LaserCat 3 (LaserCat) is Epicor’s Microsoft Windows client-server platform for automotive electronic catalogs. This platform includes a catalog data “server” and user “client” applications for performing catalog lookups as well as various utility programs for configuring and maintaining the sever. This platform is designed to integrate with point of sale systems, and is used by several Epicor automotive platforms. Eagle’s integration provides near complete control of the LaserCat configuration through Eagle’s standard licensing, options and security control programs. The LaserCat platform also has native programs for controlling licensing and user options for use on POS systems that do not utilize internal programs for these functions. Eagle overrides the native LaserCat user maintenance options when the LaserCat client is started from Eagle. This makes it easier to administer LaserCat through the standard Eagle programs for controlling Store, Terminal, and User configurations, rather than using Windows User IDs, PC Names, etc. Most Eagle users have a local LaserCat server in each store for all the POS terminals in the store, often with one of the POS PCs acting as both an Eagle POS/LaserCat client and as the LaserCat server to the other Eagle POS/LaserCat clients in the store. LaserCat servers on each local area network also support Eagle’s offline POS function if access to the Eagle server fails due to a network failure beyond the local area network. System administrators are typically responsible for periodic data updating on the LaserCat servers, installing server updates, coordinating supplier (i.e., MCL) configurations, and any other server maintenance activities.
Eagle’s standard licensing program includes a setting for the LaserCat system license as well as settings for the number of terminal licenses for each LaserCat product. The Eagle License Review available from the Options Viewer provides control of each of the LaserCat product terminal licenses. To simplify and automate initial terminal licensing, the available terminal licenses are automatically applied to terminals as LaserCat is opened.
Eagle LaserCat options are under the “LaserCat” Subsystem in Options Configuration. Nearly all of the LaserCat User Maintenance settings found in the LaserCat server program “LaserCat User Maintenance.exe” are supported in Eagle options. The exception is the “Display” settings found on the “LaserCat User Maintenance.exe” General tab which control LaserCat colors and fonts. The “LaserCat User Maintenance.exe” program is found under the Webcat folder on each LaserCat server.
LaserCat Supplier Maintenance is found in the Eagle Browser under the Inventory / Setup and Maintenance folder. This program is available from the Eagle Browser on an Eagle client assigned to the master LaserCat server (i.e., as defined in the Eagle LaserCat options), and has most recently accessed the master LaserCat server through the POS LaserCat client application. LaserCat Supplier Maintenance is used to configure the catalog product lines as well as various LaserCat lookup features.
Most Eagle configurations include multiple LaserCat servers, usually one in each store, and each requiring the same supplier maintenance (MCL) files. An Eagle LaserCat option defines which LaserCat server is the master for all LaserCat servers, meaning its supplier files and other server configuration files are copied to the other LaserCat Servers. The Eagle Scheduler running on the master LaserCat server is used to automatically upload the LaserCat server configuration files to the Eagle server. The Eagle Scheduler running on the other LaserCat servers is then used to automatically download the LaserCat server configuration files from the Eagle server to complete synchronization between all LaserCat servers. This does not include copying catalog data between servers nor the information maintained through the “LaserCat User Maintenance.exe” program on each server; these are maintained directly through programs on each server.
PartExpert Editor is a LaserCat server program that allows you to modify and add catalog information on LaserCat clients accessing the LaserCat server. User content is labeled as “Modified” when viewed within the LaserCat user interface. Edits should always be performed from the master LaserCat server, since the Eagle scheduler routines for uploading and downloading Suppler Maintenance (MCL) files also includes these edits. The “PartExpert Editor.exe” is located under the Webcat folder on the LaserCat server.
The LaserCat client application is integrated into Eagle POS. To open it, use the POS header functions New Car (F2), Same Car (F4), Non-App (F6), and Mfr Prc (F8).