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EPI - Getting Started

The roomMaster External Posting Interface (EPI) module allows you to intercept data from a POS (point of sale) or call accounting system which creates charges and posts them directly to roomMaster. Your posting interface usually sends information which is printed out for someone to manually post.

With this module, a direct connection is made between the POS or call accounting system and EPI. The connection can either be through a COM port or a TCP/IP connection. You must check your system specifications as to the settings which the device sends data. These settings are needed so this interface knows exactly how the data is coming in. This program can be installed on a workstation where roomMaster is also being used or by itself. You must, however, have this program installed in the same folder/directory where roomMaster is running. If your environment is networked, the computer where this program is running must also be networked. Since this module is Windows compatible, you can run this program in the background of roomMaster.

Once the connection is made between your data source and EPI, your next step is to setup the parameters. Click the Config button. Highlight the configuration for the system being interfaced and select Change. As data is passed from the source, this interface will log the data, interpret it and create a transaction on the guest folio. The configuration which you setup will describe the format of the data such as where to find the room number, voucher number and amount.

With This Program, You Have the Ability to:

  • Post transactions which are labeled as one room number to another such as management phone calls.
  • Stop transactions from being posted while the audit is running.
  • Display all the transactions which happened during the day.
  • Print the transactions to a printer or save them to a log file for auditing purposes.
  • Increase the percentage of the transaction amount.
  • Stop transactions from being posted which are below a certain amount or duration.
  • Read transactions from a network file or ASCII file rather than the serial port.

Installation Steps:

EPI should only run on ONE workstation. If using a serial connection, EPI MUST be running on the workstation connected to the data source.

  1. Start the EPI system by selecting File > Run, or clicking the Run button, and then select which configuration is needed for your phone and then press Run
  2. Make a billable call from a room that is checked in, for at least one minute.*
  3. Check that the call is registering in EPI and posting to the room.
  4. Adjust pricing n the configuration of the phone system and by clicking the Pricing button in EPI.
  5. Add the EPI program (RW5POST.EXE) to your Start menu, Startup section so EPI starts automatically each time the workstation is booted.

*If installing a POS interface, ring a ticket from the POS workstation and post the charge to a checked in 'test' room.

IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to make sure the EPI system is completely compatible with the system you are connecting to. You must take all actions necessary to protect yourself, such as complete testing, before using the system in a 'real' environment. If possible, make sure your system has an alarm when it cannot send data to the EPI system or support an ACK/NAK bi-directional interface. InnQuest Software is not responsible for lost call records or posting transactions.

For a complete list of certified interfaces visit the InnQuest Software website. www.innquest.com

Wiring/Connecting to EPI

If you are hardwiring (connecting) two computers together, a Null Modem cable is required. You can either make your own or purchase one from a store such as Radio Shack. EPI uses Pin 2 to transmit data, Pin 3 to receive data, Pin 7 for Ground, and Pin 20 for DTR. The Phone system's SMDR cable is usually an RS-232 (serial) cable which comes right from the back of the switchboard. In other cases, it may be an RJ-45 port on the back of the phone panel itself.

If you are connecting from an RJ-45 port to the back of the computer via RS-232 (serial), you must make sure your phone cable converter has 5 or 6 wires. A standard telephone cable (RJ-11) only has four. When connecting your RJ-45 cable to a RS-232, use the following configuration:

Red (wire 5) to Pin 3 - Green to Pin 7 - Blue to Pin 11 - Yellow to Pin 20

You must make sure that the COM port you are using is not conflicting with another device such as an Internet Modem. Use the File > Test/Find COM Ports option in EPI to find which ports are available.

For more information, please see EPI Phone Rates and EPI Configuration