>I am trying to capture incommimg data from a bar code reader plugged
>into a serial port. I need to save it into some kind of a file which I can
>then make into a DBF. I don't know how to begin and haven't seen any
>examples. Any ideas?
>
>-Ray
>mlynczak@libertynet.org
Ray, as Craig has said, use MSCOMM32.OCX. It stores all of the incoming data in a buffer which you can then transfer to a form property or other storage.
Set your barcode reader to finish with a chr(13) (this is progammable on al the Barcode readers I've worked with). Parse the incoming data by searching the string for the Chr(13), and put the data into your table. Parse again....
** Pseudo code to follow
InputString = Myform.CommOCX.Input
Myform.Buffer = Myform.buffer + InputString
nPos = at(chr(13), Myform.buffer
cBarCode = substr(myform.buffer,1,nPOs-1) && Skip the chr(13)
**
** Store the barcode information here
**
if len(myform.buffer) > nPos
Myform.buffer = substr(myform.buffer, nPos+1) && get the rest of the string
endif
** And start at the top again.
<\pre>
This is NOT meant to be 'real' code - just to show you how to get started. I use this for a system that has up to 16 radio-scanners sending information in at once. The buffer holds the data and parses it out in chunks using the Chr(13). It even sends data BACK to the scanners.
If you get stuck, let me know and I'll send you some of my code.
HTH
Barbara
