Last week, we shared how Multipub is measuring article views by connecting to our clients’ CMS. Today, we are discussing a new feature included in our most recent release – scanning. The use of a scanner reduces keystrokes saving time and increasing accuracy. Incorporating technology like this helps Multipub users do more with less.

In particular, we’re now offering 3 scanlines with v. 47.14:

1. Quick payments
2. Orders
3. Finder numbers

Here’s How Scanning Payments Work
Set-Up
To begin, payments must be a batch transaction type = “P” and companies must use Quick Payments instead of Payments. The Quick Payment scanline is a 20 character field:

• Invoice Number: Positions 1 – 8
• Invoice Return Effort Number: Positions 9 – 10
• Cash Amount Positions: 11 – 20 (in cents)

How to Use It

• Select to print the Scanline on your form. This field is now available on your Design Ascii Layout program. Be sure to select the proper scanline for your document (Invoices, Orders or Finder Number).
• In data entry, select Scanline instead of Subs # in the search.
• Then, enter or scan in the scanline (It can be manually typed). For example:
  1. 00265786120000005800
  2. Invoice 265786
  3. Effort 12
  4. Payment 58.00
• Press Go.
• Then, Multipub finds the order and populates the amount and invoice effort. It also will allow you to select “Type Check” to tie check or credit info to it (you could default type check and check # in batch defaults). If defaulted, you would simply review and then, press Enter to accept with the OK button.
• After this, it will return you back to Search Criteria at the top. Leave Scanline selected as an option if you’re scanning a whole batch of payments.
• Keep in mind you can’t reactivate an order using Quick Payments, you must use the standard Payment Entry program to reactivate orders.

Here’s How Scanning Orders Works
Overview
The order scanline is an 18-character field:

• Subscriber Number: Positions 1 – 8
• Product Code: Positions 9 – 16
• Effort #: Positions 17 – 18

How to Use It

• Select to print the Scanline on your form. This field is now available on your Design Ascii Layout program. Be sure to select the proper scanline for your document (Invoices, Orders or Finder Number).
• Select Scanline instead of Subs # in the search.
• Then, enter or scan in the scanline (It can also be manually typed). For example:
  1. Subscriber 1228
  2. Product NB
  3. Effort 2
• Press Go.
• Then, Multipub will find the subscriber and create an order for that product.
• After this, it will return you to Search Criteria at the top. Leave Scanline selected as an option if you’re scanning a whole batch of orders.

Added Features
One new feature is Multipub will now accept any order type through scanning, including both new and renewal. Be sure to specify on the batch, or it will return an error asking for the order type.

If it’s a renewal, then, Multipub will behave just like it would if you manually entered it. This means it will retrieve all of the demos and carry them over if they are set-up for the products.

Here’s How Finder Numbers Work
For customers that use the Finder Number database, they can now scan the Finder Number. Our system will bring the subscriber info over from the Finder Number database, and if you are entering orders, the keycode will be populated.

Creating a Scanline
If you want to create a scanline for testing, but aren’t sure how, there are a number of tools online that can help. These will allow you to key in a value and generate a barcode scanline. You can then print it and use a scanner to test.

If you’re not sure if you have the Barcode/Scanning feature in your Multipub license, contact us at sales@Multipub.com or 913.362.8989.