SKAN_Talk32’s Virtual Keyboard for the Sharp UP-3300 offers users powerful new tools to program and maintain the UP-3300 in ways never before possible.

SKAN_Talk32 converts all the complex UP-3300 program files and tables into an easy to use Virtual Keyboard right on your PC monitor. Virtual Keyboard provides a seamless interface between your UP-3300 and the back office PC. Now, with Virtual Keyboard, program navigation becomes unbelievably simple. Each UP-3300 Screen type, Menu, or Price level can easily be accessed and programmed simply by clicking on their selectors located at the side and bottom of SKAN_Talk32’s UP-3300 Virtual Keyboard Screen.

Being able to switch back and forth between menus or screens that provide graphical presentations will be a significant improvement for anyone used to programming "the old way."  You know the old saying about a single picture…

Program or price changes are now a snap to accomplish, even if you have no Cash Register programming experience at all!  Adding new or simply modifying current items can be handled in one of several different ways giving you the option to make speedy changes or to dig deep into comprehensive programming issues.

One method of accessing programming options involves nothing more complicated than selecting an item key from Virtual Keyboard, then right-clicking to present a choice of file edit screens. SKAN_Talk32’s file edit screens are presented in a simple Fill-In-The-Blanks format for easy use. This method puts the "Program Puzzle Pieces" together into one simple picture for the novice and the expert alike. The edit screens contain a comprehensive view of how each item is programmed and how it is linked to the other program elements like Departments, Groups, or Tax Tables. It’s all very easy when it is presented in such a clear manner.

SKAN_Talk32’s File Minder feature helps prevent you from breaking Sharp’s programming rules or inadvertently exceeding the file allocations set by the dealer.  It won’t let you enter more PLUs than is allocated, or type in more alpha characters than is allowed, or enter data inappropriate for a field. File Minder is always watching!

SKAN_Talk32’s smart Virtual Keyboard technology will even prevent you from re-sizing keys illegally. In addition SKAN_Talk32 offers numerous tool tips and prompts to help guide you through the programming process successfully.  And for those occasions when your experimentation meets with less than desirable results, the handy Undo Feature (with 100 levels!) will prove to be a real lifesaver.  You’ll wonder why anybody would choose to program a Sharp UP-3300 without these kinds of tools or safety nets.

Because items are selected directly from the Virtual Keyboard, there is no need to look up PLU, Department, Combo Meal, or Condiment numbers.  File editors open directly to the selected item. Modifications are simple; upon your confirmation any changes you make are saved and marked for upload to your UP-3300 during the next scheduled communication.

As simple as  fill-in-the-blanks programming is, there are times when you don’t need to dive deeply into the comprehensive programming information. At those times, you can work much faster by using the Quick Pick Palette.  The Quick Pick Palette lets you quickly and easily assign multiple PLUs, Departments, Combo Meals, Groups, or make color changes to any UP-3300 screen by simply dragging and dropping from the Quick Pick Palette directly to the desired key, without opening the individual edit screens.  Using this method, you could assign all PLUs for a particular menu in a happy heartbeat. These are features sure to save you time and make your job easier.

 

Want to re-size a key? Now, even re-sizing a key can be accomplished with a quick drag of the mouse.  Miss Emily Waldon, a charming five-year old that regularly visits her grandmother at our office can implement this feature by herself.  With but a little coaching, she used the mouse to grab the little square at the bottom of the Candy key and stretched it to the right and down. Emily isn’t even in kindergarten yet!

The same goes for coloring the keys. She was delighted to change the key colors to her personal favorites of pink and purple.  Just grab the color from the color list and drag it to the desired key. Miss Emily gives this feature a thumbs up for being "very easy" for pre-school students to use!  She thinks grown-ups will also find SKAN_Talk32 to be very user friendly and fun to use!

Adding new items to the program are also greatly simplified with SKAN_Talk32.  You can add a brand new item to the program by cloning a similar item, and then entering the new name and price. Considering the UP-3300’s PLU file alone has seventy-four potential fields, it’s easy to understand why cloning is so much easier and faster than just adding a new item.  Of course, the traditional "Add" method involves filling out each applicable field, one at a time!

Maintaining the UP-3300 program at the PC also means that you can stop worrying about the possibility of the Sharp UP-3300 losing its program for any reason.  You’ll always have the current copy of the program on the PC if you need to restore it at the POS for any reason.  Plus, you should be able to save on programming fees when purchasing new equipment for additional stores.