Summary

A barcode scanner types the characters in the barcode into whatever field the cursor is in and then sends an Enter key. It cannot press a button for you. What you can do is use the hot keys: Ship/Process is F10, so if you program the scanner to send F10, scanning that barcode starts Ship/Process. Turning on Auto Complete Pack removes the Complete Order step from the workflow.

Before you start

You need the setup guide for your barcode scanner. Most scanners can be programmed to send a keyboard key such as F10 through their own data-formatting or keyboard-wedge settings.

Steps

  1. Using the scanner's own setup guide, program a barcode (or a scanner key) to send the F10 key.
  2. Test it on the packing and shipping screen. Scanning that barcode should start Ship/Process, the same as pressing F10 on the keyboard.
  3. If you also want a rate step without touching the keyboard, program a second barcode to send the Rate hot key the same way.
  4. To cut the Complete Order step out of the workflow, email support@shipstore.com and ask for Auto Complete Pack to be turned on for your profile. Packing then completes and the next order loads on its own, so there are fewer scans per order.

What you should see

Scanning the barcode you programmed with F10 starts Ship/Process. With Auto Complete Pack turned on, you no longer have to complete the order as a separate step.

If something goes wrong

The scan loads an order instead of processing it: the barcode is still sending text, not the F10 key. The text lands in the field the cursor is in and the Enter key at the end tries to load an order from it. Re-program the barcode to send F10.

You want hot keys for other buttons, such as Fast Pack or Complete Order: only Ship/Process and Rate have hot keys today. Anything more is a paid development change. Email support@shipstore.com and include which buttons you want mapped and how many stations would use it.

Related articles

See also: "One shipment prints many duplicate labels (stuck key or scanner)" and "Orders won't load after turning on Packing until pack stations are set".