How to Count Stocktakes with a Denso 1500

About

H&L’s Stock application supports importing counts from one or more PDE (Portable Data Entry) devices. Denso 1500 scanners can’t search for products without a barcode but are easy to use and highly efficient for recording item counts, reducing the time it takes to complete a stocktake.

This guide focuses on stocktaking steps specific to Denso 1500 devices, including:

• Creating and preparing the stocktake
• Prepare your Denso 1500 device
• Collecting data with your Denso 1500 device
• Transfer the count file
• Importing the count file into Stock
• Identify and fixing unknown barcodes
• Adding manual counts and finishing the stocktake

This guide assumes you have a basic understanding of the stocktaking process using the Stock application. For a complete overview of the stocktaking process, see our  Stocktake training guide  .

If you need a portable stocktaking solution that supports both barcode scanning and product lookup, see  How to Count Stocktakes with Stock Mobile.

For further assistance with a Denso device or the stocktaking process, refer to the related links below, or contact our H&L Support team. You can log a support ticket directly from the client portal.

See Also

• Quick Troubleshooting for Denso 1500 Devices
• H&L Online Store - Denso BHT 1505B
  
  
  
  

Creating and preparing the stocktake

The initial stocktaking steps are largely unchanged from the standard process, except the Print Stocktake Sheets step is skipped.

1. Open Stock and create a new stocktake for the required location and stock groups.
   
   
2. When you’re ready to begin entering counts on your Denso 1500 device, select 2. Prepare Stocktake in the Stocktake Detail tab.
   
   Hint: If you’re preparing the stocktake after trade ends for the day but before End of Shift processing, tick Subtract current shift sales from quantity at stocktake before preparing. For more information on the prepare process, see Understanding the Prepare Stocktake step.
   
   
3. When prompted, select No to print stocktake sheets.
   
   
   

Prepare your Denso 1500 device

Before entering counts on your Denso device, it’s recommended that you confirm which count file number you’ll use and delete any previous counts from the selected file.

1. Use the ⏻ power button to turn on your Denso device.
   
   

2. Ensure that you’re on the main menu by pressing the F1 button. For a closer view of commonly used Denso keypad buttons, see Denso Keypad Reference Visual.
   

3. Press 2 on the keypad to Select File.
   
   

4. Press 1, 2, 3, or 4 to choose the file you want to use.
   
   Note: Your Denso 1500 device can store up to four separate counts using the four available files. Be sure to remember which file you selected as this will correspond to the file name you’ll later copy from the device and import into Stock.
   
   Hint: To help differentiate stocktake areas, you can use separate files for different locations (for example: use file 1 for Bottle Shop counts and file 2 for Lounge counts). Writing the file number and location combinations on the back battery cover of the device (with a white marker or engraver) can help staff remember which file to use.
   
   

5. Press 4 on the keypad to Delete Data off the selected file.
   
   

6. Confirm the deletion by pressing 1 for Yes.
   
   Important: Deleting previous counts prevents variances caused by past data being added to new counts during the current stocktake.

Collecting data with your Denso 1500 device

With the count file selected and previous counts deleted, you’re ready to begin counting.

1. If needed, return to the main menu using the F1 button.
   
   

2. Press 1 on the keypad to Collect Data. The Denso screen will display an A: prompt.
   

3. Point the Denso scanner (located on the back of the device) at a product’s barcode and press the Scan button.
   
   Hint: When counting with a Denso device, choose a consistent starting point and work methodically across and down. This will help if you need to locate an unknown barcode later in the process.
   
   

4. The device will beep, display the barcode next to A:, and show a B: prompt below.
   
   

5. Use the keypad to enter the quantity of the scanned item
   

6. Press Enter on the keypad. The device will beep again, display the count next to B:, and present a new A: prompt below.
   
   

7. Repeat the process of scanning at the A: prompt and entering counts at the B: prompt for all remaining stocktake items.
   
   

   Note: If you scan the same item multiple times (e.g. the item is in different areas of the venue), the import process in Sysnet will consolidate the counts by adding them together.
   
   

   You can enter a negative count to correct a mistake by pressing SF + 0 to insert a minus (-) symbol.
   
   Example: Morgan Rum 700ML is located in both a display and on the shelf in the Rum section. Scanning it with a count of 8 in the display and 20 on the shelf will result in a final stocktake total of 28.

Transfer the count file

Once counting is complete, the next step is to transfer the count file from the Denso device to your H&L server or workstation so it can be imported into the stocktake.

1. Press F1 on the Denso keypad to return to the main menu.
   
   Important: You must return to the main menu before connecting the device. If you skip this step, you won’t be able to transfer the count file.
   
   

2. Connect the Denso device to the PC using the USB cable.
   
   

3. The server or workstation should automatically recognise the Denso 1500 as a Handy Terminal and open a window displaying the device’s contents.
   
   Note: If Windows doesn’t display a popup or open the Handy Terminal window, open File Explorer manually. You should see Handy Terminal listed near the bottom of the left-hand navigation pane.
   

4. In the Handy Terminal drive, double-click the only folder displayed. The folder name will be a string of numbers unique to your Denso device.
   
   

5. Inside this folder, you’ll find four key files. These correspond to the file selected during the Select File step on your PDE:
   • Pack1.dat = File 1
   • Pack2.dat = File 2
   • Pack3.dat = File 3
   • Pack4.dat = File 4
     
     

6. Ignore any other files. You only need to copy the pack file you selected.
   
   Note: If you don’t remember which file number you used:
   • Check the Size column. A file with 0 KB contains no data and won’t be your count file.
   • Check the Date modified column. The correct file should show a timestamp that matches when you completed your count.
   • In File Explorer, you may need to select View > Details to see this information.
     

