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Getting Started with BioTouch Follow

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Aaron
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This article will walk you through the first steps to get started with your new BioTouch timeclock.  You can use the links below to skip to a specific section of this article.  After you complete the initial setup process, you can proceed with the other articles in this help center to learn more about operating your BioTouch timeclock features (managers, timeclock operations, tips and FAQs).

 

Before you start

Setting up the System

Setting the Date and Time

Overview and Steps to Complete the Setup

Reducing Duplicate Punching – Re-verify

 

Before You Start

What’s In the Box?

  • Acroprint BioTouch Time Clock
  • 5 Volts DC, 1A output Power Supply
  • (1) Sample Proximity Badge
  • Wall Mount Bracket w/screw
  • Ziploc Bag: (3)Mounting Screws & (3) Plastic Wall Anchors
  • (1) Table Stand
  • (1) USB Stick (Flash Drive) with Setup Files and User Manuals
  • Documents: Hardware/Software Warranty Insert, User Manual Notification
  1. Unpack time clock. Inspect for any damage that may have occurred during shipment. Check box contents for any missing items.
  2. If any damage is found or any parts are missing, please contact Customer Service at (800) 518-8925.
  3. Connect the BioTouch power supply and plug it into a 120V/240V A/C power source to turn the clock on.

Precautionary Information

  • Do not attempt to service the BioTouch Time Clock yourself. Disassembling the clock will void the warranty.
  • Always follow the instructions in the User Guide.
  • Do not place the clock in direct sunlight. Bright light may significantly affect finger readings or cause finger verification to fail.
  • The clock is designed for indoor use in a temperature range of 32-104º F (0-40º C). The clock is not waterproof or shockproof. Keep the clock away from heat sources such as radiators. Avoid dusty environments or exposure to chemicals.
  • The clock may be placed upright on a solid surface or mounted to a wall with the included wall bracket & mounting screws. Avoid locations where the device will be susceptible to vibrations and shock, such as a slamming door.
  • The clock warranty does not cover defects or damages arising from improper installation, improper storage, abuse, or unauthorized service.

Cleaning the Clock

Do not use cleaning products that contain alcohol or other strong chemicals as they could discolor or crack the clock housing. Use a soft damp cloth to remove dirt. Wipe dry.

Wall Mounting Instructions

The BioTouch clock can be placed on a table or desk and it can also be mounted to a wall using the included wall bracket.

Use the bracket to mark (3) screw holes on the wall. Use the included screws and wall anchors (if necessary) to securely attach the bracket to the wall. Attach the clock to the bracket using the included machine screw.

  • Do not place the clock in direct sunlight. Bright light may significantly affect finger readings or cause finger verification to fail.
  • The clock is designed for indoor use in a temperature range of 32-104º F (0-40º C). The clock is not waterproof or shockproof. Keep the clock away from heat sources such as radiators. Avoid dusty environments or exposure to chemicals.
  • Avoid locations where the device will be susceptible to vibrations and shock, such as a slamming door.
  • The clock warranty does not cover defects or damages arising from improper installation.

 

Setting up the System

Always: Download the (3) files (shown below) from the clock together before editing any information at a PC. You should download all the files since they are interdependent.

Tip: Do all of your editing on the PC where possible instead of making manual edits at the clock. It’s much easier and the feature set is more robust.

Powering the Clock On/Off

  • To power the clock on press the power button .
  • To power the clock off press and hold the Power button until the clock beeps four times
    and the display changes to a blank blue screen. Release the power button and the clock
    will power down.

Accessing the Menus

For brevity throughout this manual, instructions will indicate only pressing [MENU] to enter the menu. However, if you have a user on the clock designated as a manager, you will need to follow the instructions listed under “Manager Access to the Menus” in the Managers section.

Menu Navigation

  • Bracketed words indicate clock buttons such as [MENU], [ESC] or [OK].
  • Words in bold italics indicate menu selections on the clock display such as Shift, User Mgt, Report, etc.
  • When instructed to select a menu item it requires that you highlight the item then press [OK] to select it.
  • The up arrow button [▲] or down arrow button [▼] are used to navigate through the clock menus in order to select the menu item you wish to edit. Note that the arrows move right/left through the main menu.

Setting the Date and Time

  • The internal clock will always be in the hour/Military hour format.
  • Time Format only changes the display to the 12 or 24 hour format.

To set the time and date at the clock:

  1. Press [Menu], select Setup and press [OK], select System and press [OK], select Time and press [OK].
  2. Use the arrow keys or keypad to change a setting. Press [OK] to move to the next setting.
  3. When finished, press [ESC] once.
  4. The clock will prompt you with “Save?” Press [OK].
  5. When finished, press [ESC] repeatedly to exit the menus or simply allow the menus to time out.

 

Overview and Steps to Complete the Setup

The BioTouch clock is configured using the ease of Microsoft Excel©. Setting the clock rules involves:

  • Downloading the setup files from the BioTouch Clock to a USB jump drive
  • Setting up your shifts, punch parameters, holidays, and entering your employees through Excel on your PC
  • Uploading the setup files back to the clock
  • Adding finger templates

 

Step 1: Download the Setup Files from the Clock

Note: for your convenience these files are already loaded on the USB stick that came with your BioTouch. These files are empty (set at factory default values).

Download the following (3) Files to the USB stick (download them all at the same time):

  • Shift_Setup_01.XML (referred to as the Shift file)
  • User_Setup_01.XML (referred to as the User file)
  • Global_Setup_01.XML (referred to as the Global file)

Follow the instructions below to download the files to a USB stick:

  1. Plug the USB stick into the side of the clock.
  2. Press [Menu], select Shift and press [OK], then select Download Shift and press [OK].
  3. Select Download Setup and press [OK].
  4. Press [ESC], select User Mgt and press [OK], then select Download User and press [OK].
  5. When finished, press [ESC] repeatedly to exit or simply allow the menus to time out.
  6. Remove the USB stick from the clock.

