This article will give you all the information needed to setup and configure QR codes to be printed on production output labels for use with a drink-making machine.
Security Role to Program PLU Code Mappings
Creating the PLU Code Mappings
Assigning a Topping Value to Topping PLUs
QR Code Configuration Settings
Summary
This functionality allows for the printing of a QR Code on a production output label for each drink ordered, so that the drink & modifiers detail can be read by a QR Code scanner on an automated drink-making machine.
The product overview article for Printing QR Code on Labels for Drink Making Machine can be found here.
Prerequisites
This functionality is available to clients with a Polygon POS installation and is compatible with the following label printers:
- Zebra ZD410
- Zebra ZD411
- Zebra ZD420
The following software versions are required:
Polygon POS Management: v2412.?.? or later
Polygon POS Terminal: v2412.?.? or later
How does it work?
A data string is constructed from individual component strings and passed to the label printer to be converted to a QR code and printed on the label for each drink in a sale.
A set of labels will be printed for each drink. Each set of labels will consist of:
- one label containing the production output listing the item and all instructions and modifiers.
- one label containing the QR Code
When QR Code production functionality is enabled, the label count will match to identify the labels belonging to the same set.
That is, the production output label and the QR Code label will both display the same numerator/denominator, where the numerator is the 'set of label' count and the denominator indicates the total number of drinks in the order.
So the labels resulting from an order containing two (2) drinks would look like this:
QR Code String Format
The QR Code required by Gong cha Australia follows this format:
[SALE_ID]|[PRODUCT_ID]|[SIZE_ID],[TEMP_ID],[SUGAR_LEVEL_ID],[TOPPING_LEVEL][TOPPING_PLUS]|
where:
- SALE_ID is determined by the POS
- PRODUCT_ID is obtained from the PLU Code Map
- SIZE_ID is obtained from the PLU Code Map
- TEMP_ID is obtained from the PLU Code Map
- SUGAR_LEVEL _ID is obtained from the PLU Code Map
- TOPPING_LEVEL affects how much liquid is added by the robot and is determined by the topping value of the toppings included:
0-1 topping value = 1100
2-3 topping value = 1200
4 topping value = 1300
5 topping value = 1400
- TOPPING_PLUS are the recid's of each PLU.
An example would look like this:
2000074|TAROmt|TAROlrg,STDice,STDsugar,1400,406,1077,395,411,412
where:
- 2000074 is the sale ID provided by the POS
- TAROmt is the external code defined for the PRODUCT_ID label in the PLU Code Map
- TAROlrg is the external code defined for the SIZE_ID label in the PLU Code Map
- STDice is the external code defined for the TEMP_ID label in the PLU Code Map
- STDsugar is the external code for the SUGAR_LEVEL_ID label defined in the PLU Code Map
-
1400 is recorded because there are 5 toppings in this drink
- 406,1077,395,411,412 are the recid's of the 5 topping PLUs included
Security Role to Program PLU Code Mappings
To access and program PLU Code Mappings in the Polygon POS Management database, users must be assigned a security security role with the following permission granted:
Polygon POS Management | Main Menu Permissions | Products | PLU Code Mappings
You can learn more about Application Security Roles here.
Creating The PLU Code Mappings
To access PLU Code Mappings choose Products | PLU Code Mappings from the main menu in Polygon POS Management.
The PLU Code Mappings file is where you will define the string attributes for each PLU and provide the external code recognised by the drink-making machine.
Each parent PLU (drink) should define the format labels:
- PRODUCT_ID, and
- SIZE_ID
Each modifier PLU (ice/sugar) should define, as applicable, the format labels:
- TEMP_ID, or
- SUGAR_LEVEL_ID
The detailed instructions for creating a PLU Code Mappings can be found here.
Assigning a Topping Value to Topping PLUs
Each topping PLU must now be assigned a Topping Amount value. This value contributes to calculating the TOPPING_LEVEL that will be included in the QR Code string.
- Most topping PLUs will have a nominal amount value of 1.
- More substantial toppings, such as pudding may be assigned a larger topping amount value, say 4.
- Topping PLUs that 'remove' the topping can be assigned a negative value such as -1.
The TOPPING_LEVEL is determined by the sum of the Topping Amount values of the Topping PLUs.
For example a drink order contains:
- a jelly topping that has a topping amount of 1, and
- a pudding topping that has a topping amount of 4.
Although the drink includes only two (2) toppings, the TOPPING_LEVEL included in the QR Code string will be 1400 as the sum of the topping amount values is 5 (1+4).
To assign the Topping Amount:
- Access the PLU File
- Open the topping PLU and enter a value in the Topping Amount field.
You can learn more about creating PLUs in the Polygon POS Management database here.
QR Code Configuration Settings
Configuration is required to enable the printing of QR Codes on labels.
To do this:
- Access POS Location Settings (or Default Location Settings, as appropriate)
- Navigate to POS Terminal Settings | Printing | Production Output
- Ensure the setting Generate QR code for each parent is turned on.
- Ensure the QR Code format is correctly entered.
The correct code format for Gong cha Australia is here - Enter the Topping level codes
1100, 1200, 1300, 1400
- Ensure the QR Code format is correctly entered.
You can find how to access the POS Location Settings in Polygon POS Management here.
Considerations
The following considerations apply when printing QR codes on labels for a drink-making machine.
- The topping level is capped at 5. If a drink contains topping PLUs where the sum of the topping amount value is more than 5, TOPPING_LEVEL = 1400 will be included in the QR code string.
- If there is no PRODUCT_ID and SIZE_ID mapped for a drink, the assumption is that no QR code is required. The POS will not present any error message.
- A valid pair of PRODUCT_ID and SIZE_ID is required, if either is missing the POS will present an error message and no QR code will be printed.
- If there is a PRODUCT_ID or SIZE_ID mapping, but any combination of the remaining format labels are missing, the POS will present an error message advising of the missing values and no QR code will be printed.
- Any error message will include the relevant drink if multiple drinks are in the sale.
Related Functionality
Article Change Log
| Date | Record of Changes | Author |
|
December 2024 |
First publication of this article |
S Black |