7. Right-click the correct Pack*.dat file and select Copy.
   
   

8. In File Explorer, navigate to a local folder where you want to save the file. We recommend using: C:\PDE Downloads\.
   
   

9. Right-click in the destination folder and select Paste. Confirm that the file has successfully copied.
   
   Note: If pasting fails or returns an error:
   • Disconnect the Denso from the USB cradle.
   • Press F1 to return to the menu.
   • Reconnect the Denso and try copying again.
   • If issues persist, contact the H&L Support team.

Importing the count file into Stock

You're now ready to import the count file into your stocktake.

1. In Stock, go to the Detail tab of your in-progress stocktake
   
   
2. To the right of 3. Enter Stocktake, select the PDE radio button.
   
   
3. Click 3. Enter Stocktake. The PDE Import window will appear.
   
   
4. From the PDE Type dropdown, select BHT.
   
   
5. Click the ? folder icon to the right of the PDE File field.
    
   
6. Navigate to the folder where you saved the count file (pack*.dat or renamed file).
   
   Hint: We recommend using C:\PDE Downloads\ as the default folder for saving stocktake files. You can also pin this folder in File Explorer for quicker access.
   
   
7. Select the saved stocktake file used for counting.
   
   
8. Click OK. The Stocktake Information fields will update with the imported counts.
   
   
9. If a warning message appears stating “X Errors were detected during the file read”, click Yes to open the output file. Using this file will be covered in the next section.
   
   
10. If your stocktake includes multiple count files, repeat these steps for each file. When prompted, click Yes to confirm you want to import another file.
    
    

Note: Rename each pack*.dat file before importing. By clearly labelling the file name, it can help you avoid duplicates import of the same file, and it will generate distinct output log file for each imported file. Uploading the same pack*.dat file will double-up counts and will require the stocktake to be recreated to rectify.

Identify and fixing unknown barcodes

This process is only required if you received a warning message stating “X Errors were detected during the file read”. This warning typically appears when scanned barcodes don’t match any stock factors in H&L. If this occurs, you’ll need to identify each unmatched barcode and link it to the correct inventory item and factor.

1. If not already, open the Output.txt file.
   
   Note: If you didn’t open it from the warning popup, you can open it manually by navigating to: C:\ProgramData\H & L\PDE Logs\ and selecting the output file that matches your count file name (e.g. Pack1_Output.txt or Bottleshop-19Feb_Output.txt).
   
   

2. Scroll down the output file until you find the first error. It will follow this format:
   ERROR: Barcode [barcode#] not found! Quantity = [quantity counted]
   

3. To identify what the unknown barcode, you can:
   • Look at the item descriptions ("Desc: xxx") listed above and below the error line. Use their physical locations to narrow down what the unknown item might be.
   • Use a barcode lookup website to search for the unknown barcode.
     
     

4. Note the name of the items matching the unknown barcode
   
   Hint: It can be helpful to print the output file and write matched item names directly on the printout.
   
   

5. Repeat this process for any other “Barcode [barcode#] not found!” lines in the file.
   
   

6. Adding the missing barcode into Stock will prevent the same error from occurring in future stocktakes. Select the Update button in Stock to view inventory items.
   
   Note: It’s safe to leave the Stocktake screen while doing this. Your progress won’t be lost. If you want to prioritise completing the stocktake, you can skip this step for now and add the missing barcodes later.
   
   

7. Use the Search button (or press [Alt] + [S]) to find the matching item.
   
   

8. Select the item, then go to the Detail tab.
   
   

9. In the lower third of the screen, right-click the factor that corresponds with the missing barcode. Select Edit Selected Factor / Barcode Alias.
   

10. In the Barcode Aliases field, enter the missing barcode. Click Add, then OK.
    
    

11. Repeat these steps for any remaining unmatched barcodes.

Adding manual counts and finishing the stocktake

The previous steps ensure missing barcode items won’t cause errors in future stocktakes. However, they are still missing from the current stocktake’s count totals.

To manually add these missing counts:

1. In Stock, go to the Stocktake > Detail tab of the in progress stocktake.
   
   

2. To the right of 3. Enter Stocktake, select the Manual radio option
   

3. Click 3. Enter Stocktake. The Stocktake Entry window will appear.
   
   

4. Use the Search button to lookup each missing item. Add the counted quantity (shown at the end of the error line in the output file) to the Inners Counted column. Use your keyboard [Tab] or [Enter] keys move the entered line to the next row.
   
   Note: If the scanned item represents a product that contains multiple stocktaking units (inners), you may need to multiply the inner quantity by the counted quantity. For example: 5 counted 6-packs = 30 inners.
   
   

5. Repeat for all missing barcode items. Click OK once all have been added.
   
   
   

There are no further differences from a standard manually counted stocktake. To complete the process:

• Review your stocktake counts and variances, using 4. Stocktake Report.
  
  

• If needed, correct or add further counts by returning to 3. Enter Stocktake  (with Manual still selected), then re-review using 4. Stocktake Report.
  
  Note: When using the Manual option, any entered count will replace the previous value. This is different from counts imported from the Denso device, which are added to existing values.
  
  

• Process the stocktake by clicking 5. Process Stocktake.
  
  

You’ve now completed the stocktake using a Denso 1500 device.

Denso Keypad Reference Visual

1. SCAN – activates the rear barcode scanner

2. BS/C – (backspace / clear) backspaces last entered character

3. Cursor arrows – used to navigate some menus or see previously entered records.

4. ENT – (enter) used to finalise entered data

5. Numerical keys – used for menu selection and entering item counts

6. SF - (shift) used in combination with other keys for special input (e.g. SF + 0 to add a - (minus) count)

7. F1 – return to the main menu

8. Power – turn the device on or off