Check the Windows task bar, which is the bar that normally runs along the bottom of the computer and contains the Start menu (on the left) and clock (on the right).

You should see icons similar to those shown above. Both of these icons should be displayed, and if they are, then the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge is working properly.

1. In the TimeForge Translator, make sure that the “Allow clock in and clock out, regardless of schedule settings” is selected. This will allow your users to clock in and out of Dinerware as necessary – which is important for choosing cash drawers and meal coursing, as well as check printing.

2. In the TimeForge Translator, make sure that the “Use Dinerware Time Punches for TimeForge Attendance” is NOT selected. This option turns off the synchronization of the Dinerware time punches, and instead allows you to use TimeForge Attendance for tracking time.

To be able to use the software immediately, you will need to force the software to synchronize itself.

You can do this by right-clicking on the Connector, and choosing “Synchronize Now“

TimeForge Attendance is very flexible, and could allow your employees to clock in from their cell phones, facebook, or any Internet-enabled computer. However, most businesses will prefer to have staff clock in from restricted computers – such as those provided at their work location.

1. Lock down attendance tracking by limiting clock-in’s and clock-out’s to specific IP’s. To do so, simply click on the button displayed above.

Employees can now log into TimeForge using their username (usually their email address) and password. Alternatively, if the location is using a compatible fingerprint scanner, staff members can use their fingerprints to log in to TimeForge.

After logging in, they will see a clock in / clock out box on the right-hand side of their screen.

Clocking in and out is now point and click easy!

Check the Windows task bar, which is the bar that normally runs along the bottom of the computer and contains the Start menu (on the left) and clock (on the right).

You should see icons similar to those shown above. Both of these icons should be displayed, and if they are, then TimeForge is working properly.

In TimeForge, access the Attendance Options (located in the Attendance tab). You will want to set the grace periods for early clock in, and late clock out.

These settings can be set to values that make sense for your business, though many businesses choose a 5 – 10 minute early clock in, and a 10 – 20 minute late clock out.

Create and post a schedule in TimeForge, so that staff members are notified of upcoming shifts.

This will also allow the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge to synchronize and enforce the schedule.

TimeForge automatically synchronizes data between your Dinerware POS system and the live TimeForge server.

This ensures that employees, positions, time cards, schedules, and sales are automatically transferred between the two systems.

During heavy activity at your restaurant, this synchronization is done very often, and during slower periods of activities, it is done less often.

Before an employee can access the Dinerware POS, they must enter their PIN, or swipe a mag card (if configured).

An employee who is not on the schedule will be presented with a screen for a manager override.

Additionally, employees who show up too early, or attempt to clock out too late, will also be prompted for a manager override.

This will reduce the amount of clock riding that staff members can do, reducing labor costs by 2% – 3% instantly!

Access the Sales menu to set up Menu Items and Menu Item Groups for Sales Forecasting within TimeForge.

This will allow you to benchmark and schedule labor in comparison to your desired labor needs.

TimeForge allows up to 10 Menu Items from your Dinerware Menu to be chosen for Sales Forecasting.

Details for the sales of these 10 Menu Items are replicated from your Dinerware database to your TimeForge labor management system, and will allow you to accurately compare sales against schedules and actual attendance.

Menu Item Groups allow you to easily and quickly combine sales from multiple menu items in your Dinerware menu into a single Sales Forecast.

For example, you may want to build schedules based on entrées, or drinks, or some other combination of menu items.

Enter a descriptive name, and choose the necessary menu items from your Dinerware database. Choose Save when you are finished.

TimeForge will automatically synchronize your sales data the next time it connects to the TimeForge server.

If the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge was not properly configured to use a Web Service account, you will first need to configure the Web Services.

If the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge has not yet been fully configured, make sure to set up the Web Service Username and Password.

These values can be configured on the TimeForge web site, and will allow the software to communicate with TimeForge securely.

Configure the Dinerware POS side of the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge. Some of the important values on this screen include:

1. Dinerware Server settings, including the Server Name, Database Name, Username and Password. In most cases, the defaults will work for your Dinerware installation.

2. Choose how often the software should poll or synchronize with the Dinerware POS system.

3. If you would like to override the TimeForge settings for early clock-in’s and late clock-out’s, or to enable staff members who are not scheduled to clock in (without manager approval), please check this box.

4. By default, TimeForge uses the time punch values from Dinerware. However, if you would like to circumvent the Dinerware time punches, and would prefer to use the TimeForge Attendance system and biometrics, then please un-check this option.

Review the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge dashboard.

1. The Last Successful Sync Date shows the last date and time that the software was able to read from your Dinerware database.

2. The Last Synchronization shows the last date and time that a synchronization was attempted.

3. The Status shows the status of the last synchronization (it will either be SUCCESSFUL or FAILED).

4. The Next Synchronization shows the date and time of the next scheduled synchronization.

You are all done. TimeForge will synchronize your data based on the needs of your restaurant, and will keep the data in TimeForge and in Dinerware POS communicating properly.

Begin installing the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge software.

Accept the terms of the End User License Agreement.

Choose a directory to install the TimeForge Dinerware Bridge. The default is usually correct.

Choose the Start Menu Folder to install the software.

1. If you already have a TimeForge account, enter your Web Service Username and Password to connect with TimeForge.

A web service username and password is not the same as your TimeForge username (usually your email address), but is a secured username and password that allows the Dinerware TimeForge Bridge to communicate with TimeForge.

You can create a Web Service account by logging into your account, and go to the Settings for your location / store. You can then set your web service username and password.

2. If you do not yet have a TimeForge account, get started by creating a TimeForge account. We will create a Web Service Username and Password for you automatically.

If you need to create a TimeForge account, please fill out all of the fields, including your company name, first and last name, email address, password, and a password recovery answer.

We will automatically create your Web Service Username and Password for you.

Set up the Dinerware database connection settings. Most likely, the default settings will work with your Dinerware installation.

At this point, go ahead and run the TimeForge Bridge software.