Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

[CHANGE USERNAME TO westes]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

I've seen two distinct types of wireless scanners:

1) Those that use some kind of RF frequency to connect the scanner to a base
station, and the base station then cables to the PC by keyboard wedge, USB,
or serial.

2) Those scanners that are stand-alone computers (usually PalmOS or Windows
CE). I don't like that model, because it requires you to write a wholly
separate application for a dedicated OS, and then to do either a file
transfer to the PC or a client-server communication via the network.

What I have not seen, and would really like, is some stand-alone Windows CE
device that has an optional *mode* where it can act as a passive device that
simply forwards strings to the base station, using the model in 1). That
would give you the ability to write stand-alone programs (or buy them) for
the scanner/hand-held computer, but still integrate to your desktop
applications without a lot of programming.

Does Symbol make such a scanner?

--
Will
westes AT earthbroadcast. com

"J French" <erewhon@nowher e.com> wrote in message
news:3f9a530a.1 0942306@news.bt click.com...[color=blue]
> On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:29:05 -0700, "CHANGE USERNAME TO westes"
> <DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >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[/color]

[J French]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 13:30:45 -0700, "CHANGE USERNAME TO westes"
<DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I've seen two distinct types of wireless scanners:
>
>1) Those that use some kind of RF frequency to connect the scanner to a base
>station, and the base station then cables to the PC by keyboard wedge, USB,
>or serial.
>
>2) Those scanners that are stand-alone computers (usually PalmOS or Windows
>CE). I don't like that model, because it requires you to write a wholly
>separate application for a dedicated OS, and then to do either a file
>transfer to the PC or a client-server communication via the network.
>
>What I have not seen, and would really like, is some stand-alone Windows CE
>device that has an optional *mode* where it can act as a passive device that
>simply forwards strings to the base station, using the model in 1). That
>would give you the ability to write stand-alone programs (or buy them) for
>the scanner/hand-held computer, but still integrate to your desktop
>applications without a lot of programming.
>
>Does Symbol make such a scanner?[/color]

Probably - check their web site

Personally I think that this is an expensive solution

[Kevin D. Quitt]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

You want OPOS. That's what it was designed for.


--
#include <standard.discl aimer>
_
Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up
Per the FCA, this address may not be added to any commercial mail list

[Kevin D. Quitt]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

IEE makes such a device, but it isn't just a barcode scanner - it's a
price verifier. We will shortly be releasing a low-cost version, about
$400, that's IEEE power-over-ethernet. Most places find it's cheaper to
string CAT-5 than AC.

Our device sends the output from the scanner on a TCP/IP socket in the
form <barcode><CR><L F><NUL>.


--
#include <standard.discl aimer>
_
Kevin D Quitt USA 91387-4454 96.37% of all statistics are made up
Per the FCA, this address may not be added to any commercial mail list

[Thomas Lutz]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

Most bar code readers are available with one of two output options.
The first option is called "Keyboard Wedge" output where you unplug
your keyboard, plug the bar code reader into the keyboard port on your
PC and then plug your keyboard into the bar code reader. This
arrangement makes the bar code reader appear as it it were simply a
second keyboard. Your original keyboard continues to work as normal
however when you read a bar code, the data encoded in the bar code
appears to any application running on your PC as if it were typed in.
The keyboard wedge interface is extremely simple however it has a few
drawbacks. If you swipe a bar code, the cursor has to be in the
correct input field in the correct application otherwise you end up
reading bar code data into whatever application has the focus. This
can cause all sorts of potential problems as you can imagine. The
keyboard output also is limited in that you cannot modify the data in
any way before sending it into the program that is to receive the
data. For example, if you needed to parse a bar code message up into
pieces or remove some of a bar code message or add in a date or time
stamp you would not be able to with a normal keyboard wedge reader.

The other possible output option is to get a bar code reader with an
RS232 or "Serial" interface. With these types of bar code readers, you
connect the reader to an available serial port on the back of your PC.
You would then need either need to write code to read the bar code
data directly from the serial port or use a program called a "Software
Wedge" to take the data from the bar code reader and feed it to the
application where you want the data to go. The disadvantage to this
approach is that it is a little more complex however you gain much
more control over how and where your data ends up when you read a bar
code. With a Software Wedge, you can control exactly where the data
goes in the target application and you can also perform all sorts of
modifications on the data before it is sent to the application.

TAL Tehchnologies sells a product called WinWedge which is a Software
Wedge for Windows. Visit: http://www.taltech.com for more information.

This web site is also an extremely good place to obtain information
about bar coding in general.


On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:45:40 -0700, "CHANGE username to westes"
<DELETE_westes@ earthbroadcast. com> 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:
>
>- 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.[/color]

[Antony Booth]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

Sorry about not replying sooner.

The scanners scan the barcode and return <code><enter>

I don't know whether they have wireless scanners. I suspect they do, but
their functionality would be limited as you would need to be near a screen
and keyboard for any procedure other than scanning code after code. We use
ours to scan an assets serial number, then input inspection results, which
are all stored temporarily on the device. This means there are multiple
reasons for scanning a code and input validation is required.
Because our scanners have a keypad, the codes may be entered manually too,
which is useful when the barcode itself is damaged.
They are wireless devices, but only communicate with the PC when replaced in
the docking cradle. This transfers the data whilst recharging the device.
There is no radio communications whatsoever. This is unnecessary for us as
our scanners are not used at a static location. They are used for equipment
inspections at various offices. When the inspectors return to their office,
they simply place the scanner in the cradle which updates our Asset
Management database.


Antony Booth


"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]

[Charles Kincaid]

Re: Good Barcode Scanning APIs for Visual Basic

"Antony Booth" <antony@terian. co.uk> wrote in
news:bod7kh$jfm $1$830fa79d@new s.demon.co.uk:
[color=blue]
> Sorry about not replying sooner.[/color]

I wish that I had seen the original post.

I write apps that are driven by bar codes. We also sell barcode reading
(and printing) hardware. I have scanners that:

- Hook up to the serial port on your PC and you read it like any other
serial device.

- Get mounted to a fixed location and watch the barcodes go by. The data
gets stuck into TCP/IP packets and transmitted where ever you want. You
write a TCP/IP server app that listens for the data and do what you want.

- A cool wedge device that has a cradle that hooks into your keyboard
but the scanner is wireless back to the cradle.

- Pocket PC devices that have a built in scanner and a 802.11 wireless
card as well as a belt worn printer hooked up by a serial cable. The
Pocket PC app runs the scanner and the printer and uploads the collected
data via TCP/IP.

Geeting the right hardware and software to do the job can be a challenge.
It is just as easy to buy to much as too little. One or two operators at
desks or counter tops you could get by with wedge scanners. Shop floor,
warehouse floor, loading docks, etc. - seek professional help.

http://www.datacaptech.com I am a developer not a sales dude. Call us
anyway and we can help you get the right stuff.

--
ATB

Charles Kincaid