Removing characters from serial numbers

Some barcodes on vendor packaging contain additional characters that are not part of the product’s serial number. These additional characters can cause errors when the barcode is scanned or manually entered in Distribution SX.e. You can set up Character Removal (CR) records in Product Extended Serial Formatting Setup that remove these additional characters, ensuring that the serial number is recorded correctly.

CR records identify a vendor number, the data (characters) to be removed, and the beginning position of the data within the serial number. When a serial number is entered in Distribution SX.e, it is compared to applicable CR records that are located using the vendor number. If a vendor is not identified in the function you are entering the serial number, the ARP vendor from the Product Warehouse Product Setup record is used. If the ARP Vendor is not identified, CR records cannot be located.

If the serial number meets the criteria set up in a CR record, the serial number is recorded with the characters removed. The operator is not notified that the serial number has been altered.

Characters are removed from the barcode if the characters that are specified on the record are located in the correct position, in the correct sequence. Only the characters in the exact sequence that are specified in the Data field are removed. If S2 is specified, only S2 is removed. The characters, 2S, are not removed. Capitalization is disregarded. For example, s2 is the same as S2.

The position of the data sequence specification can be identified using these two methods:

Beginning position: Specify the beginning position of the data sequence you want to remove from the vendor’s barcode. For example, if S2 from Vendor A always precedes the correct serial number and you want to remove these characters, specify 1 in the Beginning Position field. If S2 was inserted into the serial number in the third and fourth position, specify 3 in the Beginning Position field.
End of the serial number: If you specify 99 in the Beginning Position field, the data is removed from the end of the serial number. For example, if S2 is in the last two positions, it is removed from the serial number.

If multiple records apply, each record is validated against the original serial number, not the serial number after another record is applied.

For example, if the barcode S25R43S279S2 is scanned or manually entered, these are the resulting serial numbers based on the CR record:


Data	Beginning Position	Serial numbers: Entered Resulting	Logic
S2	1	S2 5R43S279S2 5R43S279S2	The characters were removed because the data was located, beginning in position 1.
S2	2	S25R43S279S2 S25R43S279S2	The characters were not removed because the data did not begin in position 2.
S2	11	S25R43S279 S2 S25R43S279	The characters were removed because the data was located, beginning in position 11.
S2	99	S25R43S279 S2 S25R43S279	The characters were removed because the last two characters of the serial number matched the data.
2S	99	S25R43S279S2 S25R43S279S2	The characters were not removed because the last two characters of the serial number did not match the data.
Two records: S 2	1 2	S 25R43S279S2 S 2 5R43S279S2 5R43S279S2	The characters were removed because the data was located in the beginning position specified on each record. Each record is validated against the original serial number, not the serial number after another record is applied.

CR record application

This table shows the functions in which CR records are applied to serial numbers. The serials numbers can be scanned or manually entered. In Vendor Invoice Center Entry, serial numbers can also be received for direct order purchase orders (DO POs) through ProcessSupplierInvoice BODs.


KP Work Order Center Entry	Sales Shipping Feedback Entry
Product Extended Serial # Setup	Transfer Entry
Product Qty Adjustments Entry	Transfer Receipt of Inventory Entry
Product Warehouse Transfer Entry	Transfer Shipping Feedback Entry
Purchase Receipt of Inventory Entry	VA Order Entry
Purchase Order Entry (RM only)	VA Shipping Feedback Entry
Sales Order Entry	Vendor Invoice Center Entry

Note: Character removal records do not apply to Storeroom.

CR records are also applied when using these functions in Total Warehouse Logistics (TWL) and Integrated Bar Code (IBC):


Application	Function
TWL	Modify receipts Packing Picking PutAway Receiving (incl VA items) Return to stock Stock adjustment Stock movement Undo picking Work order
IBC	Download PO to Receiving OE RF Shipping Feedback WT RF Shipping Feedback

The serial number entry field on the TWL RF unit allows entry of up to 30 characters. The serial number value is then validated by the Product Extended Serial Formatting Setup functionality. Specific characters are removed, resulting in the 20-character, or less, serial number required by Distribution SX.e. A message is displayed at each of these serial number validation points when there is no Product Extended Serial Formatting Setup record set up for that vendor, or when the resulting number is more than 20 characters. The message is: Serial Number cannot be longer than 20 characters. Please re-enter. Serial number validation occurs immediately upon entry wherever serial number entry is available in the TWL RF. Ensure that your Product Extended Serial Formatting Setup records are set up appropriately.