Packages and parent barcodes
This page explains the two ways to count cartons and packs without opening them: Package Quantity when the package carries the same barcode as the unit, and Parent barcode when the package has a barcode of its own.
TL;DR
| Situation | What you set up | How stock is stored |
|---|---|---|
| The carton has the same barcode as the unit | Package Quantity in the catalog | in units – multiplied at scan time |
| The carton has a different barcode | Parent barcode + Conversion ratio in the catalog file | in units – parent scans converted in the report |
Both are configured in the Catalog and used on the Count page.
Package Quantity – same barcode on the unit and the package
How to set it up
- In the catalog file: add a Package Quantity column with a whole number for each relevant item.
- Manually: Catalog → edit an item → Package Quantity field.
An item with no value in the field is always counted in units.
How to count
When you scan an item with a package quantity, the quantity window shows Package contains: N units and a toggle:
- Units Mode (default) – the number you type is recorded as is.
- Package Mode – the message Quantity will be multiplied by N appears, and the number you type is multiplied.
Example: package quantity 12. In Package Mode you type 2 → 24 units are recorded.
The multiplication happens at scan time, so the stored quantity is always in units. Count whole cartons in Package Mode and opened units in Units Mode. The toggle appears only while the quantity window is open – turn on Show Quantity Window After Scan in Settings.
Parent barcode – the package has its own barcode
The carton is the parent; the unit inside is the child. Stock is managed at unit level; the parent is only a faster way to count cartons.
How to set it up
A parent barcode is defined in the catalog file, on the child item's row. Add these columns:
| Column header | Required | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Parent barcode | ✔ | The barcode printed on the case. |
| Conversion ratio | ✔ | Units in one parent case, e.g. 6. |
| Parent barcode name | – | A name for the case. If empty, the item's description is used. |
The child's own barcode stays in the regular Barcode column. A parent is created only when both required columns are filled; if either is missing, the row is loaded as an ordinary item.
OpticCount stores the parent as a separate catalog item tagged Parent. You do not manage it by hand – re-uploading the catalog updates it. A parent barcode that equals another item's barcode is rejected and reported in the upload summary, because a barcode identifies exactly one item.
How to count
Scan the barcode you see. A unit barcode is counted in units; a parent barcode is recognized automatically and recorded as a parent scan in the quantity you entered, without multiplication. There is no toggle to choose – the barcode itself decides.
How it appears in reports
On Recent Counts and in exports:
- Not merged (default): parent scans and unit scans on separate rows, each in the quantity actually scanned. A parent row has no ERP stock of its own.
- Merge by parent: the Merge by parent option in the table (and Merge parent into child in the export) multiplies parent scans by the conversion ratio and folds them into the unit row.
Example: 5 parent scans × ratio 10 = 50, plus 2 unit scans = 52 units for the item. ERP-format exports always merge by parent, because the inventory system only knows the unit's code.
Editing recorded counts
A count recorded either way is edited like any other: from the quantity button on the card, or on Recent Counts by a user with permission.
Common questions
- Which mechanism should I use? Same barcode on the unit and the carton → Package Quantity. Different barcode → Parent barcode.
- The catalog shows more items than rows in my file. Expected: every parent barcode adds one parent item tagged Parent.
- Does a parent hold its own stock? No. Stock lives at unit level; the parent is a scanning shortcut.
- My file's headers are slightly different. OpticCount recognizes similar names, and you can map columns manually during upload. An exact header is the safest.
Related pages
- Catalog – upload a file with package quantity and parent barcode
- Count page – scan and work with the quantity window
- Personalization Settings – turn on the quantity window
- Recent Counts – merge parent scans in the report