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Button Layout Guide: How to add menu items to the order screen

MS Info
  • Updated

A clean, organized button layout enhances your menu’s usability and your staff’s efficiency by navigating screens faster and placing orders more quickly.

Accessing the Button Layout Screen

Manager Menu -> Menu Maintenance -> Button Layout

Selecting a Menu Category

  1. From the left side, select a category containing the menu items you want to work with.
  2. After a category is selected, the items assigned to the category appear in a list view under "Unassigned Menu Items" 

Tips:

  • Adding Items from Other Categories: Select All Categories and double-click the text to add a new button (button populates under the "Unassigned Menu Items" list. Single menu items can be placed on multiple screens, they will still report to their "main" assigned category (assigned in Menu Items and Pricing)
  • Menu items are not automatically created into a button so that you can keep items saved in your system that are inaccessible for order entry; this is useful for rotating specials or seasonal items.

Example:

  • Category: Beverages
  • Unassigned Items: Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke

Assigning Menu Items to Buttons

You have several options to arrange your button layout efficiently:
  1. Manual Drag and Drop:
  2. You can manually drag buttons to the screen by selecting the menu item from the unassigned list and placing it where you want on the screen.

Manual Assignment:

  • Select an Item: Left-click on a menu item in the Unassigned Items section.
  • Place the Item: Left-click on an unassigned button where you want the item to appear.
  • Drag & Drop: Hold the right-click button and drag the item to your desired location on the screen.
  1. Restore Default:
  2. Automatically creates a button (without text), populating as many buttons as there are items (assigned to the category). Once the buttons are populated, you can select the items one by one from the list view, choosing where to place each item.
  3. Restore Default + Alphabetize:
  4. After selecting Restore Default, you can choose the Alphabetize option. This will automatically assign all your items to buttons in alphabetical order, making it easier to find and organize them. You can still move items around or adjust the layout if needed.

Automatic Assignments:

  • Restore Default Layout: Automatically creates a button for every item in your category, populating as many buttons as there are items. Edit the text on each button as needed.
  • Alphabetize Buttons: Automatically assigns your items to buttons in alphabetical order. You can still move items around if necessary.

Tip: If you make too many errors, simply exit without saving and start over.

Saving Your Layout, Finalizing Your Changes

  • Save Your Layout: Once you’ve made all your changes, always click Save to apply them.
    • If you select another category without saving the current screen, your changes will not save!
  • Exit Without Saving: If you’re unhappy with the layout, select Exit without saving to revert to the previous layout.

Aligning Buttons, Ensuring a Clean Layout

Aligning with Snap to Bottom:

  • Set Your Axis: Choose your top button as the ‘base’ item for alignment.
  • Snap to Bottom: Left-click to select Snap to Bottom, then click on your base button and each item you want to align underneath it.

Organizing with Snap to Right:

  • Horizontal Alignment: Use Snap to Right for aligning buttons horizontally. Select your base button and then click the buttons you want to align next to it.

Align to Left:

  • Vertical Alignment: Click Align to Left, then click a base button followed by all buttons you want aligned under the base.

Customizing Button Size, Color and Overlaying Images

Expand Buttons:

  • Resize Buttons: Use Expand Buttons to increase or decrease the size of a button by right-clicking and dragging the button inwards or outwards.
  • Copy Size: After resizing, use Copy Size to apply the new size to other buttons.

Copy Color and Size:

  • Copy Button Color: Use Copy Color to replicate a button’s color across multiple buttons. Click Copy Color, then left-click the button with the desired color, and finally, left-click the buttons where you want to paste the color.
  • Copy Size: Standardize the size of buttons across your layout using Copy Size.

Customizing Text Appearance

  • Set Font Size: Adjust the font size if the text on your buttons is wrapping or too large.
  • Recommended Sizes: 9 or 10 is often best; the default is 11.
  • Double-Click: Double-click each button that should use the new font size.

Tip: If you want to revert any changes, use the Restore Button Size or Restore Default options to reset buttons to their original dimensions and positions.

Managing Multiple Pages, Organizing Extensive Menus

  • If you have more than 45 buttons in a category, place additional buttons on a new page. Use the Page Down button on the layout screen to navigate between pages.
    • You must have 45 buttons on the first page in order to activate page 2
  • Subcategories: Consider creating subcategories (e.g., Gluten-Free Pizzas, Vodka, Specialty Drinks) to help your staff navigate the screens more efficiently.

Using All Categories and Main Category

Step 6: Managing Items Across Screens

  • All Categories Button: This populates all menu items in the system, allowing you to place the same item on multiple screens.
  • Main Category: After selecting All Categories, use Main Category to filter out items that aren’t associated with the current screen, keeping your layout focused.

Example:

  • Subcategories: Sides on every screen for easy access.

Removing a Menu Item from a Button

Step 8: Clearing Button Assignments

  • Remove an Item: Left-click the text on the button you want to remove.
  • Unassign the Item: Left-click again in the Unassigned Menu Items box to move the item back to the unassigned area.

Tip: Repeat this process for any other items you need to remove.

 

Troubleshooting and Rules

Step 10: Ensuring Proper Setup

  • Resolution Requirements: Ensure your computer is set to 1024 x 768 resolution to save the button layout. If prompted, adjust the settings as follows:

    • Windows Desktop > Display Settings > Advanced Display Settings > Advanced sizing of text and other items > Set a custom scaling level > Set back at 100% > OK.

  • Deactivate Functions: Always click Cancel Options after completing a function to avoid unintended changes when interacting with buttons.

  • Text Pending: A single left-click on a button will pend the text, allowing you to move it back to the Unassigned Items box or place it on another button. Double-click or click again to finalize placement.

Button Layout Shortcuts

Step 11: Speed Up the Process

  • Quick Setup: Use Restore Default to populate buttons based on the items in the Unassigned Button area. Then, start placing menu item text on the buttons.

By following this guide, you'll be able to create a clear, organized button layout in MicroSale that enhances your menu’s usability and your staff’s efficiency. Each step is designed to ensure your setup is intuitive and effective, making the most of the powerful features MicroSale offers.