WinBPS FAQs

This section is being frequently updated.

Please remember to review the Frequently Asked Questions section in your on-line help within WinPOS© itself. Choose the "Help" menu at the top, then choose "Contents" and finally locate the "WinPOS Frequently Asked Questions" chapter.

Hardware Issues
My computer has no serial ports. Does WinBPS© support USB-port cash drawers?

System Errors
My WinBPS© won't start, or I get an error message within WinBPS©. - Solving system error messages in WinBPS©

Windows Vista Compatibility
Is WinPOS compatible with Windows Vista?

Backing Up WinBPS© Data
Why should I backup my data?
How do I backup my data?

General Operation

Prospecting

Events / Customers
A wedding registered in my shop has been canceled. I want to "write-off the sales to this wedding and I want to keep whatever payments have been made (rather than refunding the payments or keeping them as a Store Credit. How do I do this?

Sales Tickets, Sales & Payments

Inventory

I’m adding inventory into WinPOS and I’m using the serialized style code numbers it is generating. When it got to 19, it skipped ahead to 110 for the next item. Why?

Reporting

Purchase Orders

Maintenance

How do I add paper/form sizes to the Zebra ZDesigner print Driver?

How do I update my WinPOS© license with new service agreement dates or features when purchased?

My computer has no serial ports. Does WinBPS© support USB-port cash drawers?

WinPOS only supports serial-port cash drawers at this time. However, USB-port cash drawer support is a new feature that is slated for inclusion in WinPOS version 8, which will be the next major new version release. As of this writing, the current version of WinPOS is version 7.

Many new computers are no longer shipping with serial ports installed. If your computer does not have a serial port installed, there are two possible options. One option is to install (or have installed) a serial port card, then plug the serial-port cash drawer into this new port. The second option is to attach your serial-port cash drawer to one of your computer's USB ports using a "USB-to-Serial" adapter. We recommend the Keyspan USB-Serial Port Adapter, model number USA-19HS. Information on this adapter can be found by clicking here.

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My WinBPS© wont start, or I get an error message within WinBPS© - Solving system error messages in WinBPS©

If you ever receive a system error message when starting WinBPS© or while running WinBPS© (including any that includes the phrase “End Of File Encountered”, BBL Systems provides tools for repairing many data problems, Data Manager program may be used to resolve the problem.

Before performing the following steps, it is IMPERATIVE that you backup your Livedata folder FIRST. To make a quick backup of your Livedata folder, follow these steps (note: these directions assume your data is located in the C:\TPSWINS\LIVEDATA folder of your Server):

Close the WinBPS© program on all the shop’s computers, if it is running.
Go to your Server (main) computer.
Double-click on your My Computer icon (Windows XP users may have to click on their Start button first, then click on My Computer).
Locate the C: drive icon and double-click it.
Locate the TPSWINS folder and double-click it.
Locate the LIVEDATA folder. Point to the LIVEDATA folder, click your right-mouse button and select “Copy”.
Point to a blank space in the same window (NOT over any other icons), click your right-mouse button and select “Paste”.
When the copy is complete, you should have a new folder named “Copy of LIVEDATA”. This completes the quick backup of your Livedata folder.

Now that you have made a quick backup of your Livedata folder, you are ready to run the Data Manager program. Here are the steps:

Click on your Start button, point to (All) Programs, point to BBL Systems, Inc and finally click on Data Manager. The Data Manager window will appear on your screen.
Click on “Update Data”
A window will appear asking you to select the location of your WinBPS data files. The Livedata folder should already be highlighted. Click on the “Select” button. (Version 7 users: A window will appear asking if you wish to skip the backup. When asked, click on NO).
The Data Manager will process and reindex the data files. When the process is complete, a window will appear saying “Finished processing, you may now restart the program”. Click OK. This will return you to the main Data Manager window.
Click the “Done” button. This will close the Data Manager.

