Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

[CHANGE username to westes]

What are the most popular, and well supported, libraries of drivers for bar
code scanners that include a Visual Basic and C/C++ API? My requirements
are:

- Must allow an application to be written to a single interface, but support
many different manufacturers' barcode scanning devices. I do not want to
be tied to one manufacturers' software interfaces.

- Must support use of the scanner from Visual Basic, and ideally from C/C++
and Java as well.

- Must provide a callback interface for Visual Basic, so that an application
can listen on a certain event and take appropriate action. We want to
support the ability to have many inventory items operated on at once by
scanning items rapidly in succession.

- Would prefer to deal with libraries that are well supported and which come
from larger companies. If only one-person companies make these kinds of
products, we'll consider it (because we have no choice ).

- Cheap is usually better than expensive.

I would appreciate anyone with recommendations discussing them and posting
links to the manufacturers' web sites.

--
Will

NOTE: To reply, CHANGE the username to westes AT earthbroadcast. com

[Randy Day]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

CHANGE username to westes wrote:[color=blue]
>
> What are the most popular, and well supported, libraries of drivers for bar
> code scanners that include a Visual Basic and C/C++ API? My requirements
> are:[/color]

Look around for 'keyboard wedge' barcode scanners;
they connect between the keyboard and the PC.

No special API or libraries needed.

Scanned codes are sent to the PC as normal keystrokes
you can read in a KeyPress() event. The one I use
prefaces the barcode string with an Asc(144) character
to denote barcode input.

I think quite a few scanners of this type are produced.
Some mfrs. create keyboards with detachable barcode
scanners, but these are a bit pricey.

If you want really, REALLY cheap, see if eBay still has
any 'Cue Cat' scanners for sale! :)

Hope this helps.

[CHANGE username to westes]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

Keyboard wedge doesn't meet the requirements of our application. Let me
give a typical use case:

- Inventory Manager needs to give a contractor 60 items for testing.

- Inventory Manager opens up an application to assign contractor custody of
cards.

- Inventory Manager quickly swipes 60 cards and then after visually
confirming that all cards are entered, hits OK.

Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:

1) Select an Edit Text for the next item

2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item

Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.

P.S. We tried Cue-Cat. :) It doesn't work on our particular products' bar
codes.

--
Will

NOTE: To reply, CHANGE the username to westes AT earthbroadcast. com

"Randy Day" <ruthal@sasktel .nex> wrote in message
news:3F98A4CD.6 8C84875@sasktel .nex...[color=blue]
> CHANGE username to westes wrote:[color=green]
> >
> > What are the most popular, and well supported, libraries of drivers for[/color][/color]
bar[color=blue][color=green]
> > code scanners that include a Visual Basic and C/C++ API? My[/color][/color]
requirements[color=blue][color=green]
> > are:[/color]
>
> Look around for 'keyboard wedge' barcode scanners;
> they connect between the keyboard and the PC.
>
> No special API or libraries needed.
>
> Scanned codes are sent to the PC as normal keystrokes
> you can read in a KeyPress() event. The one I use
> prefaces the barcode string with an Asc(144) character
> to denote barcode input.
>
> I think quite a few scanners of this type are produced.
> Some mfrs. create keyboards with detachable barcode
> scanners, but these are a bit pricey.
>
> If you want really, REALLY cheap, see if eBay still has
> any 'Cue Cat' scanners for sale! :)
>
> Hope this helps.[/color]

[J French]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 21:47:22 -0700, "CHANGE username to westes"
<DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:

<snip>[color=blue]
>
>Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:
>
>1) Select an Edit Text for the next item
>
>2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item
>
>Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.[/color]

What ?

That sounds a load of nonsense

Why use a Textbox anyway ?
- the simplest method is to set the Form.KeyPreview to true and simply
read in the strings

Personally I would use a more elegant solution built from a
UserControl - but using the same principle

