There are no standards where cash registers are concerned. You either
settle on one brand and learn to work with several of their models, or find
ways to use a couple of models from each of several vendors. Even different
models from the same manufacturer are not compatable.
The bigger registers have built in interfaces for various peripherals, like
scales, coin dispensers, scanners and pin pads. They each support a couple
of makes/models of devices and the register manufacturer controls which
ones they talk to. They also have proprietery message and data formats,
none of which will be used by any other manufacturer.
There are some new PC based models which are a little more flexible. You
can now buy hardware and software from one manufacturer, or get the
hardware from several and go elsewhere for the software and drivers. In a
couple of cases, you can get Windows95 POS software that will run on
several different brands of hardware. There are still a limited number of
peripheral drivers available, but the list of options is growning all the
time.
Java based registers? Don't hold your breath. Most of them are already
pushing on the "too slow" envelope with native code or Win95 based software.
Good luck,
Bob McConnell
N2SPP
At 09:32 AM 10/22/98 +0100, M. N. Khan wrote:
>Hello all.
>Has anyone worked with java and cash registers / barcode scanners etc..?
>I need to know which ones are compatible with java and linux, so I can buy
the right ones.
>I will be writing a java program on linux for a Retail clothes company who
want a complet stock and sales software.
>Any ideas? Do I need any special drivers? Are there any modules in java
that I need?
>Any other suggestions?
>Thanx
>
>
>
