PVX+ is the newer Descartes Peoplevox mobile app. It runs alongside the PVX mobile app on the same device and shares its menu: when an operator taps a function, the device opens whichever app that function runs in. Operators do not need to switch between the two apps themselves.
New and rebuilt mobile functions run on PVX+. Everything else still runs on the PVX app.
Key Points
PVX+ is installed and kept up to date by the PVX Updater, like the PVX app.
Activity History displays the work you have done in PVX+ functions on this device, with details of each activity.
Your site, scan and error sounds and print preferences are saved to your user, so they follow you to any device.
Changing site cancels the activity you are working on, and logging out or closing the app clears any saved work in progress.
Before You Start
Applies to: the PVX+ mobile app on Android devices.
Requires: a device that meets the Android device specification, with the PVX Updater installed and the device registered on the Mobile Devices page (see Setting Up Android Devices for PVX). PVX+ uses the same username and password as the PVX app.
Permissions: each function on the menu is controlled by its own permission on the user's role under Users > Roles in the web app. No extra permission is needed to use PVX+ itself or Activity History.
Doesn't cover: how to use each function (see the table below), installing the PVX Updater and registering devices (see Setting Up Android Devices for PVX), and the PVX app (see PVX Mobile App User's Guide).
Functions That Run on PVX+
On the mobile menu |
What it does |
Guide |
|---|---|---|
Activity History |
Your recent PVX+ activity on this device |
This page |
Simple Register, Register With Reason |
Add items to stock at one location |
|
Stock Take, Cycle Count, Variance Report |
Count locations and decide variances |
|
Put Away (Beta) |
Put away with suggested locations |
|
Scan |
Scan a barcode to see what it is |
|
Unpick (Beta) |
Return picked items to stock |
|
Return (Beta) |
Process customer returns |
For Simple Register and Register With Reason, a role with Show Legacy ticked on that function opens the older PVX app version instead.
Open PVX+ for the First Time
Applies to: Mobile app (PVX+)
Log in to the PVX app and tap a function that runs on PVX+, for example Scan.
If PVX+ is not yet on the device, the PVX Updater downloads and installs it. Allow the installation if Android asks.
If PVX+ asks you to log in, use your usual client ID, username and password.
From then on, the device opens PVX+ whenever you tap one of its functions, and returns you to the PVX app for the others.
Keep PVX+ Up to Date
Applies to: Mobile app (PVX+)
PVX+ checks for a new version when you log in. Depending on the release, it offers or requires the update:
"You can continue to use the current version (version) until (date). Would you like to update now or proceed on the current version?" Tap Update now, or Do not update to carry on until that date.
"Please update your app to log in." Tap Update. You cannot log in until the update is installed.
The update is downloaded and installed by the PVX Updater. Release notes say when an update to the mobile apps is part of a release.
Check Your Recent Work in Activity History
Applies to: Mobile app (PVX+)
Open Activity History from the mobile menu. It lists your activities in PVX+ functions on this device, each with its type and status, such as "Success", "Failure", "Skipped", "Accepted" or "Rejected".
Tap an activity to open Activity Details: the start and end time, the user, the items and quantities, the locations involved and any reason recorded.
Activity History displays only the signed-in user's activities, only from this device, and only for PVX+ functions. Activities are kept for 7 days unless you change Retain History in Settings. For activity across all users and devices, use the User Activity History report in the web app (see Reports).
Activity History list on the PVX+ app showing activities with their times and statuses.
Change Your PVX+ Settings
Applies to: Mobile app (PVX+)
Open Settings from the mobile menu, make your changes and tap Save. The app confirms with "Settings saved".
Setting |
What it does |
Saved for |
|---|---|---|
Site |
The site you are working in |
Your user, on every device |
Scan Sound, Error Sound |
Play a sound on a good scan or an error. The same settings apply in the PVX app. |
Your user, on every device |
Item labels, Sales order item labels |
The printer and template used when a PVX+ function prints |
Your user, on every device |
Automatically update suggestions? |
Under Put Away (Beta), refreshes put away suggestions as you work |
Your user, on every device |
Retain History |
How long Activity History keeps activities, in hours, days, months or years |
This device |
The Settings screen also has Open PVX Settings, for settings that belong to the PVX app, and Send feedback, which sends the device's logs to Descartes Customer Support. Sending feedback does not raise a ticket.
Warning: Changing Site cancels the activities you are working on in PVX+. The app warns first: "Saving this change will cancel any activities that you're working on".
Log Out
Applies to: Mobile app (PVX+)
Tap Log out at the foot of the menu and confirm. If a function has saved work in progress, shown by an asterisk (*) after its name in the menu, the app warns: "You have unsaved progress that will be lost. Log out of PVX+?" Logging out, or closing the app, clears that work.
If Something Goes Wrong
What you see |
Why |
What to do |
|---|---|---|
"PVX is not installed on this device" |
You tapped a function that runs on the PVX app, and the PVX app is missing. |
Install it with the PVX Updater (see Setting Up Android Devices for PVX). It is not on the Google Play Store. |
"Please update your app to log in." |
The installed version is no longer supported. |
Tap Update and let the PVX Updater install it. |
"Failed to download APK, please retry" |
The update could not be downloaded, usually because of the connection. |
Move to an area with a good signal and try again. If it keeps failing, raise a support ticket. |
"Network error" or "Internet connection lost" |
PVX+ could not reach the server. |
Check the device's Wi-Fi and tap Retry. |
"No actions permitted" |
The user's role has no mobile functions switched on. |
Ask an administrator to check the role under Users > Roles. |
An activity is missing from Activity History |
It was done by another user, on another device, in the PVX app, or longer ago than Retain History. |
Use the User Activity History report in the web app. |
"Site has been changed - any in-progress activities have been reset" |
The site was changed while work was in progress. |
Start the activity again at the new site. |
Before You Contact Descartes Customer Support
Note these details so Descartes Customer Support can find the cause quickly:
The site, and the location or container barcode
The date and time of your issue, with your time zone
The exact message shown on screen, if there was one
Related Articles
Setting Up Android Devices for PVX, for installing the PVX Updater and registering devices.
Android device specification, for the devices PVX and PVX+ run on.
PVX Mobile App User's Guide, for the PVX app and the functions that still run on it.
Using Roles and Permissions to Manage Users, for switching mobile functions on for a role.