Restaurant POS Database Question (long)

[jeweladdict]

I'm developing restaurant software for my family business and need some input as to how to implement an ordering system. I will have 2 computers networked together, one being at the cash register (REGISTER), and the other in the kitchen (KITCHEN). Here is the scenario that I'm envisioning. Waitress(er) takes the order, submits to the cash register. Order gets inputted into (REGISTER) and is stored into a database. Database will have 2 linked tables, the main table will have [table_number, number_of_people, total_due, date, order_number (primary key)] The second table will use order_number as the foreign key and then have order information[ quantity, item, subtotal]. I think I've got a handle on the REGISTER software... My problem is, what type of client software must be put onto KITCHEN so that it can monitor the database for changes? Ideally I would like a messageBox to pop up with the order information that can be dismissed when the order is completed. Would the CLIENT software check (every 5 secs?) the up to date of the DB? Not quite sure what to do. Please help :) Henry

[karam chandrabose]

i would recommend u to go for event driven programming, subscriber / publicher architecture, u can also go for message queuing so that u can put ur orders in a queue and process them

[Not Active]

You could use this type of mechanism http://www.codeproject.com/cs/database/chatter.asp[^] You are starting out simple enough but you'll probably find you'll need, or want, the system to do a whole lot more, like tying the order items and qty to your inventory so you can analyze loss and effeciency etc. I've built retail systems in the past to control grocery store check and inventory management.

---

only two letters away from being an asset