Operation types and commands¶

Inventory operations, like receipts and delivery orders, as well as commands, like validating a transfer or putting products in packages, can be performed by scanning barcodes through the Barcode app. This allows employees to handle tasks and access menus without the need to touch a screen or use the Inventory app on a computer, and allows workflow streamlining by putting operation barcodes in the appropriate physical location.

Printable barcodes for Receipts, Delivery Orders, and Manufacturing.

Configuring operations¶

Operation types in the Inventory and Barcode apps define actions that will change the state of products in inventory. Which operation types are available to print will depend on the settings of the database. By default, barcodes can be printed for Receipts (WHIN), Delivery Orders (WHOUT), and Manufacturing (WHMANUF). The Internal Transfers (WHINT) and Pick (WHPICK) operations can also be enabled.

Note

Both Internal Transfers (WHINT) and Pick (WHPICK) operations require location barcodes to scan.

Internal transfers¶

The Internal Transfers (WHINT) operation barcode is available if the database is using the Storage Locations feature to designate where products are located in the inventory. To enable this setting, go to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings, then, in the Warehouse section, tick the Storage Locations option.

Picking¶

The Pick (WHPICK) operation barcode is available if the database is using the Multi-Step Routes feature configured with a picking step. To enable this setting, go to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings, then, in the Warehouse section, tick the Multi-Step Routes option and save. From there, click Set Warehouse Routes to open warehouse settings and select the warehouse. In the Outgoing Shipments section, select either Pick then Deliver (2 steps) or Pick, Pack, then Deliver (3 steps).

Print barcodes for inventory commands and operations¶

Barcodes for operations and commands can be printed at any time. These documents will include all the available inventory commands, regardless of whether they are enabled, but only the operations that are currently enabled in the database. See configuring operations to enable any missing operations.

Example

The print_inventory_commands_and_operation_types document will always show the PUT IN PACK command, regardless of whether the Packages feature is enabled, but the Pick (WHPICK) operation will only be added if Multi-Step Routes are configured to have a picking step.

Important

Printing barcodes, by default, will either directly download a PDF file of the selected barcodes or open a new tab with a downloadable or printable PDF. To turn this into a direct printing operation, connect a printer.

When first opening Barcode¶

When first opening the Barcode app, there is a prompt with options to print barcodes for commands and operations, as well as some sample barcodes to print and use for testing. Clicking these links is the easiest way to print command and operation barcodes, but will no longer be displayed after the first time it is clicked.

A prompt to print demo data or barcodes for operations.

From Inventory settings¶

If the barcode print prompt is not available, inventory commands and operation types barcodes can always be printed from the Settings page. Go to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings and in the Barcode section under the Barcode Scanner setting, click Print barcode commands and operation types.

Link to print inventory operations and commands.

Individual operations¶

Barcodes for individual operations, like receipts and manufacturing orders, can also be printed from the Operations Types configuration menu. To select operations to print, go to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Operations Types and tick the box by each operation type required.

Available operations selected making a 'Print' button appear.

Next, click the Print button and select either Operation type (PDF) to download a PDF with the operation barcodes, or Operation type (ZPL) to send the print job to a ZPL-enabled printer.

Note

The Print button does not appear until at least one operation type is selected.

Print picking operations for specific orders¶

Receipts, manufacturing orders, transfers, and delivery orders can all be printed in advance and are referred to in the print options menu as picking operations or picking.

In Barcode¶

From the Barcode app, tap the Operations button, select the operation type, and then the specific order to print. From there, either scan the PRINT PICKING OPERATION barcode if there is one available, or tap the (gear) icon to open the Barcode actions menu and tap the Print Picking Operation button.

Menu from a receipt with the 'Print Picking Operation' button.

In Inventory¶

To print a picking from the Inventory app, click the appropriate operation type (Receipt, Delivery Order, etc.) and select the individual order or the operation.

From the order, click the (Actions) icon, hover over Print, and click Picking Operations.

Note

The type of operation can be inferred from the operation reference to help distinguish picking operations. For example, the “IN” in WH/IN/00012 indicates that it is a receipt operation. These references are similar to, but do not exactly match the operation type barcodes.

Use barcodes for inventory operations and commands¶

Operations¶

Receipts WHIN creates a new order to receive products into inventory.

Warning
Scanning a barcode for a receipt will always create a new instance of that operation, and will not match an already scheduled order. To scan or a specific scheduled receipt, first print a picking for the individual receipt.

For example, scanning Receipts WHIN will create a brand new receipt, even if the contents match an existing receipt exactly.
Delivery Orders WHOUT opens the currently scheduled delivery orders.
Manufacturing WHMANUF creates a new manufacturing order. Scanning a product barcode from here will add it to the Producing list.
Internal Transfers WHINT creates a new transfer order. Location barcodes can be scanned to designate the source and destination, or scanned direction to initiate a transfer in Barcode.
Pick WHPICK creates a new picking operation. This will require a location barcode for the source location.

Commands¶

MAIN MENU: Scan to return to the main menu from an inventory adjustment.
VALIDATE: Scan to confirm that an operation is correct and ready to be completed.
CANCEL: Scan from an operation to prevent that operation from being validated and set its status to Cancelled.
PRINT PICKING OPERATION: Scan from an existing delivery order, transfer, or receipt to generate a PDF with the name and barcode for that operation’s reference number. This can be scanned later to go directly to the operation.
PRINT DELIVERY SLIP: Scan from an existing receipt or delivery order to generate a PDF of the purchase order or delivery order. This will not include a barcode.
PUT IN PACK: After scanning products, this command will designate them as all being in one package. Products scanned after this command are placed in a new package if the PUT IN PACK command is scanned again.
SCRAP: Scan this to mark a scanned product as defective, and move it to a virtual location for scrap inventory

Print barcodes for manufacturing commands¶

By default, the Manufacturing operation type can scan products and components and tap a Produce button to produce them. To print barcodes for basic manufacturing operations, go to Manufacturing app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings, then, in the Operations section, make sure the Barcode Scanner box is ticked and click Print barcode commands and operation types.

Work order commands¶

To enable more granular control of the manufacturing process through Barcode, enable the Work Orders feature. To print barcodes for work orders, go to Manufacturing app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings, then, in the Operations section, make sure the Work Orders box is ticked and click Print barcode commands.

'Print barcode commands' like in the Work Orders section of Manufacturing settings.