NorthStar 4.9.6 Release Notes

NorthStar 4.9.6 Release Notes

Release Date: Server-Distributing. Application-TBD

Consolidated Server, iOS, and Windows.

 

(Server/iOS)

New Features

4.915215 → 4.9.17291

 

App Background - Improvements

  • Several background endpoints and communications additions.

  • Code change to support .NET 8. .NET installed with 4.9.6 Installer. Also, users can remove .NET 6 without any issues, if installed.

 

Adjustment - Description Shown to Guest

  • Adjustment Reasons will have the section to have text print on the receipt, so guests can see what adjustment was applied or note about the adjustment set by the restaurant.

Account feature toggle “Description show to guest on adjustment reason” needs to be selected first.

Navigate to ECM.

Navigate to Adjustment Reasons and edit or add a new Adjustment Reason.

Input the text you want to display on the receipt for this specific adjustment.

Untitled-20241216-153919.png

Printed receipt should show what was set up in the adjustment.

image-20241216-154023.png

 

Cash Drawer

  • USB Cash Drawer suppport added. (Windows App Only) 4.9.5

image-20241107-185419.png

 

Failover/Backup - iOS Switch IP

 

Gratuities - Net Sales plus Tax

  • Added option to calculate gratuity based on “%Net Sales plus Tax”.

Log into ECM.

Navigate to Gratuities and Surcharges.

Add a new gratuity.

Under settings, select “% Net Sales plus Tax”

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OpenTable Integration

4.9.5

  • Account feature toggle added “Enable OpenTable integration”.

Untitled-20241118-184309.png

Edit the site in ECM and select the Table tab.

Select OpenTable from the Table Management Engine drop down.

Check the box for Enabled.

Input the RID (Restaurant ID) provided by OpenTable for this site.

Enable Clean Screen is unflagged by default for OpenTable.

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Save and send a deploy to the site.

 

QSR

4.9.5

  • “External Code” of iPad devices are now sent to QSR as the Terminal Number.

image-20241104-155537.png
image-20241104-155748.png
  • “User External Code 1” now sent to QSR as ServerID. (QSR Capture Player)

image-20241104-155813.png
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QSR Coursing

  • This allows for new QSR enhancements with coursing categories and rules to be utilized with Order Entry.

  • This change allows for Serving Options on Components to be sent before or after the component via prefix or suffix change

  • Also, a new kitchen tab setting will have QSR use the Sales Category external code instead of MenuItemCategory.

“Enable QSR coursing category and rules” feature toggle must be on for account first.

Create Coursing Category

Log into ECM.

Navigate to Coursing Categories

image-20250121-191134.png

Click Add Coursing Category and name it.

Verify it’s active and then select related Menu Item Categories and Menu Items to this category.

image-20250121-192131.png

Apply and save the Coursing Category.

Navigate to any Menu Item and Coursing Category drop-down is available.

image-20250121-222423.png

 

Create Coursing Category

Log into ECM.

Navigate to Coursing Categories

image-20250121-191134.png

Click Add Coursing Category and name it.

Verify it’s active and then select related Menu Item Categories and Menu Items to this category.

image-20250121-192131.png

Apply and save the Coursing Category.

Navigate to any Menu Item and Coursing Category drop-down is available.

image-20250121-222423.png

 

Serving Options on Components

Navigate to Serving Options.

Add or edit a Serving Option.

If selected serving option is part a component routing to QSR, user can change Prefix or Suffix for serving option.

image-20250121-224852.png

 



Receipts - Edit Template Section

  • Users able to edit receipt printouts.

  • Manipulate and move tags (self-explanitory) to receipt area on the left.

Log into ECM.

Navigate to Receipts section.

image-20250317-211816.png

Go to Templates tab.

Choose from dropdown which receipt needs to be edited.

image-20250317-220218.png

Drag and drop tags (tags are self explanitory) from right to left on what printout section needs to be set.

image-20250317-203951.png

 

Survey - Legacy Option

  • “Legacy” format added to Survey Codes setup.

Log into ECM.

Edit Site.

Click Receipts tab.

Click Codes tab.

