By default, checks are not available when POS is in offline mode. By setting up offline read-only checks, your cinema staff will be able to view open checks when there is an outage.

Note: This article is aimed at IT staff with some SQL proficiency.

Before you begin

• Using offline read-only checks requires you to have a local database where checks data can be saved, and then retrieved by POS in the event of an outage.
• You need an SQL instance (for example, SQL Express) running on a server on site, which all your POS workstations can connect to. This could be on a particular POS workstation, or a different machine.

Steps

1. Create a blank database on your machine running SQL.
2. Go to Cinema Manager > Maintenance > System Settings and search for OfflineDbConnectionString.
3. Enter the connection string for the SQL database.

Important! The SQL user for this connection string needs permissions to read/write data and create database tables.

The database is updated with open checks data every 30 seconds if POS is online.

Note: Checks created in Serve prior to offline mode will be available to view read-only in POS when it’s in offline mode.

After you finish

If there is an outage, but your local network is still available within your cinema, staff will be able to view checks if POS is in offline mode. Only checks that were open at the time POS went offline will be available to view. See the Guide to managing network disruptions at POS for tips on how to manage checks and payments while POS is offline.

See also:

• Working offline at POS
• Working offline at POS overview