Restart the WinBPS© program. If you still receive any system error message, perform these steps:

Re-start the Data Manager program. Click on your Start button, point to (All) Programs, point to BBL Systems, Inc and finally click on Data Manager. The Data Manager window will appear on your screen.
This time, click on “Repair Headers”.
A warning window will appear, saying you should backup your data before continuing. You have already done this, so click on the “Yes” button to continue.
A window will appear asking you to select the location of your WinBPS data files. The Livedata folder should already be highlighted. Click on the “Select” button. (Version 7 users: A window will appear asking if you wish to skip the backup. When asked, click on NO).
In the window that appears, check the “All Tables” box, then click on the “Repair” button.
The Data Manager will repair the headers on all data files. When the process is complete, a window will appear saying “Finished processing, you may now restart the program”. Click OK. This will return you to the main Data Manager window.
Click the “Done” button. This will close the Data Manager.

Restart the WinBPS program.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Why should I backup my WinBPS data?

Consider this: If your hard drive fails and you have no backup, you now have no record of who paid you money, who still owes you money, what gowns you need to special order, what you have in inventory, etc. Most people experience a computer failure of some sort at one time or another. The difference between an inconvenience and a disaster is whether or not you have a good backup!

The most important job of working with a computer is to back-up its data on a daily basis. Computers are mechanical and thus can break ANYTIME! This is usually not a problem because they can be repaired quickly and easily. However, a breakdown can cause data loss. Data CANNOT be replaced quickly and easily. For this reason you must BACKUP the data on the computer every day.

BBL suggests backing up to removable media. Examples are CD-RW, DVD RW and/or to BBL Titan Backup Services (Select "Our Produces -> Titan Data Protection Service" at left for more information).

The proper routine is to have separate Media (i.e. CDRW) for each day of the week that you are open. Then every day back-up to that day’s CD-RW disc, i.e.: every Monday backup to the Monday media, Tuesday to Tuesday media ..etc. Place the media in a safe place like a fireproof safe or take them home. This method provides plenty of protection and security.

If you don’t know how to get your backup set up, contact a computer consultant or computer store. You should back up the entire \TPSWINS folder and everything inside it on your server.

REMEMBER: Don’t take chances with your shop’s precious customer and inventory information. Back up your system EVERY DAY!

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Backing Up WinBPS Data

WinBPS© includes a simple backup routine that will make a backup of your data tables and index tags. It does not backup the program files. WinBPS© will create a single compressed ZIP file that contains your data and tags. The Backup path where this file will be saved is set in System/Store Setup, located at Main->Housekeeping->General Setup->System/Store Setup->Other Settings Tab.

Once you have specified the backup location in the System/Store Setup as described above, you may backup the data by selecting from the top Menu bar File -> Backup from the Main Menu of WinBPS© (if you are running WinBPS© version 6 or older, select File -> Disk Backup). The Backup will suggest the filename "BACKUP.ZIP". You may keep this name, or change it to the name of your choice, as long as it ends with ".ZIP" (for example, you may wish to use the date in the name of the file, such as "012006.ZIP" for a backup being performed on January 20th, 2006). When the backup is complete, you must then copy the file to some other form of media that can be removed from the shop or kept in a computer media-approved fire safe, such as a CD-RW disc or DVD-RW disc.

Customers may consider using BBL's Titan Backup Service. This service is designed to provide a fast, easy & secure method for backing up all important data. The data is encrypted, sent to BBL via the internet and stored on BBL servers. Restoring the data is easy and it can be restored to any computer. Off site backup is the safest form of data recovery. Select "Our Produces -> Titan Data Protection Service" at left for more information and to sign up. A FREE trial is offered.

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I’m adding inventory into WinPOS and I’m using the serialized style code numbers it is generating. When it got to 19, it skipped ahead to 110 for the next item. Why?

This is by design. By default, WinPOS automatically places your program’s “Store Code” (located on the System / Store Setup screen) at the beginning of every serialized number it generates. This includes Inventory Style Codes, Purchase Order numbers, PO Item numbers, Customer numbers, Event numbers, Ticket numbers, etc. For single-store owners, this Store Code is usually either 1 or 01.

In the above example, the number “19” is literally the number 9 with a number 1 placed in front of it. The next number would be “110”, since the number 10 comes after 9, and the number 10 with a 1 placed in front of it would create the number 110.

In version 7 and higher, this behavior can be turned off (for Inventory Style Codes ONLY), by going to your System / Store setup, selecting the Options tab and checking the box labeled “No Store ID or dash in Style Codes”.

