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Confused about my barcode trial?

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    Confused about my barcode trial?

    I've looked at my web logs and seen quite a large number of you have downloaded my barcode functions trial package. But with one or 2 exceptions, I have not received any questions or feedback.

    I have a variety of function packages that I am trying to make available in the future, but need to understand if there is a problem for some or all in what I'd be supplying.

    So the questions are;

    1. Are you confused how to install it?
    2. Do you not have a Bar Code 128 font to see real codes (easy to find on the web)?
    3. Do you know how to install a font?
    4. Do you understand how to get the help documentation from the function?
    5. Do you understand how to run the functions with a test window?
    6. Do you understand how to employ a function in your own code?
    7. Do you have no interest but were curious?
    8. Something else?

    Thanks!
    Regards,

    Ira J. Perlow
    Computer Systems Design


    CSDA A5 Products
    New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
    CSDA Barcode Functions

    CSDA Code Utility
    CSDA Screen Capture



    #2
    Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

    Personally I have one project where this may come in handy but have been too busy to even get this one started yet :(

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

      Ditto
      Bill Griffin
      Parkell, Inc

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

        This is of great interest to me for use in POS apps, BUT, my old radioshack barcode reader looks like a ps2 type connector at the end, and I haven't made it to the shack to see if there is a USB adapter.

        I'm also confused about the barcode itself, If my customer has assigned product numbers for their inventory can they have barcodes that reflect those numbers without conflicting with barcodes already assigned by other products?

        Thank you for your neat CSDA app, it saves me lot's of time...

        Bill
        Regards from Washington State,
        Bill
        Licensed NERD

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

          Hi Bill,

          Originally posted by Bill Broyles View Post
          This is of great interest to me for use in POS apps, BUT, my old radioshack barcode reader looks like a ps2 type connector at the end, and I haven't made it to the shack to see if there is a USB adapter.
          This barcode reader is a very low cost CueCat reader, given away by Radio Shack and other firms to allow you to scan a barcode in a catalog and go right to the web page. However, the marketing concept was ill concieved and it failed miserably.

          The CueCat required plugging into a keyboard PS/2 (or older DIN 5 larger Keyboard connector) jack of your computer and then plugging the keyboard into the CueCat cable. It will not work with USB as far as I know.

          The data that comes out of the CueCat is encrypted :( , so it is not useable by most programs, however, the CSDA Barcode scanning function does decrypt the data back to a usable barcode :) !

          Originally posted by Bill Broyles View Post
          I'm also confused about the barcode itself, If my customer has assigned product numbers for their inventory can they have barcodes that reflect those numbers without conflicting with barcodes already assigned by other products?
          UPC barcodes numbers are assigned by an industry association. ISBN #'s (books etc) are also assigned. However, you are able to generate these barcodes with any number you choose. A few companies have actually used the UPC barcodes internally,but so they wouldn't conflict with "real" UPS codes, changed the checksum algorithm.

          But there are many other barcode symbologies, some of the most popular being Code 128, code 39, code 39X, code 93, Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, and Code 11. These would not have any conflicts with UPC codes, and that is what I would use for internal product/part numbers.

          Code 128 is probably the best, as it is compact (or can be), can encode all 128 lower ascii characters, is self checking (each barcode "letter" has it's own error checking) and has a universally accepted checksum algorithm. Code 39 is 2nd most popular, but is not self checking, limited to 39 ascii characters A thru Z, 0 thru 9 and 4 symbols, and has several checksum variants and is even used without a checksum (bad idea!).

          Another aspect that I have used in the past when more than 1 barcode is on a label or paper, is to rotate one 90 degrees. This allows linear scanners (1 that just draws a line across a barcode) to not pick up the other ones that were perpendicular to it.

          Originally posted by Bill Broyles View Post
          Thank you for your neat CSDA app, it saves me lot's of time...
          Thanks for that nice endorsement, it saves me time too! (except when I decide to work on improving it's features :D )
          Regards,

          Ira J. Perlow
          Computer Systems Design


          CSDA A5 Products
          New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
          CSDA Barcode Functions

          CSDA Code Utility
          CSDA Screen Capture


          Comment


            #6
            Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

            Hi Ira

            Without having downloaded the trial, can I ask if the barcode functions work with EAN codes?
            Kind Regards
            Alan

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

              Hi Alan,

              Originally posted by Citadel View Post
              Without having downloaded the trial, can I ask if the barcode functions work with EAN codes?
              The trial has no time limit, so feel free to try it anytime. However, it is crippled in the generation of the barcode mapping or reading of the barcodes (every other character is modified). The test modes fully work, and everything that you need to try it and incorporate it in your application is present.

              As for the EAN code, I definitely support UPC & EAN-13, and I believe EAN 2 and EAN 5 (and if not, it's easy to add). However, only Code 128 is in a final version. All of the other barcodes just need updating to some of the new methodologies I utilize in the Code 128, but it's not a lot of work. I'm just waiting on comments from other trial users before updating them all.

