Store Exchange Method: Removable Media

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This store exchange method uses removable storage media that can be physically transported between stores.

Examples: Floppy disks, USB memory sticks, Portable hard drives, Zip drives, CDs, DVDs

Usage:

- No Internet or network connection needed between stores

- Supports both older (floppy disks) and newer (USB devices) technologies

- Typically, it is a simple copy operation to write files to or retrieve files from the media; though media must be physically delivered to other stores

- Media is small, durable, and reusable. Ideal for locations where no connection exists, e.g. outdoor market or kiosk.

Requirements:

- Formatted media and proper drives/ports on Server Workstation in each store

- Third-party or Windows disk-writing software is required to use CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD disks

Notes on removable media:

Floppy Disks, Zip Drives (100 or 250), LS-120

- Spanning of multiple media is NOT supported. Zipped exchange files are limited to the capacity of a single piece of the media. On the other hand, multiple files on one piece of media are supported. One piece of media can hold as many files as will fit.

- Media must be formatted appropriately.

CD/DVD

- Suggested method is to create one Store Exchange mailbag to a folder on your hard drive, then use your "CD/DVD-burning" software to write the file to the disks as necessary.

- To use CD-RW disks, the "packet writing" software installed on the sending computer must support writing to a preformatted CD-RW. If you have software installed that has this capability, select "Removable Media" as your exchange method and point to your CD-RW drive.

Note: Point of Sale does not write directly to CDs or DVDs. You must have a disk-writing application installed to use this method and the procedure may vary depending on the application and the type of disk you use. Most versions of Windows include CD-writing software. Formatted CD-RW are the recommended CDs; these disks allow you to reuse the disk, copying and deleting mailbag files as needed. If you have problems writing directly to your CD or DVD drive, you can try selecting "Web-based e-mail" as your Store Exchange method. This method creates a single copy of your Store Exchange file to a folder of your choice on your computer. You can then use your disk-writing software to write the copy to as many CDs/DVDs as needed.

USB Drives

- These devices are also known as Jump Drives, Mini-Drives, Pen-Drives, Flash-Drives, and thumb drives. Also available are portable USB hard drives.

- These devices work well on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista with plug and play support. They show up as removable media with a "drive letter" assigned in Windows Explorer, and you can copy, cut, and paste as it if were another hard drive.

Flash Memory, Memory Sticks

- These devices must appear and operate in Windows Explorer as a "regular" drive to be used as a removable media for Store Exchange.