Change Survey Format to Legacy.

Untitled-20250731-162853.png

Survey Legacy Format Information:

  • Format

    • Digit 1 = the fourth digit in the site number field

    • Digit 2 = the second digit in the site number field

    • Digit 3 = the second digit of the year

    • Digit 4 = the third digit of the check number (in a 4 digit check number)

      • second to last digit of our check number

    • Digit 5 = the second digit of the date

    • Digit 6 = the First digit of the check number

      • Fourth to last digit of our check number

    • Digit 7 = the first digit of the month

      • Can be 0

    • Digit 8 = the fourth digit of the check number

      • Last digit of our check number

    • Digit 9 = the first digit of the year

    • Digit 10 = the first digit of the date

    • Digit 11 = the third digit in the restaurant number

    • Digit 12 = the first digit in the restaurant number

    • Digit 13 = the second digit of the month

    • Digit 14 = the second digit of the check number

      • Third to last digit of our check number

Survey Legacy Format Information:

  • Format

    • Digit 1 = the fourth digit in the site number field

    • Digit 2 = the second digit in the site number field

    • Digit 3 = the second digit of the year

    • Digit 4 = the third digit of the check number (in a 4 digit check number)

      • second to last digit of our check number

    • Digit 5 = the second digit of the date

    • Digit 6 = the First digit of the check number

      • Fourth to last digit of our check number

    • Digit 7 = the first digit of the month

      • Can be 0

    • Digit 8 = the fourth digit of the check number

      • Last digit of our check number

    • Digit 9 = the first digit of the year

    • Digit 10 = the first digit of the date

    • Digit 11 = the third digit in the restaurant number

    • Digit 12 = the first digit in the restaurant number

    • Digit 13 = the second digit of the month

    • Digit 14 = the second digit of the check number

      • Third to last digit of our check number

Example:

Site# 5671

Check# 5671234

Date# 11/07/02

LEGACY FORMAT would be: 1623-71140-07512

 

Tax

4.9.5

  • Tax Inclusive setting now available/honored in Area Settings.

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  • Price + Tax into full price of the item if enabled.

    • Example $8 item and tax is 8.25%m which is .66

    • The ordered item will be $8 total with the tax added into that total completely.

  • Reports will display base price of menu item then tax.

  • Tax amounts are now calculated in different parts for correcting rounding errors resulting from tax-inclusive menu item calculations.

 

TransAction+ - Card Class Setup

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

 

Elera - Installer

  • Added NorthStar.Elera to installation.

 

Improvements

Adjustment - Description Shown to Guest

  • Adjustment Reasons will have the section to have text print on the receipt, so guests can see what adjustment was applied or note about the adjustment set by the restaurant.

Account feature toggle “Description show to guest on adjustment reason” needs to be selected first.

Navigate to ECM.

Navigate to Adjustment Reasons and edit or add a new Adjustment Reason.

Input the text you want to display on the receipt for this specific adjustment.

  • Adjustment Reasons will have the section to have text print on the receipt so guests can see what adjustment was applied or note about the adjustment set by the restaurant.

Untitled-20241216-153919.png

The printed receipt should show what was set up in the adjustment.

image-20241216-154023.png

 

Checks - Check Preview

  • The check preview in the Windows Application displays all the information of the check items like components, mods, and gratuities.

Navigate to Location List or Check Search.

Access a check and view the Check Preview panel on the left.

All check item information will display.

image-20250603-162941.png

 

Checks - Printed Nickname

  • Printed Auth Checks will display the user nickname instead of the actual name.

Verify user’s name in ECM first.

image-20241226-191331.png

Log into Windows App.

Order menu items.

Tap Payment and pay with credit card.

Complete payment and print check.

Nickname(A4 in this case) prints instead of user’s actual name.

image-20241226-191209.png

 

Checks - Transfer

  • Two step check transfer.

Log into Windows App.

Attach to a location.

Create checks and submit only.

Navigate to Location Menu.

Tap Check search and select checks.

Original session owner transfers checks to new user.

Receiver will see message to accept checks.

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Accepted Checks - Session Owner changes to new user.