              I also will be incorporating a new, somewhat revolutionary, licensing scheme for it, that is light-years ahead of my original one I used for the CSDA code Utility.

              That licensing scheme will also be for sale and allow many variations to the licensing method, and will allow incorporation of machine name, mac address, domain name, application name, a5 version,max users, max records, runtime, Develeoper, QReports, or WAS, expiration dates, and just about any other criteria to validate the license as well as many other features. It is extremely hard for anyone to crack, yet easy to incorporate into your code.
              Regards,

              Ira J. Perlow
              Computer Systems Design


              CSDA A5 Products
              New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
              CSDA Barcode Functions

              CSDA Code Utility
              CSDA Screen Capture


              Comment


                #8
                Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                I appreciate we're going off thread with this, but when do you think your new licensing system will be commercially available?
                Kind Regards
                Alan

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                  Hi Alan,

                  Originally posted by Citadel View Post
                  I appreciate we're going off thread with this, but when do you think your new licensing system will be commercially available?
                  I suspect in about 2 weeks. Most of the details are done, but I've been adding a few features (like timed popup of a copyright notice upon start) and additional criteria that the license can be based on etc. If you have a feature or two you'd like to see, send me an email (my email link is below in my signature).
                  Regards,

                  Ira J. Perlow
                  Computer Systems Design


                  CSDA A5 Products
                  New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                  CSDA Barcode Functions

                  CSDA Code Utility
                  CSDA Screen Capture


                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                    Care to offer up some suggestions on low cost, decent barcode readers?
                    Frank R

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                      There is a company that I use called Worth Data that I have been buying Bar Code scanners from for years. They mak both a hand held unit and a USB plug in unit. The plug in unit sells for around $164.00 and is ver good true laser with a 4ft cord.

                      I have been using bar Codes in my apps for years now and customers really love it. You can also get several different bar code fonts for free on the web.

                      I use the free font and my app prints out bar code labels for inventory and customers can scan the products in and upload the inventory in just a few seconds.

                      The most common are Code 39 and Code 128

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                        Hi Frank,

                        Originally posted by FrankR View Post
                        Care to offer up some suggestions on low cost, decent barcode readers?
                        Well the CueCat was low cost (free) when it came out.....
                        Oh, you said decent!:D

                        Well it was OK, but not great :( . It was sometimes sensitive to consistent manual scan speed (meaning you dragged the wand over the barcode) and if barcode was red, sometimes might not pick it up.

                        There are many types of barcode scanners, and some are better than others. I'd generally go for a laser type if it's cost effective, although there are good LED scanners as well. Lasers tend to have less interference and work from greater distances. Some just scan a linear line, some go in every direction (accomplished by a rotating mirror or diffraction grating (HOE) ).

                        A wireless version is handy, as you don't have to bring the item to the computer.

                        But the biggest difference is their programmability and the available prefix/suffix keys they can have. Ideally, I'd go with something that could produce a CTRL-ALT-Function key as a prefix, as this should never interfere with any keyboard actions.

                        But as for specific ones, I can't really say which are better than others as I don't put enough wear on them.
                        Regards,

                        Ira J. Perlow
                        Computer Systems Design


                        CSDA A5 Products
                        New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                        CSDA Barcode Functions

                        CSDA Code Utility
                        CSDA Screen Capture


                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                          Frank,

                          For years my clients have used EconoScan CCD reader from posguys.com. If you are scanning close up objects I would always get a CCD gun, no moving parts = high reliability, and can't beat the price. If you need to scan the top rack in a warehouse get a laser.

                          Bill.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                            Hi Frank

                            My company supplies EPoS systems to retailers in the UK. Have done for over 25 years.

                            I think I agree with everything Bill says. We have always supplied CCD scanners (formerly keyboard wedge, now always USB) for back office scanning at the PC, but laser scanners for use at the point of sale. At a busy checkout, lasers are more appropriate because they generally work faster and more flexibly than CCD, but for low throughput applications a CCD scanner is fine.

                            The laser scanners get more use/abuse (dropped!!) and seem to have a definite lifespan - even though it may be some years. The CCD scanners, though, just go on and on and on. I think I vaguely remember us replacing one!!

                            Over here, we get offered good CCD scanners (lots of different makes) at less than �20 (what's that in dollars?). Hand held lasers start at around �50 but we always pay a bit more and buy the 'Metrologic' Voyager - they are trouble free and for us the most flexible and reliable laser we've sold.

                            HTH
                            Kind Regards
                            Alan

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Confused about my barcode trial?

                              Hi Bill,

                              Originally posted by Bill Parker View Post
                              ... no moving parts = high reliability
                              That would be true if people didn't constantly pick up the scanner and drop it! I've seen CCD's that have been damaged by drops, but they are still better than most laser versions when thrown about.

                              Bolt it down and they all work for years! :D
                              Regards,

                              Ira J. Perlow
                              Computer Systems Design


                              CSDA A5 Products
                              New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                              CSDA Barcode Functions

                              CSDA Code Utility
                              CSDA Screen Capture


                              Comment

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