AccuPOS Network/Software Setup Guide

AccuPOS can be used in a number of different network and software layouts. This guide is designed to help you understand how AccuPOS can be installed and used in a network. This guide can help you with the concepts of basic networking, file sharing and the setup of AccuPOScomponents.

Please keep in mind that your physical network should still be set up by a professional and that AccuPOS Support can not always correct networking problems.

*This guide also assumes that you are setting up in a Windows XP Professional (service pack 2) environment. Windows Vista users will need to refer to the Vista set up guide as some settings must be changed to work with Windows Vista. AccuPOS is currently not compatible with any operation system other than those that are Microsoft based.

First thing that must be understood is that all the computers on your network must be able to talk to each other. This typically means that they are all connected to the same router and that this router is set up to handle DHCP so that it gives each computer an IP address. (IP address is kind of like a computers phone number and helps to identify where it is on the network.)

AccuPOS suggests that all networks that will be handling Point of Sale operations be on a solid LAN (Category 5 or better) and NOT a wireless connection. Wireless connections can be interrupted by other items that emit radio frequencies (such as cell phones and microwaves) and can stop the flow of sales. Keeping this in mind, LETS GET STARTED!!!

The following are simple options that can be used for setting up your system.

Look through the layouts pictured here and click on it to see what is needed for your setup:

Layout 1: All software is located on one computer.

Layout 2:One computer with AccuPOS Retail Management and Point of Sale and one computer with Accounting and AccuLink Adapter.

Layout 3: One or two Point of Sale computers and one computer with AccuPOS Retail Management, Accounting, and AccuLink Adapter.

Layout 4:Onecomputer with Point of Sale, one with Point of Sale and AccuPOS Retail Management, and one with Accounting and AccuLink Adapter.

Layout 5: Point of Sale and AccuPOS Retail Management in one location with Accounting and AccuLink in a different location (not on the same LAN).

Layout 1: All software is located on one computer.

*If you purchased your hardware from AccuPOS then you will need to uninstall the AccuPOS Point of Sale software that was initially installed when you purchased your hardware. The reason for this is because AccuPOSonly installs the Point of Sale software and not the Retail Management that you will need. To uninstall click on the start button, then click on control panel. In control panel locate and double click on Add/Remove Programs. Locate AccuPOS Retail and click remove. This will run the install shield and let you remove the software.

  1. Install the new software.
  2. First put the AccuPOS Retail disc in the CD-ROM drive and let the program auto run.
  3. Click on install Accupos Retail (Figure 1-1). During the install you will be prompted to select what type of installation, in this case choose “Complete” (Figure 2-3).
  4. Next choose what Accounting package you plan to use with AccuPOS (Figure 2-4). In this case we chose to use QuickBooks, Now click Next to finish the installation.
  5. Install the AccuLink Adapter.
  6. From the Install CD click on Install AccuLink Adapter. During this install you will be prompted to choose an Accounting package that you will be using with Accupos. (Figure 2-5) Simply click on the box next to your accounting software and click next to install the software.
  7. You’redone! This install of AccuPOS is complete;you can now double-click on AccuPOS Retail Management on your desktop and follow the set up guide for your accounting software.

Layout 2:One computer with AccuPOS Retail Management and Point of Sale and one computer with Accounting and AccuLink Adapter.

*If you purchased your hardware from AccuPOS then you will need to uninstall the AccuPOS Point of Sale software that was initially installed when you purchased your hardware. The reason for this is because AccuPOSonly installs the Point of Sale software and not the Retail Management that you will need. To uninstall click on the start button, then click on control panel. In control panel locate and double click on Add/Remove Programs. Locate AccuPOS Retail and click remove. This will run the install shield and let you remove the software.

