This article is intended to provide advice so you can continue working on Retailer while the store is closed due to Quarantine.

If you have more than one store operating with Retailer that are linked, do not use the following advice. Contact support.

There are 3 options in order of safest to most dangerous.

1. Take the main computer home
   
   • Carefully transporting the computer home and plugging in a monitor and keyboard will allow you to use the computer as normal. While the computer is away, the store will not be able to use Retailer at all.
2. Remotely access the store’s computers from home
   
   • Remote options are easy and safe for you. However, you will need to leave the main computer turned on while you are away.
3. Install Retailer on a computer at home
   
   • This will be more complex, and with backing up and restoring data, there is a risk of overwriting and losing data. While you are using a backup at home, you cannot use Retailer in the store, as anything done in Retailer in the store will be lost later. You will need a USB stick/drive for the backup.
     

Take The Main Computer Home

While the main computer is away from the store, no one in the store will be able to use Retailer.

1.  Make sure you are on the main computer. To check this, go to Retailer Backup (The blue R on the desktop).
2. On the left, click on Settings and then Database Settings.
3. Do not change any settings. The top of the page should look like this.
   
   
4. If the box isn't ticked or there's different information in the box, you are not on the main. Repeat the steps on other PCs until you see the above screen. If you can't find this, call support to assist.
5. Shutdown the computer.
6. Take photos of the back of the computer showing the cables connected from different angles. This will help you plug in everything later.
7. Unplug all the cables connected to the computer. Some may have clips or thumb screws. Do not force any cables out. Do not use any tools.
8. Take the computer away. To use the computer at home, the minimum you will need is
   
   • Monitor
   • Power cable for monitor
   • Video cable for monitor, usually white or blue with 2 thumb screws at the end
   • Keyboard
   • Mouse
   • Power cable for computer
   • A4 printer (optional) with USB cable and power cable
   • Network cable, if you want to connect to Internet at home
9. Transport the computer home together with the items in the above list.
10. Plug in and use normally.
11. When returning to the store, repeat the process to take the computer back to the store.
12. When plugging the cables back in, use the photos to see where each connection goes and make sure all the cables are connected.

Remotely Access The Stores Computers From Home

Click HERE for a guide to remotely accessing one of your store's computers from home.

Install Retailer On The Computer At Home

If you do not follow the instructions carefully or use Retailer in the store before you move the data back, you WILL LOSE DATA. This could be sales, customer information. stock arrivals and anything else in Retailer.

Before you leave the store

1. Check which version of Retailer you are using. In Retailer, this is shown in the top right corner.
   
   In the above screenshot, it is 2.7.5.3. You can ignore the single letter and number after this. Write this version number down for later.
2. Close Retailer on all computers. DO NOT USE RETAILER AT THE STORE UNTIL ADVISED IN THESE INSTRUCTIONS 
3. Insert the USB stick/drive, open Retailer Backup and click Backup now.
4. Once the backup has completed, click on the Windows button at the bottom left and then Documents (the small picture of a page).
5. Click on This PC on the left.
6. Click on the USB drive.
7. Make sure you can see the Retailer Backup file. The name of the file will end in .ret and the date modified should be a few minutes ago.
8. If you can't find the file, call support to check the file before you leave. Take the USB stick/drive home.

On Home computer

1. Click on the Windows button on the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. Type Control, then click on Control Panel in the list.
3. On the top right, in View, choose Small icons.
4. Click on Region.
5. In Format, choose English (Australia).
6. In Short Date, choose dd/MM/yyyy.
   
7. Click Ok.
8. Click on System, then Advanced System Settings on the left.
9. Click on Environment Variables.
10. Highlight TEMP and click Edit. Change Variable value to C:\temp then click OK.
11. Highlight TMP and click Edit. Change Variable value to C:\temp then click OK.
    
    
12. Go to the Tower website and download the version of Retailer you are using in the store, which you wrote down in the store https://www.towersystems.com.au/download/category/8-updates.html
    You will need to login with your Tower username and password.
13. Download and install the file with default settings.
14. Insert the USB stick/drive with the backup that you used in the store.
15. Right click on Retailer Backup (the blue R on the desktop) and select Run as Administrator .
    
16. Click on Restore Files on the left.
17. Click on the yellow folder to the right of Archive File.
18. Click on This PC on the left, then double click on the USB drive.
19. Highlight the backup file ending in .ret and click Open.
20. Click Select All and then Restore Now.
21. Once this has finished, click Settings and then Database Settings.
22. Click Install LM Service.
23. Open Retailer. If you receive error 404 or 409, contact support.
24. You can now use Retailer at home, NOT at the store.

When you are ready to move back to the store

1.  Insert the USB stick/drive in your home computer with Retailer, open Retailer Backup.
2. Click on the yellow folder to the right of Archive File.
3. Click on This PC on the left, then double click on the USB drive.
4. In File Name, type in R2data, then click Save.
5. Click Backup Now.
6. Once the backup has completed, click on the Windows button at the bottom left and then Documents (the small picture of a page).
7. Click on This PC on the left.
8. Click on the USB drive.
9. Make sure you can see the Retailer backup file. The name of the file will end in .ret and the date modified should be a few minutes ago.
10. If you can't find the file, call support to check the file before you leave.

Back at the store

1. Make sure no one has used Retailer since the backup was done in the store.
2. If Retailer has been used, call support
3. Right click on Retailer Backup (the blue R on the desktop) and select Run as Administrator.
4. Click on Restore Files on the left.
5. Click on the yellow folder to the right of Archive File.
6. Click on This PC on the left, then double click on the USB drive.
7. Highlight the backup file ending in .ret and click Open.
8. Click Select All and then Restore Now.
9. Open Retailer. If you receive error 404 or 409, contact support.
10. You can now use Retailer again at the store, but NOT at home.