Square for Retail IOS app inventory search issue

[magsmobiletack]

Just encountered a problem where i go to more->items->all items in the Square for Retail IOS app (latest update). as of today, it does not search the variation name any more, nor the bar code if i type it in. yesterday i could  do both.
example - i have an item "LM Toy Pony" with variations called "Popcorn", "Dream", "Valegro". All these variations have barcodes and sku's.

If i am searching the inventory management on IOS, and i enter 'Dream', i get nothing. If i enter the variations barcode (type manually) i get nothing. If i enter the variation's SKU, i get a search result. If i enter 'LM Toy Pony', i get the item and can click to view variations.

This has never been a problem before- i have used this search thousands of times where i search for the variation name and can find it. but, now i cannot. I have tried this for multiple items and variations with the same result. I have tried it on multiple phones as well. Something has changed- and IMO, not in a good way.

what happened? Can this be added back to where all fields are searchable? 

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack ;

I have no idea what has changed with the Updates for Searching for an item.  I had other issues where last weekend everything seemed to be showing up, Tuesday this no longer happened.  I was doing Searches on a Computer through a Web Browser (Chrome).  At my point of Sale I use a Scanner and the item or variation asociated with the SKU or GTIN pops right into the cart.  Now since you are saying you are having this issue with IOS devices, have you tried using the Built in Cameras to 'Scan' the SKU or GTIN?

On the IOS app to the Right of the Search Text box is a tap button that has a Barcode inside a small Square.  If you Tap that it enables the Ipads (probably an Iphones) camera to 'Scan' Barcodes. Just suggesting this until Square does an update to their search feature.

[magsmobiletack]

i am able to use the camera to search when i am trying to find something to add to a cart. but, when i am trying to manage inventory in IOS, which i dont do that often, it does not give the option to use the camera on the item search. I would type the barcode in to try to go directly to the item/variation i want to edit, and it would not find the bar code in the inventory management. If scan or type the barcode in the checkout section it works fine. So, the problem is on the inventory management side. it does not search the barcode or the variation name from what i can tell. I swear it used to though

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack ;

Sorry I misunderstood you trying to edit in Inventory Management on IOS, I use Items on IOS.  Inventory Management shows the Items Sold and Purchase history if you track that.  So when you use Inventory Management this will only show you the Items history in stock.  When I want to Edit an Item on IOS here is what I do.

From the Main Checkout Screen bottom Right there is a More button which I tap, Than I tap Items, then enter the SKU.

Its the same as editting Items on your Square Dashboard on a computer.

From my Square Dashboard Home page on a computer I click Items then enter the SKU.

If I Click Items, then Inventory Management and type in a SKU that has not sold in the selected time frame or inventory was not added, Nothing appears in the returned search of the SKU.

I have my Speed buttons at the bottom of my IOS to show Inventory, If I tap that then press Receive and scan a SKU the item pops right up, and Shows 1, I can then delete 1 or press + to count up to my received quantity.  Then I can scan another Item and that item appears with 1.  Repeat above to enter the quantity or delete 1 and enter the Quantity.   When all items are scanned and correct quantity was entered I tap Next to receive all items.  

On IOS I am not sure which Button your Tapping for Inventory Management to Appear.

I tap either Inventory to receive Items.

Or I tape More>Items to edit information about my Items or Variations. 

Neither of these are labeled Inventory management on IOS but deal with your Items and can deal with Inventory.

What are you trying to Edit through Inventory Management on IOS?  Maybe I can show you by doing a short video how I do it on my IOS with Square.  Now what has changed I am not sure of since mine seems to be working the same way it always has but with new features maybe Square changed something that has not effected me yet.  I know between Square POS and Online people have had issues and maybe Square is fixing them and created the issue you have.

[magsmobiletack]

sorry my terminology is wrong here. I am the one that confused you. inventory management is actually a selection in square. but that is not what im doing.

I am "managing inventory" for a particular item variation by tapping the 'more' at the bottom right, then clicking 'items', then selecting 'all items' at this point, i was  typing in a barcode or a variation name, and it would not return anything, even though the barcode and the variation name are in the system. If perform this same search in the main screen where i am searching to add to the cart, i can scan the barcode, or type in the name and it returns what i expect.

what seems to have changed is the 'more' -> 'items' -> 'all items' search used to produce the same results but now it is not.

sometimes when i'm running the store and i come across something that has something wrong in the inventory definition- maybe the price, or maybe the quantity. so, i want to edit that particular variation right then. thats when i tap more->items->all items and search for that variation. it used to work, now it doesnt.

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack;

No reason to be sorry but now I understand and will try this tomorrow when I am at the store.  My Stands Just updated to a new version of Square for Retail.  I will repost a video tomorrow and check the version of Square I am using.  Then I can either confirm or possibly show Squares new terminology to you for what will get you where you need to be.  Because what you are describing sounds like what I have had to do when I changed Prices at my Stands also.