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A wedding registered in my shop has been cancelled. I want to "write-off the sales to this wedding and I want to keep whatever payments have been made (rather than refunding the payments or keeping them as a Store Credit. How do I do this?

First, the user must create a special Inventory item. To do so:

1. Create a new Inventory Category called FORFEIT (FORFEITED PAYMENTS).

2. Check the Accounting Classes to make sure a record called FORFEIT was created. Make sure Taxable is not checked and that Allow Price Change IS checked.

3. Go to Vendors and check for a vendor named SHOP (THIS SHOP). If it doesn't exist, enter it.

4. Go to Inventory and add a new item. Change the Style Code to FORFEIT. Set the Description to FORFEIT PAYMENT. Set the Vendor Style to FORFEIT. Make sure the Service/Not Inventoried box is checked (version 7+). Choose SHOP for the Vendor. Check the Allow QTY On Hand To Go Negative box. Choose FORFEIT for the Accounting Class and the Inventory Category. Leave all other fields blank or zero. Click on Save. Then choose SCW and Add a new SCW entry: Size NA, Color NA, Quantity Received 1, Quantity left (on-hand) 1. Choose Save.

Now that the FORFEIT Inventory item has been created, bring up each sales ticket screen for every member of the event and perform the following steps:

1. Use the Adjust/Cancel/Extra Charge button and cancel each SALE line on the sales ticket. Do NOT cancel the payments, and do NOT click on Save, Done with Ticket yet.

2. Once all sale lines have been cancelled, the ticket should now have a negative balance showing at the bottom of the screen. Now click on Sale, and in the SKU field, enter FORFEIT. Enter NA for the Size and NA for the Color. In the Price field, enter the amount of the negative balance WITHOUT the negative sign. Then click on Save Line Item. If the systems asks you to enter the Status, select Pickup Now. The ticket balance should now be zero. Now click on Save Done with Ticket.

In following these steps the user is, in effect, entering a new sale for the amount of the overpayment of funds that gets created as a result of canceling the sale items on the ticket. The Revenue Report will show these figures under the category FORFEITED PAYMENTS under the Non-Taxable Sales section. The Sales Reports will show these figures under the category FORFEITED PAYMENTS on the Sales by Category Report and under the Vendor THIS SHOP under the Sales by Vendor Report.

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Windows Vista

Suggestions for customers with older versions of WinPOS©. Customers with service agreements should upgrade to v8 or later. Customers without a Support Service Agreement, we offer a no-charge workaround that will allow use of pre-7.2.8 versions of WinPOS© on Windows Vista. For more information, please click on the link below that best describes you:

NOTE: To check your version of WinPOS©, choose "Help" from the Main Menu and select "About". If you're not sure if you have a current Support Service Contract, call BBL Systems' Sales Dept at 800-587-7277 ext 1.

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How do I add paper / form sizes to Zebra's ZDesigner print driver?

Install the Zebra ZDesigner driver onto your PC. Once installed, right-click the ZDesigner printer and select properties.

From the driver form select the Stock tab and click New to begin adding the proper paper form sizes.

Enter a Paper/Form name then it's measurements. Click OK to save the paper size and add the next size by repeating the steps.

Name	Width	Height	Reference
2.2 x .5	2.20	0.05	Jewelry bell label
2.25 x 1.25	2.25	1.25	4 up label
1.25 x 2.15	1.25	2.15	Small Price tag
3 x 1	3.00	1.00	Accessory / Address label
4 x 2	4.00	2.00	Inventory Garment Price tag
4 x 4	4.00	4.00	Double Garment tag (for comments)
4 x 6	4.00	6.00	Custom Fitting ticket label
4.25 x 3	4.25	3.00	Pickup label

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Once you have purchased an upgrade to your WinPOS© software, you will be emailed an license key code. Just type this code into your WinPOS© software to have your license updated with the new services/features. The use of the key requires for the PC to have internet access. Call BBL tech support when the internet is not available for the upgrade.

Select Unlock Options.

Then select Using an upgrade key

Type in the provided key code and click OK. Thats it.

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BBL Systems, Inc

6021 Sandy Springs Circle

Atlanta, GA 30328

800-587-7277