Data collection terminal (DCT) — Paloma POS 2

This article is about Paloma POS 2 — the new Paloma point-of-sale app with a touch interface. It covers working with a data collection terminal (DCT): scanning items into a buffer, fixing and clearing the buffer, loading the collected items into a warehouse document (goods receipt, stocktake, write-off), and collecting the buffer across several devices. If you are not sure this is your app, start with «How to tell you have Paloma POS 2». For the barcode scanner and weighted items, see «Scales, barcodes and labels».

Overview

• Scan collection is a screen where you scan items one by one and the register piles them into a buffer (the running list of everything scanned). No document is created here and stock is not changed — you are only gathering positions.
• The buffer accumulates positions per item: if one item is scanned several times, its quantity is summed into a single row. The buffer survives a restart and works offline.
• You can scan with a handheld scanner (HID), the device camera (the «Scan with camera» button), or add an item by hand with «Add item».
• An unresolved code (a barcode not linked to any item) is not lost — it stays in the buffer as a separate «Unresolved code» row, and you can link it to an item later.
• Loading into a document — when collection is done, you open the warehouse document you need (for example a goods receipt or a stocktake) and move every collected position into it with a single «Load from scan buffer» action.
• Several devices — the buffer is collected on each device, and when loading into a document with a network you can pick the collection sessions from different workplaces.

The scan screen opens from the «Склад» (Warehouse) section and is available only to employees with the «Inventory section» right. Without it, the «HHT collection» tile is hidden — ask your administrator.

Step 1. Open the collection screen

1. On the home screen tap the «Склад» (Warehouse) tile.
2. Tap the «HHT collection» tile (subtitle «Scan into a buffer»).
3. The «Scan buffer» screen opens. At the top there is the «Scan an item barcode» prompt; below it, the current buffer. When it is empty the register shows «The buffer is empty. Scan an item to add it.»

While you collect, a «Session» line is shown next to the list — it marks the current collection session on this device.

Step 2. Scan items into the buffer

Point the scanner at an item barcode — the item is added to the buffer as a row and its quantity goes up by one. Every next scan of the same item is summed into the same row.

• A handheld scanner (HID) always works and behaves like a keyboard: you do not need to focus a field, the register captures the input itself.
• Camera. Tap «Scan with camera» (the button appears on phones and tablets with a camera) and point it at a barcode — «Point the camera at a barcode». In camera mode scanning runs continuously: after each successful scan an «Added» hint flashes, and on a miss — «Not found». To exit, tap «Close».
• By hand. If there is no barcode, tap «Add item», find the item in the list or by search and select it — it is added to the buffer as one position.

If a barcode is not linked to any item, the register does not drop it: the row appears marked «Unresolved code» — you can link it to an item later (see Step 3).

Step 3. Fix the buffer

Every row in the buffer can be fixed right on the screen:

• Quantity. Tap the number on the right of the row — the «Quantity» keypad opens; enter the value you need.
• Link to an item. Tap the row (hint «Assign to an item») — the item list opens. Pick an item and the row is linked to it. This is how you close «Unresolved code» rows; you can also re-link any row to a different item. If the resulting item is already in the buffer, the rows merge.
• Remove a row. Tap the cross in the row (hint «Remove»).
• Clear the whole buffer. Tap the clear icon in the app bar (hint «Clear») and confirm «Remove all scanned rows from the buffer?».

Step 4. Load the buffer into a document

When collection is done, move the buffer into a warehouse document — a goods receipt, a stocktake or a write-off.

1. Open «Склад» (Warehouse) and create (or open) the document you need — for example a new goods receipt or a stocktake.
2. In the document app bar tap the «Load from scan buffer» action (in the goods-receipt editor it is labelled «Scan / TSD buffer»).
3. A list of the collected items opens. Check the positions and tap «Load».
4. The register adds the collected positions to the document and shows how many were moved: «Items loaded: {number}». Unresolved rows are skipped with the note «{number} item(s) not recognized — skipped» — link them to an item in the buffer first.

