FAQ
Getting Started
How do I install Next Inventory?
Download the package ZIP from nextsoftware.dev, then go to System > Install > Extensions in your Joomla administrator and drag the ZIP onto the upload area. The bundle installs three extensions as one package: the com_nextinventory component, the plg_system_nextinventorysession plugin, and the plg_task_nextinventorydemoreset scheduled-task plugin. All three are enabled automatically.
What's the difference between asset, consumable, and sellable items?
Assets are equipment you check out to people and expect back — laptops, tools, cameras. Consumables are supplies that get used up — printer paper, cleaning materials, packaging. Sellables are products you sell with stock levels to manage. The item type controls which transactions appear in the UI — check-out/check-in for assets, add-stock/remove-stock for consumables and sellables.
How do I add my first items?
Open Components > Next Inventory, navigate to the Items tab, and click New. Pick an item type, give it a title and (optionally) an SKU or barcode, set the initial stock quantity, and save. You can assign a category and warehouse if you've set those up, or add them later.
Can I bulk-import existing inventory from a spreadsheet?
The current release focuses on the admin UI and transaction workflow rather than a built-in bulk importer. For one-off spreadsheet migrations, contact us at [email protected] — we can help design a one-time import.
Stock & Transactions
How is stock quantity kept accurate?
Every transaction — check-in, check-out, add stock, remove stock, transfer, adjustment — updates the item's stock quantity automatically when saved. Transactions themselves are uneditable; the only way to reverse one is to record an opposite transaction. This guarantees the audit trail is a true record of what happened rather than a living document.
Can I transfer stock between warehouses?
Yes. Go to Stock > Transfers, pick a source and destination warehouse, add line items with quantities, and finalise. The transfer runs as a single batch operation so partial completion is not possible, and every line item gets automatic transaction entries on both sides of the transfer.
What happens when stock runs low?
Each item has a low-stock threshold field. When the live quantity drops to or below the threshold, the item shows in red on the Items list, appears in the dashboard low-stock widget, and triggers email and browser push notifications for subscribed users. Alerts are throttled to once per 24 hours per user per item so you don't get flooded.
How do serial-numbered assets work?
Enter a serial number on the item record. When the asset is checked out, the recipient is linked to that specific serial — the transaction log shows exactly which unit is with which person. Useful for IT equipment, tools, or anything regulated by serial tracking.
Customisation
Can I add custom fields to items?
Yes. Under Configuration > Custom Fields, define fieldsets and fields for the item, warehouse, or recipient context. Supported field types are text, textarea, number, select, multiselect, checkbox, radio, date, email, URL, colour, and file. Mark a field as searchable when you want to filter list views by its value.
How do permissions work?
Next Inventory has its own role-based permission system that sits alongside Joomla ACL rather than replacing it. Under Configuration > Roles, define roles with granular permissions per feature area. Under Role Assignments, assign roles to individual users or Joomla user groups. Super administrators bypass all checks. Direct user assignments take precedence over group assignments when both exist.
Can I switch off features I do not use?
Yes. The App Manager (pinned to the bottom of the sidebar) turns whole areas on and off from one card grid: Transfers, Adjustments, Reports, the Warehouse Overview pages, Units, Custom Fields, Notifications, the quick-search scanner, the PWA and Demo Data. Disabling hides the app everywhere and refuses its requests, but never deletes anything — turn it back on and everything is exactly as you left it. Core areas such as Items, Warehouses, the stock ledger and Roles cannot be switched off. See App Manager.
Can I change the currency and date format?
Yes. Go to Configuration > Settings to set the currency code (USD, EUR, etc.), symbol position (before or after the number), decimal places, date format (Y-m-d, d/m/Y, etc.), thousands separator, and decimal separator. Changes apply immediately across every view.
Compatibility & Licensing
Which Joomla versions are supported?
Next Inventory is built for Joomla 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x with PHP 8.1 or higher. It uses Joomla's modern extension architecture throughout, so major Joomla upgrades don't leave it behind.
What languages are included?
English (en-GB) ships out of the box. The component is fully translatable — add any language with standard Joomla translation files, and use Joomla's Language Overrides to change any wording without editing files.
How do updates work?
Updates arrive through Joomla's own update system. Enter your download key once under System > Update > Update Sites (see Installation), and new versions appear in the Joomla updater like any other extension.
Is the component open source?
Yes. Next Inventory is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2 or later. The full source code of the component, plugin, and interface is included, and you are free to modify it.