>I SHOULD have done this first...I did find 2 threads here on Bar Codes, but they sound like the client already has a reader.
>
>What I'm interested in is:
>- recommendations on a bar code reader (type, etc.)
>- information on how I would use it
>- what to look for in terms of drivers, etc.
>
>Thanks...J
There are basically 2 types
1. Acts as an extension to the keyboard. So if you scan in barcode "12345"
then this is what the computer receives in the keyboard buffer.
2. Runs off the COM port.
This needs a driver or you could write your own. I use MSCOMM.OCX to read in the data.
The barcode is programmed to output a string as such
DATA
where STX is HEX/DEC 02 and is used to mark StartOfString
DATA will be the barcode scanned in - "12345"
ETX is End of String.
See the KB at MSDN for usage.
Trap the string, verify that it is complete(look at stx and etx and grab the central part which will be in a string format.
If you need more info drop me a line at my email
Bernard
