Barcode input

[Oyseka]

Hi All,

Just starting on the road of barcode input for internal stock and I wonder if anyone could give me some pointers. The requirement is for someone to walk the warehouse (Small) with a wireless barcode reader, read the codes AND input quantity, return to the system and download the data recorded creating a new record for each entry. It must work on both Mac OS X and Windows using FMPA 11. Does anyone have experience with readers that are accurate and reliable that they could share.

[Ben Kreunen]

Filemaker Go on iPhone/iPod Touch4? Skeleton Key article

Either collect data on the device and then import, or connect directly to shared DB via WiFi.

[lance123]

Hi There,

I use the Scanfob 2000 and it just works like a keyboard input device. Which is great because it is so easy to integrate. It seems to be highly accurate. (Integrated on web and fm projects no probs.)

I have sourced it from

Zero Blue

Agnes B. Riley

[email protected]

I am sure she would be happy to help you out.

Regards,

Lance

Hi All,

Just starting on the road of barcode input for internal stock and I wonder if anyone could give me some pointers. The requirement is for someone to walk the warehouse (Small) with a wireless barcode reader, read the codes AND input quantity, return to the system and download the data recorded creating a new record for each entry. It must work on both Mac OS X and Windows using FMPA 11. Does anyone have experience with readers that are accurate and reliable that they could share.

[Oyseka]

Thanks for your reply. How do you input quantity after an ID scan ?

[lance123]

Hi There,

Well it depends on your system and control over what is being done. I don't understand what your trying to achieve and your role in the system design clearly. Inputing a quantity for me is easy in one of the inventory systems which is a web based system. I just input the barcode and then use javascript to bounce the cursor to the next field based on a return character input at the end of the barcode scanner input. This is fed in by a bluetooth link to the computer or mobile device. You can do the same in FM with script triggers. In another part of the system the customer scans receipt and it matches existing barcodes and then prepares for the next scan with javascript functions and field input.

Thanks for your reply. How do you input quantity after an ID scan ?

[Oyseka]

Hi There,

Well it depends on your system and control over what is being done. I don't understand what your trying to achieve and your role in the system design clearly. Inputing a quantity for me is easy in one of the inventory systems which is a web based system. I just input the barcode and then use javascript to bounce the cursor to the next field based on a return character input at the end of the barcode scanner input. This is fed in by a bluetooth link to the computer or mobile device. You can do the same in FM with script triggers. In another part of the system the customer scans receipt and it matches existing barcodes and then prepares for the next scan with javascript functions and field input.

As the operator will be walking the warehouse they will scan a product, perhaps a pallet with 36 items of that product on it., so they scan the product code and then have to input that there are 36 of that item then move on to the next item etc. When they get back to the office they then batch upload the scans. Some of the scanners that I have looked at require you to carry a series of single number barcodes with you so that you scan the product code then you have to scan a series of single digit numbers, which in this case would be a 3 and a 6, that equals your quantity and then you parse the digits in Filemaker to give you a quantity.

[lance123]

Thanks Oyseke, I am getting it now....Are you committed to the batch scanning model or are you looking at some redesign? Do you have access to the database yourself? Is it an FM DB or some third party?? I ask this because they way I have gone is allowing for an internet based model to be able to upload into the FMDB a lot of these issues go away. You can design it to enter the data you describe maybe 10-20 record and then just submit the lot. Or as I am doing with one system where Internet may not be reliable I use a local data store on client browser and then submit this when the user walks into internet range. I understand if you are constrained by having to work with some existing system...but I often find better value in being able to say..."here is how we would like this to work" ...and then make that happen. Regards, Lance

As the operator will be walking the warehouse they will scan a product, perhaps a pallet with 36 items of that product on it., so they scan the product code and then have to input that there are 36 of that item then move on to the next item etc. When they get back to the office they then batch upload the scans. Some of the scanners that I have looked at require you to carry a series of single number barcodes with you so that you scan the product code then you have to scan a series of single digit numbers, which in this case would be a 3 and a 6, that equals your quantity and then you parse the digits in Filemaker to give you a quantity.

follow-on ..I should have said Filemaker Server Advanced. Not just FM DB as I see you refer to this. If you have the server version you can use php and javascript to construct your input model. Or likewise if you have reasonable connectivity you can do it through your WAN and wireless. Although you need good speed to do this well through an FM client Sever Model. That is why I like the web model as it is capable of doing a lot more it has just got a little longer build time. Regards Lance

[Oyseka]