[Richard Allan]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

"CHANGE username to westes" <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote in message news:<pN-dnbA5N-PNLQWiRVn-iw@giganews.com >...[color=blue]
> Keyboard wedge doesn't meet the requirements of our application. Let me
> give a typical use case:
>
> - Inventory Manager needs to give a contractor 60 items for testing.
>
> - Inventory Manager opens up an application to assign contractor custody of
> cards.
>
> - Inventory Manager quickly swipes 60 cards and then after visually
> confirming that all cards are entered, hits OK.
>
> Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:
>
> 1) Select an Edit Text for the next item
>
> 2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item
>
> Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.
>
> P.S. We tried Cue-Cat. :) It doesn't work on our particular products' bar
> codes.
>
> --
> Will
>
> NOTE: To reply, CHANGE the username to westes AT earthbroadcast. com
>
> "Randy Day" <ruthal@sasktel .nex> wrote in message
> news:3F98A4CD.6 8C84875@sasktel .nex...[color=green]
> > CHANGE username to westes wrote:[color=darkred]
> > >
> > > What are the most popular, and well supported, libraries of drivers for[/color][/color]
> bar[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > code scanners that include a Visual Basic and C/C++ API? My[/color][/color]
> requirements[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > are:[/color]
> >
> > Look around for 'keyboard wedge' barcode scanners;
> > they connect between the keyboard and the PC.
> >
> > No special API or libraries needed.
> >
> > Scanned codes are sent to the PC as normal keystrokes
> > you can read in a KeyPress() event. The one I use
> > prefaces the barcode string with an Asc(144) character
> > to denote barcode input.
> >
> > I think quite a few scanners of this type are produced.
> > Some mfrs. create keyboards with detachable barcode
> > scanners, but these are a bit pricey.
> >
> > If you want really, REALLY cheap, see if eBay still has
> > any 'Cue Cat' scanners for sale! :)
> >
> > Hope this helps.[/color][/color]

We use this type of scanner to scan the bar codes on the products we sell
and some of the operations we undertake with them are similar to what
you are requiring.

Essentially all you need to do is process the key strokes supplied by the
scanner and when you get to the terminating one construct the final barcode,
do whatever you want with the code and then recieve the next one.

Below is some example code which goes in a form. A label is required.
When run you can just scan multiple bar codes, without havign to confirm
anything and when you click on the label it will list the barcode scanned

'Collection to store scanned barcodes
Dim s_Collection As Collection
'String to contain current bar codes
Dim ssCurrentString As String

Private Sub Label1_Click()
'Function to show list of codes scanned
Dim ssString As Variant
If s_Collection Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
For Each ssString In s_Collection
Print ssString
Next

End Sub

Private Sub Form_KeyPress(K eyAscii As Integer)
'Ascii 13 is the end of barcode character supplied by the scanner
If KeyAscii <> 13 Then

'This adds the recieved character to the string
ssCurrentString = ssCurrentString & Chr$(KeyAscii)

Else

'This shows the scanend code in a label
Label1 = ssCurrentString

If s_Collection Is Nothing Then Set s_Collection = New Collection

'Add recieved barcode to collection
s_Collection.Ad d ssCurrentString

'Clear string to recieve new barcode
ssCurrentString = ""

End If

End Sub

[Antony Booth]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

We use hand held programmable scanners from a company called Datalogic. We
use these to perform Asset Management inspections. The process we follow
is: -

o Install our application onto the scanners. This was written using their
proprietory SDK. Simple and easy to develop.
o Users access the menu driven application on the device itself, scanning
items and entering inspection results via barcode sheets.
o These are stored on the scanner until it is returned to its cradle,
whereupon the data is dumped to a file.
o This file is imported into our database.

No APIs no keyboard interface. The software supplied with the scanners does
most of the work. We just import the data. The cradles are attached via
Serial or USB interfaces.

Hope this helps


Antony Booth

"CHANGE username to westes" <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote in
message news:eJKdnZR-GN8pDwWiRVn-tQ@giganews.com ...[color=blue]
> What are the most popular, and well supported, libraries of drivers for[/color]
bar[color=blue]
> code scanners that include a Visual Basic and C/C++ API? My requirements
> are:
>
> - Must allow an application to be written to a single interface, but[/color]
support[color=blue]
> many different manufacturers' barcode scanning devices. I do not want to
> be tied to one manufacturers' software interfaces.
>
> - Must support use of the scanner from Visual Basic, and ideally from[/color]
C/C++[color=blue]
> and Java as well.
>
> - Must provide a callback interface for Visual Basic, so that an[/color]
application[color=blue]
> can listen on a certain event and take appropriate action. We want to
> support the ability to have many inventory items operated on at once by
> scanning items rapidly in succession.
>
> - Would prefer to deal with libraries that are well supported and which[/color]
come[color=blue]
> from larger companies. If only one-person companies make these kinds of
> products, we'll consider it (because we have no choice ).
>
> - Cheap is usually better than expensive.
>
> I would appreciate anyone with recommendations discussing them and posting
> links to the manufacturers' web sites.
>
> --
> Will
>
> NOTE: To reply, CHANGE the username to westes AT earthbroadcast. com
>
>
>[/color]

[CHANGE USERNAME TO westes]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

How do you programmaticall y determine when you have reached the end of a
single barcode? What you are describing reads in characters. If I scan
two barcodes in succession, how would your program know the difference
between two barcodes: A0912 and A23423

and the single barcode: A0912A23423

Is the scanner giving you a carriage return at the end of each scanned line?

