Store Sync

Consider the situation when there is one management office with computer and several stories/outlets or restaurant running Abacre Point of Sale.
There are two main cases on using multi-store features:

1. One big database is located in the management office's computer. Then all stories/outlets connect to this single database. The major problem of using this case is that the Internet connection may slow between the outlets and the management office computer.

2. Each outlet has own database. In this case the management may want to see consolidated sales data for all outlets. To support this case we implemented Sync Store window.

Below we explain how to setup the second case (when each outlet has own database).

On each outlet you need to go to menu Configuration - Stock Locations.
By default you have created one store location: Main.
Rename it into something unique. For example, StoreStock1
Then go to menu Configuration - Sales Locations.
By default you don't have any defines Sales Locations.
Thus you need to add a store location. Its name also must be unique. For example, call it Store1.
Then on the same Sales Locations window for this Store1 verify that StoreStock1 is selected as store location.

Then go to menu Configuration - Workstations. Verify that for each workstation you have Store1 as sales location.
Note: all workstation names must be unique between all outlets. For example, don't call the computer as PC on outlet 1 and outlet 2.

What is workstation name? it's computer name as defined in Windows for your computer. You may change it into any name via Windows Control Panel - search for computer name and change it into something like: Store1 (or use any unique name).

The setup of the outlet is ready. Repeat it for all outlets. You need to do these actions only once.

Then setup the management office computer. On this computer you need to use a clean database. For example, you may take artpos.fdb and create a copy of it, for example, you may call it all.fdb. Then open the program and on Login window press More button. Then path to database: all.fdb
This database will hold consolidated data from all outlets.

For example, Outlet 1 has store1.fdb database. Each day (or several times a day) you need to transfer this file into the management computer.
There are several ways to do it. For example, you may use any third-party file synchronization software which may sync files between two remote computers. For example, you put databases from outlets into C:\Databases\ folder of the management computer.

The working procedure is the following:
Open Abacre Point of Sale.
On Login window press More button. Verify that you are using all.fdb in our Path to Database file.
Then go to menu View - Store Sync.
Press Open button.
Locate outlet's database file. The full path to database will be displayed on the Store Sync window.
For example, C:\Databases\store1.fdb

Press Sync button.

It will start synchronization process. After completion of the synchronization process you will see Done1 message.

Notes:
1. There is only one-way synchronization - all new orders, items and other information will be transferred from store1.fdb into all.fdb file.
2. It is not possible to create new orders or items directly in all.fdb file and transfer this information into store1.fdb. While techically it's possible it but it will transfer all sales data from other outlets into store1.fdb file. Thus don't use it. Consider there is only one-way synchronization possible: store1.fdb to all.fdb

Thus, you may consider that all.fdb file is used only for reporting purposes. Don't create new orders, clients, items on it. You need to create it directly on individual outlet's fiels: store1.fdb, store2.fdb.

What is cannot be synced yet in the latest version:
* Clients list
* Inventory movements

Note: Store Sync is available in Standard and Professional licenses of software.