302 - Remote Polling with PC Anywhere
PC Anywhere comes in many versions. There are both DOS and WINDOWS versions of PC Anywhere and you must have the correct version for your particular purpose. If you are intending to connect two computers which are both operating under the DOS operating system, then you must have a PC Anywhere version that is made for DOS. Likewise, if you are intending to connect two computers that are operating under the WINDOWS 95 operating environment, then you must have the version of PC Anywhere designed for WINDOWS 95.
This document is concerned only with the performance of remote polling and automated file transfers between two computers that are both operating under DOS. All references contained herein are relevant only for DOS versions of PC Anywhere from Version 4.5 and up.
This document will deal with a simple communications setup between two DOS computers, the REMOTE or Head Office Computer and the HOST or the Store Computer, for the simple purpose of being able to connect from the Head Office Computer to the Store Computer. The purpose of such a connection will be for the Head Office Computer to be able to connect to the Store Computer in order to perform simple automated file transfers, both for the sending of files from Head Office to the Store and for the retrieval of files from the Store to Head Office.
All of the sending and retrieving operations outlined in this document will be performed in an automated or batch mode from simple DOS batch files. The intent is to provide the user with a method of performing simple DOS batch file commands that will perform overnight or daytime transfer of files between Head Office and the Store computers.
Sending Files to Remote Stores
PLU Maintenance File Sending is the term used to refer to the sending of PLU Item information from the Head Office Computer to the Store Computer. In many multi-store operations, the PLU pricing and item information is maintained at the central Head Office location and then sent by file transfer to each Store location. This section outlines how to set up the automated file sending procedures in PC Anywhere and the DOS batch files for sending PLU information from Head Office to the Store location.
Clerk Message File Sending is another operation that uses PC Anywhere File Sending. Clerk Messages may be created at Head Office for sending to Store Location computers to a specific clerk or as a broadcast message to all clerks.
At Head Office, the operator will be using the AWREMOTE program of the PC Anywhere system. To invoke AWREMOTE, simply type AWREMOTE and press ENTER.
You must first create a HARDWARE CONFIGURATION for your operation. Select HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONS and press ENTER. This section will permit you to select the COM port, BAUD rate and other important communication parameters for your modem connection. Please follow instructions provided by your PC Anywhere manual to establish the correct communications setup for your Head Office Computer.
Next you must enter the Store Names and Modem Phone Numbers of each Store Location. Select the option VIEW/MODIFY LIST OF HOSTS and press ENTER. You will be presented with a window that is titled HOST NAMES. To insert a new Store Name and Phone Number, press the INSERT key. Enter the Store Name that you wish to use. Next follow the instructions provided to select the Modem Phone Number and Store Password as desired.
Once you have created all of your Store Names in your Host Names section, you are ready to create AUTOMATED PROCEDURES for your Store locations. Return back to the AWREMOTE MAIN MENU and select AUTOMATED PROCEDURES and press ENTER.
You will be presented with a window titled AUTOMATED PROCEDURES. To create a new AUTOMATED PROCEDURE, you must press INSERT. Enter a name for your Automated Procedure such as SEND1 and press ENTER.
PC Anywhere will now present a screen titled AP OPTIONS FOR SEND1. Select VIEW/MODIFY THE PROCEDURE and press ENTER.
The system will now present a window titled HOSTS TO CALL FOR: SEND1. Press INSERT to add a Store Name to the list of HOSTS TO CALL and PC Anywhere will present your list of Store Names. Select the Store Name you wish to send to and press ENTER.
The system will now present SESSION OPTIONS FOR: STORE1. Enter SPACES for both TIME TO CALL and DATE TO CALL so that they will default to NOW and TODAY. This will cause the Automated Procedure to perform its operation immediately whenever you invoke it. Leave all other entries at their default settings except OPERATIONS FILE. When you reach OPERATIONS FILE, press ENTER.
The system will present the current directory name, press ENTER. The system will then present a window titled AVAILABLE FILES. Press INSERT to create a new OPERATIONS FILE. Enter the name SEND1 and press ENTER.
Now you are presented with a window titled OPERATIONS FOR: STORE1. Press INSERT to create a new operation. The system will present a listing of OPERATION TYPES for you to select. If you wish to send a file to STORE1, then select SEND FILES FROM REMOTE TO HOST and press ENTER. Enter the SOURCE NAME of the file you wish to send. For example, if you are wishing to send the PLUDATA.DAT file from the \INV directory, then enter C:\INV\PLUDATA.DAT and press ENTER. Now enter the DESTINATION NAME of the file you wish to send. For example, if you wish to have the file sent to the BP101 directory of the Store Computer, then type C:\BP101\PLUDATA.DAT and press ENTER. When you have made all selections correctly, press ESC to Accept your entries and select YES to confirm.
