Serail Port and bar code scanner acces
: Does anybody know what I need with VB and Access in order to
: use serial port bar code devices. It would also help if you can
: suggest some bar code devices.
I've worked with the Telxon and the WedgeWand hand-held scanners.
The Telxon is about the size of a small pocket book with a small
display and can be programmed using a Cobol-like (I think)
language to do more than just scan barcodes. It sends data,
however you want (by programming it), to the serial port, all you
need is the MSCOMM.VBX that comes with VB (or the updated version).
The WedgeWannd looks like a fat, silver pen with a cord attached
to a small (smaller than a pocket book) box. The scanner sends
barcodes to the keyboard port so, to the programmer, it looks
like someone is typing the barcode in. This is better than the
telxon because unless you have done it before, you *will* have
problems with serial communications. The scanner can read the
most common barcodes formats and can be configured to send any
character(s) you want before and after the barcode. You configure
it by scanning special barcodes on a sheet provided.
If you want a simple scanner that can read barcodes directly to
your program, then the WedgeWand is great. If you want a
portable, programmable scanner with display then the Telxon is
better (but more expensive). The Telxon is good for inventory
where not only do you want it to be portable, but it also
inteligent (or at least as inteligent as you make it) and can
hold a limited amount of data (I *think* 128K).
I don't have any contact information on either scanner as I just
worked on the software side, but I believe the information above
is correct. I don't have anymore more information (company name)
handy, so try calling around.
Good luck,
Brian.