  1. Install the POS and Manager software.
  2. This will be on the computer that will be used as a Point of Sale. First put the AccuPOS Retail disc in the CD-ROM drive and let the program auto run.
  3. Click on install AccuPOS Retail.(Figure 1-1) During the install you will be prompted to select what type of installation, in this case choose “Complete” (Figure 2-3).
  4. Next Choose what Accounting package you plan to use with AccuPOS (Figure 2-4) In this case we chose to use QuickBooks, Now click Next to finish the installation.
  5. Install the AccuLink Adapter.
  6. This will be on the computer that will have your accounting software on it. From the Install CD click on Install AccuLink Adapter. During this install you will be prompted to choose an Accounting package that you will be using with AccuPOS. (Figure 2-5) Simply click on the box next to your accounting software and click next to install the software.
  7. Share the folder the install of the Adapter just created.
  8. You will need to browse and share the C:\Program Files\Attitude Positive folder.
  9. To do this click on Start then choose ‘My Computer’ now double click on C: (local drive) now double click on ‘Program Files’
  10. RIGHT click on Attitude Positive and click ‘sharing and security’ (Figure 3-1) from the drop down box.
  11. Inside this Window check both boxes that say ‘Share this folder on the network’ and ‘Allow network users to change my files’(Figure 3-2) Now click OK and hit YES on the warning box that appears.
  12. We will need to know the name of this computer so that we can network to it.
  13. To do this click on Start, then RIGHT click ‘My Computer’ Choose Properties from the drop down window.
  14. Click the tab ‘Computer Name’ and write down the information that is in the ‘Full computer name:’ and ‘Workgroup’(Figure 3-3)
  15. We now need to tell Accupos Manager where the Adapter is on the Network.
  16. Go back to the computer that you installed point of sale and manger on and launch Accupos Manager.
  17. Click on System then Settings.
  18. In the bottom right hand corner of this settings window click on ‘Configure Integrator’(Figure 3-4)
  19. Click on the Adapter Folder button and in the selection window use the pull down to select ‘My Network Places’(Figure 3-5)
  20. Find the ‘Attitude Positive’ Folder on the computer name from step 4 and hit select. This will put the proper network path back into the Integrator and should look something like this (Figure 3-6).
  21. You’re done! This install of AccuPOS is complete; you can now double click on AccuPOS Retail Manger on your desktop and follow the set up guide for your accounting software.

Layout 3: One or two Point of Sale computers and one computer with AccuPOS Retail Management, Accounting, and AccuLink Adapter.

  1. Install the Point of Sale.
  2. This will be on the computer that will be used as a Point of Sale.(If you purchased your hardware from us then the POS software is preinstalled) First put the AccuPOS Retail disc in the cd rom drive and let the program auto run.
  3. Click on install Accupos Retail. (Figure 1-1) During the install you will be prompted to select what type of installation, in this case choose “Point of Sale” (Figure 2-1).
  4. Next Choose what Accounting package you plan to use with AccuPOS (Figure 2-4) In this case we chose to use QuickBooks, Now click Next to finish the installation.
  5. Run this installation on all computers that will be used as a Point of Sale only.
  6. Install the Manager software.
  7. This will be on the computer that will be used as the Manager/Accounting location. First put the AccuPOS Retail disc in the cd rom drive and let the program auto run.
  8. Click on install Accupos Retail. (Figure 1-1) During the install you will be prompted to select what type of installation, in this case choose “Management” (Figure 2-2).
  9. Next Choose what Accounting package you plan to use with AccuPOS (Figure 2-4) In this case we chose to use QuickBooks, Now click Next to finish the installation.
  10. Accupos Manager is only designed to be installed on one computer in the network.
  11. Install the AccuLink Adapter.
  12. This will be on the computer that will have your manager and accounting software on it. From the Install CD click on Install AccuLink Adapter. During this install you will be prompted to choose an Accounting package that you will be using with Accupos. (Figure 2-5) Simply click on the box next to your accounting software and click next to install the software.
  13. Share the folder for the Database.
  14. You will need to browse and share the C:\Program Files\Attitude Positive folder.
  15. To do this click on Start then choose ‘My Computer’ now double click on C: (local drive) now double click on ‘Program Files’
  16. RIGHT click on Attitude Positive and click ‘sharing and security’ (Figure 3-1) from the drop down box.
  17. Inside this Window check both boxes that say ‘Share this folder on the network’ and ‘Allow network users to change my files’(Figure 3-2) Now click OK and hit YES on the warning box that appears.
  18. We will need to know the name of this computer so that we can network to it.
  19. To do this click on Start, then RIGHT click ‘My Computer’ Choose Properties from the drop down window.
  20. Click the tab ‘Computer Name’ and write down the information that is in the ‘Full computer name:’ and ‘Workgroup’(Figure 3-3)
  21. Map the Point of Sales computers to the correct Database.
  22. Go back the Point of Sales computer and double click on the “AccuPOS Retail Point Of Sale”
  23. When prompted for a password enter “apadmin” (no quotes, all lowercase)
  24. To get to the settings window press “Ctrl + Alt + ‘S’” all three keys at the same time.
  25. Your will receive a settings window that looks like this (Figure 3-7).
  26. Click on the “Database Path” button. And use the pull down arrow to select “My Network Places”
  27. Find the ‘Attitude Positive’ Folder on the computer name from step 5 and double click. Now single click the “accupos.mdb” file and hit select. This will put the proper network path back into the settings window and should look something like this (Figure3-8).
  28. Repeat this step on every Point of Sale computer. This will make sure all computers are using the same database.
  29. You’re done! This install of AccuPOS is complete; you can now double click on AccuPOS Retail Manger on your desktop and follow the set up guide for your accounting software.

Layout 4:Onecomputer with Point of Sale, one with Point of Sale and AccuPOS Retail Management, and one with Accounting and AccuLink Adapter.

