertising Image/Video (MP4) files to display on the Menu Boards here.
  8. Set up your Display Menu Boards here with Menu Board switching (if used).
  9. The best way to manage the different screens, is to use "Teamviewer" and switch screens to set up each Menu.

 


Trouble shooting - Menu Boards

 

As of release 4.13.65.13 we have changed some functionality, so rather than going blank when no Product data is found it will now display No Data.

The image that gets taken when there is no connection to the SQL server will now display BMP in a top right Red Square or if you are not running live it should also be saving this image and displaying it. You then know that there is a connection problem and the bmp image is being displayed. this will help with diagnosing any problems with the Menu Boards.

 

  1. If you get No Data displaying in the Menu Board Product area then send a Full Update to the Table tracking Master terminal from the SwiftPOS Back Office.
  2. If it is displaying the BMP image (Red square with BMP displaying in it,in the top right hand corner of the Menu Board) then first find out if there is a network problem, or the SQL server is unavailable.
  3. If Menu Boards are out of alignment or on the wrong screens from the VGA/IP connectors then stop and start the USB Server Program on the server this should correct the problem. No reboot required.
  4. If the Menu Boards go completely blank, then we need to investigate further. They should only be blank for a short period until the bmp image is shown.
  5. If they remain blank, check the BMP image exists in the user/appdata/local/temp directory named MB**.bmp and confirm that there is Product information showing on the image.

 


Related Topics

 

  1. Advertising
  2. Menu Board Call Names/Numbers/Tables
  3. Installation
  4. Locations - Menu Board 2nd Price Level
  5. Menu Board Professional (Digital Advertising Screens) Features
  6. Reseller Help - For Web Server Setup information
  7. Scheduler
  8. Touch Settings