Prep Stations and Printers
A Prep Station is a designated preparation area (e.g., Bar, Kitchen, VIP Lounge) where orders from various Revenue Centers are routed according to specific Printer Rules.
Prerequisites
Software: Bartender App version 3.11.9 or higher.
Network: Device must be connected to the same local Wi-Fi network as the printers.
Pro-Tip: Prep Stations are managed at the Organizer Level. Once created, they can be selected and enabled for individual events in the event settings.
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Phase 1: Dashboard Configuration
1. Create Routing Categories
Routing Categories designate sets of items (e.g., "Appetizers," "Cocktails") to be sent to specific printers.
1. Navigate to Catalog > Routing Categories.
2. Click New Routing Category.
3. Enter a Name and Description.
4. Click Create.
2. Assign Categories to Items
1. Open an item card in your Local or Centralized menu.
2. In the Routing Category field, select one or more menu categories.
3. Bulk Update: You can also assign categories in bulk using a CSV import. Ensure the category names in the CSV match your Dashboard names exactly (case-sensitive).
Item Level
CSV/Bulk Routing via Google Sheets
3. Create the Prep Station
1. Navigate to Catalog > Prep Stations.
2. Click New Prep Station.
3. Enter a Name that will be easily identifiable on the device (e.g., "Main Bar Prep 1").
4. Click Update to save.
4. Configure Printer Rules
Printer Rules tell the Prep Station which Routing Categories to print.
1. In Catalog > Prep Stations, click the View button for your station.
2. Select the Printer Rules tab and click New Printer Rule.
3. Name: Enter a clear name for the rule (e.g., "Wine & Apps").
4. Routing Category: Select the categories this rule applies to.
5. Click Update.
5. Enable Prep Station for the Event
1. Go to Event Settings.
2. Locate the Prep Stations.
3. Select the Prep Stations that should be active for this specific event.
4. Click Save.
Phase 2: Bartender App Setup
1. Enable Prep Station Mode
1. Open the Bartender App and go to Settings.
2. At the top of the screen, toggle from Use Category Type to Use Prep Stations.
3. Select the Prep Stations section.
2. Connect the Printer to the Rule
1. Tap Add Prep Station.
2. Select the required Prep Station from the Available.
3. A screen will open showing the Printer Rules configured for that station.
4. Tap Add Printer next to a specific rule.
5. Select the printer from the list of devices found on the network.
6. To select the printer, tap its IP Address.
Key Technical Points
One Rule per Printer: A printer can only be connected to one printer rule within a single Prep Station. To print multiple categories to one printer, add multiple Routing Categories to a single rule.
Cross-Station Use: One printer can be connected to rules in two different Prep Stations.
Persistent Connection: Printer connections are saved even if you turn off the screen, log out, exit the app, or change the Revenue Center.
Removing Stations: To stop a station from displaying, tap DELETE in the upper-right corner of the rule screen in the app. This will also disable all printers connected to those rules.