  1. Install the Point of Sale.
  1. This will be on the computer that will be used as a Point of Sale.(If you purchased your hardware from us then the POS software is preinstalled) First put the AccuPOS Retail disc in the CD-ROM drive and let the program auto run.
  2. Click on install Accupos Retail. (Figure 1-1) During the install you will be prompted to select what type of installation, in this case choose “Point of Sale” (Figure 2-1).
  3. Next Choose what Accounting package you plan to use with AccuPOS (Figure 2-4) In this case we chose to use QuickBooks, Now click Next to finish the installation.
  4. Run this installation on all computers that will be used as a Point of Sale only.
  1. Install the POS and Manager software.
  1. This will be on the computer that will be used as a Point of Sale. First put the AccuPOS Retail disc in the cd rom drive and let the program auto run.
  2. Click on install Accupos Retail.(Figure 1-1) During the install you will be prompted to select what type of installation, in this case choose “Complete” (Figure 2-3).
  3. Next Choose what Accounting package you plan to use with AccuPOS (Figure 2-4) In this case we chose to use QuickBooks, Now click Next to finish the installation.
  1. Share the folder for the Database.
  2. You will need to browse and share the C:\Program Files\Attitude Positive folder.
  3. To do this click on Start then choose ‘My Computer’ now double click on C: (local drive) now double click on ‘Program Files’
  4. RIGHT click on Attitude Positive and click ‘sharing and security’ (Figure 3-1) from the drop down box.
  5. Inside this Window check both boxes that say ‘Share this folder on the network’ and ‘Allow network users to change my files’(Figure 3-2) Now click OK and hit YES on the warning box that appears.
  6. We will need to know the name of this computer so that we can network to it.
  1. To do this click on Start, then RIGHT click ‘My Computer’ Choose Properties from the drop down window.
  2. Click the tab ‘Computer Name’ and write down the information that is in the ‘Full computer name:’ and ‘Workgroup’(Figure 3-3)
  1. Map the Point of Sales computers to the correct Database.
  1. Go back the Point of Sales computer and double click on the “AccuPOS Retail Point Of Sale”
  2. When prompted for a password enter “apadmin” (no quotes, all lowercase)
  3. To get to the settings window press “Ctrl + Alt + ‘S’” all three keys at the same time.
  4. Your will receive a settings window that looks like this (Figure 3-7).
  5. Click on the “Database Path” button. And use the pull down arrow to select “My Network Places”
  6. Find the ‘Attitude Positive’ Folder on the computer name from step 4 and double click. Now single click the “accupos.mdb” file and hit select. This will put the proper network path back into the settings window and should look something like this (Figure 3-8).
  7. Repeat this step on every Point of Sale computer. This will make sure all computers are using the same database.
  1. Install the AccuLink Adapter.
  2. This will be on the computer that will have your accounting software on it. From the Install CD click on Install AccuLink Adapter. During this install you will be prompted to choose an Accounting package that you will be using with Accupos. (Figure 2-5) Simply click on the box next to your accounting software and click next to install the software.
  3. Share the folder the install of the Adapter just created.
  1. You will need to browse and share the C:\Program Files\Attitude Positive folder.
  2. To do this click on Start then choose ‘My Computer’ now double click on C: (local drive) now double click on ‘Program Files’
  3. RIGHT click on Attitude Positive and click ‘sharing and security’ (Figure 3-1) from the drop down box.
  4. Inside this Window check both boxes that say ‘Share this folder on the network’ and ‘Allow network users to change my files’(Figure 3-2) Now click OK and hit YES on the warning box that appears.
  1. We will need to know the name of this computer so that we can network to it.
  1. To do this click on Start, then RIGHT click ‘My Computer’ Choose Properties from the drop down window.
  2. Click the tab ‘Computer Name’ and write down the information that is in the ‘Full computer name:’ and ‘Workgroup’(Figure 3-3)
  1. We now need to tell Accupos Manager where the Adapter is on the Network.
  1. Go back to the computer that you installed point of sale and manger on and launch Accupos Manager.
  2. Click on System then Settings.
  3. In the bottom right hand corner of this settings window click on ‘Configure Integrator’(Figure 3-4)
  4. Click on the Adapter Folder button and in the selection window use the pull down to select ‘My Network Places’(Figure 3-5)
  5. Find the ‘Attitude Positive’ Folder on the computer name from step 8(this is the folder to the computer with the adapter and accounting on it, not the computer with POS and Manager) and hit select. This will put the proper network path back into the Integrator and should look something like this (Figure 3-6).
  1. You’re done! This install of AccuPOS is complete; you can now double click on AccuPOS Retail Manger on your desktop and follow the set up guide for your accounting software.

Layout 5: Point of Sale and AccuPOS Retail Management in one location with Accounting and AccuLink in a different location (not on the same LAN).