SerialMagic How To: Low cost mobile inventory counting solution for BlackBerry and Excel spreadsheet

SerialMagic facilitates a mobile inventory counting and data collection solution using a Bluetooth barcode scanner, and BlackBerry with spreadsheet

More ways to use SerialMagic

This document outlines how a LaserChamp Bluetooth barcode scanner, SerialMagic Professional software, and GridMagic Software, are used to create a mobile inventory solution on a Bluetooth enabled BlackBerry. This also works with other Bluetooth scanners supported by SerialMagic Professional such as Socket, Intermec, Metrologic and others.

The bundle to implement this solution can be purchased here.

Once SerialMagic Professional and GridMagic software have been installed on the BlackBerry device, and the scanner has been paired with the BlackBerry (see SerialMagic documentation or SerialMagic support page), the first step is to select the proper Action Profile in SerialMagic. Action Profiles can be used to perform keystrokes, commands, and other functions before and after entering scanned data, and even based on content of scanned data.

SerialMagic includes a default SerialMagic Action Profile (SMAP) designed to work directly with GridMagic. Launch SerialMagic and highlight the Action Options section. If the setting is Less expand it to More by pressing the SPACE bar on the BlackBerry keypad. Then use the wheel to highlight the Profile option. Press the ALT key on the BlackBerry keypad and select the GM_INVENTORY Action Profile. See example GM_INVENTORY SMAP.

Now create an Excel spreadsheet with the data containing your inventory item descriptions, and UPC codes. An example sheet can be downloaded from here. Feel free to modify it for your own use. The first sheet will have columns for item, quantity, and UPC code or other barcode. Note: The GM_INVENTORY SerialMagic Actions Profile (SMAP) expects the spreadsheet format of the example sheet you can download.

Start SerialMagic and verify that the Bluetooth LaserChamp barcode scanner and the BlackBerry are Connected. 
Launch GridMagic and create a New spreadsheet.  Select the first three columns and Format the cells for ‘Text.”  Label the first column Item, the second column Quantity, and the last column UPC.  Here we have created such a spreadsheet.  As Item UPC’s (or other barcode) are scanned with the barcode scanner, GridMagic will first look for a prior entry of the Item.  If GridMagic located the Item, then it will prompt for a Quantity. After the Quantity is entered, the spreadsheet will be updated with the new amount.

If the Item scanned is not found in the current spreadsheet database it will be considered a new item. SerialMagic will show the prompt, “Data not found.”

Select OK then SerialMagic will prompt to “Enter Quantity”. Enter a quantity for the item and the value will be posted to the spreadsheet quantity column. Then SerialMagic will prompt, “Enter item description”. Enter a description for the item and it will be post the item description field on the spreadsheet.

Yes, it really is that simple.

With GridMagic the spreadsheet can be emailed to and from the BlackBerry device. Click here for an example.

The BlackBerry Desktop Manager can also be used to transfer the spreadsheet with a USB cable to a desktop computer.

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