Scan without failures: quickly find the product and eliminate hardware failures

Checkout service speed directly depends on the correct and predictable operation of the barcode scanner. Sometimes, instead of instantly adding an item to the receipt, the program starts behaving incorrectly: windows minimize, the item is not added automatically, or the barcode is unreadable.

This article will help you quickly resolve specific scanner hardware failures and configure Torgsoft for uninterrupted product search.

1. Why does the «Sale» window unexpectedly shrink or minimize?

 Symptoms. When scanning a barcode of an item, the «Sale» form suddenly shrinks, minimizes, expands, or another window opens over the screen instead of the sale, for example, «Incoming Invoice Register».

 Cause. The problem is not in the program, but in incorrect programming of the barcode scanner itself. In addition to reading the barcode digits, the device additionally transmits the pressing of the function key F7 to the system. In Torgsoft, the F7 key is reserved for opening other forms, including registers, which causes the current sale window to «jump» or minimize.

 Solution:

1. Reset settings. The simplest and most effective method is to reset the scanner to factory settings (Factory Reset). To do this, find the manual for your scanner model and scan the corresponding control barcode. This will cancel the transmission of any additional commands, including F7.

2. Reprogramming. If a full reset is undesirable, refer to the equipment supplier’s manual or service center to find the control barcode that specifically disables adding a prefix or suffix in the form of the F7 key.

2. The item is not added automatically: configuring the Enter (CR) suffix

 Symptoms. The scanner successfully reads the barcode digits, they appear in the search field on the «Sale» form, but the item is not added to the receipt. To add the item to the cart, the cashier has to reach for the keyboard every time and press the Enter key manually.

 Cause. The automatic transmission of the control character Enter (CR — Carriage Return) at the end of each scan is disabled on the scanner.

 Solution. Barcode scanners support suffix programming, meaning characters that are automatically added after the scanned code. To make the item instantly added to the receipt without extra keystrokes:

1. Take the manual for your scanner, either the paper version supplied with the device or a version downloaded from the internet.

2. Find the suffix configuration section, usually called Suffix Configuration or Terminator.

3. Scan the control barcode for adding the Enter key code (CR). After that, each scan will imitate pressing the Enter key, and the item will be added to the receipt immediately.

3. Searching for an item by SKU if the barcode is damaged

 Symptoms. The barcode on the label is worn, torn, or the scanner refuses to read it for technical reasons. The cashier needs to quickly add the item without delaying the queue.

 Solution. In Torgsoft, you can flexibly configure the search field at the checkout so that it accepts not only barcodes, but also unique product SKUs.

 How to configure:

1. Go to the main menu item Settings — Parameters — Accounting.

2. Find the Product Search field.

3. In the drop-down list, select the operating format that is convenient for you: by SKU or a combined option by barcode/SKU/name. Save the changes.

How to use it at the checkout? 

After saving the settings, the name of the input field on the «Sale» form will change to «SKU» or «Barcode/SKU/Name». Simply enter the SKU of the damaged item into this field manually using the keyboard and press Enter. If several items are found in the database for the entered SKU, for example, the same jacket in different sizes or colors, the program will display a list on the screen, from which the cashier can quickly select the required item.