BatchLine (formerly Bertline) has been a stalwart of the book trade for many years and remains the most-used stock management system in the UK and Eire. Below, we'll post answers to some common queries about both BatchLine and OpenBravo. If you can't find the solution you're looking for, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your shop name and topic in the subject line so that we can direct your question to the right person. 

Note: Our service hours are 9am to 5pm on week days and 9am to 12pm on Saturdays and public holidays for urgent service calls. Non-urgent enquiries will usually be dealt with on the next working day.

You can download illustrated 'how-to' instructions on various aspects of BatchLine, such as electronic ordering, the goods-in process, returns and Open Bravo, from the User Guides box.

BatchLine

Can you tell me our stock valuation for a given date in the past?

The only way we can do this is if you have a backup from that date, which is why we recommend that everyone takes a monthly backup. If that exists we can restore it and give you that value. 

How do we change the location for our backup?

If you go into Back Office/Maintenance and select the System Config > System tab in BatchLine, you'll find 'Default Backup Directory' in the 'Paths' section at the bottom of the screen. If you click on the three dot button next to this you can configure BatchLine backups to go to whichever folder you like. We highly recommend that users back up to a Cloud synced location, such as Google Drive, One Drive or DropBox.

What does 'Daily Updates is Locked' mean?

When 'Daily Updates Is Locked' appears, it means that a field on the database has a lock flag on it to stop people using the system while it updates. Daily Update is a critical process during which sales figures are updated to reflect the previous day/week/month and year's sales. This means that at the beginning of a week/month/year, it may take a little longer than normal, but it is essential that the update be allowed to run. If it is interrupted for any reason, it may result in the database being flagged as in 'update' status, and that is one reason why Daily Update locks. The BatchLine Support Module (BSM) will clear the lock.

Find the BSM icon on your desktop. Select the Unlock Modules tab and click on Unlock Daily Updates to unlock and restart. The same process applies for the Returns module if that is locked.

How do I unlock returns, updates, orders or scanned-goods in?

To unlock modules and processes, click on the BSM (BatchLine Support Module) icon on your desktop, then select the relevant 'Unlock' tab. 

The BatchLine icon has disappeared from my desktop

In some instances (usually on client machines) you may find that the shortcut to BatchLine POS has disappeared from your desktop. Don't worry – this doesn't mean you've lost the program. To fix it, go to C:\Bertrams\Bertline 401 where you will find the BatchLauncher file. Right clicking on this will give you the option to send the icon back to the desktop.

BatchLine won't start - what can I do?

–There are three main reason why BatchLine will not start: two major ones which can stop the entire system from starting and a second one that will stop a client from starting. The errors you may see are:

  1. Unavailable server or unavailable database
  2. Daily updates are locked
  3. Network issue at 96% (Clients Only)

Contact mail@batch.co.uk so we can investigate and resolve the issue for you.

My system won't load and there's an error at 96%

Contact mail@batch.co.uk and we will resolve this for you.

Can I reprint customer order slips?

In the past, the process of printing slips always ended in ‘Do you wish to delete the printed slips’. For both our customers and from a support perspective this was a problem. Version 4.50 brought in an improvement that means you are no longer prompted to delete slips. Instead, if for any reason the slips fail to print there is a new icon at the top of the screen on the Front Office/Goods In page called ‘Print Slips’. This allows slips to be reprinted for any date, including today’s date.

Note: Slips are only available for the previous fortnight because any older than that are automatically deleted.

Our scanner doesn't seem to be working

If your scanner is beeping but not sending out any information, you might like to try giving it a quick tap on the counter. There is a spinning mirror inside and sometimes a quick tap will unjam it. If that doesn't work, contact us.

The BSM icon has disappeared from my desktop

If you have lost your BatchLine icon, the BSM icon might also have disappeared from your the desktop. It is exactly the same procedure to restore it in both cases: just go to C:\Bertrams\Bertline 401\Tools and 'Send to desktop' as shown. (This also applies to the web exporter icon if you are using that.) Alternatively, you can always find the BSM icon under the Help and Exit menu of BatchLine.

Can we stop the scanner from appearing on our monitor when we scan a sales item?

You can easily turn off this feature by going to to Back Office, Maintenance then clicking on the System Config button.

