Yeah , got my tTITO working

[zarobhr]

Got my TITO working today with 1 machine now to work on multiple machines at the same time

what it does

when i hit cash out it sends the validation number and amount to my laptop which puts in a database.

when ticket is inserted it sends validation number to the laptop which then looks it up in the database and then redeems the ticket.

yeay

[StatFreak]

     Fantastic!!   

So, what settings worked?
      What database program did you use? (MySQL, MSAccess, SQL Server, etc.)
      How did you access the database from the program?

[zarobhr]

    Fantastic!!   

So, what settings worked?
      What database program did you use? (MySQL, MSAccess, SQL Server, etc.)
      How did you access the database from the program?

right now I am using standard validation,(enhanced validation not working quite yet will need to get andyp to fix that)
useing sql server for the database
i am using visual studio 2010 to modify write it using andyp's dll

[knagl]

That's awesome!  Congrats.

[Forrhouse]

That is Awesome. Congrats!  That is definitely a great achievment 
K+

[Magicslots]

    Congrats....Superb    It makes me jealous...guess I am gonna have to get off my butt and start working on getting mine to work...

[FORDSBS]

Way to go zarobhr. 
I think it makes playing the game  fun & more interesting.
Ford

[idesign]

Once you feed a ticket in can it be used again?

[FORDSBS]

Once you feed a ticket in can it be used again?

Not on my setup

[Neonkiss]

Once you feed a ticket in can it be used again?

Only if you do a game change.
I keep an extra MPU with another game set-up on it. his way I can pull out the tickets from the cash can and re-insert them with the other game installed.

Then tickets cashed from that game will validate and go back into the cash can.
A change back to the original game, and the tickets from the cash can will validate again.
Theoretically, never have to use cash again.

But mine is a little different set up on a UV1700

[StatFreak]

You can write your code either way. If you want to reuse tickets, leave them in the database and don't perform any checks to determine if the ticket has been used. If not, then either delete the records (not best practice) or have an extra field and set a flag with your code when the ticket is redeemed.

[zarobhr]

thats what i do , is check the database and flag the entry as redeemed.

reuseing tickets has nothing to do with game change since the game doesnt retain any info about the ticket .

btw i had to completly rewrite my one program since andyp dll wouldnt work with my serial ports

i am using tibbo ethernet to serial(3ports)

total of six machaines being polled now and as soon as i get another adaptor will have 9 on my tito system.

also got sas progressive working so once i get the bugs worked out i will have progressives on most of my machines

[FORDSBS]

zarobhr, Can you take ticket from one game & use it in different game?

[zarobhr]

yes

[FORDSBS]

That's cool.  :244-I have to us my tickets in machine they came out of.

[StatFreak]

That's because you don't have a back end program and database managing the tickets.

SQL server is a resource and memory hog and is expensive (if obtained legitimately). You can get and use MySQL for nothing, and it has a much smaller footprint. I'm guessing that zarobhr already had access to a SQL server db, so it was the easiest solution for him. A few years ago I would have been in the same position, but not now.

If using SQL server or MySQL (hey, anyone for Oracle? ) you'll be building a separate front end, and will have a choice of building it to run in a browser window or as a local stand-alone app. You can program it in any language, C# (or C#.net) being the most common choice, but you could also use VB.net or others. A browser app would also require some HTML skills and possibly javascript, plus asp or php.

I'm an expert MSAccess programmer and already own full versions of MSOffice, so if I ever set this up, that's probably what I would use, since it's a complete solution in a single package and is fine for a small home envronment. It uses ADO and ADOX, SQL, and Access VB, which is not as complete as VB, but has a few commands that VB doesn't.

In any case, you attach AndyP's dll to your project and then access it via exposed method and property calls, which I assume he has documented. You can write your own code to interface with specific hardware, as zarobhr did to use his serial ports.

There are multiple solutions. It just depends on what you've got available, how well you know the various tools, and how much time you've got on your hands.

[zarobhr]

sql express is free. but i do have the full version

[FORDSBS]

With my lack of knowledge in this stuff I think I have to be happy with what I got. You guys lose me in the dust.
Ford

[StatFreak]

What we need is solution that doesn't require expensive software to run and that can be easily installed. Since it would be for everyone, it wouldn't address members' specific hardware problems. MSAccess 2007 and 2010 have a free runtime for end users. MySQL and a stand alone C#/VB app would be free, as would a web front end.

Heck, for home users who don't intend on having too many unclaimed tickets, we could even use a simple .csv or comma delimited text file, or a simple binary data file, and load the data into an array each time the program runs. It would then write back to the file as old tickets were deleted and new ones created. Security would be a non-issue for home users.

Of course, having a database would be more useful down the road, as I suspect people will want to have multiple progressive capabilities, and might try to use their player card readers.

[zarobhr]

i wish i could figure out the player card stuff, everything i have uses mastercomm 250 but i dont know how to communicate with it

[Forrhouse]

Could you add a drop down menu with an options selection?  Under this options selection have options to turn on or off having the data base mark the tickets as validated?
Maybe have in addition to these options, an input field where you could type in certain data base entries so that you could keep those entries from being marked validated.
Just some ideas. 
Eric

[Foster]

The thing with the master comm is how does it communicate with the machine and how does it communicate with its back end system
I would love to see this app,

[zarobhr]

the master comm 250 one end connects to the machine via the serial port , backend no clue

my app is definately not ready to send out yet, no gui yet

as for putting an option in to clear or not clear tickets as redeemed and options to not clear certain tickets would not be a problem

hardware differences may also be a little issue but if the options are right with adjustable delays most should be overcome.

[Foster]

If MasterComm connects to the machine via Serial port, which port is it on the S2000?
I hope it not the same one I am using for SAS now.

[zarobhr]

yes it is the same port, but why would you need both connected (unless you have finally figured something out to communicate with the mastercom