Scanning Barcodes

Scanning barcodes instead of manually entering information can greatly increase efficiency and improve accuracy within most point-of-sale, inventory management, and labor tracking processes.  

NOTE: This document does not apply to the Mobile Scanner.    Review Mobile Scanner > Overview for instructions to use the mobile scanner.

The most effective way to scan barcodes within the EBMS software is to configure the scanners to activate the EBMS scanning process by simulating F8.  Review Programming Scanners for instructions to program a scanner to activate the EBMS scanner mode.

Scanning barcodes

Scanning Mode (F8) and Code Prefix

Barcodes that are printed by EBMS contain a special character barcode sequence that activates the barcode scanner process (F8) and identifies the type of code.  Work order numbers, invoices, product part numbers, accounts, and other IDs are prefixed with an EBMS defined code.  Review Programming Scanners and Barcodes for a complete list of these barcode sequences.  

Scanning Mode (F8) and No Prefix

The EBMS scanning mode (F8) will evaluate barcodes that do not contain special character sequences as product codes.  These product code will be evaluate in the following order:

1. Product code or inventory item:  This code is the main product ID within EBMS.   Review the end of the Entering New Item wizard for more details on the Item Code.
2. UPC or alternate bar code:  Review Entering Barcodes for setup instructions.
   Scanning UPC barcodes
   
   These preprinted UPC codes on the product along with the UPC information supplied within many vendor catalogs gives the user an efficient process to scan products without printing barcodes or manually entering codes into EBMS.  Review the scanning and vendor catalog options within the Entering Barcodes documentation.
3. Serial number:  Review Serialized Item > Overview for instructions to configure serialized items.
4. Lot number:  Review Lots > Overview for details on creating lots.

No Mode (F8) and No Prefix

Any barcode scans outside the EBMS scanning mode will be populated within EBMS simulating key strokes.  Any code can be entered by placing the focus within the dialog on the correct entry and then scanning the code.

Open dialogs

Barcodes can be used to open dialogs and populate information.   For example the use scans the barcode on a printed work order and then scans product used within the project.  
   

The following dialogs can be opened within any of these dialogs.  The

• $S Sales order or invoice: Review [Sales] Sales Order > Entering a Sales Order for more on this dialog.

• $K Proposal: Review [Sales] Proposals > Creating and Printing Proposals for more on this dialog.

• $N Expense Invoice:  Review [Financials] Invoices > Entering a New Vendor Invoice for details on this dialog.

• $F Warehouse Transfer:  Review Multiple Inventory Location > Transferring Inventory between Warehouses

• $H Job Costing Transfer:  Review [Job Costs] Inventory Transfers

• $R Serialized Items:  Review Serialized Items > Overview

• An inventory item, serialized item, or lot number does not require a prefix unless it is combined with other prefixes.   

These dialogs can also be opened by scanning the barcode with the listed $ prefix from the EBMS navigator.  

Review Programming Scanners and Barcodes for codes used to populate entries within a dialog.

Simulate a Scanner

Complete the following steps to simulate a barcode scan.   These steps can be taken without a scanner or a barcode.

1. Open one of the dialogs listed above with the exception of the manufacturing or inventory dialogs.   The EBMS navigator is also an option.  
2. Click the F8 key to open the following Scanner Input dialog:
   
3. Blindly enter the code including the prefix.     
4. Press F10 to complete.

Review Programming Scanners and Barcodes for barcode examples and programming instructions.

NOTE: This document does not apply to the Mobile Scanner.    Review Mobile Scanner > Overview for instructions to use the mobile scanner.