A networked weighing scale can feed weights straight into the GrowerIQ Mobile Scanner, so you never have to read a number off the display and type it in by hand. This live auto-fill is unique to the scanner: an administrator sets the scale up once in the GrowerIQ web app, and after that operators just pick it and weigh.
In this article:
- How it works
- Step 1: Add the scale (administrator, web app)
- Step 2: Connect the scale on the scanner
- Reading the connection status
- Filling the weight field: Manual, Auto, Confirm
- Weighing several bags at once
- If the scale won't connect
⚙️ How it works
The scale sits on the same local network as your device. The scanner talks to it over that network using the scale's address, reads the weight live, and drops it into the weight field for you. There's nothing to wire up on your end.
The scale buttons appear on weight entry fields, such as recording or processed-weight steps. You won't see them on count or quantity fields, so if a screen is asking for a number of items rather than a weight, that's expected.
Live auto-fill from a scale and multi-bag batch weighing are both unique to the scanner.
Two parts, two people
A GrowerIQ administrator adds the scale once in the web app (Administration > Equipment) with its network address. After that, operators only ever pick the scale on the scanner. See Adding Hardware Equipment for the admin steps and the list of supported scale types.
🛠️ Step 1: Add the scale (administrator, web app)
Before anyone can weigh, a GrowerIQ administrator adds the scale in the GrowerIQ web app under Administration > Equipment. They choose the scale equipment type and enter the scale's IP address (and the scale model, where it applies).
The IP address is what lets the scanner find the scale on the network. The administrator enters only the address; the connection is handled automatically behind the scenes, so there's nothing else to fill in.
This article covers the scanner side. For the full setup steps and the list of supported scale types, see Adding Hardware Equipment.
📲 Step 2: Connect the scale on the scanner
On a weight field, here's how an operator connects:
- Tap Connect Scale.
- Pick your scale from the list. Each scale shows its name and network address.
- The scanner connects to it over the network.
You only ever pick the scale from the list. You never type the address yourself, and you can ignore the number that shows after it; it's just part of the network address and the scanner handles it for you.
If no scales appear, you'll see a message telling you to add one in equipment settings. That means Step 1 hasn't been done yet, so ask your administrator to add the scale (see Adding Hardware Equipment).
Your scale is remembered
The scanner saves the scale you picked and reconnects to it automatically the next time you open a weight field. Logging out clears it, so you'll pick the scale again after your next sign-in.
🟢 Reading the connection status
Next to the scale name you'll see a small connection indicator. It tells you at a glance whether you're good to weigh.
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green dot | Connected and ready to weigh |
| Small spinner | Connecting |
| Red dot | Not connected, or a connection error |
When you're connected, the status bar also shows a live reading, labelled Live: with the current weight and unit. It refreshes on its own every few seconds, so the number stays current as you add or remove product on the scale.
✍️ Filling the weight field: Manual, Auto, Confirm
Once connected, you choose how the live reading goes into the weight field. There are three modes.
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Manual | The live reading shows on screen. Tap Use to drop the current weight into the field. You can still edit the field by hand. |
| Auto | The field fills itself and keeps tracking the scale. You don't edit it by hand while Auto is on. |
| Confirm | Locks the value you have now and stops the live updates. Tap Edit to go back to live readings. |
For the most accurate number, let the scale settle before you read it. The weight is steady when the live reading stops changing.
Use Auto for hands-free weighing
Switch to Auto and the weight field fills itself and keeps tracking the scale, so you never type a number. Tap Confirm to lock the reading once it settles, then Edit if you need to weigh again.
🧺 Weighing several bags at once
When you have several bags or containers to weigh into one entry, tap Weigh Multiple. This opens a screen where you weigh each one in turn, and the scanner adds them into a single total. That total flows back into the weight field automatically.
This multi-bag batch weighing is unique to the scanner. For the full walkthrough, see Weighing in Batches.
🔌 If the scale won't connect
If the scale won't connect, or the reading looks wrong, work through these checks:
- Make sure the scale is powered on and on the same network or Wi-Fi as your device.
- Ask your administrator to confirm the IP address entered in Equipment is correct.
- If the reading keeps showing zero, or you see a warning that the model may not be compatible, ask your administrator to check the scale model set in Equipment.
- If the weight reads negative, zero or tare the scale on the scale itself (using its own controls), then read again.
- Tap Connect Scale again to retry, or pick a different scale.
If the scanner can't connect after a few seconds, it will tell you to check the scale IP and network. That's your cue to run through the checks above and try again.
Same network, correct IP
The scanner finds the scale by its address over your local network. If the scale won't connect, check that it is powered on, on the same network as the device, and that the address entered in Equipment is correct.