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack ;

So  I came in today and tested going to More>Items The typed in my SKU.  This poped up two results of Variations under my main Item once I tapped the Main item that was displayed.  Here is about a 1 min video showing what I did.  Now I am using Square for Retail paid version and version 6.53.1w, if that makes any difference.  I do not know which version you are using.  I do notice when I type in 2 characters the 3rd character does not always show as Square is trying to populate results as you type.  Make sure your SKU is correct for your search.  As you can see in this video I believe, I went to search for 28oz Bacon and when I tyepd it in I typed in 28oz bacn and got no results.  When the two Variations Appear, on the right of the Variation it shows Manage... tap that link to change price or other things. 

[magsmobiletack]

ok- so, where you go to more-> items and then start typing "28oz", this is where i am having an issue.

If i type in the SKU for a variation, i get the variation i am looking for, but when i type in the barcode for the same variation, i get nothing. if i type in the name of the variation, i get nothing.  

if i dont have the SKU, and i only have the barcode of an item, i'm stuck trying to remember what item group it is in.  I just would expect if i have a barcode, i should be able to get to that particular variation by typing in that variations barcode, but that is not working, and i would expect if i have the name of the variation, i could type that in as well, and it would show up.

i really appreciate all the work you have done to assist in this.

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack ;

On a computer, goto your Items and search for the Item(s) your having trouble with.  Make sure the Item has both a GTIN and a SKU number filled in.  If you are searching for the SKU and find the items but do not with a 'barcode' make sure that barcode is assigned as the GTIN in Square.   I have both the GTIN and SKU information filled in for my bought items.  I just noticed going to answer you that some of my GTIN are blank and are now a SKU only.  But alot of my items still have both a GTIN the barcode that is on the actual box and a Square Generated SKU that I can use to print my own Barcode.   So make sure for items when you type in your Barcode, that the GTIN field does have the same digits in it.

In the above image I am able to Search for Navy (Item name area) , 045544723220 GTIN field, or 729892 SKU field and the item pops up.   In my previous video where I typed in 28oz..... The search returned Category 28oz Jars, all items 28oz..... and all items that started 28oz for a SKU.  As I keep typing the results got shorter. The 28oz Bacon was my SKU field  also possibly the Name of that candle. 

So to check the GTIN area quickly go to a Computer and sign in to your Square Dashboard.  Then goto this link for your Items.  https://app.squareup.com/dashboard/items/library 

On the Left Side of my image above there is a +, click that to show Item, GTIN and SKU by having a Blue check next to those items.   Then scroll though your items making sure everything has a GTIN (barcode) and your SKU.  I am thinking the GTIN field is empty for the Item your typing the Barcode in for.

[magsmobiletack]

I can do this all on my computer just fine. but, when I am in the field and working from my iPhone, i am having this issue. the  example i am using is not missing a GTIN- it is a valid GTIN.

Try this on your iPhone:  copy or write down a GTIN for an existing variation from your inventory. then, tap more->items->all items and paste that GTIN in the search bar, do you get any results?

how about if you manually type it in? do you get any results?

Next, type in the variation name for the same? do you get any result?

Now, if you go back and copy the SKU, and try the SKU- you will get results no problem.

the search in the more->items-> all items is only searching the SKU and the ITEM name. it doesn't search the GTIN, it doesn't search the variation name. I'm 99% sure this is a fairly recent change in functionality, or i have just been lucky in my past searches.

My question for square is why is the GTIN not searchable, and why is the variation name not searchable?

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack ;

The GTIN is searchable, but I am wondering if it is not Searchable in the POS app and only searchable in the Square For Retail app.  When your on your Iphone, what color is the Square app Icon you select is it a Grey / Black color or is it a Green color?

[magsmobiletack]

green. it is square for retail version 6.54.1w

[Candlestore]

Wow that is weird unless the Ipad and Iphone apps work a little different.  You may need to call support to see why My Ipad finds GTINS and your Iphone does not find GTINS for an item.  Supports number is in my signature line.

[Candlestore]

@magsmobiletack ;

I can not do this on an Iphone as my cells are Androids.  I only have Ipads which I have tried as you can see below on the Ipads and do get results.

SKU Results

SKU Results

GTIN Results

GTIN Results

Partial Name Look Up.

Partial Name Results

Now as you see I do have the SKU in the Name field but not the GTIN or Coast anywhere other than the Name field.

This brings me back to which Square App are you using on your Cell phone?

Did you have a Trial of Square For Retail that may have expired? 

I believe the Square POS did not use GTINs before, but I could be wrong.

In the Apple Play Store search for Square.... You get Square Pos with a dark Grey almost Black Icon, Square for Retail with an Aqua Icon, and then there is also Square for resturants which has a redish Icon.

I know the Square apps between Ipads and Android devices are different and on android I am not even able to get the Square for Retail app , just the Square Pos app.

The below image shows Square Point of Sale (POS), Square Appointments, and Square for Retail.  All have different colored Icons.

Below is Square for Restauraunts POS and Square Invoices : Invoice Maker.

So on your Iphone when Logging into your Square account what color is the Icon?  

The other thing what Version of Square are you using on your Iphone?  Are there any updates available for Square on your Iphone?  I just updated my Ipads yesterday and I see I have an Update for these Ipads today.