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Barcode & QR Scanners

Besides the camera, Etalasse POS works with barcode and QR scanner devices. Scan a code and the POS adds the product to the cart, picks the customer, or opens the order, depending on the screen that is open.

Scanners work on every plan, including Free. They work in the Etalasse POS app, on pos.etalasse.com, and in the cashier inside the Dashboard app.

A USB, Bluetooth, Android handheld or camera scanner sends the code to Etalasse POS. The POS passes it only to the screen that is open, for example the cart.ScannerOpen screenUSB scannercable to a PC or OTGBluetooth (keyboard)HID modeBluetooth (serial)SPP mode, Android onlyAndroid handheldSunmi, Urovo, Zebra, etc.Camerabuilt into the POSEtalasse POSSettings → ScannerCart+1 itemCustomercustomer QRFind orderorder QRCheck-inmembership passPrint labelsbarcode labels123
(1) Pick your kind of scanner, (2) set it up once in Settings → Scanner, (3) the scan goes to the screen that is open, for example the cart.

(1) Pick your kind of scanner, (2) set it up once in Settings → Scanner, (3) the scan goes to the screen that is open, for example the cart.

Scanners you can use​

KindHow it worksWhere
USB scannerPlugs into a computer, or into an Android tablet or phone with an OTG cable. The scanner "types" the code and then presses Enter.pos.etalasse.com and Android
Bluetooth, keyboard mode (HID)Pairs like a Bluetooth keyboard. Works the same way as a USB scanner.pos.etalasse.com and Android
Bluetooth, serial mode (SPP)Pair it in Android's Bluetooth settings, then pick it in the POS. It does not show up as a keyboard.Android app only
Android handheld with a built-in scannerDevices such as Sunmi, Urovo, Newland, iData or Zebra. The device's own scanner settings send the scan to the POS.Android app only
CameraThe camera of a phone, tablet or laptop.Everywhere

Most low-cost scanners work in keyboard mode. If your scanner has several modes, keyboard mode (HID) is the easiest to set up.

Android app

On Android, scanners other than the camera need the latest version of the POS and Dashboard apps from Google Play. On older versions, a USB or Bluetooth keyboard scanner is only read while the cart search box is active.

Setting up your scanner​

Open Settings → Scanner in the POS.

  1. Pick the device type:
    • Auto: the default. Right for USB scanners and Bluetooth scanners in keyboard mode.
    • USB/Bluetooth keyboard
    • Android handheld: pick the device brand, or Other to fill it in yourself.
    • Bluetooth serial: pick the scanner from the list of paired devices.
    • Off: the POS does not listen to scanners. The camera still works.
  2. Pick the suffix the scanner sends after each code: Enter (the most common), Tab, or none.
  3. If needed, fill in a prefix to strip. This is for scanners that put the same characters in front of every code.
  4. Turn the beep and vibration on a successful scan on or off.
  5. Tap Test scanner, then scan one barcode.

Settings are saved on that device only. Set up the scanner on each cashier tablet or phone.

Test scanner​

Test scanner shows the characters the POS actually receives, the gap between them, and where they came from (keyboard, Android handheld or Bluetooth serial). Open it first whenever a scanner does not behave as expected. If you contact support, we will ask you to open it too.

Set the Enter suffix on the scanner

Almost every scanner can be set to press Enter after each code, usually by scanning a setup barcode from the scanner's manual. With an Enter suffix the POS knows when a code ends, so scans are faster and no digit gets cut off.

Android handheld with a built-in scanner​

Pick your device brand under Android handheld. For Sunmi, Urovo, Newland and iData, the POS already knows how to read the scan from the device. In the device's own scanner settings, make sure the scan is sent as a broadcast, not typed onto the screen.

Zebra uses the DataWedge app. Create one profile for Etalasse POS:

  1. Open DataWedge and create a new profile, for example "Etalasse POS".
  2. Under Associated apps, pick the Etalasse POS app (or Etalasse Dashboard if you use the owner cashier).
  3. Turn on Barcode input.
  4. Turn off Keystroke output.
  5. Turn on Intent output, then fill in:
    • Intent action: com.etalasse.pos.SCAN
    • Intent delivery: Broadcast intent
  6. In the POS, pick Android handheld → Zebra.

Other brands: pick Other, then fill in the action and the extra name the device uses to send the scan. Both are usually in the device's scanner settings or its manual. For Zebra, the extra name is com.symbol.datawedge.data_string.

Bluetooth serial mode​

  1. Pair the scanner in Android's Bluetooth settings first.
  2. In the POS, pick Bluetooth serial, then pick the scanner from the list.
  3. The POS connects to the scanner and reconnects on its own if the connection drops.

Where scanning works​

A scan only goes to the screen that is open. For example, while the customer picker is open, a scan does not add a product to the cart behind it.

ScreenWhat a scan does
CartThe product whose barcode or SKU matches exactly is added to the cart
Pick customerThe customer is picked from their customer QR
Find orderThe order is opened from its order QR
Check-inThe pass holder is checked in. See Check-in
Print labelsThe product is added to the label print list

How codes are matched:

  • The code must match a product or variant barcode or SKU exactly. Scanning 123 does not match a product with code 91234.
  • Barcodes are checked first, then SKUs.
  • If several products share the same code, the POS shows a list to pick from. It is best to give every product its own barcode.
  • Inactive products are still found, but marked inactive.
  • If no product matches, you see Code not found with a Search button that opens search with that code filled in.

When you type into a normal field (for example an order note), your typing is not treated as a scan.

Common problems​

The scan goes into the wrong field A keyboard-mode scanner types into whichever field is active. Tap an empty area so no field is active, then scan again. On Android, make sure the app is the latest version from Google Play. Older versions only read scans through the cart search box.

The last digit is missing or the code is cut off The scanner sends no suffix, or the suffix in the POS does not match the scanner. Set the scanner to send Enter, then pick the Enter suffix in Settings → Scanner. Check the result in Test scanner.

The on-screen keyboard pops up on every scan Android treats the scanner as a keyboard and opens the on-screen keyboard while a field is active. Tap an empty area before scanning. On an Android handheld, use the Android handheld type (broadcast) so the scanner does not type onto the screen.

The code is read wrong or has extra characters Open Test scanner and look at the characters received. If the same characters always appear in front of the code, put them in prefix to strip. If letters or digits are swapped, check the scanner's keyboard language setting and pick the US keyboard layout.

Bluetooth keeps disconnecting

  • Make sure the scanner battery is charged, and turn off the scanner's power saving mode if it has one.
  • A Bluetooth scanner can usually connect to only one device at a time. Disconnect it from other phones or laptops.
  • In serial mode the POS reconnects on its own. If it still fails, remove the pairing in Android's Bluetooth settings, pair again, then pick the scanner again in Settings → Scanner.
  • In keyboard mode, pair the scanner again in the device's Bluetooth settings.

An Android handheld scanner does nothing Check that the right brand is picked and that the device's scanner settings send scans as a broadcast. For Zebra, check that the DataWedge profile is linked to the POS app and that its action is com.etalasse.pos.SCAN.