After loading you work with the document as usual: check quantities and prices, then conduct it. Only conducting changes stock — collection into the buffer does not touch stock.

Step 5. Stocktake with a scanner

A stocktake is convenient through the DCT: walk the shelves with a scanner, collect the actual quantities into the buffer, then load them into a stocktake document.

1. Collect items into the buffer (Steps 1–3): scan each position as many times as there are actual units, or set the quantity by hand with «Quantity».
2. Open «Склад» (Warehouse) → create a new stocktake.
3. Tap «Load from scan buffer» and «Load» — the actual quantities fill the document.
4. The register compares fact against booked stock and shows the deviation per position. Check it and conduct the document.

You can adjust the counted fact right in the stocktake document: every line has «Decrease quantity» / «Increase quantity» buttons — minus or plus one unit per tap (the minus is disabled when the quantity would drop to zero), and tapping the «Counted» number opens the «Quantity» keypad — there you can also enter zero when the item turned out to be missing.

Step 6. Collecting from several devices

The buffer is collected on each device separately, and when loading into a document (with a network) you can merge collection sessions from different workplaces:

1. On each device collect your part of the items into the buffer.
2. On any device open the document you need and tap «Load from scan buffer».
3. The list shows the collection sessions: yours is marked «This device», the rest are by workplace (for example «Workplace 3»). Pick the ones you need and tap «Load».

To see other devices' sessions you need the internet: without a network the register shows «Network required to see other devices' sessions.» and offers only this device's buffer.

Common problems

• «The buffer is empty. Scan an item to add it.» — the buffer has no rows yet. Scan an item or add it with «Add item».
• «Unresolved code» on a buffer row — the barcode is not linked to any menu item. Tap the row («Assign to an item») and pick an item; check the barcode in the menu editor.
• «Code not found: [code]» — the scanned code is not in the catalog. If the item was just created in the dashboard, return to the home screen and reopen the DCT — the catalog is re-read; or link the row to an item by hand.
• «{number} item(s) not recognized — skipped» on load — some buffer rows are not linked to an item yet. Go back to the buffer, link those rows and load again.
• «The scan buffer is empty.» on load — there is nothing to load on this device. Collect items first, or switch to the device where collection was done.
• «No scan-buffer sessions found.» — there are no collection sessions on any device. Collect items into the buffer before loading.
• «Network required to see other devices' sessions.» — no internet. Connect the device to a network to merge the buffer from several workplaces, or load this device's buffer.
• The «HHT collection» tile is missing in «Склад» — the employee has no «Inventory section» right. Grant it in the access settings.
• The camera does not scan, or there is no «Scan with camera» button — the camera is available on phones and tablets; on devices without one use a handheld scanner. If access is requested, allow the camera in the device settings.

FAQ

Is a document created right on the DCT screen?

No. The DCT screen only collects items into a buffer. You create the document separately (goods receipt, stocktake, write-off) and move the buffer into it with «Load from scan buffer». Stock changes only after the document is conducted.

What happens if I scan one item several times?

The quantity is summed into a single buffer row. You can always fix the final quantity with «Quantity».

The barcode is not linked to an item — will I lose the position?

No. Such a row stays in the buffer marked «Unresolved code». Tap it («Assign to an item») and pick an item. On load, unlinked rows are skipped, so link them in advance.

Can I collect the buffer without internet?

Yes. Collecting into the buffer and loading this device's buffer work offline. The internet is needed only to see collection sessions from other devices.

How do I run a stocktake from several scanners at once?

Collect the buffer on each device, then on one of them open a stocktake, tap «Load from scan buffer», pick the sessions you need (yours is marked «This device») and tap «Load». Showing other devices' sessions needs the internet.

How is the DCT different from the scanner in an open order?

The scanner in an order adds the item straight into a sale check. Scan collection sells nothing: it piles items into a buffer for a warehouse document. For the order scanner and weighted barcodes, see «Scales, barcodes and labels».