Adding a Menu Entry

Adding a Menu Entry

The Menu Entries page can be used to add or edit menu entries. The page lists existing menu entries. You can search for menu entries using the search bar, narrow the list to a single category using the category dropdown, or click the filter icon to filter the list by menu entry type. To edit a menu entry, search for and click the menu entry's name.

You can also create a new menu entry from an existing one using the Copy button. This creates a new menu entry with all the properties of the copied item except the name, which makes menu management more efficient when you are creating similar items. The Add to Home flag adds a shortcut to the Menu Entries page to the Quick Links list on the console home page.

★ The Menu Entries page, with the menu entry type filter open.

The instructions below detail how to create (add) a new menu entry. These instructions can also be used to edit existing menu entries.

Menu entries are assigned to a menu screen here, using the Layout tab. Menu screens are assigned to a menu screen group, and menu screen groups are then assigned to departments.

The Add Menu Entry page consists of a General, Product Codes, Presets, Transformations, Schedule, Layout, Countdowns and Kitchens tab. A ninth tab, Attributes, appears once the menu entry has been saved.

On the Daily > Menu > Menu Entries page, click Add Menu Entry. The Add Menu Entry page appears, with the General tab active.

★ The Add Menu Entry page. The Attributes tab is not present until the entry is saved.

NOTE: A coloured bar on the left edge of a field shows whether it is required. Red means the field is mandatory and the entry cannot be saved until it is completed. Green means the field is optional.

Under the General Tab

1. In the Name field, enter the name of the menu entry.
2. In the Type field, select the type of menu entry.

• Item: a main menu entry, such as a beverage or an entrée.
• Add-On: a tangible, chargeable extra ordered with an item. For example, an extra slice of cheese is an add-on to a burger.
• Gift Card: used when creating gift cards to be sold at POS through a third-party provider.
• Modifier: a preparation instruction ordered after an item. For example, wheat, sourdough and rye are modifiers for toast. Modifiers are not chargeable.
• Non-Revenue Item: an item that does not generate revenue, such as catering services or deposits. Reports split sales between revenue and non-revenue subtotals for any report where payments and sales must balance; non-revenue items appear as a separate subtotal on the Transactions Report, and other sales reports and exports have a parameter to include non-revenue sales.

Modifiers and add-ons cannot be ordered separately from an item.

Understand the tax implications of non-revenue sales and make sure any income generated from these sources is properly accounted for. For example, gift card sales may be subject to sales tax when they are purchased, and the value of the gift card may be subject to income tax when it is redeemed. Income generated from catering services may be subject to income and self-employment tax.

3. Leave the Active flag enabled if the menu entry should appear at POS. Disable it if the menu entry is unavailable or should not appear at POS. Items on a countdown are removed from the countdown list when the item is inactive.
4. (Optional) In the Requisition Name field, enter an alternate name for the menu entry that prints on requisitions. If this field is left blank, the menu entry name prints on requisitions instead. This field does not affect the name that prints on checks.
5. In the Category field, select a category for the menu entry.
6. In the Tax Group field, select a tax group for the menu entry. This field is unavailable for modifiers, as modifiers are not chargeable.
7. In the Printer Group field, select a printer group for the menu entry. This field is unavailable for add-ons and modifiers, as both print with the items they are attached to.
8. Enable the Open Name flag if users should be prompted to enter a name for the item after selecting it at POS.
9. Enable the Open Price flag if users should be prompted to enter the item's price after selecting it at POS. Enabling this flag removes the ability to set prices for the item in a price list. This field is unavailable for modifiers, as modifiers are not chargeable.

★ The General tab of an existing menu entry.

  Price List

All price lists configured for the store are listed. Enter a price for the item against each price list. For example, a drink item may have a different regular price and happy hour price. This section does not appear if Open Price is enabled, and is unavailable for modifiers.

  Pop-ups

Add a pop-up screen or pop-up group here if one should appear when the menu entry is selected at POS.

• Under Type, select Pop-Up Group or Pop-Up Screen.
• Under Name, select the pop-up group or screen. A blank row appears below so that additional pop-ups can be added.
• Use the handle to the left of a row to change the order in which pop-ups appear, and the trash icon to the right of a row to remove a pop-up.

★ The Price List and Pop-ups sections at the bottom of the General tab.

Under the Attributes Tab

The Attributes tab holds the recipe cost and the image used for this menu entry. This tab appears only when you are editing a menu entry that has already been saved.

  Recipe

In the Recipe Cost field, enter the estimated cost to make one of this item. The PMIX report uses this value to calculate total cost, gross profit and gross margin for the item, so an approximate single cost per item is enough to produce useful figures without a formal inventory or recipe system.

  Image

The Image section holds a picture of the prepared item for staff to view on the POS app. Only the image is stored, so anything a server needs to read on screen (ingredients, allergens, serving notes) has to be part of the picture itself.

Click the Click here or Drop images here area and select your file, or drag the file onto it. The image appears above an Upload button, with its file name and size beneath it. Click Upload to add it to the menu entry, and then click Save Menu Entry. The image is listed below the upload area as a thumbnail.

To remove an image, click Delete beneath its thumbnail and then click Save Menu Entry.

