Electronic Scales (Weight-Embedded Barcodes): Setup and Use

An electronic scale prints a barcode label on each weighed product (such as vegetables, meat and sweets). The barcode contains the product code and its weight, and sometimes its price. When you turn on Weight Embedded Barcode in the system, the system reads this barcode when it’s scanned in an invoice or the point of sale, identifies the product, and puts the weight in the quantity automatically. This guide explains how the scale barcode works, how to set it up, how to prepare products, and how to use it.

How does the scale barcode work?

The scale label is a number divided into fixed-length parts, such as:

Part	Symbol in the format	Meaning
Product code	X	Must match the product’s Barcode in the system.
Weight	W	The weight of the item (usually in grams).
Price	P	The price of the item.
Other digits	N	Digits the system ignores, such as the check digit at the end of the barcode.

When scanned: the system first searches for a product whose barcode matches the full number. If none is found, and the number’s length equals the format’s length, it splits the number according to the format, searches for the product by the X part, then puts the weight in the quantity.

Setting up the scale barcode

1. From the main menu, click Inventory › Inventory & Products Settings › Barcode Settings.
2. In Barcode Configuration, turn on Weight Embedded Barcode. The following setup fields appear.
3. Enter the Embedded Barcode Format (see the next section).
4. Enter the Weight Unit Divider and Currency Divider.
5. Choose the Scale Barcode Scan Behavior.
6. Click Save. The message Products settings have been saved appears.

Writing the barcode format

In Embedded Barcode Format, write one letter for each digit in the scale label, in the same order and with the same number of digits as the label, using X, W, P and N. The format’s length must exactly equal the length of the printed barcode.

Scale label	Format
13 digits: 7-digit product code + 5-digit weight + check digit	XXXXXXXWWWWWN
15 digits: 6-digit product code + 4-digit weight + 4-digit price + check digit	XXXXXXWWWWPPPPN
13 digits: 7-digit product code + 5-digit price + check digit	XXXXXXXPPPPPN

Weight Unit Divider and Currency Divider

Field	When to use it	Value
Weight Unit Divider	The scale prints the weight in grams and you sell by the kilogram.	1000
	The scale prints the weight in the same unit you sell by.	1
Currency Divider	The scale prints the price in the smallest currency unit (halala, piastre, fils).	100
	The scale prints the price directly in riyals or pounds.	1

Preparing the products

1. Open the product (or add a New Product).
2. In the Barcode field, enter the product code exactly as the scale prints it in the X digits, with the same number of digits, zeros and prefix (such as 2101234). The search doesn’t use the product code (SKU) or unit barcodes.
3. Enter the Selling Price for the selling unit (such as the price per kilogram).
4. Save the product.

Barcode reading examples

Example 1: Weight only

• Format: XXXXXXXWWWWWN, and Weight Unit Divider = 1000.
• Scanned barcode: 2101234012345.
• Product code = 2101234, weight = 01234 ÷ 1000 = 1.234 kg, and the last digit is ignored.
• Result: the product with barcode 2101234 is added with a quantity of 1.234, at its recorded selling price.

Example 2: Weight and price, and the product has no selling price

• Format: XXXXXXWWWWPPPPN, Weight Unit Divider = 1000, and Currency Divider = 100.
• Barcode: 123456025001250 → weight 0.25 kg, and price 12.50.
• Result: quantity 0.25, and unit price = 12.50 ÷ 0.25 = 50 per kilogram.

Example 3: Price only

• A product priced at 10 per kilogram, and the label carries the price 15 (with no weight).
• Result: quantity = 15 ÷ 10 = 1.5, and the price is 10.

Scale Barcode Scan Behavior

Option	What happens when the same product is scanned more than once
Merge into Existing Line (the default)	The new item’s weight is added to the quantity of the existing line.
Add as Separate Line	Each scan creates a new line, so you can review the weight of each item separately.

Where does the scale barcode work?

• Sales invoices (and similar documents).
• Point of sale.
• Purchase invoices and purchase quotations.
• Stock requisitions.
• Work orders.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Possible cause	Solution
Nothing happens when scanning in the invoice	The barcode’s length doesn’t equal the format’s length, the X part doesn’t match any product’s barcode, or more than one product matches.	Check the format and its length, and the product’s barcode with its zeros and prefix.
The message Product Not Found appeared (point of sale)	The same causes as above.	The same solution.
The quantity showed 1234 instead of 1.234	Weight Unit Divider is empty or 1.	Enter 1000.
A different product appeared	The full barcode number matches part of another product’s barcode or code, so the regular search is used before the scale search.	Make regular product barcodes different from the scale barcode range.
The price printed on the label wasn’t used	The product has a recorded selling price.	Leave the product’s selling price empty if you want to rely on the label’s price.
The scan behavior option doesn’t appear	Weight Embedded Barcode isn’t turned on.	Turn it on, and the fields appear immediately.

FAQs

Can I use an electronic scale with the system?

Yes, by reading the barcode label the scale prints, after setting the Embedded Barcode Format. There’s no direct connection to the scale itself; the connection works through the barcode.

Can I use more than one format?

The system uses the format that matches the length of the scanned barcode, so the scale labels must have a fixed length that matches the format.

In which unit do I sell the weighed product?

In the unit of the product’s recorded selling price (such as the kilogram), and the Weight Unit Divider converts the label’s weight to this unit.