Configuration Guides
 
Library All Configuration Guides

Common

Customer Create/Edit Receipt Customisation Emailing Receipts Statement Customisation

Purchasing/Stock

Purchase Order Customisation Send Purchase Orders Cabinet Identification Shelf Labels

Sales Processing

Capturing Return Reasons Capturing Courier Tags Payment Types

Infrequent

Using Memberships Creating Agency Stores

Advanced

Using QR Codes Custom User Interfaces Automatic Loading

Setup

Managing Lanes Installing Lanes Network Security Enabling HTTPS Automatic Updates System Backups Securing your Systems
Barcode Scanners Customer Displays Public Product List Scales
Email Accounts Websites
Pre Install Planning Creating a Franchise

Multi Retailer

Auto Setup

Addin Options

Multiple Departments Xero Accounting Stock Sync

System Backups

It is highly recommended that you take regular backups of your computers to withstand eventual hardware failure or ransomware style attacks. The way Fieldpine is built does offer some level of resistance anyway and this document outlines various options for different categories of retailers.

Retailers only using Fieldpine Online

Fieldpine Online delivers Pos processing primarily using a browser, all selling and operations is done in the browser. If you are using this configuration then there is little to be backed-up on each individual device and everything is stored centrally.

Using Backblaze

Fieldpine can be configured to automatically send copies of your retail system to backblaze.com as an additional backup. How to configure

Single Store, Single Lane Retailers - Using PosGreen

If you are using the PosGreen application in Windows without any additional cloud (Fieldpine Online) services, then all your data is stored locally on the PC and it is important you do take backups

There are several options:

Use an online Backup Provider

There are several online options that automate the backup of your files and computer to the internet. One example is Backblaze.com where for an annual fee they constantly backup your files. There are also options using tools such as Office 365 that often include OneDrive, where files are replicated to Internet Servers.

Using an Online provider is the easiest and generally most robust method of backup. It is a great option if there is other data on your PC that should also be saved. Tip: Even if using an online provider you might like to take a backup to USB once a month or so - just in case your PC fails AND the backup provider is offline for some reason.

Roll your Own

Fieldpine is generally stored inside the C:\Fieldpine Folder on the PC. One option is to simply copy this complete folder structure to a backup USB periodically. An IT professional should be able to automate this for you to fit your requirements. See also Tips on saving to USB devices

Sometimes the volume of files in the Fieldpine folder can be quite large as lots of historic audit information is retained. If you are wanting to save only the critical information then these are the critical files:

  1. The primary database. This will typically be called fpos.mdb, green.mdb, or green*.sqlite depending on system configuration
  2. Configuration files, *.ctl, *.ui, *.scr, *.pscr these are small rarely changing files and contain site specific setup information
  3. Important logs: SaleJournal*.*, these are audit logs containing a secondary record of everything performed. A new file is typically created each month and the file name includes the date.

Using an Automated Fieldpine Script

When configured, Fieldpine POS is able to detect USB thumb drives being added to the PC and automatically copy files for you. This essentially automates the "roll your own" described above. To use this option

  1. Purchase a new USB drive with sufficient space to save Fieldpine Files (2Gb minimum, 4 or 8Gb is less likely to have issues)
  2. Download the file FieldpineAuto.txt ( View in Browser) ( Download) if you only wish to save key files
  3. Download the file FieldpineAuto_All.txt ( View in Browser) ( Download) if you wish to save all files, excluding some unneeded temporary files
  4. Save this files to the Root folder on the USB drive and name the file fieldpineAuto.txt
  5. Edit the file on the USB drive, using notepad, and make any changes. There are comments in the file to help
  6. To use this, have PosGreen running and insert the USB drive into the computer. The POS should detect this drive and automatically start to copy files to it. This will block you from being able to use the POS while it is copying.
  7. Check that the files have been copied to the USB. Definitely check when first configuring, but periodic checks are also wise - backups can start failing and you might only detect this when you need to restore to a new computer

Note, if you are a member of a franchise or buyers group, parts of your critical retail operation may be transmitted offsite automatically. These cannot be considered backups as they cannot easily be restored to recreate your environment.

Tips on Saving to USB devices
  • Use at least two different devices and rotate them, either:
    • Daily, such that #1 is used on Monday, #2 on Tuesday and then #1 is used again on Wednesday.
    • Weekly or Monthly, such that #1 is used every friday after the weeks trading and #2 is used daily
  • Take some devices away from the store. If your store is destroyed by fire or earthquake and you have no physical access, you will need an offsite backup
  • USB devices will wear out and fail over time, especially if you are saving to them everyday.