Save the image as a JPEG or PNG in a 4:3 ratio, and keep the file under 1.5 MB. Larger files are refused. Full instructions, including how servers view the image at POS, are in Adding an Image to a Menu Entry.

NOTE: The Image section is not enabled for every installation. If you do not see it on the Attributes tab, contact Squirrel Support.

★ The Attributes tab, showing the Recipe and Image sections.

Under the Product Codes Tab

The Product Codes tab associates scannable codes and plain product codes with the menu entry. This tab was previously named Barcodes.

1. In the Type field, select the type of code: Aztec, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Custom, Data Matrix, EAN, ITF, PDF417, PLU, QR code or UPC.
2. In the Product Code field, enter the code. This field is mandatory once a type is selected, and the menu entry cannot be saved while it is empty.
3. A blank row appears below the completed row. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to associate additional codes with this menu entry, or click the trash icon at the end of a row to remove that code.

★ The Product Codes tab with a UPC code being added.

Under the Presets Tab

A preset is a named group of add-ons and modifiers, defined once on the Daily > Presets page and reused across the menu. Attaching a preset to a menu entry lets a server apply that whole group to the item in a single action at POS instead of selecting each modifier separately.

1. In the dropdown, select the preset to attach.
2. Click Add Preset. The preset appears below the dropdown.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to attach additional presets, or click the X on a preset to detach it from this menu entry. Detaching a preset removes it from this menu entry only; the preset itself is not changed.

NOTE: The Presets tab is not enabled for every installation. If you do not see it, contact Squirrel Support.

★ The Presets tab, with the Gluten Free preset attached to a menu entry.

Under the Transformations Tab

The Transformations tab links this menu entry to another menu entry through a transformer, so that applying the transformer at POS changes the item ordered. In the example below, a HIGHBALL is transformed into a DBL HIGHBALL using the <<DBL>> transformer.

If a new transformer is needed, save your changes, create the transformer on the Transformers page, and then either link the menu entry there or return to this tab.

1. In the Transformer field, select a transformer.
2. In the Category field, select the category of the item that the menu entry will be transformed to.
3. In the Menu Entry field, select the item the menu entry will be transformed to.
4. Click Add. The transformation is added to the list above, and a blank row appears so that additional transformations can be added. Click the trash icon at the end of a row to remove a transformation.

★ The Transformations tab with one transformation configured.

Under the Schedule Tab

The Schedule tab controls the hours during which this menu entry is available at POS. In the Schedule type field, select one of the following:

• Always: the menu entry is available at all times. This is the default.
• Weekly: the menu entry is available during set hours on set days of the week.
• Specific: the menu entry is available during one or more specific date ranges.

Scheduled hours are saved on the current version and take effect at POS when that version publishes. For the full procedure, including how to set weekly hours and specific periods and how to schedule many items at once, see Scheduling Menu Item Availability.

★ The Schedule tab, set to Always.

Under the Layout Tab

The Layout tab adds the menu entry to a menu screen or pop-up screen.

1. Under Add to Screens, select a Screen Type of Menu Screen or Pop-Up Screen.
2. Select a Screen Name. The selected screen appears below.
3. Click Add to Screen. The item appears on the screen below.
4. Sort the screen by selecting an option under the Sorting dropdown. Alphabetical sorts the screen alphabetically. Custom lets you arrange the entries yourself, and adds a lock button above each column and edit and remove icons to each entry.

Menu entries can also be added to menu screens on the Edit Menu Screen page.

★ The Layout tab, showing a Custom-sorted menu screen.

Under the Countdowns Tab

Countdowns are configured either by store or by department¹. Once a countdown limit is reached, the menu entry is unavailable in that store, or in that department in that store.

1. In the Store field, select a store, or leave it set to All to configure every store on one page. Stores are grouped under a heading that identifies whether departments are defined for them.
2. In the Countdown column, select one of the following for each store or department row.

• Unlimited: no countdown.
• Daily Countdown: the total amount resets every business day.
• Inhibit: no count is kept and the menu entry is unavailable.
• Limited Countdown: a limited amount that does not reset automatically.

3. For Daily Countdown and Limited Countdown, enter the number of the item available in the Total column and the number still available in the Current column. These two columns are not editable for the other countdown options.

★ The Countdowns tab with a limited countdown configured.

Under the Kitchens Tab

The Kitchens tab holds the routing and timing values your kitchen system uses for this menu entry. Each store configured for the site has its own row.

1. In the Category ID column, enter the routing category number for this menu entry.
2. In the Department ID column, enter the routing department number for this menu entry.
3. In the Cooking Time (mm:ss) columns, enter how long the item takes to prepare, in minutes and seconds.

NOTE: Category ID and Department ID are numeric values that come from your kitchen setup. If you are not sure which values to use, contact Squirrel Support.

★ The Kitchens tab.

Saving the Menu Entry

Click Save Menu Entry. The menu entry is saved and the Menu Entries page appears.

To save your changes and stay on the page, click the arrow beside Save Menu Entry and select Save Menu Entry & Stay. This is useful when you are configuring several tabs on the same menu entry.

★ The Save Menu Entry & Stay option.

Clicking Cancel while there are unsaved changes displays a warning so that you can confirm before the changes are discarded.