Purchase Barcode Reader

Kassoy and Arch Crown have data collectors. With those you walk around scanning items into a unit's memory. Then you download the memory into a file on the computer and then shopkeeper can read that file. Data collectors are generally quite expensive (US $1000 to $1500)

An alternative is to get a $200 wired reader and connect it to a laptop or netbook and read the Sku's in to a notepad file which Shopkeeper can read. You can also use this reader at sales as a regular reader.

*) Most common and most inexpensive, normal wired models  are connected to the USB port of the computer by a  cable of about 4 to 6 feet. They act like keyboards typing  a Sku number fast. Computer programs see no difference between  you typing on a keyboard or scanning. These have no memory  and have no intelligence or data collecting powers. To use this for physical inventory you need to be at the Shopkeeper screen which is waiting for a Sku number

*) Wireless blue-tooth readers are like the wired models above except that they're wireless with a range of perhaps 30 feet. Again, no memory or data collecting powers and Shopkeeper has to be waiting for the Sku number. You have to watch out because if you're 30 feet away you may not clearly see the Shopkeeper screen! (To be sure you're not scanning at a moment it's not ready which would cause problems.)

*) Portable data collectors. These have a reader and a small amount of memory and computing power. They're used to collect data which you later download into a text file on the computer. Shopkeeper can read the text file into the Physical Inventory counts. Portable data collectors can be quite efficient and let you take physical inventory in-place but they are fairly expensive and take a bit of programming/configuration.

*) News-Flash: Some submodels of the Metrologic Bluetooth wireless MS9535 Voyager BT Scanner now have a limited amount of memory if you choose the version "with expanded memory." So, it may be possible to use it like a portable data collector. It would be a primitive one as it has no screen or data input keypad, but it's wireless and relatively low price.

You can mix the three methods: text file import, scanning barcodes into the physical inventory screen and typing Sku numbers into the physical inventory screen.

An interesting approach to economize *and* be more flexible is to  use a small (existing) notebook/netbook computer - or even a small  tablet computer provided it has a USB port -  along with an  inexpensive wired barcode reader. Plug the barcode reader into  the notebook to emulate a portable data collector by reading  the list of Sku's into a word processor (actually Notepad.) Be sure  to save the Notepad list often with Ctrl-S. Use a short simple name  such as C:\PHYSINV1.TXT

  You need one Sku number per line so it's useful to temporarily   configure the barcode reader to add an "<Enter>" after each Sku.   This is often called a suffix and you have to scan some codes   in the barcode reader on to turn this on.

In addition, when you're not taking physical inventory you can connect the wired reader into a computer and use it to scan Sku number barcodes to make sales or other adjustments. When you use the reader directly at the computer in Shopkeeper you want to turn OFF the <Enter> suffix.

For wired barcode models, the Metrologic MS 9541 USB or MS9540 USB  have worked well. The 9541 is technically the high-density one  for small barcodes but it's discontinued and may be hard  to find. However the 9540 is fine too.

  These can be used in hands-free mode where you keep the reader in   stand and pass the barcode under the  reader. Or you can lift the   reader out of the stand and "point and shoot".

   Hornets are widely used but we don't currently have a preferred    portable data collector model to give you. We'd first suggest you    consider the netbook / tablet option with wired reader.

If you decide you specifically want a specialized portable data collector we'll try to remember which of our customers have one and we'll ask them how they are working and which models they use.