Packs and barcodes: codes and scanning
Give your items a code and a barcode, and scan them at the Counter.
On this page
- What it is
- Find it
- Every setting
- SKU
- Barcode
- Barcodes on packs
- Remove barcodes
- Scan a barcode
- Scan to add
- Plug-in or Bluetooth scanner
- Search or scan
- Add item
- Who can use it
- Common mistakes
- It says "That isn't a product barcode"
- The camera does not open
- A red message shows in Codes
- I do not see the scan button at the Counter
- My plug-in scanner does nothing
- Tip
What it is
A SKU is your own short code for an item, like 01078. A barcode is the striped code printed on a pack. Scan a barcode at the Counter (the POS tab) to add the item to a sale. Customers never see your codes.
Find it
To give an item its codes:
- Tap Items in the bar at the bottom.
- Tap the item's name or photo.
- Tap the round Codes button under the big tiles.
A panel called Codes slides up.
If you do not see Codes, tap All at the end of the round buttons. Then tap Codes in the list.
To scan at the Counter:
- Tap POS in the bar at the bottom.
- Tap the round scan button next to the search box. It has lines on it.
The scan button shows once at least one item has a barcode or SKU. If you do not see POS, see Turn on the Counter.
On a computer, Items and POS are in the bar on the left.
If Codes has a small lock, your shop does not have the Packs and barcodes add-on yet. (In All, it has an Add-on tag.) Tap Codes. Then tap See Packs and barcodes to try it or buy it. If you are not the owner, ask the owner. See Turn an add-on on or off.
Every setting
To add a barcode to an item:
- In Codes, tap Scan next to the Barcode box. A sheet called Scan a barcode opens.
- If your phone asks to use the camera, allow it.
- Hold the barcode inside the white box. When the code is read, the sheet closes and the code is in the box.
- Tap Done at the top right.
On an item you already added, a dark message says "Saved" at the bottom. On a new item, tap Add to my shop at the bottom.
You can also type the numbers printed under the barcode. Or tap the box and scan with a plug-in scanner.
SKU
Your own short code for the item. The app says "Your own short code for it. Counter search finds items by SKU."
- On a new item, the box says "Fills itself when you add it". The item gets a number like 01078 when you tap Add to my shop.
- If the box is empty, the app says "No SKU. Counter search won't find it by code." Tap the button next to it, like Use 01078, to fill in the next free number.
- If another item has the same SKU, the app says, for example, "Juice already uses 01078." Tap Use 01079 to take the next free number.
Barcode
Type the barcode or tap Scan. A barcode has 4 to 48 letters or numbers, with no spaces. Each barcode can be on one item or pack only.
On an item with packs, this box is called Item barcode. The app says "Scanning the item barcode adds the picked-first pack."
Barcodes on packs
This list shows on items with packs. Its title shows in capital letters. Each pack shows its barcode, or "No barcode". The pack one tap adds has a Picked first label. Tap a pack to open it. Then type or scan its code in Barcode on this pack. See Packs and barcodes: sell by the piece, pack or case.
Remove barcodes
This shows at the bottom of Codes when the item has a barcode. Tap Remove barcodes to take the barcodes off the item and its packs. The SKU stays.
Scan a barcode
This sheet opens when you tap Scan on an item. It says "Hold the barcode inside the box." It closes after one code. To close it without scanning, tap the X at the top right.
To use a plug-in scanner instead, close this sheet. Tap the Barcode box. Then scan.
Scan to add
This is the scan sheet at the Counter.
- Tap POS in the bar at the bottom.
- Tap the round scan button next to the search box. A sheet called Scan to add opens.
- Hold a barcode inside the white box. The item goes into the sale.
- Point the camera at the next barcode. The sheet stays open.
- When you are done, tap the X at the top right.
After each scan, the sheet says something like "Read 4791234567890. Point at the next one." A message shows what was added, like "Added Cola", or "Added Cola · Case" for a pack.
- A pack's barcode adds that pack.
- An item's barcode or SKU adds the item. For an item with packs, it adds the pack that is picked first.
- An item with sizes, like Small and Large, opens a sheet. Tap the size you want.
- An item with questions or extras that must be picked opens a sheet first.
- An item marked Sold out still goes into the sale. The message adds "marked sold out on your shop".
- Your Counter may sell from one place. If that place has none, the item is not added. The app says, for example, "None at Back room".
Plug-in or Bluetooth scanner
A hand scanner works with nothing to set up. You can plug it in, or connect it with Bluetooth.
- Connect the scanner to your phone or computer.
- Tap POS in the bar at the bottom.
- Scan a barcode.
The item goes into the sale, with the same messages as the camera. Close any open sheet first, like Charge or Scan to add. Scanning also works while you type in the search box.
Search or scan
When your items have codes, the search box on the Counter says "Search or scan". Type a SKU or a whole barcode to find the item. See Make a sale at the Counter.
Add item
When you scan a barcode that no item has, the app says, for example, "No item has 4791234567890 yet." It shows an Add item button.
- Tap Add item. Your Items page opens with a new item. The barcode is already in Codes.
- Type the item's name.
- Set its price on the Price tile.
- Tap Add to my shop at the bottom.
Then go back to POS and scan it again. See Add your first item.
Who can use it
The owner, senior managers and managers can set codes on items. They also see Add item after a scan. Everyone who can use the Counter, staff too, can scan. Staff see "No item has 4791234567890. Ask the owner to add it." instead of Add item.
Codes need a Storefront and the Packs and barcodes add-on. Only the owner can buy the add-on. You can see the price in the add-on store.
Common mistakes
It says "That isn't a product barcode"
You scanned a QR code or something that is not a product barcode. Scan the striped barcode on the pack.
The camera does not open
The scan sheet says why:
- "Camera is blocked." Open your phone settings and allow the camera for this site. Then try again.
- "Another app is using the camera." Close that app and try again.
- "No camera found on this device." or "This browser can't open the camera here." Type the code, or use a plug-in scanner.
- "The camera didn't start." Try again.
A red message shows in Codes
It can show under a box, or at the top when you tap Done. Each one says what to fix:
- "A barcode has at least 4 letters or numbers." The code is too short. Scan it again, or type all the numbers under the barcode. When you tap Done, it says "The item has a barcode that doesn't look right."
- "Water 500ml already has this barcode." Each barcode can be on one item or pack only. Open the item where the code is wrong. Tap Codes and clear the box. Then tap Done.
- It says two packs, like "Single" and "Pack of 12", have the same barcode. Give each pack its own barcode.
- "Juice already uses the SKU 01078. Pick a different one." Tap Use 01079 under the SKU box.
I do not see the scan button at the Counter
No item has a barcode or SKU yet. Give at least one item a code in Codes. Then open POS again.
My plug-in scanner does nothing
A sheet is open, like Charge or Scan to add. Close it, then scan again. In Codes, tap the Barcode box first.
Tip
Some things have no barcode, like fresh bread. Write their SKU on the shelf label. At the Counter, type the SKU in "Search or scan" to find the item fast.