On the System Configuration page, click on the Scanner tab then select the Edit button. Tick the Silent Scanner tick box under the Scanner Sales Parameters heading. This will change the operation of the scanner to silent and the ‘flying’ display you see as you scan will be disabled.

Can I increase the font size on version 5?

You can easily increase the font size of text in the grids and change the font itself, if you wish. Here's how:
Click on:
Back Office/Maintenance
System Config
Go to the tab on the right, called Appearance. There you can change the font and the font size, between 6 and 10 point. Click Edit to make adjustments and click Save. Changes will be made when the system restarts.

Can BatchLine help me with my stocktake?

BatchLine can't offer a stocktaking service, but these instructions will help. You will need either to have your own scanner or to hire one from us. (Email us for details.) The recommended model is the KDC100 by Koamtac.


Always make a backup before you start and check with your accountant for any new requirements they may have regarding stocktakes.

The software for KDC scanners can be found at https://koamtac.com/wp-content/uploads/KTSync_Driver_Installer_V224.zip. Allow permission for the driver install when you are asked. It should be set up to download data as a Text file, not Excel which is the default. Also untick 'Application data' and tick 'Delete data after download' and 'Burst mode'.

If you do a stocktake with a tethered (keyboard) scanner follow the instructions but note that you will scan directly into a BatchLine ISBN list. 

Download full instructions here:

Using a KDC scanner v24

 

Can I access BatchLine remotely?

The ability to connect remotely as if you were in the shop is not currently available: your data lives on a PC in the bookshop so you have to be on the same network for that to work. However, there are options and these are:

  • Google Remote Desktop – free.
  • Team Viewer.  Paid for application but probably a bit better than Google Remote.
  • VPN – this is a way to connect as though you were on the same network, but you would need someone to set that up for you.
  • Microsoft Azure – this is the most expensive option and it would take a lot of setting up. We would put your database into the Cloud, which would mean that you would be able to connect from anywhere at any time. However,  this costs £80 plus per month and is generally an option for larger businesses.

The system says that Bookscan and Edelweiss data has not be sent.

The first course of action is to restart BatchLine, as this is the trigger for both data sets to send. If this doesn't resolve the issue, contact mail@batch.co.uk and we'll look into it.

Can I use an ISBN list to recategorise multiple books at once?

A useful feature of ISBN Lists is the option to send a list to a Shop Category, which is a way of bulk changing the categories of multiple items. To use:

  • Create an ISBN list of titles to be moved to a new category.
  • Select the ‘Send To’ option from the ‘List Details’ menu.

 

  • Click on Category and a form with a drop-down list will appear.

 

  • Select the category you want to send these titles to then press OK to confirm or Cancel if you wish to go back and choose a different option.

 

Can I use an ISBN list to put books back into stock?

Yes, you can. Scan in all the books with quantities (or scan them multiple times), then select List Details/Send to in the ISBN List screen. Choose Sales/Return to Stock from the drop-down menu and 'Return items to shop stock' from the Stock Wizard window that appears next.

 

Open Bravo

Tell me about Dojo integration

BatchLine users in the UK can take advantage of Dojo integration via the Open Bravo till system, which means that you will never have to key in an amount on a card reader ever again!
 
The way it works is that we ask Dojo to contact you to discuss rates, compensation for breaking an existing contract, etc. If you decide to go ahead, they will send you the handset(s) and us a code to add to your BatchLine/Open Bravo. If you'd like to know more, send a message to mail@batch.co.uk with Dojo in the subject line.
 
Note: The link has been created between BatchLine and Dojo only because Dojo is currently the BA's recommended card merchant. 

Can I sell and redeem National Book Tokens on OpenBravo?

Yes. The upgrade to BatchLine POS version 4.30 included the option for booksellers to sell, top up and redeem NBTs through Open Bravo. Follow the instructions in the guide: Quick Guide - 6 National Book Tokens. Note: new BatchLine POS subscribers who opt to transact NBTs via Open Bravo are eligible to apply for a free scanner and receipt printer. Contact us for more details. 

I need to refund a customer

You can refund a receipt by selecting Edit Sales in the left-hand menu. Enter the receipt number and click on Refund. The next screen will give you various refund options.

How do I delete a product from Open Bravo?

