Authors:
Benjamin Duan-Porter
Abstract:
This feature encompasses the process of using numbers to represent text comments for reason codes requiring a comment when returning items to a store. On an options page, the store manager can configure a list of reason code text comments that are each given a numeric ID between 1 and 99. When this feature is enabled, the reason code comment prompt (during an item return) will expect a number to match one of the previously configured reason code Comment IDs. The system will look up the text and display the number and text on the screen and include the number and text in the tlog.
Background:
In Asia, many countries use characters to represent the written language instead of an alphabet. When entering returns, numbers are used to represent reason codes for why the item is being returned. In a previous release to a customer, some reason codes can be configured to prompt for a text comment, to further describe the more general reason code. However, in Asian countries such as Japan, this leads to problems as not all employees know English and can use the alphanumeric keyboard to add reason code comments in English. In Japan, the POS keyboards do not allow full text Japanese entry of the reason code comment. An existing solution to this problem would be to replace all the terminal keyboards with ones that support writing in Japanese. This is an expensive option, as all other functions of the POS terminal do not require the new keyboards.
Description:
First, new options are added to allow enabling the feature, and to allow associating pre-determined comments with numeric IDs between 1 and 99. Then, when returning an item, if an entered reason code requires a comment, the terminal prompts for comment. If this feature is enabled, the code expects a number to be entered matching one of the comments configured in options, and the comments with their associated numbers are displayed on the screen. If a non-numeric value or numeric value that doesn't match one of the comment IDs from options, the terminal will re-prompt for comment. If a numeric comment is entered that matches one of the configured Comment IDs from options, then the terminal will look up the text for the comment and print it to screen in the format # <Description>, where # is the entered number, and <Description> is the matching text from options. This text will also be logged in the tlog as the reason code comment. A store may choose to put a list of the comments and their IDs near the register in the local language, or in English.
Enabling Technology:
This feature is implemented in a custom version of the ACE terminal application on the 4690 operating system.
Supporting Art:
There are many places where numbers are used to represent text, and it is not hard to find examples of this idea used for translated, or local text. The difference here is this is a first use of this idea for entry of Reason Code Comments.
TGCS Reference 2929