Thanks Oyseke, I am getting it now....Are you committed to the batch scanning model or are you looking at some redesign? Do you have access to the database yourself? Is it an FM DB or some third party?? I ask this because they way I have gone is allowing for an internet based model to be able to upload into the FMDB a lot of these issues go away. You can design it to enter the data you describe maybe 10-20 record and then just submit the lot. Or as I am doing with one system where Internet may not be reliable I use a local data store on client browser and then submit this when the user walks into internet range. I understand if you are constrained by having to work with some existing system...but I often find better value in being able to say..."here is how we would like this to work" ...and then make that happen. Regards, Lance

It is an FM 11 database. The constraints are placed by both power and connectivity. The warehouses are generally in rural areas, (read farming) with both very poor connectivity ( most of the time we can only get a GPRS signal, no such thing as 3G) and extremely unreliable power. One of the warehouses today had 11 power outages and the situation is going to get worse as the national power supplier is implementing rolling load shedding, one of the many joys of living in Africa. Even if the local system is protected via UPS the towers that provide our internet connectivity are very poorly provided for so it was a design decision to not rely on anything external but to use a batch upload in a protected environment. The stock quantities are not large, no more than 400 items, so it made sense to go this route.

Sorry, I should also have stated that I have Zero PHP and Java skills so I am constrained

[RodSierra]

It is an FM 11 database. The constraints are placed by both power and connectivity. The warehouses are generally in rural areas, (read farming) with both very poor connectivity ( most of the time we can only get a GPRS signal, no such thing as 3G) and extremely unreliable power. One of the warehouses today had 11 power outages and the situation is going to get worse as the national power supplier is implementing rolling load shedding, one of the many joys of living in Africa. Even if the local system is protected via UPS the towers that provide our internet connectivity are very poorly provided for so it was a design decision to not rely on anything external but to use a batch upload in a protected environment. The stock quantities are not large, no more than 400 items, so it made sense to go this route.

For industrial environments we use data collection terminals such as Symbol. The interface could be flexible with regards to how you want to work and at what level of complexity. Our first client already had specified Symbol, and we started with a simple keyboard wedge to access the data and uploaded the necessary info via a text files export from FM. For us the issue in using devices such as ipods or iphones would be their ability to stand up to industrial evironments, scan from a distance, quick battering change, ease of use while perched on a lift with gloves on, etc. This is where a unit such as Symbol will stand out. Of coarse there are other suppliers, you can probably find similar functionality at less cost. Our current uses are for receiving docks, inventory audits, and stock pulls from pick lists. We've stayed away from any real time data transfer to the data base and instead update via transactions.

[lance123]

Ok much clearer...Thankyou for that. I see your situation now. Yes, I have little experience in the range of industrial strength devices and their capabilities! Then you are more constrained by your existing model of input etc. I don't know if I can help much further. If you are committed to the input mode and use FM simply to massage the records that you download from the device it will be more about running a script with an import routine that might help with the barcode and quantity relationships. Good luck with the project

For industrial environments we use data collection terminals such as Symbol. The interface could be flexible with regards to how you want to work and at what level of complexity. Our first client already had specified Symbol, and we started with a simple keyboard wedge to access the data and uploaded the necessary info via a text files export from FM. For us the issue in using devices such as ipods or iphones would be their ability to stand up to industrial evironments, scan from a distance, quick battering change, ease of use while perched on a lift with gloves on, etc. This is where a unit such as Symbol will stand out. Of coarse there are other suppliers, you can probably find similar functionality at less cost. Our current uses are for receiving docks, inventory audits, and stock pulls from pick lists. We've stayed away from any real time data transfer to the data base and instead update via transactions.

[Oyseka]

Ok much clearer...Thankyou for that. I see your situation now. Yes, I have little experience in the range of industrial strength devices and their capabilities! Then you are more constrained by your existing model of input etc. I don't know if I can help much further. If you are committed to the input mode and use FM simply to massage the records that you download from the device it will be more about running a script with an import routine that might help with the barcode and quantity relationships. Good luck with the project

You are correct, it is only to manage and manipulate the information when it is in. The FM database provides both the invoicing and purchases we just wanted to do the physical stock take every other week and compare to expected stock levels.

Thank you for your assistance and input, it is much appreciated.

For industrial environments we use data collection terminals such as Symbol. The interface could be flexible with regards to how you want to work and at what level of complexity. Our first client already had specified Symbol, and we started with a simple keyboard wedge to access the data and uploaded the necessary info via a text files export from FM. For us the issue in using devices such as ipods or iphones would be their ability to stand up to industrial evironments, scan from a distance, quick battering change, ease of use while perched on a lift with gloves on, etc. This is where a unit such as Symbol will stand out. Of coarse there are other suppliers, you can probably find similar functionality at less cost. Our current uses are for receiving docks, inventory audits, and stock pulls from pick lists. We've stayed away from any real time data transfer to the data base and instead update via transactions.

Thank you for that information, I will look at the product. If I recall they are using Windows Mobile 5 on some of the wireless scanners, will that not provide a problem on OS X ?