You have just created an AUTOMATED PROCEDURE called SEND1 with a single file sending operation that will send C:\INV\PLUDATA.DAT to the Store 1 location to the file destination C:\BP101\PLUDATA.DAT. Since this is all that you wish for this particular Automated Procedure to do, press ESC to finish the operation and select YES to confirm. Press ESC until you have returned back to the AWREMOTE MAIN MENU.
To invoke this new automated sending procedure from DOS, you will need to enter the command string: AWREMOTE -m=p -n=SEND1 and PC Anywhere will perform the automated procedure exactly as you have programmed it. This command string could then be included in any DOS batch file that you wish to set up.
An example of a DOS batch file for sending to multiple store sites could look like:
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=SEND1These commands could also be included in another DOS batch file that is performing a series of file sending operations or a DOS batch file that is performing a series of overnight remote store management operations.
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=SEND2
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=SEND3
Polling Files From Remote Stores
Automated Procedures may also be used to retrieve files from a Store location. If you wish to retrieve files from a Store location, enter a name for your Automated Procedure such as POLL1 and press ENTER.
PC Anywhere will now present a screen titled AP OPTIONS FOR POLL1. Select VIEW/MODIFY THE PROCEDURE and press ENTER.
The system will now present a window titled HOSTS TO CALL FOR: POLL1. Press INSERT to add a Store Name to the list of HOSTS TO CALL and PC Anywhere will present your list of Store Names. Select the Store Name you wish to retrieve files from and press ENTER.
The system will now present SESSION OPTIONS FOR: STORE1. Enter SPACES for both TIME TO CALL and DATE TO CALL so that they will default to NOW and TODAY. This will cause the Automated Procedure to perform its operation immediately whenever you invoke it. Leave all other entries at their default settings except OPERATIONS FILE. When you reach OPERATIONS FILE, press ENTER.
The system will present the current directory name, press ENTER. The system will then present a window titled AVAILABLE FILES. Press INSERT to create a new OPERATIONS FILE. Enter the name POLL1 and press ENTER.
Now you are presented with a window titled OPERATIONS FOR: STORE1. Press INSERT to create a new operation. The system will present a listing of OPERATION TYPES for you to select. If you wish to retrieve a file to STORE1, then select SEND FILES FROM HOST TO REMOTE and press ENTER. Enter the SOURCE NAME of the file you wish to retrieve. For example, if you are wishing to retrieve the PS*.101 files from the \BP101 directory, then enter C:\BP101\PS*.101 and press ENTER. Now enter the DESTINATION NAME of the file you wish to retrieve. For example, if you wish to have the file retrieved to the INV directory of the Head Office Computer, then type C:\INV\PS*.101 and press ENTER. When you have made all selections correctly, press ESC to Accept your entries and select YES to confirm.
You have just created an AUTOMATED PROCEDURE called POLL1 with a single file sending operation that will retrieve C:\BP101\PS*.101 from the Store 1 location to the file destination C:\INV\PS*.101 on the Head Office computer. Since this is all that you wish for this particular Automated Procedure to do, press ESC to finish the operation and select YES to confirm. Press ESC until you have returned back to the AWREMOTE MAIN MENU.
To invoke this new automated sending procedure from DOS, you will need to enter the command string:
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=POLL1PC Anywhere will perform the automated procedure exactly as you have programmed it. This command string could then be included in any DOS batch file that you wish to set up. An example of a DOS batch file for sending to multiple store sites could look like:
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=POLL1Now you can create simple DOS batch files to send or retrieve files between your Head Office computer and your Store Location computer. Once last step is still required to ensure that your Store Location computer will always be in PC Anywhere Auto-Answer mode so that when you call from Head Office the Store Location computer will always be ready to answer and connect.
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=POLL2
AWREMOTE -m=p -n=POLL3
At the Store Location computer, you will most likely wish to have PC Anywhere Auto-Answer mode loaded at all times. This will enable the Head Office computer to connect to the Store Location computer at any time, night or day, and send or retrieve files. Most importantly, using PC Anywhere in this mode, you can send or retrieve files from the Store Location computer even while its cashiers or operators are actively operating the computer. This means that files can be transferred to and from any Store Location computer even while BreakPoint is actively operating and cashier are actively transacting sales, and without any notification or interference caused for the cashier.
At the Store Location computer, you will need to add one command line to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This command line will read:
C:\AW\AWHOST -m=aThis command will invoke the PC Anywhere Auto-Answer Memory Resident module for file transfers. You must have previously programmed AWHOST correctly for the COM PORT and BAUD RATE settings for the Store Location computer. Once this command is entered in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the Store Location computer, you may reboot the computer and PC Anywhere Host will load automatically.
Using PC Anywhere for automated batch file sending and retrieving is a powerful and reliable method of POS polling. Because PC Anywhere is a commercial communications product, it will operate with any type of computer, any quality of phone line, virtually any modem operating at virtually any speed. PC Anywhere is not subject to the stringent requirements and limited performance that have been the failing of many proprietary cash register communications products used in the past.
For more information regarding Remote Polling with PC Anywhere Under DOS, please contact BreakPoint Technical Support Services.