Declined Checks - Session Owner stays with original user

 

Check Search - Reopen Check Locations

  • When reopening a check from the location list/check search, and no alternate locations are configured, the check reopens in the next available location within the area it was created in.

Log into WinApp.

Attach to a location → Order, Pay, and Finalize the check.

Re-attach to the same location within area check was created in.

Navigate to Check Search.

image-20250528-154154.png

Reopen check that was finalized and opened from the same location.

Check reopens in next available location.

 

Gift Card - Modified Balance Inquiry Receipt

  • Modified the date and time to format mm/dd/yy HH:mm:ss, and added the gift card class type and the transaction status to the GC inquiry receipt.

Run a Gift Card inquiry

Receipt should be similar to this format:

Untitled-20250429-154649.png
Untitled-20250429-154704.png

 

Gift Card - Remaining Balance and Redemption Message

  • GC balance printed in a new line below the totals along with Gift Card redemption message.

Set up Credit Card Payment Receipt and Guest Signable CC Chit Receipt options in Receipts Template in ECM.

image-20250429-163144.png
image-20250429-164038.png

Receipt

Untitled-20250623-173329.png

 

Gift Card - Activation Reference Number

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

  • An activated gift card will retain its reference number/payment number within the SQL table.

Example

Untitled-20250702-144611.png

 

 

Out of Stock - Collapsible

  • Staff Facing setting allows for collapse or expanding of OOS items.

image-20241120-012627.png

Windows App login screen will have the collapsible Item Availability.

image-20250220-175903.png

 

Payment - Partial Payment Balance

  • Remaining balance displays when partial payment is applied to check.

Log into Windows App.

Order items and Submit Order.

Pay for check partially.

The receipt prints out the remaining balance to be paid on check.

 

Payment - Mangensa

  • Magensa offline transactions are removed after 10 days.

 

Receipt - Updated Receipt Design

  • Receipt designs for payment types updated.

Gift Card receipt

Untitled-20250429-161125.jpg
Untitled-20250429-161153.jpg

 

Credit Card Payment

Untitled-20250429-161258.jpg
Untitled-20250429-161328.jpg

 

Receipts - Suggested Gratuity Text

  • “Gratuity is not included” text added to suggested gratuity box.

image-20250514-192746.png

 

Reports - Terminal Chits

  • Removed the seconds from Terminal Report receipt prints.

Run reports and time stamp no longer displays seconds.

Example.

Untitled-20250623-175643.png
Untitled-20250623-175700.png

 

Server Teams - Team Deletion and Staff Removal

  • Created Server Team will remove user from team if clocked out or if all members clock out, it will disassemble the Server Team.

Log into WinApp.

Create Server Teams.

Members create and finalize checks.

Users clock out.

Server Team is disassembled.

Server Teams - Session Ownership

  • Server TeamNumber and Server TeamUsers are set for the session once a location check is assigned to that server team.

  • Checks finalized under a different user still retains ownership for the original owner, even if check access is enabled.

Create Server Team.

Assign check to team.

Team member closes and finalizes the check.

System retains information on which server team member and team number closed the check.

 

Support

4.9.5

  • Enable ZoHo for account

image-20250513-163245.png
  • Attain ZoHo Account ID from ZoHo contact related to account.

image-20250513-170402.png
  • Insert ZoHo Contact ID for account.

image-20250513-165545.png
  • Open Support Ticket requires user to put in field description in iOS.

Untitled-20241112-164916.png

 

 

Time Clock - Grace Periods

  • User can clock in/out when grace period rules not setup/enforced.

 

TransAction+ Integration

  • New credit card and gift card integration to GK TransAction+

TransAction+ - Additional Tip Line

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

  • Added the +/- Tip Line to receipt to add gratuities and tips.

Log into Windows App.

Order items and Submit Order.

Pay for items and add gatuities and tips.

Receipt now prints out

image-20250505-165216.png

TransAction+ - Gift Card Adjustments

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

  • Clients are able to complete gift card adjustments through the Windows App.

Same protocol as applying a credit card adjustment.

TransAction+ - Entry Method

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

  • Entry Method for cards prints on chits.

