The APM Dispatcher works closely with the kiosk application to transfer kiosk data over the internet. It also can transfer orders from remote kiosks to a fulfillment center. The APM Dispatcher uses File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to communicate with Lucidiom’s servers and, if needed, to transfer customer orders from a remote location to the printing facility.
All APMs are pre-configured to send statistical information to Lucidiom’s server, which provides the data used on the APM ProfitWatcher (www.apmprofitwatcher.com) website.
**Note: APMNetwork.com and APMProfitWatcher.com will take you to the same website.
For the purpose of the Dispatcher, APM ProfitWatcher and APMNetwork are interchangeable. The Dispatcher has several connections that send various types of statistical information to the site. You should not change any of the connections.
APM Dispatcher Connection Tabs:
Log: Records events as the occur using the Dispatcher. It may be used to troubleshoot connectivity issues to the APM Network, private FTP servers, or the APM Order Agent Service.
APM Anywhere: Used to transmit orders for APM Order Agent.
Orders: The Orders connection sends order data (products ordered, quantities, etc.) to the Lucidiom servers.
**Note: Images are not sent with this data.
Stats: The Stats connection sends statistical information to Lucidiom for viewing on APMProfitWatcher.com. This information may include, but is not limited to: the time spent on each screen, where the customer touched the screen, order progress before quitting, the help features used, the type of media the customer used, etc.
Registration: The Registration connection sends a diagnostic message every several hours to confirm that the kiosk is connected to the APM Network and APM ProfitWatcher website and that the APM is up and running. This is most useful for remote kiosks, where an APM owner can log into the network (http://www.apmprofitwatcher.com) and confirm that the remote APM is still connecting and working as it should be.
Updates: The Updates connection notifies APM ProfitWatcher if any applicable software updates are downloaded and/or installed via the Remote Update Application.
Configuration: The Configuration connection is used to send a copy of the XML configuration on the APM kiosk to Lucidiom support for testing and backup purposes.
Support: Used to transfer files to Lucidiom support for technical assistance.
EQ Gifting: This connection is used to send gifting orders to Lucidiom’s EQ Gift fulfillment center. The connection is only used if the gifting add-on component is setup properly. Please contact Lucidiom support for information on creating a gifting fulfillment account.
APM Dispatcher (View of the Log tab)
If you are transferring orders from a remote location, you can configure the APM Dispatcher to transfer the APM orders to an FTP server at your lab. You can create as many connections as you need to transfer the orders.
APM Dispatcher (View of a New Connection)
Adding a Connection:
1. Open the APM Dispatcher.
2. Click on the Connections menu.
3. Select ‚New Connection.?
4. Name the connection, and then click on the OK button.
5. Enter the Server name.
6. Enter the Username and Password that have been configured at the FTP server.
**Note: This user needs to have read and write access to the FTP site, as it will be uploading images to it.
7. Check ‚Auto-start? so that this connection works as soon as the APM Dispatcher is up and running.
8. If you are using an FTP server with a passive connection, check the ‚Passive? box. If you are using an Active FTP server, then leave it unchecked.
*Note: Most FTP servers behind a firewall use a Passive connection.
9. Unless the FTP server is using a port number different from the standard FTP port, leave the port number at 21.
10. Make sure that the Hot Folder settings show the correct folder. This should be the same location where the APM is saving the orders. By default, the setting should be: C:\APM_TRANSFER\Orders\Fulfillment OR C:\APM_TRANSFER\Orders\local .
11. Enter the scan time and select either minutes or seconds. (Five minutes is the default setting).
12. If you would like to keep a backup of the orders that will be uploaded, enter the file path name in the Backup Folder field.
13. Under Processing Options, make sure that the ‚Process Folders? option is checked and that the ‚Remove files after upload? option is checked.
14. In the File/Folder mask, enter *.order.
15. Click on the Apply button.
16. Click on the Start button to start the connection.
17. Click on the FTP Log tab to confirm that the APM Dispatcher can connect to the FTP server.
Deleting a Connection:
- Open the APM Dispatcher.
- Click on the connection tab you wish to remove.
- Click on the Connections menu at the top left of the APM Dispatcher, then select Delete Connection.
**Note: It is recommended that you DO NOT delete any of the connections that are pre-configured in the APM Dispatcher as doing may cause problems with file transfers and reporting features.
Using the APM Dispatcher as a file copy tool:
The APM Dispatcher may also be used to automatically copy orders from one location to another across a local network. Simply create a fulfillment setting like you would for an FTP server, but leave the USE FTP box unchecked and make sure the destination folder is entered with the folder to which the orders will copy. It is required that the APM have full access to this folder to write, modify and delete files and folder from this location.
The sample below shows how orders (anything with *.order as a folder extension) from C:\APM_Transfer\Orders\Fulfillment\ transfers orders over to \\ORDERSERVER\APMORDERS\
APM Dispatcher (as a File Copy Connection)
