Set up a packing PC

Each packing table needs a PC with a webcam and a barcode scanner. Here is what works best, and every setting on the packing screen.

Browser and PC

• Use Chrome or Edge on Windows or Mac. Browsers such as Safari and Firefox can't save videos to a folder on the PC, so the packing screen can't record in them.
• The station check recommends Chrome or Edge 122 or newer, 4 or more processor cores, 8 GB of memory and a 1366×768 or larger screen.
• Open the packing screen in one tab only on each PC. If it is open in a second tab, you'll see a warning.
• The packing screen needs an internet connection to open. If the connection drops while you record, recording continues and the recordings are sent to the app when the connection is back.

Webcam

• A 1080p (Full HD) USB webcam keeps small shipping labels readable. Below 1080p, small labels are hard to read.
• Mount it about 60–80 cm (24–32 in) above the table, looking straight down, so the whole box, the label and your hands are in the picture.
• Find Packing picks a USB camera before a laptop's built-in camera. To choose a different one, open Settings on the packing screen and pick it under Camera.
• Close other apps that use the camera, such as video-call apps.

Barcode scanner

• Any USB or Bluetooth scanner in keyboard (HID) mode that sends Enter after each code. That is the factory setting on most scanners.
• A 2D imager reads small, dense or wrinkled labels best. A stand lets packers keep both hands on the box.
• The scanner must use the same keyboard layout as the PC. If it doesn't, letters and symbols come out wrong. The station check catches this.

Save folder and storage

Videos are saved only in the folder you choose on each PC, never uploaded. In that folder, Find Packing makes a folder per date (year / month / day) and saves:

• the video, named like trackingnumber_time.mp4 (WebM if the browser can't record MP4),
• a full-resolution photo of the label taken when recording starts (you can turn this off),
• a daily packing-log.csv listing every recording, which opens in any spreadsheet app.

How much space videos take depends on the video quality:

For example, 100 packages a day at 1.5 minutes each on High is about 4.2 GB a day. The station check shows this estimate for your own settings.

Station check

On the packing screen, open Settings and choose Run check. It checks:

• the browser and its version,
• that the save folder can be written,
• the camera resolution and autofocus,
• processor, memory, screen size and video format (MP4 or WebM),
• recording speed: whether the PC keeps up with your frame rate,
• the barcode scanner: scan the test barcode within 20 seconds,
• storage per day for your settings.

Each line shows a fix when something is below the recommended setup.

Packing screen settings

These settings are saved on each PC. The first time a PC opens the packing screen, it starts with the video quality and maximum length set in the app's Settings (Recording defaults).

Save folder

• Change folder: pick another save folder.
• Max length per video (min): a recording is saved automatically after this many minutes.
• Split long videos every (min): 0 is off. Each part is a separate file.

Camera

• Camera, Resolution (up to Full HD 1920×1080), Video quality and Frame rate (15 fps recommended).
• Focus: auto, or fixed with a distance slider when the camera allows it. Fixed focus can make small barcodes sharper.
• Digital zoom, Wide view, Rotate 180°, Mirror left–right and Record sound.
• Save a full-resolution photo of the label when recording starts.

Barcode rules

• Tracking number length (characters): codes shorter or longer than this, such as product barcodes, are not used as tracking numbers.
• Remove spaces, Remove at the start and Remove at the end: clean up what the scanner sends.
• Record each tracking number only once: see Record packages.
• Ignore a second scan of the same label for (sec): stops scanner double-reads from ending a video right away.
• Also read barcodes with the camera, in browsers that support it.
• Scan test: scan anything to see how it is read.

Motion, sound and photo

• Pause recording when nothing moves (saves space), with sensitivity and a delay in seconds.
• Sound: voice, beeps or mute. The voice says things like "Recording" and "Saved".
• Snapshot quality for the Snapshot mode.

Language on the packing screen

Pick the language in the top bar of the packing screen. It is remembered on that PC. Without a choice, the packing screen follows the browser language. Available: English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Português (Brasil), Italiano, 日本語, 한국어, हिन्दी and 简体中文. The voice prompts use the browser's voice for that language.

The app in your Shopify admin follows your Shopify admin language, and shows English when a translation isn't available.

Disconnect a PC

• On the PC: choose Disconnect this PC in the top bar of the packing screen.
• From the app: open Packing PCs and choose Disconnect on that PC.

Videos already saved stay in the folder. To use the PC again, make a new connection link.