CATAPULT Provides Extensive Interface for Handheld Terminals ECRS Receives Highest 5-Star Rating for Third Year in a Row

By Brent Dirks, CPA, EA, MCSE

ECR Software Corporation’s CATAPULT continues its traditions of a solid, well-rounded program that offers some unique features not seen in other packages, including Register Emulation, function generators, and Register Guard, a data redundancy system that lets each terminal continue to function even when the network is no longer online. CATAPULT has seen very little in the way of enhancements since our last review, but then again, that speaks for the product’s maturity and stability. (The company did note that the following features will be available in its July 2003 version release: remote store-to-store instant on-hand lookup via IP; direct store delivery feature; and WIC tender automation.)

Installation is a fairly simple process, using a wizard-based installer that pre-selects the applicable items for installation. CATAPULT uses the Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere database (included), so it must be installed as part of the initial setup. Quite a number of other things may need to be configured before you actually begin using the software, depending on which features you wish to use and how much customization you’ll need. With its Register Emulation feature, CATAPULT provides one of the the most highly customizable point-of-sale interfaces that I’ve seen, so if you already have a traditional cash register system and you want to emulate the keyboard layout and functionality, plan on spending a few days learning the system and getting everything to look and work the way in which you’re accustomed.

As mentioned above, CATAPULT also provides several “function generators” that are flexible and powerful. By creating profiles, you can customize many aspects of the program’s operation to save time and effort. A generated function is somewhat like a mini-program that can be executed with a user-defined keystroke. For example, a buy-one-get-one-free discount function might be programmed as the item’s base price times 50%. This function could be attached to a user-defined key-stroke or touch-screen button. Function generators are provided for discounts, item keys, paid out/paid in, 10-key menus, customer lookup, dynamic key menus, item lookup, prompts, speed keys, taxes and tenders.

CATAPULT comes with two predefined screen layouts; default keyboard and default touch-screen layout. Screens are defined as a set of six regions: Status, Entry Transaction Data, Key Pad, Number Pad and Totals. These regions can be placed at different areas on the screen, or in the case of Key Pad and Number Pad, hidden altogether. The Key Pad and Number Pad regions are visible when you are using a touch screen so that amounts and alphanumeric data can be entered. For keyboard use, these regions would typically be hidden to provide additional room for Transaction Data and Totals. The Key Pad is an area of the screen that contains standard cash register buttons, such as item search, customer search, discounts, price level and tenders.

The program provides a fairly extensive interface for use with handheld terminals (HHTs). CATAPULT can utilized batch-based, traditional RF (radio frequency) or browser-based RF terminals. The handheld terminal is loaded with one or more electronic worksheets for on-site data collection or verification. After the employee has collected the physical inventory information, the data is then uploaded back into CATAPULT for analysisand/or adjustment.

RegisterGuard is a feature that ensures that individual register terminals will continue to function even though the network is offline or inaccessible. Critical information such as price promotions, item lookups, customer lookups, credit, debit, and electronic bank transfer transactions can be configured to be continuously available from the local register so that sales transactions can continue uninterrupted.

A good number of predefined reports and graphs are available for preview or print. All reports utilize the Seagate Crystal Reports print engine, which allows them to be exported to Microsoft Word and Excel, ASCII or HTML formats, or even distributed via e-mail. CATAPULT also integrates with an optional label printing package called LabelVision for enhanced bar code labeling.

CATAPULT is an agile, highly customizable package that should satisfy small shops or multi-location enterprises with its multi-store synchronization capabilities. Once the initial setup is complete, the Register Emulation feature can potentially save many, many hours of employee training and orientation. The company works through a network of dealers who are trained to assist with planning and implementation. Customer support plans are available, including web-based and e-mail support.

Reprinted with permission © 2003 The CPA Software News