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Barcodes are basically images that represent product information, or Universal Product Codes (UPCs), which can be recognized by computer systems to quickly identify a product as it is being sold, etc. Barcode scanners are the devices that are able to "read" a barcode and communicate that information to a computer software application.
When properly configured, barcode scanners provide a faster and more reliable way of entering data into the program. The Order Manager is able to utilize barcode scanners in several areas of the program. Here are some examples:
Receiving Inventory from Vendors
Confirming products as they are packed (Pack & Ship screen)
Scanning products purchased in a brick and mortar store, or Point of Sale (POS)
To work with the Order Manager, a barcode scanner must be able to:
Connect directly to your workstation and emulate "keyboard input"
Allow the user to program the device to add a "prefix" and "suffix" to each record as it is scanned
Allow the user to disable the Carriage Return (CR) and Line Feed (LF) functions
Stone Edge Technologies has tested and certified the Metrologic Voyager series of barcode scanners for use with the Order Manager, which are available for purchase on our Web site. While other manufacturers devices may also work with the program, they have not been tested by Stone Edge Technologies.
Before attempting to use a barcode scanner with the Order Manager, please read the manufacturer's documentation regarding the internal programming of the device, and make the necessary changes. Also review the default settings of the Order Manager's system parameters related to barcodes and make any necessary changes. Refer to the Barcode parameter group in the Set System Parameters screen.
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| Screen (Form) |
Usage |
| Enter Barcodes | Select an item from the list, then scan its barcode to add it to item's inventory record (the Barcode field). |
| View Inventory | Scan a item's barcode. The program will ask if it was your own barcode, the manufacturer's barcode or the supplier's barcode for the current product. It will then store the Barcode information in the appropriate field. |
| Edit Inventory | Scanned code is inserted into the Barcode field. |
| View Orders | Scan the barcode of an Sales Receipt (Invoice) or Packing Slip. The program looks for and displays the order which matches the scanned barcode. To include barcodes on your order invoices, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnInvoices to TRUE. To include barcodes on your order packing slips, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnPackingSlips to TRUE. |
| Pack & Ship | Scan the barcode printed on the Sales Receipt (Invoice) or Packing Slip of an order to load its information into the Pack & Ship form. Scan the barcode of an item to mark it as "packed". To include barcodes on your order invoices, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnInvoices to TRUE. To include barcodes on your order packing slips, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnPackingSlips to TRUE. |
| Pack Orders |
First, scan the barcode on a Sales Receipt (Invoice) or Packing Slip of an order.
Then scan each item as it is packed. If you scan an item that does not belong in the current order, the program will display an error message.
When you are finished packing the order, scan the barcode again to close the order. If any items have not been scanned, the program displays an error message.
To include barcodes on your order invoices, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnInvoices to TRUE.
To include barcodes on your order packing slips, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnPackingSlips to TRUE.
Review system parameters PackingSkipSecondScan and PackingAllPackedSound. |
| POS (Point of Sale) | Used like a supermarket scanner. Scan an item's barcode to add it to the current order. |
| Purchase Orders | Scan an item's barcode to receive it against the current Order Manager purchase order. |
| QuickShip | Scan the barcode printed on the Sales Receipt (Invoice) or Packing Slip of an order to load its information into the QuickShip form. To include barcodes on your order invoices, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnInvoices to TRUE.
To include barcodes on your order packing slips, set system parameter ShowBarcodesOnPackingSlips to TRUE. |
| Inventory Scanner (Scan Non-PO Items) |
Use to receive items that were not ordered on an Order Manager-generated Purchase Order. Scan items to add them to your inventory. |
There are several methods by which barcode information can be entered into the Order Manager.
The program can be configured to automatically create a unique barcode for products as their Inventory records are created. Set system parameter AutoGenerateBarcodes to TRUE. Setting this parameter to TRUE has no effect on inventory records that were previously created. Also review parameter BarcodeDigits.
Barcode information can also be imported from a text file using the Import Data from Other Sources screen, which can be accessed from the Import/Export tab of the Maintenance Menu.
The user can edit individual inventory records and scan the barcode information into the record via the Inventory screen. This method is rather tedious and time-consuming.
The program also offers the Enter Barcodes screen, where the user can input barcode information for multiple inventory items at a single screen. This is a significant improvement over the previous option.
To use the Metrologic 9500 Series of barcode scanners, the barcode scanner must be configured to disable Carriage Returns (CR)and Line Feeds (LF).
The device should also be internally configured so that the prefix is set to 3 tildes (~~~) and a forward slash (/) is set as the suffix. These characters surround the data contained in the scanned barcode so that the application recognizes and processes it correctly.
The prefix and suffix combination internally programmed in the barcode scanner must match the prefix and suffix combination that is specified in the Order Manager's system parameters.
If problems are experienced with a barcode scanner, open Notepad and scan an item's barcode to see if the prefix and suffix are set correctly. Many scanning problems are resolved by re-programming the internal settings of the barcode scanner.
Metrologic provides a "Single Line Configuration Guide" with the purchase of the 9500 series scanners, to assist with programming the device, or follow the steps below:
Stone Edge provides a condensed scan sheet that contains all of the necessary programming codes that are required by the Order Manager. Refer to Configuring a Metrologic Voyager Barcode Scanner (MS9520)
Scan the barcodes starting with the top left-hand column to the bottom of the left-hand column.
Continue scanning from the top of the right-hand column to the bottom of the right-hand column.
These codes configure the scanner with a ~~~ prefix and a / suffix, and disable the CR and LF suffixes.
Hint: It helps to folder the paper in half, length-wise, so that the scanner does not inadvertently "read" the code from the wrong column.
Created: 8/5/11
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