How to set up and start using a barcode scanner

1. Choosing a scanner

1. 1Buy any USB or Bluetooth scanner described as a keyboard-wedge or HID scanner. Most are $20 to $60.
2. 2A corded USB scanner is the simplest and never needs charging. A Bluetooth one is better if you walk the shelves.
3. 3You do not need a special brand, a licence or a driver. If it types the barcode like a keyboard, it works with EZMunny.
4. 4No scanner yet? Your phone camera works for the odd item — type the number in by hand.

2. Plugging it in

1. 1USB: plug it into the computer. Your machine recognises it as a keyboard within a few seconds.
2. 2Bluetooth: hold the pairing button, then pair it from your computer's Bluetooth settings.
3. 3Open a blank note or any text box and scan a barcode. The digits should appear followed by the cursor jumping to the next line. That is all EZMunny needs.
4. 4If nothing appears, scan the USB-keyboard setup barcode printed in the scanner's leaflet. That single scan fixes nearly every scanner.

3. Putting barcodes on your products

1. 1Open Products and edit an item.
2. 2Click into the barcode or SKU box and scan the item's existing barcode — the number types itself in. Save.
3. 3For items with no barcode, make one up (a short number is fine) and print a label.
4. 4Repeat for each product. From then on the scanner finds that item instantly anywhere in EZMunny.

Do your busiest twenty products first. They cover most of your scanning within a day.