Attaching a Cash Drawer to FileMaker with the Serial plug-in

NOTE This is an old page. The example is still using the classic plug-in syntax from before FileMaker 7, and also assumes the cash drawer has a serial port.

With the Troi Serial plug-in it is possible to attach a cash drawer to FileMaker Pro, which can then be opened by a FileMaker script. For this to work you need to install a suitable cash drawer, the Troi Serial Plug-in and add 2 ScriptMaker Scripts to your solution. Below you find a solution that users of the Serial plug-in have found to be a good basis for a Point of Sale (POS). Note that this was tested on Windows only. Troi will be testing it for Mac in the future, but for the moment we assume this works on Mac too.

At the bottom of this page you will also find 2 demos:

• Demo file for an Epson compatible cash drawer
• Demo file for an M-S Cash Drawer compatible cash drawer

Purchase the right drawer

NOTE It is important to know that you need to purchase a cash drawer that has a serial interface. Troi Serial plug-in does not work with a USB cash drawer, unless the cash drawer emulates a serial port.

We suggest you take a look at APG Cash Drawer. They still sell cash drawers with a serial port. The best (and least expensive) product for this application is the Model 484 SerialPRO®II interface. This interface will plug directly into the serial port of the computer. It is designed for a standard RS232 serial port. In addition, this interface is powered by the serial port thus eliminating the need for an external power supply. (There are situations where the power supply will be required; Windows NT operating systems have been identified as requiring the power supply.)

The serial interface board, with the logic circuitry, is mounted inside the cash drawer. It is not separate from, or external to, the cash drawer. APG has a wide variety of cash drawers (sizes, color, till configuration etc.) that can include the 484 interface. A cable is mounted to the drawer ready for connection to a 9 pin COM port. APG also includes an adapter in case the user only has a 25 pin COM port available.

Charged by the serial port

The 484 needs a dedicated Serial port, so it is able to store power from the serial port while the RTS and DTR lines are electrically high. It will be ready for use within about 8-10 seconds.

Add these Scripts

In your solution you need to run a startup script. First define a global text field:

gErrorCode   global, text field

Add these ScriptMaker Script steps:

Set Field [gErrorCode, External("Serial-Open", "COM1| baud=9600 parity=odd data=7 stop=10 flowcontrol=RTSCTS DTR=enabled RTS=enabled" ) ]
If[Left(gErrorCode,2) == "$$"]
  Show Message[An Error Occurred]
Else
  Show Message[All is well...]
End If

Also create an "Open drawer" ScriptMaker Script:

Set Field [gErrorCode, External("Serial-Send", "COM1|UU")]
If[Left(gErrorCode,2) == "$$"]
  Show Message[An Error Occurred]
Else
  Show Message[All is well...]
End If  

The drawer requires about 8 seconds to recharge before it can open a second time. APG also ships a U.S. compatible 115V to 12VDC power supply with each 484 interface.

Address of APG

Example file for Epson compatible cash drawer

Contributed by 3 Square Associates

This Filemaker Pro file shows the use of Troi Serial Plug-in with Epson compatible cash drawers. It basically allows a user to link to the cash drawer, use the startup script to open the connection and then insert the relevant cash drawer number codes into the relevant fields. The codes are then converted to ASCII, put into one string and then sent to the cash drawer. Example file formatted for FileMaker 5 through 6. Should work on Mac and Windows.

Size 8 Kb, Zipped Download Cash Drawer Demo file: cashdrawerdemo.zip

Example file for M-S Cash Drawer compatible cash drawer

Contributed by Kevin Frank & Associates

This Filemaker Pro file, shown at the DIG FM meeting of November 16th, 2004, shows the use of Troi Serial Plug-in with M-S Cash Drawer models. Example file formatted for FileMaker 6 and 7.

Size 28 Kb, Zipped Download Cash Drawer Demo file: KFA-troi-serial-demo.zip

© 2010 Troi Automatisering, all rights reserved.