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Optimum Control - Common Issues

Creation date: 5/25/2026 1:03 PM    Updated: 7/27/2026 8:47 AM
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Optimum Control · KB-210001
Common Issues and How to Get Help
How Optimum Control is set up at Argus, what goes wrong, and exactly who to contact.
ℹ
Optimum Control is the F&B inventory management system used at Argus restaurants — inventory counts, recipe costing, vendor management, ordering, and reporting. It's a TracRite product. For most program issues, contact TracRite support directly at Support@tracrite.net — they have the deepest knowledge of their own software.
⚠️  Critical info — read this first
Only two venues are licensed: Maestro's and Lakeside Dining
Each has its own Optimum Control instance and database. Other F&B venues (Yacht Club, Whiskey Bar, Boardwalk, Boathouse / Clubhouse) don't have their own — their inventory and reporting is folded into Maestro's or Lakeside. If you work at one of those venues and need OC access, you need a license for whichever site your venue rolls into.
Licenses are per WORKSTATION, not per user
The license is installed on a specific computer, not assigned to a person. All users at that workstation share the same login — no individual sign-in — and all users are admin-level inside the program (nothing to do with Windows or Argus IT admin). Licenses are limited; new ones require approval. Need both Maestro's and Lakeside data? Your workstation needs two licenses.
The database is at the Resort — network connection required
The databases live on a server at the Resort. Your workstation must be on the Resort network: wired Ethernet or internal corporate Wi-Fi. You cannot connect through guest Wi-Fi, a personal hotspot, public Wi-Fi, or from off-property.
🧭  Quick diagnostic
Question 1: Is your workstation on the Resort corporate network? Wired Ethernet or corporate Wi-Fi → continue. Guest Wi-Fi, off-property, or unsure → see Network Connection Issues below.
Question 2: What is the issue?
  • Can't sign in / don't know the password → Sign-In and Credentials
  • Won't open or can't reach the database → Connection and Database Issues
  • Reports won't generate, errors, missing data → Reports and Data Issues
  • Count won't save, missing items, vendor not listed → Inventory and Vendor Issues
  • Need access on a new workstation or another venue → Requesting Access or a New License
  • Slow, frozen, or crashing → Performance and Crash Issues
🔐  Sign-in and credentials
Optimum Control uses one shared login per workstation per venue license. If you don't know the username and password for the workstation you're using:
1
Ask another F&B staff member at your venue who uses the same workstation.
2
Ask your F&B manager or executive chef — they will know.
3
Don't contact IT or TracRite for credential lookup — it's a workstation login your team controls.
💡 If the password has been changed and no one knows the new one, contact TracRite at Support@tracrite.net — mention which venue and workstation.
⚠
Credential hygiene
Because the login is shared, don't write it on a sticky note on the monitor. Use a shared, secured location your team agrees on (a sealed envelope in a locked office, or a team password manager). Treat it like a team password.
📶  Network connection issues
Errors about connection failure, database unreachable, or server timeout usually mean a network issue.
1
Confirm what network you're on. Click the network icon near the clock and verify you're on the corporate Argus network — not guest Wi-Fi. On guest Wi-Fi by accident? Disconnect and reconnect to corporate.
2
Test general network access. Try loading an internal Argus site or shared drive. If internal resources work but OC doesn't, restart Optimum Control and try again. If nothing internal loads, the network itself is the issue — submit an Argus IT ticket.
3
Prefer wired. Ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi for OC work — if you're having intermittent problems on Wi-Fi, plug in and retest.
4
Off-property? You can't use OC from outside the Resort network — the database is only reachable on-site.
🔌  Connection and database issues
On the correct network but still won't connect:
1
Close Optimum Control completely and reopen it.
2
Restart your workstation — a clean reboot often clears stuck connections.
3
Check with other F&B staff: can they connect? If yes, it's your workstation — submit an Argus IT ticket. If no, the database server may be down — submit an Argus IT ticket AND email Support@tracrite.net.
📈  Reports and data issues
A report won't generate or shows an error
1
Try a smaller date range — large ranges can time out.
2
Check the filters and parameters at the top of the report.
3
Restart Optimum Control and try again.
4
Still failing? Email Support@tracrite.net with the report name, parameters, and a screenshot of the error.
Report shows incorrect or missing data
Usually an operational issue, not a software one. Check: was the count for the period completed and finalized? Were all invoices entered? Were recipes updated to match current preparation? Is the data assigned to the right venue? Talk to your F&B manager or executive chef.
Exporting to Excel or PDF fails
1
Try a different export format (Excel vs PDF vs CSV).
2
Confirm the workstation can open Excel / PDF files in general.
3
If only OC exports fail → email Support@tracrite.net. If all Excel/PDF is broken on the workstation → Argus IT ticket.
📦  Inventory and vendor issues
An item is missing from inventory
Items are added by F&B management. Check spelling and search variations; confirm with your supervisor or chef that the item is set up; if it's new, ask your F&B manager to add it.
Inventory count won't save
Make sure required fields are complete, look for error messages, and try saving in smaller increments. If saves consistently fail with errors, email Support@tracrite.net with screenshots.
A vendor isn't in the order list
Vendors are managed by F&B management — new vendors must be added before they can be used. Talk to your F&B manager or executive chef.
🔑  Requesting access or a new license
Licenses are limited, and they're per-workstation, per-venue. Submit a license request when: a workstation you're assigned to doesn't have OC; an existing workstation needs a second venue license; or a workstation is being replaced and the license needs to move.
Submit an Argus IT ticket including:
OPTIMUM CONTROL LICENSE REQUEST
================================