Step 2: Open the Setup Files in Excel

  1. Plug the USB stick into your computer.
  2. If a directory does not automatically open, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the USB directory.
  3. Double click on the ‘Shift’ file. Excel should launch and open the file. If not, run Excel and open the shift file from the USB stick’s directory.
  4. Now double click to open the ‘Global’ file also.
  5. Finally, double click to open the ‘User’ file.

Step 3: Shifts Setup

Shifts are used to determine the time of day that employees are due to start work, leave and return from lunch, and leave for the day. These times are used along with the Punch Early/Late Setup settings to mark unusual punches in red on the timecard. An example would be when an employee punches in earlier than their Shift Start time and the Early Shift Start setting; the punch will be in red on the time card. This allows the supervisor to quickly isolate punches that are outside of the company policies and procedures.

If you do not want irregular punches highlighted, or you have more than 5 shifts, you can simply assign an employee to shift “0” by setting the Shift on the BioTouch to “No”.

Note: setting an Employee’s shift to “No” will disable punch highlighting on their time card (for punches outside of their normal acceptable range), i.e., all punches for Employees assigned to Shift “0” will print in black.

With the Shifts file open in Excel, enter your company’s rules as follows

  1. Read the information at the top of the “Shifts_Setup” spreadsheet and then, starting with Shift one, enter the employees’ Start time, Lunch start, Lunch end, and End time. Enter this information for each day worked. Leave the scheduled days off blank.
  2. Leave the “Cutoff” time at midnight unless your employees work across midnight. See the section on “Cutoff’ Time” for more information.
  3. When finished, Save the file back to the USB stick.

Step 4: Punch and Holiday Setup

The Global file controls the punch settings and the holidays. These rules are used to mark unusual punches in red.

With the Global file open in Excel, perform the following steps:

  1. There are two tabs: Holidays and Punch. Click on Punch.
  2. Read the information at the top of the Punch Early/Late Setup spreadsheet and then set the six settings according to your company’s policies.
  3. Next, click on the Holidays Setup tab.
  4. Enter your company’s holiday’s names and dates.
  5. Save the file back to the USB stick.

Step 5: Employee Setup

Adding or modifying employee information involves entering the employee names, their department, and possibly a password or a proximity badge number. Finger templates and setting an employee to Manager should always be done at the clock, not in Excel on the PC.

With the User file open in Excel, enter your employee data as follows:

  1. Follow the instructions at the top of the spreadsheet and add your employee(s) or
    modify existing data as necessary.
    • Note: a finger template can only be entered at the clock.
    • Important: all new employees should be entered with “User” status. Managers should be set up at the clock. See the Managers Section of this manual after the setup is complete.
  2. Save the file back to the USB stick.

Step 6: Upload the Setup files back to the clock

  1. Eject and remove the USB stick from the PC.
  2. Plug the USB stick into the side of the clock.
  3. Press [Menu], select Shift, press [OK], and then select Upload Shift and press [OK].
  4. When complete, select Upload Setup and press [OK].
  5. When complete, press [ESC] once, select User Mgt and press [OK], then select Upload User and press [OK].
  6. When finished, press ‘ESC’ repeatedly to exit the menus or simply allow the menus to time out.
  7. Remove the USB stick from the clock.

Step 7: Register Employee Finger Templates

Employee fingerprints are registered at the clock.

  1. Press [Menu], select User Mgt and press [OK], select UserView and press [OK], select the specific employee and press [OK], select Edit and [OK], and then select Finger and press [OK].
  2. The clock will request the user to press a finger (press and release quickly for best results) at least twice to insure a good read. When completed, the clock will return to the previous screen.
  3. If you wish to record more than one finger for an employee, simply select Finger and press [OK] again and repeat 2 above.
  4. When finished, press [ESC] once and then press [OK] to save the finger template(s).
  5. Now press [ESC] repeatedly to exit the menus or simply allow the menus to time out.

Note Employee card/badge numbers and passwords can be entered at the clock by following Step 7 above; just select Card or Password instead of Finger on the menu. However, these types of entry are more easily done on the PC through the Excel spreadsheet.

Fingerprint Verification Technique
Your finger should be pressed firmly to the center of the sensor with your finger flat against the glass. Do not press your finger off center or contact the sensor with just the side or tip of your finger (see diagrams below).

 

 

Fingerprint Identification Methods

1: N Fingerprint Identification (“1 to Many”)
Compare the fingerprint with all fingerprint temlates stored in the BioTouch.

  1. Press finger on the sensor.
    • If device informs ‘Thank You’, the identification was successful.
  2. If device informs ‘Press Again’, try the finger again.

1:1 Fingerprint Verification (“1 to 1”)

Verify the fingerprint with the fingerprint template of the User ID entered. In this method the BioTouch only has to compare the fingerprint to one template.

  1. Step 1: input your user ID
  2. Step 2: press finger on the sensor.
    • If device informs ‘Thank You’, the identification was successful.
    • If device informs "Press Again", try the finger again.

11.png

 

Reducing Duplicate Punching – Re-verify

The re-verify feature helps reduce duplicate punching. It prohibits an employee from punching a second time within a number of minutes. The default value is 5 minutes. To change:

  1. Press [Menu], select Setup and press [OK], select System and press [OK], select Re-Verify and press [OK].
  2. Use the arrow keys or keypad to change a setting. Press [OK].
  3. When finished, press [ESC] once.
  4. The clock will prompt you with “Save?” Press [OK].
  5. When finished, press [ESC] repeatedly to exit the menus or simply allow the menus to time out.

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