Barcode Scanning

PartsBox reads the barcodes on incoming shipments so you can book parts into stock by scanning instead of typing. Scan a distributor's label and PartsBox finds the part, or offers to create it, and opens the Add Stock dialog — pre-filled with whatever the label carried, including quantity when it is encoded.

Two ways to scan

• In-browser, with a camera. PartsBox scans through your computer's camera, with no extra hardware. Use a camera with autofocus; a cheap fixed-focus webcam struggles to lock onto a small barcode.
• A USB scanner. PartsBox works with any USB scanner that types its result as keystrokes. For 1D codes, the Zebra LS2208 is cheap and reliable. For 2D, the Zebra DS2208 reads both 1D and 2D and is worth the small extra cost, since more distributors are moving to 2D labels for their higher data capacity.

A 2D external scanner needs one configuration step: set it to replace non-printable characters with ASCII sequences, so the browser receives clean data. The User's Guide has the configuration code for the DS2208.

Barcodes PartsBox reads

• 2D: DataMatrix (DigiKey, Würth Elektronik) and PDF417 (ANSI MH10.8.2 data per ISO/IEC 15434:2006)
• 1D: codes from DigiKey, Mouser, Farnell, RS Components, and other major distributors that encode the manufacturer part number
• ID Anything™ QR codes: the codes PartsBox prints for parts, lots, storage locations, projects, builds, and orders

What happens when you scan

PartsBox searches your database for the scanned part. If exactly one part matches, you can add, remove, or move stock for that part. If several parts match, you choose the intended part by its name, MPN, manufacturer, and description, then continue to the stock operation. You can change the selected part without scanning again. The Add Stock dialog uses the quantity from the label when it is encoded. If no part matches, you pick from matching online parts, the part is created, and then Add Stock opens.

Scanning turns a delivery into stock in seconds; see Purchase Parts and Receive Orders for the full receiving flow. To print the QR codes PartsBox reads back on your own parts, bins, and reels, see Label Printing and Labels and Scanning.

Barcode scanning with a USB scanner is in every plan, including the free Maker plan. In-browser camera scanning starts on the Essentials plan.