Requester name:
Company email address:
Job title:
Property / venue:

WORKSTATION
[ ] Existing workstation already at the venue - asset tag:
[ ] New workstation that hasn't been deployed yet
Location of the workstation (which room, station, office):

WHICH VENUE LICENSE IS NEEDED?
[ ] Maestro's
[ ] Lakeside Dining
[ ] Both Maestro's AND Lakeside Dining (two licenses required)

JUSTIFICATION
Why is this access needed:

APPROVAL
Approved by (manager / GM):
Approval date:
💡 What happens next: IT reviews and confirms whether a license is available. If none are free your request is queued and you'll be notified. When one is available, IT coordinates the install, then IT or your manager provides the workstation credentials.
🐢  Performance and crash issues
Optimum Control is slow
Confirm your network connection is stable — weak Wi-Fi causes lag, and wired Ethernet is usually much faster. Close other heavy programs, then restart OC and the workstation. Slow for multiple staff? Submit an Argus IT ticket AND email Support@tracrite.net.
Optimum Control freezes or crashes
Force-close it (Task Manager → Optimum Control → End Task), wait 30 seconds, reopen. Crashes again? Restart the workstation. Still crashing after a clean reboot? Note exactly what action triggers it and email Support@tracrite.net.
🏢  Property-wide issues
If multiple F&B staff at Maestro's or Lakeside can't use OC at all, it's one of:
  • The OC database server is down or unreachable → Argus IT ticket (the server is on the Argus network) AND email Support@tracrite.net.
  • The Resort network is having issues — more than just OC is broken → Argus IT ticket.
  • The venue's link to the Resort is broken → Argus IT ticket.
🆘  When to contact who
Your venue team / F&B manager / executive chef FIRST
You don't know the workstation login · an item or vendor is missing · report data looks wrong and you want to understand why · you're not sure how to do something · you need to know which venue your reporting rolls into.
TracRite — Support@tracrite.net
A report consistently fails with an error · repeated crashes · saves consistently fail · orders won't send and the setup looks correct · the password is lost entirely · program errors nobody recognizes · slow for everyone while the network is fine.
Argus IT — submit a ticket
Hardware problems · can't reach the corporate network · a new or moved OC license · the database server appears down · OC missing from a workstation that had it · failing printer/monitor at the F&B office · TracRite says the issue is local.
📝  What to include in an Argus IT ticket
1
Your workstation's asset tag number (the small Argus IT label on the device).
2
Your company email address.
3
Which venue — Maestro's or Lakeside Dining (the OC instance involved).
4
What workstation and where — e.g. "Maestro's chef office workstation."
5
What you were trying to do when the issue occurred.
6
The exact error message, if any — screenshot is ideal.
7
Is it just this workstation, or others at the venue too?
8
Have you contacted TracRite? If yes, what did they say?
🔗  Related articles
  • New User Onboarding Request — What to Include (KB-3001) — new F&B staff needing access to a workstation with OC.
  • How to Request New Hardware (KB-200001) — new workstations that will need OC installed.
  • Squirrel POS Terminal Not Working (KB-170009) — separate F&B system, vendor-supported.
ArgusIT KB# 210001 · Tags: optimum control · oc pro · tracrite · support · licenses · troubleshooting
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