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--- cobi.wms:faq [2021/10/08 15:50] – aguven
+++ cobi.wms:faq [2026/06/15 13:01] (current) – thuth
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Frequently Asked Questions ======
-**1.	Can two employees work on the same counting list at the same time?**
-\\
-No, this is not supported. The employees would be overwriting each other’s inputs. Instead, two different counting lists should be created for the employees to be able to work in parallel.
+===== General =====
-**2.	Which barcode method is compatible with COBI.wms? Which barcode app should we use to create barcodes?**
+==== Does COBI.wms support SSL/TLS encrypted connections to MS SQL Server? ====
-\\
-The supported barcode types depend on the scanning hardware that is being used. So long as the hardware supports it, COBI.wms can read any type of barcode, 2D codes such as QR and DataMatrix included. Further, COBI.wms supports the GS1 standard, for instance GS1-128, GS1 QR Code, and GS1 DataMatrix.
+Yes. COBI.wms supports SSL/TLS encrypted connections to Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL), e.g. for accessing the Management Database.
-**3.	Is it possible to register the devices to a specific warehouse?**
+If SSL/TLS is configured on the SQL Server side, you can enforce encryption in COBI.wms by setting **Optional fields → Encryption** to **`require`**. This ensures COBI.wms will only connect if the connection is encrypted.
-\\
-Yes, this is possible. Please see the Options page of the COBI.wms documentation.
+**Note:** We recommend using a valid server certificate that matches the SQL Server hostname (DNS name) and is trusted by the client environment.
-**4.	Is it possible to get the UoM, batch number and quantity from barcode?**
+==== Which versions of SAP Business One are supported? ====
-\\
-Yes, this is supported via GS1 barcodes, and the assigning of barcodes to specific UoMs in SAP Business One.
+COBI.wms supports SAP Business One version 9.1 and up.  Both MS SQL Server and SAP HANA are supported.  On-premises, private cloud, partner-hosted public cloud, and SAP-hosted public cloud environments are all supported.
-**5.	Is it possible to use the app in other languages?**
-\\
-Yes, currently English and German are supported. Adding an additional language is a matter of translating a single file that contains all texts contained in the user interface.
+==== Does COBI.wms use a database of its own? ====
-**6.	Can we import different label sizes to the app?**
+Other than the [[Management Database]] which is used for configuration, COBI.wms does not use any database of its own, it works purely with the SAP Business One company database.
-\\
-The label templates imported into the app can have any size. Additionally, the label printer has to be configured correctly for the desired label size.
-**7.	Can we automatically print labels when a booking is made?**
+==== Can the app be used without SAP Business One? ====
-\\
+No, the app is made specifically for SAP Business One and cannot be used on its own, nor with any other ERP system.
-For this, Coresuite Remote Print is needed. It does not work with the app’s own direct printing feature. The app can make use of an additional Windows Service from COBISOFT (the COBI.wms Print Helper) to automatically create the Coresuite Remote Print files when a booking is made.
-**8.	Is one license for device or for a person? How can we manage licenses?**
+==== Is it possible to use the app in other languages? ====
-\\
-A COBI.wms license can be assigned to a device or to a COBI.wms user. If a device is licensed, any person can log in to that device and use it. If a user is licensed, then they can log in to COBI.wms on any device, even if the device itself is not licensed. Licenses can be freely swapped between devices and users. We support both models of licensing for the sake of customer convenience.
+Yes, here is the current list of supported languages:
-**9.	Can we see and/or enter prices in the app?**
+  * English
-\\
+  * Spanish
+  * French
+  * German
+  * Polish
+  * Turkish
+  * Finnish (partial)
-No, prices are not displayed or altered in any way by the app.
+Adding an additional language is simply a matter of translating a single file that contains all texts shown in the user interface of the app.
-**10.	Can we see and make bookings for resources in production orders?**
-\\
-No, this is not supported. COBI.wms can only issue wares for production.
+==== Is it possible to register the devices to a specific warehouse? ====
-**11.	Which versions of SAP Business One are we supporting?**
+Yes, this is possible.  Please see the [[App Options]] documentation page.
-\\
-COBI.wms supports SAP Business One version 9.1 and up. Both MS SQL Server and SAP HANA are supported. Private, partner-hosted, SAP-hosted cloud environments are also supported via Service Layer.
+In the Options, you can also configure which modules should filter the shown documents on basis of the selected warehouse.
+==== Can I see which device or warehouse employee made a booking? ====
+Yes, if you correctly configure the connection settings.
+In on-premises or private-cloud environments, where you can set up the [[Management Database]], you can define a different SAP User for each COBI.wms device or COBI.wms user by filling out the apiUser and apiPass columns in the users table.
+In public-cloud environments, where you cannot use a Management Database, you can instead directly configure each COBI.wms device to use a different SAP User by entering it directly in the app's settings.
+When everything is set up correctly, you can use the "Change Log" window in SAP Business One to see who made a booking or who edited a document.
+==== Can we see and/or enter prices in the app? ====
+No, prices are not displayed in any way by the app and can also not be influenced.  When a booking is made, the prices being used are determined by the configuration in SAP Business One.
+==== How well does the app work with a large number of Items in SAP Business One? ====
+By the time of this writing, the largest known number of Item Master Data entries which a COBI.wms user has is about 150 000.
+How well the app works with several hundred thousand items depends on a number of factors:
+**1. Will you always scan barcodes to identify items, or will you sometimes have to open the item list and enter a search term?**
+If you always scan barcodes, then the number of items doesn’t matter much during daily operation, because the app will run a query every time to find the item with the scanned code.
+However, if you open the item list to find items, then the number of items can become a problem. See next part.
