building an inovicing program

[mattyj]

Hey guys. I might not even be in the right spot. I am building an invoicing program with filemaker for my work. I have built a database where I can enter products (name description price ect...) And I have made a layout where I can enter a customer name and start entering products in the lines below. But I want to be able to scan a barcode and have the item name show up in the next field automatic. I don't even know where to begin with this. Is this a script or a function that is already built in or do I have to write it.

I don't mind doing the work and learning how to do it but if someone can point me in the right direction to where I need to be looking for answers that would be wonderful.

I would actually like to find a free program that already does this so I can take it apart to see how it was done. I find that the quickest way for me to learn.

Thanks guys!

[Ocean West]

As far as advancing to the next field via using a barcode scanner depends on the hardware device, how it is setup it may include a character that is in essence a linefeed - or tab - that will be interpreted in FileMaker to go to the next field.

Additionally if you upgrade to FileMaker 11 you have the ability to use script triggers - that will allow you to execute a script when the field is modified, to accommodate when barcode scanner does not perform the desired goal.

hope this helps.

FileMaker has starter templates - and there are several free templates round the web that include an invoice type solution that are open for you to explore.

[mattyj]

The device I will be using automaticly hits enter after scanning. I was tossing around the idea of upgrading to FileMaker 11 I guess you have just made up my mind. Thanks for the advice!