Yes, free scanner. It's called the cuecat, and is from digital convergence. It's something they put out for marketing purposes. If you use their software, when you scan a barcode on something it will actually launch your browser and take you to a related site, and if its doesn't have a related site yet, it will take you to there site where you can put in info if you know it. It put out an encrypted output which is pretty easy to decode. I have code in VFP to decode it, and give a standard bar code out. They are kind of a nifty little device, and rather fun to play with as well.

>...free scanner... ?
>
>>>I am looking at the possibility of creating an Employee ID card complete with a barcode (identifying employee by number).
>>>I will need to generate/print the cards and also scan them when necessary to provide a quick, reliable means of confirming that an employee has done some specific activity (e.g. received some items from Central Stores).
>>>I have looked at many of the old messages on the subject of barcodes and I have checked out Hallograms web site regarding hardware etc., but there seems to be a large and confusing number of products out there.
>>>Does anyone have any insight in to what would be a good starting point.
>>>Specific questions are:
>>>a) Does it matter what type of barcode I adopt.
>>>b) Would a cheap (<$500) printer handle the production of barcodes for 500 employees. (My guess is Yes - but does anyone have any particular printer they can reccommend or diss)
>>>c) What reader would you recommend. It will probably read 100-200 cards/day. It must integrate into VFP app.
>>>
>>>There is no requirement for any of this equipment to be mobile.
>>
>>As was mentioned by James, there are many good printers, and most lasers will also do a good job, and with the addition of an inexpensive laminator will make really nice cards. Most any scanner will do, and if you want/need it, I have VFP code to decode the output of one of those free little cuecat scanners you can get at radio shack. As a matter of fact, I could see how I could set up a dll to grab the keyboard input and know if it was a scan. The idea of a serial scanner probably has some merit, but since I always want to fill in a field anyways, keyboard style are just easier to deal with.