--
Will
westes AT earthbroadcast. com


"J French" <erewhon@nowher e.com> wrote in message
news:3f98d8e0.9 2253634@news.bt click.com...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 21:47:22 -0700, "CHANGE username to westes"
> <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
>
> <snip>[color=green]
> >
> >Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:
> >
> >1) Select an Edit Text for the next item
> >
> >2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item
> >
> >Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.[/color]
>
> What ?
>
> That sounds a load of nonsense
>
> Why use a Textbox anyway ?
> - the simplest method is to set the Form.KeyPreview to true and simply
> read in the strings
>
> Personally I would use a more elegant solution built from a
> UserControl - but using the same principle
>[/color]

[CHANGE USERNAME TO westes]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

Do you know if Datalogic (or anyone else) has a wireless model that would
feed strings and end of barcode characters to a PC as if it was keyboard
input?

--
Will
westes AT earthbroadcast. com

"Antony Booth" <antony@terian. co.uk> wrote in message
news:bnb7o2$8cb $1$8300dec7@new s.demon.co.uk.. .[color=blue]
> We use hand held programmable scanners from a company called Datalogic. We
> use these to perform Asset Management inspections. The process we follow
> is: -
>
> o Install our application onto the scanners. This was written using their
> proprietory SDK. Simple and easy to develop.
> o Users access the menu driven application on the device itself, scanning
> items and entering inspection results via barcode sheets.
> o These are stored on the scanner until it is returned to its cradle,
> whereupon the data is dumped to a file.
> o This file is imported into our database.
>
> No APIs no keyboard interface. The software supplied with the scanners[/color]
does[color=blue]
> most of the work. We just import the data. The cradles are attached via
> Serial or USB interfaces.
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
> Antony Booth
>
> "CHANGE username to westes" <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote in
> message news:eJKdnZR-GN8pDwWiRVn-tQ@giganews.com ...[color=green]
> > What are the most popular, and well supported, libraries of drivers for[/color]
> bar[color=green]
> > code scanners that include a Visual Basic and C/C++ API? My[/color][/color]
requirements[color=blue][color=green]
> > are:
> >
> > - Must allow an application to be written to a single interface, but[/color]
> support[color=green]
> > many different manufacturers' barcode scanning devices. I do not want[/color][/color]
to[color=blue][color=green]
> > be tied to one manufacturers' software interfaces.
> >
> > - Must support use of the scanner from Visual Basic, and ideally from[/color]
> C/C++[color=green]
> > and Java as well.
> >
> > - Must provide a callback interface for Visual Basic, so that an[/color]
> application[color=green]
> > can listen on a certain event and take appropriate action. We want to
> > support the ability to have many inventory items operated on at once by
> > scanning items rapidly in succession.
> >
> > - Would prefer to deal with libraries that are well supported and which[/color]
> come[color=green]
> > from larger companies. If only one-person companies make these kinds[/color][/color]
of[color=blue][color=green]
> > products, we'll consider it (because we have no choice ).
> >
> > - Cheap is usually better than expensive.
> >
> > I would appreciate anyone with recommendations discussing them and[/color][/color]
posting[color=blue][color=green]
> > links to the manufacturers' web sites.
> >
> > --
> > Will
> >
> > NOTE: To reply, CHANGE the username to westes AT earthbroadcast. com
> >
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

[CHANGE USERNAME TO westes]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

Sorry, I did not know that scanners feed an end of barcode character at the
end of the barcode string. Sure, that would allow a much less modal
interface.

--
Will
westes AT earthbroadcast. com

"J French" <erewhon@nowher e.com> wrote in message
news:3f98d8e0.9 2253634@news.bt click.com...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 21:47:22 -0700, "CHANGE username to westes"
> <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
>
> <snip>[color=green]
> >
> >Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:
> >
> >1) Select an Edit Text for the next item
> >
> >2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item
> >
> >Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.[/color]
>
> What ?
>
> That sounds a load of nonsense
>
> Why use a Textbox anyway ?
> - the simplest method is to set the Form.KeyPreview to true and simply
> read in the strings
>
> Personally I would use a more elegant solution built from a
> UserControl - but using the same principle
>[/color]

[Stephane Richard]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

It should, or at least it should have the ability to do so.

--
Stéphane Richard

"CHANGE USERNAME TO westes" <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote in
message news:9JGdnQUtFd DS8ASiRVn-jw@giganews.com ...[color=blue]
> How do you programmaticall y determine when you have reached the end of a
> single barcode? What you are describing reads in characters. If I[/color]
scan[color=blue]
> two barcodes in succession, how would your program know the difference
> between two barcodes: A0912 and A23423
>
> and the single barcode: A0912A23423
>
> Is the scanner giving you a carriage return at the end of each scanned[/color]
line?[color=blue]
>
> --
> Will
> westes AT earthbroadcast. com
>
>
> "J French" <erewhon@nowher e.com> wrote in message
> news:3f98d8e0.9 2253634@news.bt click.com...[color=green]
> > On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 21:47:22 -0700, "CHANGE username to westes"
> > <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
> >
> > <snip>[color=darkred]
> > >
> > >Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:
> > >
> > >1) Select an Edit Text for the next item
> > >
> > >2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item
> > >
> > >Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.[/color]
> >
> > What ?
> >
> > That sounds a load of nonsense
> >
> > Why use a Textbox anyway ?
> > - the simplest method is to set the Form.KeyPreview to true and simply
> > read in the strings
> >
> > Personally I would use a more elegant solution built from a
> > UserControl - but using the same principle
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

