Barcode Help

I am trying to set up a simple inventory control list using a barcode reader.

I can

The secret is to select a barcode scanner, wand, wedge that allows you to program a preamble to be appended before the code scanned and a postscript appended after the code scanned. What I do is set the Preable to Command-1 and the Postscript to Command-2, so that the Preable triggers the first displayed script and the Postscript the second displayed script.

The first script (Preamble triggered) might take you to a global field, the value is scanned into the field, and the second script (Postscript triggered) performs any processing of the global field value (add records, compare entries, increment values, whatever). The only other thing to watch out for is the fact that you can scan fast enough to trigger a script again before it is complete. You must use flag fields to explicitly prevent this.

-bd

Another way is to start a script BEFORE you start scanning. The script can loop if you need to scan a bunch of items.

Have the script put you into a global field, gScan, and Pause Script. Then you scan something, and most bar code readers have a function for entering Return or Enter, which will continue your script.

This is a little simpler to implement than LiveOak's way (though not necessarily better) and does not require that the scan scripts be in the script menu.

When the script continues, you would do something like...

If (IsValid(gScan::Item))

. Set Field (Qty, Qty + 1)

Else

. New Record

. Set Field (Item, gScan)

. Set Field (Qty, 1)

End If

Set Field (gScan, "")

Where it is to be used in a checkout I set up the Qty as an autoenter of "1" and require the operator to scan each item. This prevents counting mistakes.

In other situations they can enter the Qty manually, or hit a barcoded list of Quantities beside their station.