Re: Bar coding and Informix

In article <41krbj$pnv@cssun.mathcs.emory.edu> melin@hermes1.sps.mot.com "Darin Melin" writes: > On 24 Aug 1995, BCFlorian wrote: > > > The bar code readers we use will work with ANY software. They are simply > > another input device like your keyboard. They can be hooked up on a PC > > between the keyboard and the keyboard port, or on a unix terminal between > > the terminal an the comm line. They can be configured to append almost > > anything to the end of a bar code that has been scanned (we use the > > default carriage return to move to the next field after a scan.) > > > > So in short YES, you can use bar code readers with informix quite easily. > > Gee that is very nice that the "bar code readers we use will work with ANY > software"...... Would you mind letting us know the type of bar code > readers and setup you use, in order that others may expand their horizons??? Maybe *any* software is a bit strong. But what you do is to plug the PC/terminal into the bar code reader, and the bar code reader into the UNIX box. The UNIX box (or other server!) can't tell the difference between characters generated by reading the barcode, and those which come from typing the keyboard. So so long as reading the bar code generates what typing at the keyboard would have, it works with any software! Example: In a 4GL program you would type 'Q' followed by a sequence of characters followed by 'Escape' and the program would bring up the details for that sequence (bar code) (or process the info & update tables in other scenarios). You could either i) configure the bar code reader to append the 'Q' and prepend the 'Esc' ii) print them both in the label iii) Prepend the 'Q' with 'Esc' on the label; iv) Print the 'Q' and append the 'Esc'. The net result is that the software can't tell what you've done - have you scanned the label or typed the info in? Think about the supermarket. The ones I go to nrmally scan the items to go onto my bill (and into their ordering / reporting applications via data transfer to a central data processing department and also into (probably) local reporting). Sometimes the checkout person can't get the scanner to read the label. Then they read the code from the small numbers printed below the bar code (not obligatory in all bar code formats but a jolly good idea). Same result - you have to pay the bill and the DP work gets done. There used to be about 12 bar code formats. Maybe there are more now? Hope this helps. Uses outside the supermarket: i) bar code label on physical cardboard folder. Each dept. scans the files in & scans them out. Then we know where they are! ii) Informix put one on each label with the serial number on (AAAA123456) (or the people labeling the media do) and presumably they then know where each bit of media is; And so on. Sorry for the length of this posting! -- ============================================================================ Sally Woolrich | This mail contains my personal sally@excelsis.demon.co.uk | views not those of my employer! ============================================================================