This setting allows clerks to assign a table number to orders as well as keeping the orders open in the touchscreen so that they can be edited before it is tendered for payment. Customers may add items to their order or "tab" as in a restaurant or bar, and have one bill at the end of their experience. See TAB MODE Config Options: PSTABCTL for further details concerning user-defined settings that control printing, a pre-authorization percentage amount, and suppression of tip lines on output. Registers in Tab mode have the option to load a graphic representing your floor plan so it displays on the touchscreen for ease of reference.
After a clerk logs into the touchscreen, they will be prompted to assign a table number or ID. Table ID's are user-defined and may be up to four alphanumeric characters in length. The system will accept any four characters entered. This can be helpful when a winery has multiple tasting areas for example, and an alpha prefix is used to identify numbered tables in these areas. For example, P01 and P02 where "P" might mean tables 1 and 2 on the Patio. Or T01 and T02 where "T" could mean tables 1 and 2 on the Terrace.
Once a table ID is entered, choose [Accept] and add products to the order as usual. When complete, choose [Tender Accept/Suspend] ...
... then select [Suspend Tab] to print a pre-receipt and keep the tab open.
The order is suspended as shown below. Note how Clerk ID appears in parenthesis after the table number for ease of reference. Clerks may now go back into the order as many times as necessary to make changes to the order for that tab or table.
Add items to order and either suspend tab again, close the tab, or tender for payment. In the example below, more items were added and the order was closed.
Below, payment is being processed using the Credit Card on file. If not using tips/gratuity, a payment card will only need to be sent for approval once.
If using tips in tab mode however, a payment card will send for authorization twice. The first time for pre-authorization of the tab amount and a second for the amount plus any applicable tip. After pre-authorization, the system prints out a charge receipt with a tip/gratuity line for the customer to sign. If any, clerks will need to enter the tip amount into the pre-auth'ed transaction before being sent for post-authorization as shown below. To further control tip collection and printed receipt output, see PSTABCTL.
FAQ
| What's the difference between Suspend Tab and Close Tab | Suspending a tab puts the order away, pending additional items. Closing a tab also puts the order away but generates a bill on the printer. When recalling a suspended tab, the clerk is returned to the item entry screen. In contrast, when recalling a closed tab, the clerk is taken to the tender screen instead of item entry. What we envisioned Imagine a restaurant experience. Your server opens a tab for your table and enters the items you order over the course of the evening: your beverage items, starters and appetizers, and eventually our entree and dessert selections. Each time you place an order, your server accesses your open tab, add items, and suspends the tab repeatedly. When your dining experience is complete, the server retrieves and finally closes your tab. Closing generates a bill that is taken to the table for review. You hand your server a payment method, presumably a credit card. The server retrieves your closed tab and is taken the to tender screen (instead of item entry) where the credit card is swiped for pre-authorization. You are asked to sign an authorization, optionally leave a tip, which the server then enters into the closed tab, assigns the tip clerk, and submits the final authorization for payment processing. | |