Hardware Information for EVE

Learning Outcome

On successful completion of this lesson, students will understand the different types of POS hardware that are compatible with EVE.

Lesson

1. Barcode scanner: this must be a keyboard wedge scanner – i.e. it plugs into the keyboard port of your computer along with the keyboard and mimics keystrokes. The barcode scanner will come with a Y cable so both it and the keyboard can use the same port.  If possible, we recommend purchasing a scanner that can be programmed with an F9 prefix (i.e. when you scan a barcode, an F9 is appended to the start of the barcode information before it is sent to EVE) – as then EVE will set focus to the Barcode field on the Invovice automatically.
2. Barcode label printer: EVE supports barcode printers that use the EPL programming language and use a Parallel interface. We usually recommend the Zebra TLP2844 or Zebra LP2844. You can find out about them at www.zebra.com
3. Receipt printer: this can have a Serial/Parallel or USB interface. You will get more options for the receipt layout if you use a Parallel or USB. Please note: you don’t need to buy a receipt printer if you don’t want to. Some people prefer to use a regular desktop printer and print receipts on Letter sized paper.  Any printer is supported provided it has a standard Windows printer driver.
4. Cash drawer: EVE supports cash drawers that have a Serial interface and/or those that have an OPOS* (OLE for Point of Sale) driver. Some people use Logic Controls cash drawers – www.logiccontrols.com
5. Customer Pole Display: EVE supports pole displays that have a Serial interface and/or those that have an OPOS* (OLE for Point of Sale) driver.
6. MSR – Magnetic Stripe Reader: this must be a keyboard wedge reader – i.e. when you scan a credit card, the information is sent to EVE as if you had typed it on your keyboard.  You can purchase MSRs that are build into the keyboard, built into the monitor or that are standalone.* OPOS stands for “OLE for Point Of Sale” and OLE is a Microsoft Technology that stands for Object Linking and Embedding. Where supported, the hardware manufacturer will provide an OPOS driver specifically for their hardware. OPOS requires that the driver has a common set of inputs so EVE knows how to talk to it. I.e. 3 cash drawer manufacturers could provide an OPOS driver for their particular cash drawers, but EVE can talk to them all using one common set of commands. The OPOS driver converts the common input into output specific for the cash drawer.