Need Advice For solution with Bar code scanner

[Papabjoe]

I'm writing a solution for my daughter's day care. I want to print an identification badge for each parent with a Bar Code. The parent will be required to pass their ID badge whenever they pick-up or drop-off their child. I've never worked with bar code scanners before. Does anyone have any advice before I start?

[HazMatt]

I am putting together a Mac / FileMaker based point of sale system and am learning about bar code scanners as well. The bar code scanner we got from our supplier came "pre-programmed" which I'm not sure what that exactly means, but FileMaker sees it as a keyboard-like input and a Return or Enter.

For instance, when I scan any bar code into a text document, it immediately "types" in the value of the bar code and enters a carriage return. The trick to making it work in FileMaker, I believe, is the signal that is sent at the end of a scan (in my case either Return or Enter - I'm not sure which). The idea is to make a field ready for text input and have the Return or Enter trigger a script or find in FileMaker.

This is all just my 3rd party observation of Christian James Inc's PayGO point of sale software, built with FileMaker 7.

[Himitsu]

I am also interested in this setup too. My wife has a small shop in my building and I designed a simple register program with FMP7 and wanted to add a barcode scanner to it. I guess what Matt said, I should get one and see what I can do. I was wondering Papabjoe and Matt maybe we could keep in contact and design a basic system with the barcodes. My email is [email protected].

[stanley]

If you browse through the barcode forum, you'll find all sorts of good advice on this topic. The key to working with a barcode scanner is to view it as simply another input device, like a keyboard. There are a number of barcode specialists who visit this forum, so feel free to post up any questions.

I've designed a number of barcode solutions, and always recommend the HHP 3800 series of scanners - they're tough and reliable, and can be had fairly inexpensively on eBay.

-Stanley

[RodinBangkok]

Bar Code scanners can be interfaced via USB, serial, or a keyboard wedge. The wedge is the most common and easiest to use with filemaker, as you do not need plugins to read from serial or USB ports. You simply plug the scanner into a Y cable along with your keyboard for PS/2 type interfaces. A wedge type scanner is usually programmed via a printed card with bar codes that comes with the unit.

Use the field behavior options in combination with the set tab order to be able to automate the data entry layout. Make sure you test the scanner with output from the printer you are using, as some printers or ink media will not read on some scanners, this can also be due to the font used. Also note the scanner price is usually tied into its sensitivity. You can buy a cheap scanner, but the scan distance from the head may only be a few centimeters.

Rod

[HazMatt]

I've designed a number of barcode solutions, and always recommend the HHP 3800 series of scanners - they're tough and reliable, and can be had fairly inexpensively on eBay.

Indeed, the bar code scanner I have been supplied with is the HHP IT3800. It works pretty well and seems very sturdy.

However, I am interested to know if anybody has experience with Bluetooth enabled bar code scanners; the kind that communicate directly to the computer.