Handheld Devices

Handheld Devices

Handheld Devices Overview

The FTx handheld devices, along with the FTx handheld application, are used for tracking inventory, printing labels, and reconciling the lottery. We offer separate applications for retail stores and warehouses, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Any handheld device running the FTx Handheld application, whether added/activated manually or from Control Center, will be displayed under the handheld devices list.

 There are two ways to add/activate a handheld device, i.e., manually and from Control Center.

- Adding/Activating a Handheld Device Manually

  1. When a new handheld device is to be created manually, it is billed and invoiced.
  2. Doing so automatically creates the device license, which is later installed with the FTx Handheld application (Retail/Warehouse as per the need).
  3. Then, after the API login is completed, it creates an entry for that handheld device in Control Center, which is displayed in the Handheld Devices list in Control Center (Handheld Devices module).
  4. Next, the device is set up with the right flags as per the user's needs (i.e., for Retail or Warehouse) by the authorized user.
However, for adding/activating a handheld device from Control Center, the following steps are followed: 
  1. Adding the new handheld device with an active license in one click.
  2. Adding the new device with an unassigned license.
  3. Deactivating multiple devices in a single click based on their Retail/Warehouse/Both usage.
  4. Removing/deleting the devices permanently.
  5. Creating a new license for a handheld device.

Reaching "Handheld Devices"

To reach "Handheld Devices," follow the below steps:
  1. Step 1: Log into Control Center
  2. Step 2: Choose Devices

                                                                                       Figure 1
  1. Step 3: Choose Handheld Devices

                                                                                        Figure 2

The Handheld Devices module shows up as highlighted in Figure 3 below.

Understanding "Handheld Devices" Layout

Please see the image below labeled Figure 3 for a description of the buttons and fields that appear on the screen.


                                                                                      Figure 3
Following are the explanations for the fields and buttons highlighted in Figure 3.
1.1. Add New HH Device: This button is for adding a new handheld device with an active license in one click.
1.2. Add New: This button helps you add a new device with an unassigned license.
1.3. Deactivate Devices: This button helps you deactivate multiple handheld devices based on their usage (Retail/Warehouse/Both).
2. Edit Handheld Device: The Edit/Modify button helps you edit an existing handheld device.
3. Delete/Remove Handheld Device: This button helps you delete the created/added handheld device.

Once a handheld device is added with an unassigned license, the "Create License" button will also get added, which is explained in the latter part of the article.

1.1 Adding a New Handheld Device Directly with an Active License

This option lets you add a new handheld device for two different operating systems, i.e., Windows and Android, with one click with an active license.
Follow the steps mentioned below to add a new handheld device directly with an active license.
  1. Click the “Add New” button found in Figure 3 to add a new handheld device for Windows or Android.
  2. The form highlighted in Figure 4 will appear on your screen.

                                                                           Figure 4 
  1. From the options mentioned above, choose an option for which you want to activate an Android Handheld or Windows Handheld device.
For Windows Handheld:
If the device type is Windows, then choose Windows Handheld. The warning message, as displayed in Figure 5, will pop up.

                                         Figure 5
  1. Click on "Yes," and the Windows handheld device will get added to Control Center and displayed in the list of handheld devices.

                      Figure 5.1
  1. After this message, the handheld device for Windows will be added as Unknown Device. See Figure 5.2.

                                                                               Figure 5.2
  1. Once added, the license will be automatically created, and you can click on the Edit button to change the name of the device. 

                                                                                Figure 5.2
  1. Once done, click on "Save" or "Save & Close" to save the changes made. The changes will be reflected as shown in Figure 5.3. Rest assured, all the information in the Details tab except for the name is for display purposes only.
For the Settings tab, refer to the Editing Handheld Device part of the article.

                                                                              Figure 5.3
  1. The changed device name will be highlighted in Figure 5.4.

                                                                    Figure 5.4
For Android Handheld:
  1. If the device type is Android, then choose "Android Handheld," and you will be notified with a warning message as displayed in Figure 6.

                                                      Figure 6
  1. Click on "Yes" to proceed with adding an Android handheld device.
All the steps for the rest of the process are similar to adding a Windows handheld device.

1.2. Add New Handheld Device with Unassigned License 

Follow the steps mentioned below to add a new handheld device with an unassigned license.
  1. Click the “Add New” button found in Figure 3 to add a new handheld device.
  2. The form highlighted in Figure 7 will appear on your screen.

                                                                                  Figure 7

You will see two tabs on this page: Details and Settings.

                                                                                          Figure 7.1
Details Tab:
  1. Device Name: Here, the name of the device is mentioned in this field.                        

