has anyone implemented a barcode scanner

[DimkaNewtown]

in C# or VB.NET yet?

 

If so which brand did you use, did you run into any specific problems?

[Robby]

I've done barcode work in VB6, I don't see anything that would change in .NET, all it is is manipulating a string input/output.

 

I can't tell you what brand they were, sorry.

[DimkaNewtown]

I'm wondering how does the scanner work... was there an API to help you or does it include some kind of a windows driver?

 

thanks!

[Robby]

The scanner is no more that a keyboard. When you scan a barcode, it's just like typing in (let' say) 10 keys. The only requirement is a set of fonts you need to install on your system. So to display the scanned item in a textbox, you will set the Font of that textbox to whichever font your scanner uses.

 

Some fonts: (not free)

Code 39

Code 128

Code 93

 

http://www.riversedge.com/h00001.htm

[coward]

or go here

 

http://www.idautomation.com/sitemap/

 

they have free barcode font samples - good for testing whether your reader works or not. The thing is they are missing certain numbers - hence the free-ness :)

[DimkaNewtown]

I did not know that. That is very cool and sounds easy to use!

 

One other thing, can you recommend a good scanner? I've been tasked with deciding which one to use... :)

Edited April 17, 2003 by DimkaNewtown

[DimkaNewtown]

Ok we're going to use Code 128 fonts with a USB CCD scanner. Reason is that fedex ground uses Code 128 to encode their labels which we need to decode. :)

 

Thanks to all who helped!

[kevino]

How do read the barcode scanner when it scans a barcode in C#. Do you use a socket connection? Can anyone help regarding this?

[Robby]

read my second post (above)

[siobi]

read my second post (above)

 

but how to implement the scanning part?

file I/O?

any sample? or tutorial?

[Arch4ngel]

hey... read above before going to the last post... you'll find answers to your questions.

 

do you have to program the keyboard input ? NO

do you have to program the bar scanner input ? NO

 

Just like a keyboard. Keep that in mind

[Robby]

Siobi, I understand you're new to this board but please read the thread before reviving a three month old thread, the answer as I've already stated is in my second post.

[iebidan]

Scanners work as keyboards, as simple as that, when you scan a code its input is a string, like the one sent by the keyboard, if the control you're on in that moment is a textbox it'll recieve the string, you can catch it and manipulate it, even you can add in the configuration of the scanner if you want at the end of the string a character or something.

We created an application that's used in every store around the country for inventories, and when a product arrives to the store the use the scanner to capture it

[neodammer]

I thought bar codes where more secure then that lol

[Robby]

Yes a scanner that relays its' info back to a server may be more secure.

[iebidan]

I don't see the point, a scanner is an IO peripheral, just as the keyboard or mouse, don't see what you mean with security.

[Arch4ngel]

Yeah... maybe we shall put a firewall or something like this on the wire between the bar code scanner and the computer. :p

 

What do you think iebidan ? Shall we hire bodyguards too ? :p

 

Security shouldn't be thight... do you "protect" your keyboard ?

 

As I know... standard barcode scanner (those with a wire less than 6 feet long) only return string to a program that is able to receipt them (notepad).

 

And why should we protect what they scan ? it's a code anyway. a code that is link to informations in a DB. The information in the DB aren't transfered by the barcode scanner.

 

yeah.... I'll search a barcode scanner with improved security on ebay. :p

[Robby]

Why is everyone blowing this out of proportion? It is a valid question to which I addressed in my last post... Because if you do have a connection wireless or not being sent to a common server you do need some security.

[Arch4ngel]

Well... I havent seen much of barcode scanner that are wireless...

But...

 

Why are we still talking in this thread ?

This thread was about implenting a barcode scanner. But around the whole subject I think... at least enough for a beginner to implement that

[iebidan]

Well, answering to the main subject of this thread, yes I've implemented a barcode scanner using C++, what brand???, IBM

now, using a wireless scanner will be useless for a hacker or someone, they will only get the code sent to the computer the scanner is an input ONLY device, if they don't have the database where the information is stored is useless, so no, no secure scanners needed nor encryption, is safe enough

[iebidan]

oh!!!! and no, not a single problem to implement it, we'd more problems implementing the automatic drawer than the scanner

[Arch4ngel]

Thread.Close();

Thread.Dispose();

 

I think we got around the whole subject now ! :D

[haryanvi]

Bar Code Scanning

 

but how to implement the scanning part?

file I/O?

any sample? or tutorial?

 

Scanning bar code is very easy, you can also scan through an actual scanned image which has a barcode and use VisionShapes Bar code reader class to go through the full page and get the value of the barcodes as string output.

 

Scanning can be done through tradional scanners or scanners ment for barcodes attached to ur PC :D

[doubled]

sorry to bring this post back alive but I need a little help with a scanner app...

 

OK the scanners that seem to be talked about in this thread are keyboard scanners (where the keyboad cable is a Y and both plug into it so yes it is just keyboard input)

 

My question is I have a serial scanner so I can read in from the port but how do I stuff that into the keyboard buffer?????

 

My other post:::

 

What I'm trying to do is write an app that reads in from the serial port and then output to the keyboard buffer (basically I need it to output to whatever application is foreground, I am using a serial scanner to output to a different app ) I have a app that I made that checks the comm ports but I am lost when it comes to the output any help would be great

Thanks