RMS versus Other POS system

" Mind you, if it was remotely possible, I'd have it plugged into a MySQL database..."

Why ?

Rick Brown DataBasics

If you purchase a support plan with Microsoft you get access to CustomerSource, which has the same Knowledge Base and Download Library that the Partners get.

The only extra information Partners can have is the Customization Guide, which gives you information about the XML receipt formats, Report file formats, and the QSRules and QSBridge libraries. Even without the guide, you can figure out the receipts and reports by looking at the existing files as an example. You can use the object browser in VS to look at QSRules. QSBridge is about the only thing you really need the Customization Guide for.

My question is WHY can't you get access to this stuff before you buy the software. For example - doing imports into RMS is fairly easy if your technical - but the QSCImport utility is not available - unless you know someone. You don't want to have to spend thousands of dollars just to find out that the system cannot do what you want.

Like you said I have taken apart a few reports and have been able to create a few myself. But this took me a fair amount of time - with proper documentation that would have saved me alot of time and made the product more appealing. Try to find some books on RMS? Nothing is available...

Why can't Microsoft be more open with it's products - it appears that unless your a VAR - your out of luck.

BTW- I like MySQL and PHP - lots of forumns for getting help and sharing...not like RMS...

Jas> If you purchase a support plan with Microsoft you get access to

I guess it's a matter of preception - there is a difference between sharing/making enough information available to a potential customer to make an informed decision and giving a product away for free. If Microsoft charges too much for VAR to get certified that is a completely different issue. I believe some customers want to be able to do some of there own support and customization. When my system is down

- I don't want to have to call or wait for Joe to come fix my system. In todays competitive world information is power - but you can't isolate your customers from information. I believe that the more open a system is - the more customers you will get. In researching RMS - one of the biggest downside of this product was how little information was available on it - no books, no real user forumns, etc.. If Micorsoft Word was marketed like RMS - I guess we would all be using Corel Wordperfect. Just a thought...

BTW- Yes, I do provide alot of information for free to my customers - it's a cost of doing business. I happy customer usually comes back and buys more stuff.

Masta T wrote:

I 'd think if your working with a good local partner they would let you look at their copies of the information you want. Or they could tell you if what you need is doable. Putting this out for open evaluation does not help MS whatsoever. It would only allow the competition to see how they are doing things.

The reason dealers don't share, is that it cost them thousands of dollars to hire and train staff to support this product or any product. They like any sane individual desire to profit from their expenditures. Just like any business does. If you don't make a profit how are you going to be able to serve your customers?

Finally, do you as a business person give away your products and services? I surely hope not, but if you are please advise all of us where we can come get our free stuff. :) m t

We agree that some customers want to be able to do their own support and customization. In fact we believe our customers should be able to own their own software systems. That is why our company specializes in providing them with the expertise required to develop their own systems.

We have developed a generic POS/Retail system that can be used as a framework for developing a customized system. When we build a customized system we provide the client with the full source code and a licence to modify the code for their own use.

Our generic system is a fully integrated point-of-sale (POS) and general ledger system that uses its own encrypted binary protocol to allow POS and administration clients to communicate directly with a server. POS clients automatically switch to off-line operation whenever the communication link is unavailable.

A demonstration is available at

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

Are you evaluating RMS for your store, or to become a reseller?

Rick Brown DataBasics

Rick

I'm evaluating the software for my wife business, as well as, my friends business. I'm a retired IT professional and don't plan on becoming a reseller. I just like to see under the hood - database schemas, relationships, store procedures, etc... No hidden agenda's. Like to be able to troubleshoot when the system goes down and maybe write a few reports.

Like me ask you a question in turn " Why doesn't Microsoft make CustomerSource, Knowledge Base and Download Library available to the public?

D

Because it's not part of a reseller based business model. You're an IT pro but have suggested that RMS should have the same support structure as Word. RMS is not Word. Vendors of mission critical accounting/business applications have a different business model than desktop productivity software - for good reason. What other mainstream POS vendor have you evaluated that makes the information you're looking for available to the public?

What kind of stores do your wife and friend have? What do they sell? Have you found RMS functionality to be suitable. Have you talked to a reseller? I could give you a list of them in your area. Where are you located? That's how this product is marketed.

If you want to argue the merits of their business model, contact Microsoft. If you want to discuss RMS functionality, that's what this forums for.

Rick Brown DataBasics

Lane

I would be more than happy to assist you in any way if you have not yet made up your mide about RMS. If you want feel free to send me an e-mail and I will help answer any questions you have. I migrated to RMS 1 1/2 years ago from another system. We are happy with our choice.

" snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote:

I sympathise with Lane DJ here and gave up on evaluating Microsoft RMS a while back. I'm based in the UK and was very interested in this solution initially. After trawling through newsgroups and knowledgebases it appeared that I could find no helpful technical documentation that would have relieved me of my questions.

I'm a retired IT Pro too and tried to work closely with my previous employer (Microsoft Certified Partner) to dig some pre-sales stuff out of the cert partner website, partnersource and partner knowledgebases and I can still tell you there isn't much to be found. Apart from the odd macromedia flash sales cd I still wasn't convinced with the shallow depth of support and information.

Ironically I found a great, shareware, POS solution called ShopAssist that now caters for all my needs. At a fraction of the price I'm happy and it comes with great support and masses of documentation for customisation.

Maybe another day Microsoft but this time your RMS product is still too 'green' an offering for me.

" snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote: