Retaining the Last Used Spec Length for Products in Merchanter

When entering products with a specification —such as timber, piping, metals or other materials where each line may require a different length—Merchanter can be configured to remember the last length you used during a data entry session. This saves time and reduces repetitive typing when adding multiple lines of the same length for mixed width products.

This guide explains how to enable this setting and how it behaves during order entry.

How the Feature Works During Order Entry

With the setting enabled, the system will remember the last specification length you entered for a mixed width product. When you add another line and open the specification pop-up, the length field will automatically display the length you used previously.

Important Behaviour to Note

The retained length only persists while you are actively entering new specification lines during the current session.

Once you finish adding new length entries—for example, by closing the spec entry, moving to a different section, or completing the current task—the default length will reset to zero.

The next time you enter a new specification for a product, the length field will start empty again.

Example Scenario

You are raising a sales order for timber and need to add three lengths of 4.8 metres to mixed width products. After entering the first line and setting the length to 4.8 metres, the second and third lines will automatically default to 4.8 metres when you open the spec pop-up. If you then need to add a 3.6 metre length, you can change it manually for that line, and the new length will become the default for subsequent lines until you finish entering specifications.

During Order Input on the Sales Order Screen

When entering mixed width specifications directly from a sales order line, the same behaviour applies. The Length attribute will be retained for every line you add until you manually change it. This allows you to quickly enter multiple lines of the same length without repeatedly selecting the value from the specification pop-up.

Once you change the length to a different value, that new length becomes the retained default for subsequent lines until you finish your entry session.

Summary

Enabling the default length from the last spec touched feature provides a small but meaningful efficiency gain when entering multiple lines of mixed width products. By remembering the last length you used during an active entry session, the system reduces manual repetition while still giving you the flexibility to change lengths as required for each line.

If you need to reset the default length mid-session, simply enter a different length manually, and the system will remember the new value instead.

Enabling the Setting

To turn on this feature, you will need to be logged into Merchanter with a user account that has the Prime role.

From the main menu, navigate to Settings → Organisation Settings → Ledger Settings. In the pop-up window, select the Ledger Options tab, then click on the Orders sub-tab.

Look for the option labelled Default length from the last spec touched for products with mixed widths (or similar wording depending on your system version). Tick the checkbox to enable the feature.

Once you have made your selection, scroll to the bottom of the window and click Save to apply the change.