[the Wiz]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

"CHANGE USERNAME TO westes" <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Do you know if Datalogic (or anyone else) has a wireless model that would
>feed strings and end of barcode characters to a PC as if it was keyboard
>input?[/color]

There are several. Just remember that you pay (maybe a lot) extra for wireless.
They start around $500 - $600 and can go much higher, depending on the feature
set.

There are also multiple versions of wireless. Bluetooth up to about 50 feet;
other (usually more expensive) technologies for greater distances.

Very abbreviated list of wireless scanner devices. Some of these may require
specific interface hardware and/or programming at the PC. If you want an
application specific search and information on additional hardware/software
needed, send detailed email (distance required; types of bar codes; existing
software, if any) and I'll send a quote for search service.

http://www.barcodebasics.com/hardware/hardware.htm

http://www.barcodesinc.com/hhp/dolphin-7200.htm

http://www.idautomation.com/scanners/#Wireless

http://www.makebarcode.com/scanners/scanners.html

http://www.barcodediscount.com/catal...-terminals.htm

More about me: http://www.jecarter.com/
VB3/VB6/NSBasic Palm/C/PowerBasic source code: http://www.jecarter.com/programs.html
Drivers for Pablo graphics tablet and JamCam cameras: http://home.earthlink.net/~mwbt/
johnecarter at@at mindspring dot.dot com. Fix the obvious to reply by email.

[Raoul Watson]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic


"CHANGE USERNAME TO westes" <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote in
message news:FN-dnQIysIQA8wSiRV n-tQ@giganews.com ...[color=blue]
> Do you know if Datalogic (or anyone else) has a wireless model that would
> feed strings and end of barcode characters to a PC as if it was keyboard
> input?
>[/color]

I would stick with very solid company such as Symbol Technology. Their name
is synonymous to "bar code" They have RF models, wand models, wireless data
collectors, etc. etc. reading all kind of barcodes from UPC to Code 3 of 9.

[J French]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:30:05 -0700, "CHANGE USERNAME TO westes"
<DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Sorry, I did not know that scanners feed an end of barcode character at the
>end of the barcode string. Sure, that would allow a much less modal
>interface.[/color]

That is pretty much the definition of a Keyboard Wedge

- it simulates a typist

[J French]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:29:05 -0700, "CHANGE USERNAME TO westes"
<DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Do you know if Datalogic (or anyone else) has a wireless model that would
>feed strings and end of barcode characters to a PC as if it was keyboard
>input?[/color]

I would be a bit wary about wireless
- to get that you'll land up with a scanner that is really a PC

[Randy Day]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

CHANGE USERNAME TO westes wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Sorry, I did not know that scanners feed an end of barcode character at the
> end of the barcode string. Sure, that would allow a much less modal
> interface.[/color]

If a particular scanner does not have an EOI character,
the other option is to enable a timer on the first
scan char; in the ~100ms before the timer fires, any
input is assumed to be from the scanner.

This works nicely in my app., and you can set the
interval based on the length of your scan codes.

From memory:

private sub form_keypress(. ..)
select case keyascii
case 144: 'my scanner's prefix code
BarCodeInput=tr ue
ScanTimer.enabl ed=true
case else:
if BarCodeInput then
'keyascii is from scanner
else
'keyascii is normal
end if
end select
end sub

private sub ScanTimer_Click ()
BarCodeInput=fa lse
ScanTimer.enabl ed=false
end sub
[color=blue]
>
> --
> Will
> westes AT earthbroadcast. com
>
> "J French" <erewhon@nowher e.com> wrote in message
> news:3f98d8e0.9 2253634@news.bt click.com...[color=green]
> > On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 21:47:22 -0700, "CHANGE username to westes"
> > <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
> >
> > <snip>[color=darkred]
> > >
> > >Using keyboard wedge, the Inventory Manager must:
> > >
> > >1) Select an Edit Text for the next item
> > >
> > >2) Scan and confirm entry for individual item
> > >
> > >Then repeat the above 60 times. It's very cumbersome.[/color]
> >
> > What ?
> >
> > That sounds a load of nonsense
> >
> > Why use a Textbox anyway ?
> > - the simplest method is to set the Form.KeyPreview to true and simply
> > read in the strings
> >
> > Personally I would use a more elegant solution built from a
> > UserControl - but using the same principle
> >[/color][/color]