What are like codes and why would you want to use them?
Like codes are a numerical code that you place on items that links them together. Once a group of items are linked together, if you change one of the items the system will prompt you to change the rest of the items as well. For example, if you apply a like code to all Betty Crocker cake mixes that are the same price, the next time you change the price of one of the cake mixes the system will ask you if you want to go ahead and change the rest of the cake mixes too.
Like codes are a time saving feature.
When do you use them? You use like codes only on items that all have the same price. If one item in a group has a different price, that item would not be a good candidate for a like code because it will more than likely be overwritten with bad data at some point in time. If you're going to put a like code on an item, it should be a group of items that all have the same price.
The best example of an item grouping that makes sense to use like codes on is cigarettes. Cigarettes are often grouped by price points, and they change prices often. Like codes are best used on items that change price all the time. If an item only changes price once every two years, then there's really not a lot of benefit of putting like codes on the item. Cigarettes on the other hand change price all the time and are grouped together in meaningful ways.
With cigarettes, you might create a like code for all regular Marlboro's. This might include Marlboro reds, Marlboro Lights, Marlboro Light 100's, etc. As long as all the cigarette types are the exact same price it works fine.
The process is that you would create a "Like Code" in the "Auxiliary" drop down menu in SMS Pro. Then you would go to each item and apply this "Like Code" number to each of the individual items.
After you've applied the like code to a group of items, any time you make any change to an item it will then prompt you if you'd like to make that change to all item with that like code.
Like codes are a bunch of work up front, but save you time down the road.