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Microsoft Point of Service for .NET
Overview
Microsoft Point of Service for .NET class library features at a glance:

Microsoft Point of Service (POS) for .NET, which is integrated with Windows Embedded for Point of Service, provides simple and consistent interfaces for controlling and managing POS peripherals, such as bar code scanners, magnetic stripe readers, RFID, receipt printers, and more. Microsoft Point of Service for .NET addresses the needs of Independent Software Vendors (ISV), who develop software that interfaces with POS peripherals, and of Independent Hardware Vendors (IHV), who want to provide powerful capabilities to ISVs with minimal investment. Regardless of if you are an ISV or IHV, Microsoft Point of Service for .NET can help lower the cost of your product development while providing the most advanced capabilities.
Standards
Microsoft Point of Service for .NET is Microsoft’s implementation of the industry’s Unified Point of Service (UPOS) version 1.12 standards for the .NET platform. Microsoft Point of Service for .NET is also backward compatible with existing implementations of UPOS on the Microsoft Windows platform, named OLE for Point of Service, or OPOS.
Windows Point of Service for .NET and OPOS
OPOS is an existing implementation of UPOS for Microsoft Windows, based on Component Object Model (COM) technology. Windows Point of Service for .NET constitutes an improved, next-generation implementation of UPOS for Microsoft Windows, based on .NET. In comparison to OPOS, Windows Point of Service for .NET increases productivity of developers of both POS applications and service objects, by providing all the benefits of .NET managed code while at the same time exposing a set of easy to use interfaces and base classes.

Windows Point of Service for .NET is backward compatible with OPOS version 1.11 service objects. In other words, applications using Windows Point of Service for .NET can simultaneously interact with .NET service objects written for Windows Point of Service for .NET and OPOS service objects.

For more information about UPOS and OPOS, go to http://www.nrf-arts.org/. Microsoft Point of Service for .NET is implemented for Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0.

Key Components of Microsoft Point of Service for .NET
Microsoft Point of Service for .NET consists of two assemblies, Microsoft.PointOfService.dll and Microsoft.PointOfService.ControlBase.dll.
  • Microsoft.PointOfService.dll assembly
    Defines programming interface contracts between a POS application and service objects interface classes for the more than 35 POS device types defined by UPOS. Exposes all of the standard functionality defined for each device by UPOS. Microsoft.PointOfService.dll contains the following classes:
  • PosCommon
    Contains programming interface contracts for all Upos Common Properties and Methods.

  • PosExplorer
    Provides POS applications with information about what POS devices are available on the system and instantiates service objects for devices requested by applications. Also provides a way for POS applications to receive Plug-n-Play notifications when POS devices are attached or removed from the system.

  • PosException et al classes
    Used to communicate error conditions to the POS application via exceptions.

  • PosEventArgs et al classes
    Used for the management and delivery of POS events.
  • Microsoft.PointOfService.ControlBase.dll assembly
    Contains 36 “basic” classes for all device types defined by UPOS. These classes provide a consistent programming interface for the service object for each type of device. Basic classes include:
  • Generic constructor Creates an instance of the class and initializes basic device statistics
  • Programmatic access to the CommonProperties helper class allows a service object to access without required state verification and update PosCommon properties that are designated read-only for the application

  • Code that manages state verification of the device. Checks to ensure the device has been opened, claimed, or enabled by the application prior to accessing properties or executing methods.

  • Code that manages and delivers events to the application.

  • A set of protected methods the service object can use to manage and update hardware-based statistics.

  • A set of Dispose methods, based on the .NET Framework IDisposable architecture.
For the nine fully supported POS devices, the Microsoft.PointOfService.ControlBase.dll also contains a set of “base” classes. These classes derive from the corresponding device basic class and contain Microsoft’s more fully implemented, UPOS-compliant code for the device. When deriving from these base classes, service objects typically need only provide implementations for the Open and CheckHealth methods, as well as any methods that handle access to the hardware device itself, such as the physical opening of the cash drawer, the clearing of hardware device memory, and so on. Windows Point of Service for .NET base classes contain the following features:
  • A generic implementation of the Open method, which the service object can use as the starting point for its own implementation.

  • Code that manages state verification for all property access and method calls.

  • Code that manages and delivers events to the application.

  • Code that manages and updates all UPOS defined statistics for the device.

  • Code that provides all standard validations and device functionality—including appropriate update and management of the device’s property values. The Windows Point of Service for .NET code also calls, as appropriate, implementations provided by the service object.

  • A set of “helper classes,” which can be used by the service object to return state and error information, queue asynchronous operations, update device properties while bypassing state verification, and so on.

Windows Point of Service for .NET includes the runtime components (Microsoft.PointOfService.dll, Microsoft.PointOfService.ControlBase, and the WMI provider), the command line management tool (POSDM.exe), and the SDK (Sample Code and .NET Service Objects).
  • POS Windows Point of Service for .NET WMI provider Gives administrators a way to programmatically configure the library on a local or remote POS system

  • Posdm.exe
    Provides a convenient command line interface for the WMI provider, for use in local or remote configurations that do not require programming. For more information, see the POS Device Management Guide.