                                                                       Figure 7.2
Settings Tab:

                                                                                    Figure 7.3
Fields:
  1. FQDN: Here, the server information is added for the handheld device connection.
  2. API FQDN: In this field, the information that allows client-server communication in the API architecture is mentioned.
For the device to be activated, the following toggles need to be set to YES on the Handheld Device Page in Control Center, depending upon the application and usage, i.e., Retail or Warehouse.
  1. Device Activation Status: This toggle, when set to YES, will activate the newly created device. This should always be set to YES, irrespective of the application type used on the handheld device.
  1. Retail Activation Status: Switch this toggle to YES for activating the device with the Retail app for retail usage.
This should only be set to YES in the event the device is running the Retail Store Handheld application.
  1. Warehouse Activation Status: Switch this toggle to YES for activating the device with the Warehouse app for warehouse usage.
This should only be set to YES in the event that you are running the Warehouse FTx Handheld application.
  1. Click on "Save" or "Save and Close" to save the inputted information.
  2. The created device will be displayed in the handheld device list, as highlighted in Figure 7.4.

                                                                                   Figure 7.4

To create a license, refer to the Creating License part.

1.3. Deactivating Multiple Retail/Warehouse Devices

Follow the steps mentioned below to deactivate multiple handheld devices based on their usage (Retail/Warehouse/Both).
  1. Click the “Deactivate Devices” button found in Figure 3 to deactivate a handheld device.
  2. The form highlighted in Figure 8 will appear on your screen.

                                                                             Figure 8
  1. Choose Account: Choose your account from the list down below to which the handheld device is associated.
  2. Select Type: From the list down below, select the device type, as highlighted in Figure 8.1, that you wish to deactivate. You can select Deactivate Retail, Deactivate Warehouse, or Deactivate Both.

                                               Figure 8.1
  1.  Once selected, click "Deactivate Devices" to deactivate the selected type of device. 

2. Editing a Handheld Device

Follow the steps mentioned below to edit an existing handheld device:
  1. Click the Edit button highlighted in Figure 3 above to edit a handheld device.
  2. The form highlighted in Figure 9 will appear on your screen.     

                                                                                Figure 9
  1. On the Edit page, For the Details tab , you can only edit the device name. Rest all information is Read-Only and is for display purposes.
  2. For the Settings tab , you can make the changes as required which are explained above for "Add New Handheld Device with Unassigned License" part.  
1. Device Information:
  1. Mobile Identifier: Mobile device identifiers are strings of letters and numbers unique to a specific mobile device that allow you to track app downloads and usage.
  2. Online Status: This is the device status, whether the app is currently running on the device or not.
  3. App Name: The app name would be based on whether you are using FTx Retail Handheld or FTx Warehouse.
  4. App Version: Here, the version of the application that is installed on the device is mentioned.
  5. Device OS: The operating system of the device is mentioned in this field.
  6. Device Type: This handheld device type is mentioned here. 
  7. LAN IP: This field gives the LAN IP address of the device.
  8. Active User: This field will display the username of the person who was handling the device.
3. License Information:
  1. License Status: The status of the license is mentioned here, i.e., Active or Expired.
  2. License Key: The secret key for the license is mentioned here.
  3. License Type: The license type for the handheld device is mentioned here, which is by default Standard.
  4. From Invoice: This is for the Zoho Invoice ID for this handheld device license.
  5. Activated On: The date the handheld device license is activated is mentioned here in this field.
  6. Last Check-In: Here the time/date of the last access to the license is mentioned.
  7. Expires On: This field displays the license expiration date of the license.
4. Device Logs:
All the device logs are displayed in this section.
  1. After editing, click "Save," "Save & Close," or "Cancel" to save or cancel the changes made.
  2. Upon saving, the device information will be updated. 

3. Deleting the Handheld Device

Follow the steps mentioned below to delete a handheld device.
  1. Click the “Delete” button highlighted in Figure 3 above to delete a handheld device.
  2. A warning dialog box will appear with two related options.

                                  Figure 10
  1. Click “Yes, Delete” to continue the process of deleting a handheld device.
  2. Click “Cancel” to close the pop-up and skip the deletion process.

4. Creating a License

  1. Once the device is added, the license is to be activated for the created device.

                                                                                         Figure 11
  1. Click the “Create License" button highlighted in Figure 11 above to create the license for the handheld device.
  2. Create License button will open up a confirmation form, as highlighted in Figure 12.

                                                                            Figure 12
  1. Read the message as seen in Figure 12 above and provide a reason as to why you are creating the license in the NOTES area.
  2. Pick the option for Requested by as Internal or Client depending upon who requested the license creation.
  3. Click on "Yes, proceed" to proceed further. Or click on Cancel to skip the license creation process.
  4. As you click on "Yes, proceed," the license status of the device will be changed from Unassigned to Active.

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