scanners with a bit of custom code

[Craig Drown-2]

Hi,
we have a client who wants to do the following
- scan a bar code on a vaccine
- have the scanner request the last 4 characters of the batch number
- user enters batch
- next scan, etc...

At the end of the day, our 4D app sucks down the data. We can do this  
bit (thanks to friends on this list)
The bit we're stuck on is finding the right combo of scanner with a  
full alpha numeric keypad and a small application for the scanner that  
allows us to program it easily to request a batch number.

We have found a small application that runs on Windows CE scanners,  
but that seems to require a sync to move data to a folder, then 4D  
gets it from the folder- we'd rather just go straight scanner to 4D

Thanks in advance,

Craig Drown
Sustainable Solutions P. Ltd
Kathmandu
Nepal
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[Bill Weale]

1) Assuming the batch number isn't part of the bar code on the  
vaccine, do you know what the batch numbers are before the scanner  
begins work?

        a) If you do, prepare a printed report containing info about the  
batches ahead of time, printed in barcode format. In the field,  
alternate scans between the printed batch info and the vaccine barcode

        b) If you don't, prepare a printed report containing the various  
strings/characters that you want to key in via the scanner and scan  
them in lieu of a keyboard as you scan the vaccine barcodes.

In both these instances, you can add info to the preprinted "helper"  
barcodes so that, when it's scanned back into 4D, you can interpret/
differentiate it from "real" barcode scans. I usually also include  
virtual commands like "Save"/"Cancel"/"Reset"/"NewFn()" on the  
preprinted helper barcode sheets.

2) If you are using the P370/P470 mentioned earlier, you can purchase  
a development platform for them that allows you to do pretty much  
anything you need. (I think Steve Orth on this list has probably used  
it more extensively than I have.) Entering alpha characters from  
those scanners is a bit of a pain, though.

--Bill


On Jul 3, 2009, at 8:49 AM, Craig Drown wrote:

> Hi,
> we have a client who wants to do the following
> - scan a bar code on a vaccine
> - have the scanner request the last 4 characters of the batch number
> - user enters batch
> - next scan, etc...
>
> At the end of the day, our 4D app sucks down the data. We can do  
> this bit (thanks to friends on this list)
> The bit we're stuck on is finding the right combo of scanner with a  
> full alpha numeric keypad and a small application for the scanner  
> that allows us to program it easily to request a batch number.
>
> We have found a small application that runs on Windows CE scanners,  
> but that seems to require a sync to move data to a folder, then 4D  
> gets it from the folder- we'd rather just go straight scanner to 4D
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Craig Drown
> Sustainable Solutions P. Ltd
> Kathmandu
> Nepal
>

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[James Brown]

On 03/07/2009, at 10:49 PM, Craig Drown wrote:

> Hi,
> we have a client who wants to do the following
> - scan a bar code on a vaccine
> - have the scanner request the last 4 characters of the batch number
> - user enters batch
> - next scan, etc...
>
> At the end of the day, our 4D app sucks down the data. We can do  
> this bit (thanks to friends on this list)
> The bit we're stuck on is finding the right combo of scanner with a  
> full alpha numeric keypad and a small application for the scanner  
> that allows us to program it easily to request a batch number.
>
> We have found a small application that runs on Windows CE scanners,  
> but that seems to require a sync to move data to a folder, then 4D  
> gets it from the folder- we'd rather just go straight scanner to 4D
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Craig Drown
> Sustainable Solutions P. Ltd
> Kathmandu
> Nepal

Why not use 4D's WebKit? It's what we use for stocktaking using bar  
codes. You have real-time data in your 4D system that way, and no need  
to program the devices.

James.
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