The Variable Price Barcode Parser app from CSI Works is designed specifically for variable price/weight items (e.g., deli, butcher, produce scales that print price-embedded barcodes).
Support for per unit items was originally included but has been phased out for new installations due to recurring rounding issues. Legacy merchants who installed before the change may still have partial functionality, but this is temporary and will eventually be removed.
For accurate per unit scanning with detailed reporting, use weight-embedded barcodes combined with the Weight Embedded Barcode Parser app instead.
Under the configuration instructions for the Variable Price Barcode Parser, there is an option for Per Unit Items that promises more in-depth reporting. However, it does not appear to work correctly. Is this feature still supported, or do I need to reconfigure my scale to print weight-embedded barcodes and use your other app?
Short Answer The Per Unit Items option in the Variable Price Barcode Parser is no longer supported for new installations. It was discontinued due to persistent rounding discrepancies when parsing per unit items (e.g., small cent-level mismatches on Clover Register).
Recommended Solution for Per Unit Items
Switch to the Weight Embedded Barcode Parser app, which is purpose-built for per unit items that use weight-embedded barcodes. This setup provides:
Your scale must be configured to print weight-embedded barcodes (not price-embedded). If your current scale prints price-embedded barcodes, you may need to adjust scale settings or firmware to enable weight embedding.
| Feature / Use Case | Variable Price Barcode Parser | Weight Embedded Barcode Parser |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Item Type | Variable price (price-embedded barcodes) | Per unit (weight-embedded barcodes) |
| Per Unit Support | Deprecated (legacy only, will be removed) | Fully supported & recommended |
| Rounding Issues | Common with per unit items (e.g., penny mismatches) | Designed to avoid rounding problems |
| Reporting Depth | Good for variable items | More detailed for per unit (weight/unit tracking) |
| Scale Requirement | Price-embedded barcodes | Weight-embedded barcodes |
These articles provide more technical details and troubleshooting steps: