Who is this for?
StoreHub merchants who sell open items. An open item is a product where the cashier types the price at the register. For example: bakeries selling custom cakes, repair and alteration shops, and any store that rings up one-off items under one product such as 'Open Item' or 'Custom Order'.
Overview
On StoreHub POS app version 1.119.0 or later, cashiers can type a name for an open item in the same pop-up where they type its price. For example, a cashier taps 'Custom Cake', types 50.00 as the price, and types 'Birthday Cake 8-inch' as the name.
The typed name replaces the product name for that one item in the order. Your customer, your kitchen and your BackOffice all see "Birthday Cake 8-inch" instead of "Custom Cake". The product itself is not renamed, and the price, tax and total do not change.
The name is optional. If the cashier leaves it empty, the item shows the product name, the same as before. There is nothing to switch on.
This is not the 'Open Orders' feature, which saves an unpaid order to finish later. For Open Orders, see How to Manage Products and Orders on POS.
Before You Begin
StoreHub POS app version 1.119.0 or later on every register. We recommend the latest version. To update, see How to Set Up and Update Your POS App.
A product with the 'Variable' pricing type. This is the setting that makes the POS ask for a price at checkout. To set one up, see How to Set Up Variable Pricing and Price Books.
The product does not have variants and modifiers, such as different sizes or flavours set up as options for one product.
Note:
There is no setting, plan or permission to turn on. Every cashier who can sell the product sees the name box.
Step-by-Step Guide
Type a Name For an Open Item
Follow these steps on the POS register to name an open item when you add it to the order.
1. Tap the open item, for example 'Custom Cake'. The 'Enter Price' pop-up opens.
2. Type the price, for example 50.00.
3. Tap 'Item name (optional)' and type a name, for example 'Birthday Cake 8-inch'.
4. Tap 'Confirm'. The item is added to the cart as 'Birthday Cake 8-inch' at 50.00.
Good to Know When You Type a Name
These rules apply to every name a cashier types in 'Item name (optional)'.
The name is for this one item only. The product keeps its name in BackOffice, and the box is empty the next time you sell it.
You can type up to 50 characters, including spaces. Anything after the 50th character is cut off without a warning, so check the name before you tap 'Confirm'. Keep names short, for example 'Chocolate cake 8 inch'.
A name with only spaces counts as empty, so the item shows the product name.
You cannot change the name from the cart. To fix a name, remove the item and add it again.
Two of the same open item stay as two separate lines in the cart, even with the same name. Open items always worked this way.
The name is not an item note. Item notes work the same as before.
Which Products Show The Name Box?
The table below shows which products show 'Item name (optional)' on the POS.
Product pricing type | Shows 'Item name (optional)'? |
Variable | Yes |
Variable, with a minimum and maximum price | Yes |
Variable, on a product with variants | No |
Variable, on a product with modifiers | No |
Fixed | No. The item goes straight into the cart with no price pop-up. |
By Unit | No |
Where Does The Name I Type Show Up?
The typed name shows on the receipt, the kitchen docket and in your BackOffice. The table below shows every place you will see it.
Where | Shows the typed name? |
POS cart and payment screen | Yes |
Printed receipt and reprinted receipt | Yes |
Emailed receipt | Yes |
Kitchen docket and kitchen display screen (KDS) | Yes |
POS transaction history | Yes |
BackOffice transaction details | Yes |
All Transactions CSV export | Yes, when you tick 'Sold Items' |
Sales by Product report | No. Sales stay under the product name, for example 'Custom Cake'. |
The receipt below shows one named item and one item with no name typed. The totals are the same as before.
The kitchen docket prints the typed name, so the kitchen knows exactly what to prepare.
How do I see what my cashier typed for one sale in BackOffice?
Open the transaction in BackOffice to see the typed name for one sale.
1. In BackOffice, go to 'Offline Transactions'.
2. Click the transaction. Under 'Items Ordered', the 'Name' column shows the typed name. The SKU is still the product's SKU.
How do I export all open item names to a CSV file?
Export your transactions with 'Sold Items' ticked to get every typed name in one file.
1. In BackOffice, go to 'Offline Transactions' and set your date range.
2. Click 'Export to CSV' and tick 'Include Items'. Without 'Include Items', the file has no item rows.
3. Open the file. The 'Item' column shows the typed name. It is the same name you see in the 'Name' column in BackOffice.
Note:
If a name starts with =, +, - or @, the CSV file adds an apostrophe in front of it. This stops Excel or Google Sheets from reading the name as a formula. The name on the receipt and in BackOffice does not change.
Does naming an open item change my sales totals or reports?
Typing a name changes only the item's name.
Price, tax, discounts and totals stay the same.
The Sales by Product report still counts every sale under the product name. For example, all 'Custom Cake' sales are counted under 'Custom Cake', whatever names your cashiers typed. This stops typos from splitting your product numbers.
The SKU, category and stock count of the product do not change.
Troubleshooting
The table below covers common problems when naming an open item on the StoreHub POS.
Problem | Solution |
I don't see 'Item name (optional)' for a product | Only products with the 'Variable' pricing type show the box. In BackOffice, go to 'Products', open the product, and check that 'Variable' is selected under 'Pricing'. Products with variants or modifiers do not show the box. |
The name box was there before, but now it is gone | This can happen on POS app version 1.119.0 after the product is saved in BackOffice, even with no changes. Update the POS app to version 1.120.0 or later on every register, then tap 'Sync' on the POS. To update, see How to Set Up and Update Your POS App. |
Name is cut off on the receipt | Names are limited to 50 characters. Anything longer is dropped without a warning. Suggest using shorter names (for example, "Choc cake 8in + strawberry"). |
The receipt shows the typed name, but BackOffice shows the product name | This can happen after the product is saved in BackOffice. It affects transaction details and the CSV export. Your typed names are not lost. They are saved with each sale and will show again in BackOffice once a fix is released. Contact StoreHub Support via Live Chat with your store name, the product name and one receipt number. |
Nothing above fixed it | Contact StoreHub Support. Have ready: your store name, the product name, one receipt number, and the POS app version if you know it. |
FAQs
1. Can my cashier type what the open item is when ringing it up?
Yes. On POS app version 1.119.0 or later, type the name in 'Item name (optional)' when you enter the price. The name shows on the receipt, the kitchen docket and in BackOffice for that item.
2. Can I see the notes or remarks my cashiers typed for open items in a report?
Yes, if they typed them in 'Item name (optional)'. Open the transaction in BackOffice, or go to 'Offline Transactions', tick 'Include Items' and export to CSV. The 'Item' column shows each typed name. The Sales by Product report still counts all sales under the product name, for example 'Custom Cake'.
3. How do I ring up an item that is not in my product list?
Create one product with the 'Variable' pricing type, such as 'Open Item'. At checkout, tap it, type the price, then type what the customer bought in 'Item name (optional)'. If you set a minimum and maximum price for this product, the price you type must be inside that range. To set up the product, see How to Set Up Variable Pricing and Price Books.
4. Is there a character limit?
Yes, names are limited to 50 characters, including spaces. Anything past the 50th character is dropped without a warning.
5. Can the cashier change the name after adding the item?
No, the name cannot be edited from the cart or after completing the sale. Delete the item from the cart and add it again with the correct name.
Need Help?
Contact StoreHub Support via live chat in your StoreHub app or email [email protected].
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