Example

image-20250623-155119.png

 

TransAction+ - Gratuity Receipt

  • Gratuities will no longer incorrectly recalculate after payment is applied and completed, and a receipt is printed.

Example

image-20250623-164653.png

 

TransAction+ - Adjustment/Voids

  • TPlus process changed by removing background void and re-auth of adjustment to just adjusting the initial authorization to add tip to the transaction.

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

Apply normal adjustment to a transaction.

 

TransAction+ - Redeem Balance Inquiry

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

  • Request to remove the balance inquiry call during gift card redemption between NorthStar and GK/Device Manager.

Background improvements for T+.

 

TransAction+ - Inactive Gift Cards

Limited to TransAction+ clients only.

  • Inactive gift cards cannot be approved for redemptions.

 

Out of Stock - Print Report

  • Print Out of Stock items from the login screen.

Printouts determined by Device Peripherals setup.

image-20250603-160627.png

Tap on Print button at the bottom left of Windows App login screen.

image-20250220-192626.png

 

Web Ordering API - Setting to send OLO orders ASAP

  • ECM setting for WOAPI that sends orders to the kitchen immediately after being sent from the OLO dashboard.

Select “Allow orders to be sent to the kitchen immediately, set to ASAP”.

image-20250204-172842.png

 

QSR - Vehicle Identifier

  • Guest Identifier for vehicle make maps to QSR.

QSR Mapping added to Guest Identifier Category

  • Each Guest Identifier Category created in ECM now has the QSR Property to Map section.

Log into ECM.

Navigate to Categories and Guest Identifier Categories.

Create a new Category.

Is QSR is being utilized, designated the QSR Property to Map dropdown from the 3 selections.

image-20250102-201926.png

Click on Guest Identifiers tab and assign identifiers to the created category, then send deploy.

Untitled-20250605-154920.png

Log into Windows Application.

Order items and apply Guest Identifiers to orders.

QSR displays set mapped properties for Guest Identifier.

image-20250312-014923.png

Chit.

image-20250312-014953.png

 

Windows App

New Features

 

Cash Drawer

  • Compulsory cash drawer validation added on all screens of the app if drawer is left open

image-20241017-143626.png

 

Checks - Merge Table

  • User is able to merge sessions via the Merge Table button.

Log into Windows App.

Order items and submit order.

Navigate to Location Menu.

Tap Merge Table.

image-20250324-202431.png

Select sessions/checks to combine then tap Merge.

image-20250324-202540.png

The system will merge checks into the current table/location user is on.

 

Check Search - Reopen Check Locations

  • When reopening a check from the location list/check search, and no alternate locations are configured, the check reopens in the next available location within the area it was created in.

Log into WinApp.

Attach to a location → Order, Pay, and Finalize the check.

Re-attach to the same location.

Navigate to Check Search.

image-20250528-154154.png

Reopen check that was finalized and opened from the same location.

Check reopens in next available location.

 

Enhanced Start Tab - ECM Feature Toggle

  • Added a feature toggle to enable the new Start Tab option for ECM setup.

Feature Toggle.

image-20250224-184737.png

Device setup section “Terminal defaults to this area for check/tab”, for the Start Tab area.

image-20250224-185157.png

 Windows App Location Menu has Start Check on the top right next to user.

image-20250731-173100.png

At Location List there is the Start Check button at the bottom of the numpad.

image-20250731-173144.png

 

Jobs Setup - Declare/Do Not Declare Tips

  • The ECM Jobs setup now has an option for the job to not declare tips.

Log into ECM.

Navigate to Jobs.

Edit or Add New Job.

Change Declare Tips to “Do not declare tips”

image-20250521-213158.png

User cannot declare tips whatsoever.

NOTE - When editing time records, user will also be able to dot declare tips on edited records.

 

Punchh Membership - QR Code

  • Able to search for customer via QR code.

Log into WinApp.

Attach to location.

Tap Membership button.

image-20250822-205334.png

Scan QR code.

 

 

Memo - Components

  • Able to add memos to components.

Log into Windows App.

Order item with components.