Your Guide to Target

I'm about to introduce you to the world of Target stores and the fun you can have there.

As always, I'm going to give the standard disclaimer: Don't do anything dumb.  Stealing is wrong.  Either way, if anyone caught you near a cash register doing anything, you might be hauled back to the AP office for questioning.

I'll touch on the cash registers, which I know best.

They are IBM 4694 (I believe) cash registers with an AMD K6 233 MHz and 64 MB of RAM.  They currently netboot into MS-DOS 6.22 and run IBM POS software known as PC POS.  These registers also have an LCD touchscreen on them.

Some older stores, however, have 9-inch IBM CRT displays.  I do, however, think that they might change this to a version of Windows when they switch to the CommonPOS software sometime in late 2002.

The register software security is quite a joke.  On every receipt, there is a number labeled CSH which is the first three digits of a four digit cashier number.  One more digit and you're signed in.  While signed in, you can start ringing items and total the sale.

Most anything interesting here requires a manager's key, also known as a "52 key."  The manager's key can do various things, like overrides for a stubborn coupon, setting the register in training mode, and various system tests.  The only other feature I can think of that might be of any interest is the Inquiry key which lets you cross reference a UPC to a DPCI (Target's SKU system) and look up gift card balances.

As for Food Ave., their registers are quite different, at least software-wise.

They run Windows 95 and POS software based on IE.  From reading IBM's documentation, I believe that this is OpenPOS.  You can also Alt+Tab on these computers to a simple menu which allows you to shut down the system, access host (3270 terminal to the store's AS/400 for email, etc.), and some other functions.

The service desk also runs Windows 95 with the regular DOS-based POS software and a 3270 connection to connect to the host to do Target Visa applications.  The bridal/baby registry computers near the service desk run either Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 with the kiosk software.  I seem to remember that you can touch the corners of the touchscreen to exit the software in some way.  These also have Lexmark laser printers, so the bottom of the kiosk with keyboard, etc. is sometimes open when there are printer problems.

The can machines in the store are quite interesting.  They run Windows 95 or 98 and either have a CRT or an LCD depending on the model.  These are connected to the store network, so you can browse the network from them.

The network connections for them are usually near the ceiling, or sometimes near the top of the machine.  These machines usually can't be seen from guest service, but you can't usually do anything interesting with them without opening the front door to get at the puck mouse, which requires a key.

The other workstations in the store are Dell OptiPlex systems running Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 Pro.  They are usually logged in with the host 3270 application running.  The break room also has two systems which run an IE kiosk to connect to the TMSC website for employee services.  The site is workscape.target.com, but it seems like it's just on internal DNS.  I was able to access the IE search bar once, but any access to other websites is blocked.

The only other interesting piece of technology that I can think of at Target are the PDTs, or Personal Data Terminals.  The PDTs I've seen are Symbol brand with an integrated barcode scanner.

They boot from a RAM disk and run DR-DOS 7.0 (I think that's the version).  They require an employee number to log in and access any interesting apps, but they are usually left logged in.  They do, however, timeout and log off after a long while.

The employee numbers are 8-digits long, something you would probably not be able to guess.  The main program is a batch file which you can just break out of with a Ctrl+C.  There seems to be nothing interesting on these devices, although I have not been able to find a colon (:) key, so I cannot switch drive letters. To reboot these machines, you just press Func+Enter.

This hotkey seems to be monitored by a TSR that loads at start-up, because I broke out of a batch file during start-up and was not able to reset the unit with Func+Enter.