---
title: What's the Difference Between Inventory Session and Transaction?
description: The Inventory Transactions are within each session. Think of the Session as the Parent and the Transaction as the Child.
---

[Skip to content](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/learn/inventory/whats-the-difference-between-inventory-session-and-transaction#main-content)

[Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets?hsLang=en)

![Acctivate - A CAI Solution](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/Images/Logos/acctivate-cai-logo-svg.svg)

- [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles)
- [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets)
- [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support)

[Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support)

 Hello. How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles?hsLang=en)
2. [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en)
3. [Costing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#costing)

April 9, 2025

# What's the Difference Between Inventory Session and Transaction?

## The Inventory Transactions are within each session. Think of the Session as the Parent and the Transaction as the Child.

In Acctivate, we have what’s called an Inventory **Session**, as well as an Inventory **Transaction**. The Inventory Transactions are within each session. These are used when you need to post things, such as nested assemblies, receipts for multiple Purchase Orders, transfers, etc., across multiple warehouses or products at the same time.

Think of the Session as the Parent and the Transaction as the Child. When you click **New** on any of the Inventory Transaction windows (Receipt, Transfer, Assembly, etc.), you are creating a new Inventory **Session**. Within this Session, you can **Add Transactions. **Each Transaction can have its own Product, as well as its own Warehouse.

![](https://help.acctivate.com/wp-content/uploads/Transaction-1-866x219.jpg)

![](https://help.acctivate.com/wp-content/uploads/Transaction-2-866x219.jpg)

![](https://help.acctivate.com/wp-content/uploads/Transaction-3-866x219.jpg)

When there are multiple transactions per session, the posted session number you see on the printed report will be something like 123, 123-2, 123-3, etc. (based on the above screen shot). The “123” portion is the **Session** number automatically created based on the [Document Numbering](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/setup/configuration/where-do-i-manage-document-numbers-for-sales-purchasing-and-inventory-transactions?hsLang=en) setup in Configuration Management while the “1”, “2”, “3” portion is the **Transaction**number.

![](https://help.acctivate.com/wp-content/uploads/Assembly-Transaction.jpg)

When posting these multi-transaction sessions, Acctivate verifies and posts the inventory based on the order of the Transaction Numbers. For example, posting a nested assembly would require you to create Transaction 1 as the 1st assembly needed to create the next piece, Transaction 2 as the 2nd assembly needed to create the next item, and so forth.

- [Getting Started](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [User Interface](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#user-interface)
    - [Manager windows](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#manager-windows)
    - [List windows](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#list-windows)
    - [Transaction windows](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#transaction-windows)
    - [License and Users](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#license-and-users)
    - [Email](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#email)
    - [Getting Help](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/getting-started?hsLang=en#getting-help)
- [Installation](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Acctivate](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#acctivate)
    - [Database Server](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#database-server)
    - [Mobile WMS Setup](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#mobile-wms-setup)
    - [Software Updates](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#software-updates)
    - [Email Setup](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#email-setup)
    - [Remote Access](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/installation?hsLang=en#remote-access)
- [Configuration](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [Users](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#users)
    - [Company Info](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#company-info)
    - [Customers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#customers)
    - [Sales Orders](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#sales-orders)
    - [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#inventory)
    - [Custom Fields](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#custom-fields)
    - [Email Message Templates](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#email-message-templates)
    - [Services](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/configuration?hsLang=en#services)
- [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Products](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#products)
    - [Costing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#costing)
    - [Prices and Units](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#prices-and-units)
    - [Warehouses and Locations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#warehouses-and-locations)
    - [Lot Numbers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#lot-numbers)
    - [Inventory Manager](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#inventory-manager)
    - [Receipts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#receipts)
    - [Assemblies](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#assemblies)
    - [Kits and Assortments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#kits-and-assortments)
    - [Landed Cost](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#landed-cost)
    - [Transfers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#transfers)
    - [Adjustments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#adjustments)
    - [Counts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#counts)
    - [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/inventory?hsLang=en#reports)
- [Purchasing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Purchase Orders](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#purchase-orders)
    - [Purchase Order Manager](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#purchase-order-manager)
    - [Purchase Invoices](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#purchase-invoices)
    - [Vendors](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/purchasing?hsLang=en#vendors)
- [Customers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Customers](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#customers)
    - [Locations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#locations)
    - [Credit & Terms](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#credit-terms)
    - [Pricing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#pricing)
    - [Broadcast Email](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/customers?hsLang=en#broadcast-email)
- [Sales](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Orders](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#orders)
    - [Sales Order Manager](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#sales-order-manager)
    - [Picking](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#picking)
    - [Drop Shipments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#drop-shipments)
    - [Sales Tax](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#sales-tax)
    - [Packaging](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#packaging)
    - [Shipping](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#shipping)
    - [Invoices](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#invoices)
    - [Payments](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#payments)
    - [Credits](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sales?hsLang=en#credits)
- [Business Activities](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/business-activities?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Business Activities](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/business-activities?hsLang=en#business-activities)
    - [Business Alerts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/business-activities?hsLang=en#business-alerts)
- [QuickBooks](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [QuickBooks Online](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#quickbooks-online)
    - [QuickBooks Desktop](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/quickbooks?hsLang=en#quickbooks-desktop)
- [Mobile WMS](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [Picking](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#picking)
    - [Receiving](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#receiving)
    - [Counts](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#counts)
    - [Assemblies](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/mobile-wms?hsLang=en#assemblies)
- [Web Store Integrations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/web-store-integrations?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/web-store-integrations?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [Templates and Options](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/web-store-integrations?hsLang=en#templates-and-options)
- [EDI](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [Orders - 850](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#orders-850)
    - [Shipments - 856](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#shipments-856)
    - [Invoices - 810](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#invoices-810)
    - [Warehouse - 940/945](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/edi?hsLang=en#warehouse-940-945)
- [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [Standard Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#standard-reports)
    - [Crystal Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#crystal-reports)
    - [Excel](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/reports?hsLang=en#excel)
- [Database](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Basics](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#basics)
    - [Backup & Restore](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#backup-restore)
    - [Microsoft SQL Server](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#microsoft-sql-server)
    - [Imports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#imports)
- [Troubleshoot](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [General](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#general)
    - [Installation](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#installation)
    - [Inventory](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#inventory)
    - [Purchasing](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#purchasing)
    - [Sales](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#sales)
    - [Shipping](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#shipping)
    - [QuickBooks Desktop](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#quickbooks-desktop)
    - [QuickBooks Online](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#quickbooks-online)
    - [Mobile WMS](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#mobile-wms)
    - [Web Store Integration](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#web-store-integration)
    - [EDI](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#edi)
    - [Reports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#reports)
    - [Database](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#database)
    - [Imports](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#imports)
    - [Email](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#email)
    - [Integrations](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#integrations)

[![Acctivate Inventory Software](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/Images/Logos/acctivate-cai-logo-svg.svg "Acctivate Inventory Software")](https://acctivate.com)

Acctivate Knowledge Base

<https://www.twitter.com/acctivate> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/alterity-inc-/> [mailto:support@acctivate.com](mailto:support@acctivate.com)

Copyright © 2025, Alterity, LLC