POSI uses a single MsAccess database. By default POSI uses the pos.mdb that comes with the application. This pos.mdb has some data for testing. You can use POSI for training purpose straightaway after installation with this default pos.mdb database.

There is also another database, a fresh one without any data named pos_empty.mdb in the application directory. You can rename it to your liking.  Example: If your store name is Aston located at East Mall, then may be you can rename pos_empty.mdb as aston@eastmall.mdb.

After that, set that database - in this example aston@eastmall.mdb - as the one to use for actual sales. To do this login to the Control Panel on the Main window and click the 'Set MsAccess File Path' button and browse for that database in the application directory. Once this is done, close and relaunch POSI. Now you are ready to use the application for actual sales.
 

Compact & Backup the Database

There is also a function to compact & backup the database. It does 2 things at one go:

1. Create a copy of your database and suffix the filename with a string of the current date. Eg. if your database is at C:\program files\posi\pos.mdb then the backup copy is at e.g. C:\program files\posi\pos.mdb_20060816.
    
2. Compact the existing database to improve performance.

Any previous backup done for the same day will be overwritten by this action.

There are 3 ways to do it:

1. Any user can safely click the "Backup & Compact MsAccess Database" button on the main window.
   
   
2. The second way is to login to the Control Panel (on Main window) and just click the "Backup & Compact MsAccess Database" button.
    
3. The third way is to automate it when your shop closes for the day.  This is illustrated in the 2nd screenshot below.

You can automate saving the backup in another drive including an external one as illustrated below: