MACHINES

Create Machine

Creating a machine is a two-phase process. On the first phase you open Create Machine dialog by clicking Create Machine button and enter some general data of the machine. During the second phase you define machine configuration.

Step 1 - Basic data

Create Machine dialog
  • Machine Code (Mandatory): here you can enter alpha-numeric values to identify the machine. If you don’t have your own machine numbering scheme, the system will generate sequential numbering for you (by default).
  • Description (Optional): enter some free-text description of the machine, that will help you easily identify it.
  • Machine Type (Mandatory): select machine’s type. Selection is done from a predefined list. Creation of custom machine types is not possible. This is a very important field because system behaviour is differnet depending on the selected machine type. See detailed description of all machine types supported by VendSoft.
  • Make/Model (Optional): enter some free text to define manicacturer, specific model, etc.
  • Key (Optional): describe in free-text which is the key you use to open the machine.
  • Serial Number (Optional): enter serial number of the machine.
  • Purchase date (Optional): enter purchase date of the machine. Only for information.
  • Purchase price (Optional): enter numeric value for machine’s purchase price. Only for information.
  • Track Vend Meter: flag that indicates whether you want to track machine’s vending meter readings (the number of items sold by the machine). If you enable this feature, system displays field Vend Meter on Enter Trip Results screen (botom left section) and allows you to enter value in it. Not selected by default.
  • Track Cash Meter: flag that indicates whether you want to track machine’s cash meter readings (the amount of money collected by the machine). If you enable this feature, system displays field Cash Meter on Enter Trip Results screen (botom left section) and allows you to enter value in it. Not selected by default.
  • Track Credit Card Sales: flag that indicates whether you want to track machine’s credit card sales (the sum of sales paid with Credit card since last visit). If you enable this feature, system displays field Credit Card Sales on Enter Trip Results screen (botom left section) and allows you to enter value in it. Not selected by default.

If you have some custom fields defined, an additional section will be displayed in the Create Machine dialog:

Create Machine dialog - Custom fields

When you are ready, click Save button. System saves entered data and automatically opens the View/Edit Machine screen, where you can further define machine’s configuration, i.e. what are the products in the machine, their quantities and vend price, mapping between slots/selections and products, etc.

This is the second phase of machine creation process.

Step 2 - Machine Configuration

You define machine configuration - products, quantities, prices, etc., in View/Edit Machine dialog.

Depending on machine type that you selected for this machine, the configuration section will look a little bit different and the data you have to specify will differ.

Soda Machine Type

You have created a machine selecting one of the following machine types:

  • Soda
  • Snack
  • Soda/Snack
  • Juice
  • Cigarette
  • Honor Box

See how to further set up configuration for soda machines in article View/Edit Machine - Soda Machine Type.

Bulk Machine Type

See how to set up configuration for Bulk machines here.

Coffee Machine Type

See how to set up configuration for Coffee machines here.

Snack/Coffee Machine Type

See how to set up configuration for Snack/Coffee machines here.

See Also