Go to Stock/Products to find the item. The Delete button (with a red X) is second in from the right, next to the Save (floppy disc) icon. Click the red X button and the text in the record box below will appear greyed out. To save the deletion, click on the Save button with the floppy disc icon. That process will remove the item from Open Bravo.

How do I add a new product?

To create a new product in a category:

1. Select 'Stock' from the Administration menu on the left-hand side.
2. Click the 'Products' button.
3. Click on 'New': the button with a yellow star on it.
4. Give your new product a unique Name, Reference and Barcode (these must not be the same as any other products).
5. Enter a buy price, a sell price and a tax category for this product. (Leave sell price blank to have Open Bravo prompt you for a value when you use this button.)
6. Click on the 'Save' icon, which is the one with the picture of a floppy disk on it. 

 

How do I create a new category in Open Bravo?

To create a new category in Open Bravo:

1. Select 'Stock' from the Administration menu on the left-hand side.
2. On the Stock screen, click the 'Categories' button under Maintenance.
3. Click on 'New': the button with a yellow star on it.
4. Give your new category a name in the Name field, but leave the Category drop-down blank and do not edit the ID field.
5. Click on the 'Save' icon, which is the one with the picture of a floppy disk on it.

To create a new product in this category:

1. Select 'Stock' from the Administration menu on the left-hand side.
2. Click the 'Products' button.
3. Click on 'New': the button with a yellow star on it.
4. Give your new product a unique Name, Reference and Barcode (these must not be the same as any other products).
5. Enter a buy price, a sell price and a tax category for this product. (Leave sell price blank to have Open Bravo prompt you for a value when you use this button.)
6. Click on the 'Save' icon, which is the one with the picture of a floppy disk on it. 

What does OpenBravo cost?

Use of the Open Bravo till software is included at no additional cost as part of your annual BatchLine subscription fee. You can read about some of its features – including the ability to sell and redeem National Book Tokens – in the user guide.

Sales

Can I create an invoice from a customer order?

Yes, BatchLine can create customer invoices from purchase orders.

1. To do this, go to Back Office and select Invoicing from the sidebar and 'View all invoices' from the top. Select 'New', then choose a customer and enter an invoice reference, etc.

2. Once the invoice has been created, click on the Details icon in the top bar. This will bring up the invoice details window. Clicking 'Select Order' will allow you to choose a purchase order from which to add items for the invoice.

 

How can we sell a book that has no barcode to scan?

The way you would sell a book in this situation is:

* Go to the Books category on Open Bravo and click on the Book product.

* Enter a price by keying in the value. There is no need to click anywhere.

* Complete the sale.


That process sells ‘a book’ for the price you sell it at on the till; it does not sell ‘the book’.  If you want to record the sale on BatchLine follow the steps below:

* Do a title search for the EAN/ISBN/title.

* If you cannot find the title on the main search, click on the downward arrow between Search and Biblio and select Stock Search.

* Once you find the title, click on it so it is the highlighted line.

* Click on Cash Sale.

* On the Cash Sale Confirmation Screen click on Process Sale. 

Ordering

Can I save an order and email it to a rep?

 You can easily share an order with a rep. Here's how:

  • Go to Back Office/Reports
  • Click on the Custom Reports Tab
  • Scroll down to Order Reports Exportable.rtm
  • Click on preview and enter the order number (just the number) into the box
  • The order will be displayed
  • Click on Print (top left)
  • Click on the ‘Print to File’ tickbox
  • It will save to ‘C:\a\PO Detail.csv’ but you can save where you want.

But if you want - and it is probably best - don’t open it but just send the rep the file and give him or her the order number in the text of the message.

How do I deal with a failed order?

To move an order to 'On order' the process is:

  • In Orders on the Awaiting Despatch tab
  • There are two scenarios
    • You have tried to collect an acknowledgement and the order has an ‘A’ in the ack field and despite several attempts and allowing time for collection there is no acknowledgement available.
      • Right click and from the menu select ‘Abandon Ack’.
      • The ‘A’ turns into a ‘F’ to indicate a failed order – follow the procedure below.
    • The Ack field has an ‘F’ to indicate that it has failed.
      • Right click and select ‘Move to on Order’.
      • The order moves to ‘on order’ and can now be goods in.

