The slot-number of the volume is defined in the same dialog with the volume name. Autoloaders with barcode scanners are supported, but Stratesave makes no use of the barcode scanner if RSM is not used, since the slotnumber is defined in macro, and therefore known to Stratesave. Stratesave can handle simple problems automatically, for example if a tape is not ranged after backup, and next backup is stored on another tape, Stratesave will then range the previous tape first, before the current tape is loaded from its slot. If Stratesave can't find the defined tape in its slot, or it doesn't know where to range a tape which is already in drive, or if the autoloader is malfunctioning, backup is halted, and the problem will be shown in an error dialog. It is important that every tape has its volume name, and its slot number labeled on the cover, so in the worst case the tape can be ranged manually.
You can combine loading tape with SCSI autoloader and manual inserted tapes. If you don't specify a slotnr for a given tape volume, Stratesave prompts you to insert tape during backup. Manual tape mount is useful for rarely used tapes, e.g yearly backup tapes, while the frequent daily and weekly tapes are handled by autoloader.