+**2. Is it possible to establish a direct database connection to the SAP Business One server, or will the app have to rely purely on Service Layer?**
+In on-premises and private-cloud deployments, it’s usually possible to open a direct connection to run custom SQL queries. In that case, the app should be able to handle up to a few hundred thousand items, although loading the item list for the first time every time the app is restarted may take up to about 20 seconds per 100 000 items. After the item list is queried once, it will be cached so long as the app is still running, so it will open immediately when you open it again.
+In partner-hosted or SAP-hosted public-cloud deployments, the app usually has to do all communication over Service Layer. Sadly, this significantly degrades the performance when transmitting large amounts of data, so the app may not be able to load the item list at all. Scanning barcodes will still work the same.
+===== Batch Numbers / Serial Numbers =====
+==== Is "On Release Only" supported? ====
+Yes, the app supports the "on release only" management method for batch/serial numbers, however there are some caveats.
+For serial numbers, you must enable the checkbox **Automatic Serial Number Creation on Receipt**.  This means that empty serial number entries will be added to the database when an inbound/receipt transaction is made for the item.  During outbound/release transactions, the app will transparently update those entries with the user-provided serial numbers, and then use them for the transaction.
+For batch numbers, if "on release only" is chosen, the only way to release batch numbers is to generate them in the SAP Business One client at some point, then use them in the app.  There is unfortunately no other way to support this method due to limitations in the SAP Business One programming interface.
+===== Barcode scanning =====
+==== Which barcodes are compatible with COBI.wms?  Which barcode app should we use to create barcodes? ====
+The supported barcode types depend on the scanning hardware that is being used.  So long as the hardware supports it, COBI.wms can read any type of barcode, including 2D codes such as QR Code and DataMatrix.
+COBI.wms also supports [[GS1 Barcodes]]; see next question.
+==== Is it possible to get the UoM, batch number, quantity, etc. from a barcode? ====
+When a barcode is connected to a specific UoM in the barcodes table of the item master data, then COBI.wms will automatically select the right UoM for the scanned barcode.
+Using [[GS1 Barcodes]], COBI.wms also supports reading batch and serial numbers, production and expiry date, quantity, and so on from the scanned barcode and automatically fills in the relevant fields.
+===== Picking & Packing =====
+==== How can you prevent two pickers from working on the same picking list? ====
+COBI.wms provides a supporting feature for this scenario.
+By enabling the option “Show if a picking list has been started”, the system can indicate whether a picking list is already being processed.
+Behavior when enabled:
+  * A user can actively “start” a picking list
+  * A corresponding flag (UDF) is set in SAP
+  * Other devices will see the list as already in progress (highlighted in green)
+Important:
+  * This is not a strict system lock
+  * The feature is intended to provide transparency and process guidance
+  * Technically, multiple users could still open and work on the same list
+===== Inventory =====
+==== Can multiple users work on the same inventory list at the same time? ====
+Yes, this is possible with the current COBI.wms version.
+Starting from version 2.43, the inventory logic has been significantly improved by introducing an external inventory service.
+How it works:
+  * All counting data is initially collected from devices by the external service
+  * The service centrally gathers inputs from multiple users
+  * Values are consolidated (summed up)
+  * The final results are then transferred to SAP Business One
+Advantages:
+  * Multiple users can work on the same inventory list simultaneously
+  * Improved stability, especially for large inventory counts
+  * No blocking of the Service Layer during counting processes
+  * Reduced risk of data being overwritten
+Note:
+  * Final values are consolidated by the service before being posted to SAP
+===== Label printing =====
+==== Can we import different label sizes to the app? ====
+The [[Label Templates]] imported into the app can have any size. Additionally, the label printer has to be configured correctly for the desired label size.
+==== Can we automatically print labels when a booking is made? ====
+For this, Coresuite Remote Print is needed. It does not work with the app’s own direct printing feature. The app can make use of an additional Windows Service from COBISOFT, called the [[Print Service]], to automatically create Coresuite Remote Print files when a booking is made.
+===== Production =====
+==== Can we see resources and make bookings for resources in production orders? ====
+No, this is not supported.  COBI.wms can only issue wares for production.
+===== Licensing =====
+==== What kind of SAP Business One Licenses are needed to use the app? ====
+Apart from the COBI.wms Licenses that you acquire from COBISOFT, you may also need to purchase additional SAP Business One Licenses from your SAP Partner.
+According to the latest licensing guidelines of SAP Business One (as of May 2023), **every individual employee (person)** who interacts with SAP Business One through any means (including third-party applications such as COBI.wms) must have some kind of SAP Business One License.
+If an employee who will use COBI.wms already has an SAP Business One License, such as Professional or Limited Logistics, then they don't need an additional SAP Business One License to be allowed to use COBI.wms.
+However, if the employee doesn't normally use SAP Business One and therefore doesn't have any SAP Business One License, then they will need (at minimum) an SAP Business One Indirect Access User License.
+==== Are COBI.wms Licenses for devices or for users? How can we manage licenses? ====
+A COBI.wms license can be assigned to an Android device **or** to a COBI.wms user.
+If an Android device is licensed, any person can log in on that device and use it.  Users don't require licenses in this case.
+If a COBI.wms User is licensed, they can user their username and password log in to COBI.wms on any Android device.  In this case, the devices don't need to be licensed.
+Licenses can be freely swapped between devices and users.  We support both models of licensing for the sake of convenience.
+Generally, licensing devices is the easier option, especially since you won't have to deal with COBI.wms User Management.  If you license your devices, and don't set up any COBI.wms Users, your warehouse employees can simply grab any Android device and log in without having to enter a username and password.
+See [[COBI.wms:Management Database]] for details on how to manage users and licenses.