Note: Be very careful about retransmitting an order that has an ‘F’ in the ack field as this can often result in duplication because Gardners have no way of rejecting duplicates. Always speak to them before retransmitting.

How to set up a default order

BatchLine will normally have a default order, which is the ‘do nothing' order. This will be automatically displayed when doing a customer or stock order in Title Search. It will also recreate itself when transmitted, providing you with a new blank order ready and waiting for new orders.

Things to note:
* There can be only one default order.
* The default order is flagged with 3 in the final column.

To set up a default order for a new order:
* When the order header form is displayed, select Single Default Order.

To set up a default order for an existing order:
* Highlight the order.
* Click on Edit.
* Select Single Default Order.

How do I remove an order that wouldn’t send?

There are two methods, depending on what the status of the order is.

1) If there is an ‘A’ in the ack field:

Right click and select ‘Abandon Acks’, then follow the instructions below for ‘F’.

2)  If there is an ‘F’ in the ack field:

Right click and select ‘Move to on order’. Once you have moved to on order (the ’On Order’ tab) you can either leave it there as ‘on order’ so you can do goods in against it or you can delete if not needed.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, send an email to mail@batch.co.uk.

How do I order directly from publishers?

Over a dozen publishers have now signed up to this service, giving you more choice of where to source stock for your shop. You can easily add publishers to BatchLine yourself, using the instructions here:

Quick Guide - 3 Direct Ordering

NOTE: Gardners use EDIFACT. For other suppliers, make sure you change the Order File Format to TRADACOM.

Loyalty cards

Can we turn off the customer Loyalty Card prompt?

If you don't want to see the message 'Does customer have a loyalty card?' you can change this in Open Bravo, though you have to be an Administrator. Open the Configuration screen from the left-hand menu and scroll down to Loyalty Cards as shown in the image below. Then change the drop-down option to Enabled No Prompt, select Save and restart Open Bravo. If you don't have Loyalty Cards, choose Disabled.

Our Loyalty Card data is not synching

This error is a result of loyalty card transactions failing to sync with Batch back-end systems. To see these transactions open BatchLine and go to:

 BackOffice -> Maintenance -> Loyalty Cards -> Outstanding Transaction (highlighted below)

That will take you to the screen below where you will see the details and the error message the Batch systems returned when BatchLine tried to sync the transaction. (There are no error messages in this example.)

Once you've found the transactions you can try hitting 'retry selected' to see if they work. If this doesn't solve the problem, email us with the error messages so we can investigate further.

If you can log on to BatchOne you should be able to adjust the amounts on the cards based on the info in the outstanding transaction screen. If so, make sure you delete these transactions as you proceed so BatchLine doesn't try to sync these.

Reports

Where can I find the stock history of a particular title?

There is a report for looking at the stock history of an ISBN, which you can order by date and see all the companies that supplied the book plus other details. 
Go to Back Office and choose Reports. This will open on the ‘Stock Reports’ screen. In this section you will see a 'Stock History' heading. Enter the book's ISBN then press Preview at the bottom of the screen to generate the information you require. Alternatively you can select the book within BatchLine/Sales, right click on the title to display the Stock Record, then click on the History tab.

Where can I find the current value of my stock?

Go to Back Office and choose Reports. This will open on the ‘Stock Reports’ screen. In this section you will see a 'Summary Stock Valuation' heading. Clicking on Preview at the bottom of the screen will display your current stock value, which can then save as a PDF and printed as necessary.

We can provide you with a value from a previous date only if you have a backup from that date. If one exists, we can restore it and give you that valuation. Without the backup we can only give you the value of the oldest backup. 

Note: Backups are important!

Is there a CSV file of an ISBN list that has titles and prices on it?

Go to Back Office and choose Reports. When you select the 'Custom Reports' tab, you should see a report named ISBN List Simple 1.rtm. (Let us know if you don't have this report.) Run this and choose the ISBN list number you want. When you come to print it, instead of picking your printer go to the bottom and tick Print to File, Type Text File and make sure the file path name underneath has .csv at the end. Click OK to open it in Excel with ISBN/price and other info.

Contact

Batch Ltd & BatchLine POS
6 Bell Yard
LONDON
WC2A 2JR

Email: mail@batch.co.uk
Switchboard: +44 (0)203 832 2430
Fax: +44 (0)20 7430 9559

BA Group

 

BIC

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