4.5 App and Server - Client Release Notes

Owned by Alger Alama
Last updated: Aug 04, 2018
5 min read

Release date: August 6, 2018



CONTENTS:

Version Release

Current software release available for NorthStar:

Date

Version

Description

Date

Version

Description

August 6, 2018

4.5 App and Server

Updates to improve stability, performance, and introduces several new features for this release 



Intended Audience

Clients utilizing the NorthStar Point-of-Sale software; both server and application.



Customer Support

For technical support and any questions regarding NorthStar and other products that are not addressed within this document:

NorthStar Support Webpage: https://northstarrestaurantpos.com/contact/

Order Entry Support: 866-590-1411

NOTE: If your distributor provides technical support for this product, please contact them for support rather than Custom Business Solutions



1. Introduction

This document provides information about the latest updates for NorthStar for your restaurants point-of-sale system.

To learn more about the NorthStar product:



2. Special Considerations During Upgrade

The NorthStar Server upgrades are scheduled and then deployed via our cloud software to all restaurant locations during the end-of-day process.

It is important that the server at the location meets the proper system requirements while maintaining constant internet connectivity or the server will not receive the proper scheduled upgrade.

Please adhere to the System Requirementss page to make sure that your current system hasn't encountered any changes that could fluctuate, i.e. limited Hard Drive space and firewall allowances.    



3. New Features

NOTE - Some new features and improvements require activation on accounts that wish to use them. Contact your account manager to discuss and activate, if applicable.

Note that some issues listed are just a portion of the work required; these will be completed in a future application release.

  • Manager Swipe Override (Adjustments) – Managers can now swipe their mag card at the adjustment screen and take control of session to apply adjustment to checks and exit adjustment screen to revert it to normal control for their staff again. 

  • Start/End Dates for Menu Items and Components to make them available for ordering at the convenience of the clients.

  • Start/End dates for Adjustments – Allows for admin to be able to set a start and end date for adjustments (Ex. 20% off lunch for a set time during the week – and isn’t always accessible)

  • Menu Item/Description Search from Ordering Menu - With this feature, the ability to search and find an item becomes simpler and faster on the app.

  • Alphanumeric Table Numbers - Alphanumeric table numbers appearing on location map will help your Team Members simplify and speed up service throughout the restaurant by easily and quickly identifying table locations.

  • PLU Look Up - Ability to enter a PLU code to quickly find menu items and add them to a check. This makes those miscellaneous items, produce, and other items with PLUs quick to enter and find.

  • Team Member Login Defaults to Select Table Keypad – Ability to set the location keypad as the default window to display first as opposed to the entire location map after staff logs in

  • RFID capability with NSOE using TAP only with mifare card – Hotelier and restauranteur ability to utilize RFID payment cards on POS to pay for transactions and post to correct folio within Fidelio (PMS) 

  • CC Pre-Auth -  Feature able to use the credit card pre-authorization feature, also known as the cc pre-auth feature, to not hold a customer's credit card and provide a better service to customers.

  • Barcodes on Receipts– The ability to print a barcode on the receipt to have other systems read the barcode to efficiently enter sales information into our alternate systems.

  • Guest Payment: Manual Gratuity Input-  Removes the suggested gratuity percentage screen and displays a keypad for manual entry of gratuity

  • Custom Background Images for Location Map – a new ability to upload an image to Location Map.  

  • Restricted Access to Menu Items – Ability to set menu items as “controlled items” and only be accessible per by job permission “Manager Access”



4. Improvements

NOTE - Some new features and improvements require activation on accounts that wish to use them. Contact your account manager to discuss and activate, if applicable.

Note that some issues listed are just a portion of the work required; these will be completed in a future application release.

  • Community Tables can use multiple screen savers from each concept that is configured to their sites.

  • Staff can utilize a search function in the Staff Facing 

  • Guest Facing has a collapsed component categories so guests can see what they can work with initially when ordering an item.

  • From Guest Facing, staff have the ability to display the login keypad with specific gestures on the app. This will be taught via training with a CBS representative.

  • QSR will display seat numbers so staff can deliver food to the proper customer seat; this will also print on the receipts for the staff.

  • App allows payroll reporting to display in one week intervals. ECM must be set for site's Pay Period Date to reflect this. 



5. Fixes

  • Scanner

    • Menu items created with Misc Item Sales type with barcode can be scanned.

    • Scanner functions properly even after iPad screen auto-locks.

  • Application

    • Update splash screen no longer displays if a deploy hasn't been sent to the site.

    • Expanding combo items on app does not crash the application.

    • App no longer crashes in Staff UI when placement of 2 and 4 are set for a menu item and menu item is ordered.

    • After an auto log out the app no longer just displays a black screen requiring an app restart.

    • All set components in menus will still be present after upgrading to 4.5 application without app prematurely closing.  

    • Variety of fixes to UI and functionality.  

  • Adjustments

    • Applied discount adjustment on check displays proper calculated tax on check total.  

    • Discounts apply correctly to combos with either prevailing or reduced price and correctly displays in discount adjustment screen. 

  • Payment

    • When disabled, Alternate Payment option is displayed and grayed out on Payment screen.

    • Minor fixes to Payment UI: typoes, etc. 

  • Refund

    • Receipt displays General Refund amount as "Change due" and Gift Card Cashout amount as "Change due".

  • Guest Facing and Kiosk

    • Kiosk/Guest-facing displays the signature field when set in ECM. 

    • Able to adjust the tip on a Gift Card transaction.

    • Auth code displays properly on receipt for Heartland processor clients.

    • Several minor UI and functionality fixes to Guest Facing and Kiosk.

  • Gratuity

    • Auto-Gratuity and Total CC Amount display correct.

    • Payment button in Add Checks accounts for gratuity adjustment.

    • Tip amount fields are calculated properly after selecting suggested tip percentages.

  • Other

    • Disabled components remain disabled.

    • Available balance on gift card prints out on chit. 

    • Previously reloaded gift card will no longer display an error during payment.

    • Labor Summary and Tender Summary print on cashout report.

    • Editing checks by seat numbers properly moves the items to newly created checks.

    • Other UI and functionality fixes.

6. Related Documentation

All NorthStar Order Entry documentation and how-to guides are located in the links below: