[Deutsch] [English] Contents Overview Features System Requirements License References Documentation Installation and Configuration User Manual Download FAQ Register Contact Customer Service

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Overview

TkKasse is a Point-of-Sale (POS) software, which can be used with off-the-shelf computers. It was designed especially to meet the needs of restaurants — With TkKasse, waiters can manage all the orders on-screen. It's easy to keep track of many guest orders at the same time. Printed receipts will make it easier for bar and kitchen staff to keep track of the orders, too.

You can use TkKasse at more than one cash desk at the same time. As all data is stored on a server at your site, it is possible for waiters to switch between cash desks anytime. Second, only the server computer has to be protected against data-loss e.g. no data is lost if a cash desk blackouts. By these means, a very cheap but safe setup, even for bigger installations, is possible.

TkKasse has very little needs on hardware, too. Aside from POS printers no special hardware is required — no touch screens, no special keyboards, no cash drawers — even the POS printer is not a must-have. On the contrary you can use each of these special compentents if you feel the need for them.

Features

Yet Implemented

• All guest orders are managed on-screen:
  No paper-driven mess anymore! Instead, well defined texts are printed when needed.
• Multiple waiters can use the cash desk:
  All the orders are designated to a waiter and stored in the background.
• No “bottleneck” at the cash desk:
  If one POS terminal is not enough, use two or more. They all provide access to the current orders, so waiters can switch between them anytime.
• Run to the kitchen to give the order to the chef? Use the phone? Not necessary:
  TkKasse controls multiple printers with ease and prints orders at kitchen and bar printers.
• Special guest orders can be provided on order receipts:
  And will be printed later on the guest bill.
• Tax rates (VAT) can be set for each article independendly:
  (Needed in some countries)
• Special bills:
  room order for Restaurant/Hotel businesses, etc.
• Waiter's bill summary receipt:
  can be printed anytime.
• Protection against failures only neccesary for the server computer:
  The terminals at the cash desks do not need any protection, as all data is computed on the server.
• One-Computer setup possible:
  Server- und terminal program can be installed on the same computer, if you have only one.
• All computers can be used for other things, too:
  As there is no special hardware, you can use them as ordinary PCs.
• Internationalisation:
  So far, localisations for German- and English-speaking countries are provided. For all countries except Germany, information about tax rules is required. Please provide it to the author if you are planning to use TkKasse outside Germany.
• Splitting and joining of bills
• Cash drawer support
  Implemented with version 2.3
• Web browser driven configuration tool (remote administration possible)
  Implemented with version 2.3

and all the other things you expect of an computerized cash desk.

Planned or in Development

• High availability (Fail Over) — planned
• More localisations — will be developed as soon someone is interested

Your ideas for improvements and extensions are very welcome!

System Requirements

Minimum

• Server computer (e.g. Intel-PC, Apple Macintosh, others. From 400MHz/128MB RAM, but more RAM is recommended)
• Server operating system UNIX-compatible (e.g. Linux, *-BSD, Mac-OS X, Solaris)
• POS printer (the number of them is at your choice)
• — nothing else —

Supported, but not required

• Additional cash desk terminals (X-Terminal, e.g. old Intel-PCs from 75MHz/32MB RAM up)
• Special keyboards (supported by special setup of the terminal)
• Cash drawers (controlled via POS printer)
• Touch screens (only on your — payed — request)

License

TkKasse is free software, free like in “free speech”. You may use TkKasse on any number of computers and under any circumstances covered by the GNU General Public License (GPL), Version 2. The source code is available and free, allowing you to change it yourself or let it change by some person or company of your choice, if this is ever needed.

References

TkKasse is already running for more than a year at Hotel und Restaurant Waldschlößchen Schierke (Harz Mountains/Germany). A second installation at Hotel und Waldgasthaus Drei Annen (Harz Mountains/Germany) has been started. In the meantime, a third installation at Gasthaus zur Romantischen Straße is done.

Here are some photos from the installation in Schierke.

Starting in spring 2006 stand alone cash desks running TkKasse and some additional software for electronic drink taps will be sold in Europe.

Documentation

Installation und Configuration

The package TkKasse-Server contains the installation manual which covers the matching version of TkKasse. An online version of the installation manual is available here.

User Manual

The user manual isn't written yet.

Download

For now, only packages for SuSE-Linux are released. For Debian packages, I need persons who know about Debian packaging and init script to assist me.

Most Recent (2.5) Release

• tclcrypt
  • SuSE
• TkKasse-Server
  • SuSE
• TkKasse-Client
  • SuSE

In addition, for SuSE, you need the following packages made from software of other projects:

• sqlite-tcl-3.2.3-jk1 (SuSE failed to include the tcl bindings of sqlite in their distribution. This package adds the missing files.)
• tclhttpd-3.5.1-jk2 (The original tclhttpd violates the FHS if installed in /opt, which is needed for TkKasse. This package installs its files into the /opt/tclhttpd/... directories.)

Please visit both projects' web sites to get their original packages and sources.

FAQ

I've got problems with TkKasse I cannot solve myself. Whom should I ask for help?

Make use of the customer service! Questions regarding TkKasse asked via Email are free of charge.

I want to use TkKasse on x cash desks. How much does it cost?

You may use TkKasse on any number of cash desks free of charge. Your total cost for using TkKasse will purely consist of hardware costs and maintenance costs. With little afford, you trained staff can perform many TkKasse adminstration tasks alone. If you are looking for further help, make use of the TkKasse customer service.

Register

TkKasse is free software. You don't have to register, but you should.. The Information you provide will help to improve TkKasse a way you like it to be. Additionally, we can keep track of the branches of Tkkasse used by someone, and these branches will be kept under development.

To register yourself as a TkKasse user, please write an email with the subject “TkKasse/Registrierung” to Jan Kandziora <tkkasse@users.sf.net>. You will receive a reply as soon as possible.

Contact

You may contact me via email: Jan Kandziora <tkkasse@users.sf.net> for now. This is the proper place for giving feature requests and bug reports, too.

Customer Service

I do also customer service for TkKasse

	Dipl. Ing. (FH) Jan Kandziora
	Triftstraße 12
	38644 Goslar
	Germany
	Email: Jan Kandziora <tkkasse@users.sf.net>

More customer service partners are needed. Please contact the author if you like to provide service for TkKasse in your area!