Alpha Software Mobile Development Tools:   Alpha Anywhere    |   Alpha TransForm subscribe to our YouTube Channel  Follow Us on LinkedIn  Follow Us on Twitter  Follow Us on Facebook

Announcement

Collapse

The Alpha Software Forum Participation Guidelines

The Alpha Software Forum is a free forum created for Alpha Software Developer Community to ask for help, exchange ideas, and share solutions. Alpha Software strives to create an environment where all members of the community can feel safe to participate. In order to ensure the Alpha Software Forum is a place where all feel welcome, forum participants are expected to behave as follows:
  • Be professional in your conduct
  • Be kind to others
  • Be constructive when giving feedback
  • Be open to new ideas and suggestions
  • Stay on topic


Be sure all comments and threads you post are respectful. Posts that contain any of the following content will be considered a violation of your agreement as a member of the Alpha Software Forum Community and will be moderated:
  • Spam.
  • Vulgar language.
  • Quotes from private conversations without permission, including pricing and other sales related discussions.
  • Personal attacks, insults, or subtle put-downs.
  • Harassment, bullying, threatening, mocking, shaming, or deriding anyone.
  • Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.
  • Sexually explicit or violent material, links, or language.
  • Pirated, hacked, or copyright-infringing material.
  • Encouraging of others to engage in the above behaviors.


If a thread or post is found to contain any of the content outlined above, a moderator may choose to take one of the following actions:
  • Remove the Post or Thread - the content is removed from the forum.
  • Place the User in Moderation - all posts and new threads must be approved by a moderator before they are posted.
  • Temporarily Ban the User - user is banned from forum for a period of time.
  • Permanently Ban the User - user is permanently banned from the forum.


Moderators may also rename posts and threads if they are too generic or do not property reflect the content.

Moderators may move threads if they have been posted in the incorrect forum.

Threads/Posts questioning specific moderator decisions or actions (such as "why was a user banned?") are not allowed and will be removed.

The owners of Alpha Software Corporation (Forum Owner) reserve the right to remove, edit, move, or close any thread for any reason; or ban any forum member without notice, reason, or explanation.

Community members are encouraged to click the "Report Post" icon in the lower left of a given post if they feel the post is in violation of the rules. This will alert the Moderators to take a look.

Alpha Software Corporation may amend the guidelines from time to time and may also vary the procedures it sets out where appropriate in a particular case. Your agreement to comply with the guidelines will be deemed agreement to any changes to it.



Bonus TIPS for Successful Posting

Try a Search First
It is highly recommended that a Search be done on your topic before posting, as many questions have been answered in prior posts. As with any search engine, the shorter the search term, the more "hits" will be returned, but the more specific the search term is, the greater the relevance of those "hits". Searching for "table" might well return every message on the board while "tablesum" would greatly restrict the number of messages returned.

When you do post
First, make sure you are posting your question in the correct forum. For example, if you post an issue regarding Desktop applications on the Mobile & Browser Applications board , not only will your question not be seen by the appropriate audience, it may also be removed or relocated.

The more detail you provide about your problem or question, the more likely someone is to understand your request and be able to help. A sample database with a minimum of records (and its support files, zipped together) will make it much easier to diagnose issues with your application. Screen shots of error messages are especially helpful.

When explaining how to reproduce your problem, please be as detailed as possible. Describe every step, click-by-click and keypress-by-keypress. Otherwise when others try to duplicate your problem, they may do something slightly different and end up with different results.

A note about attachments
You may only attach one file to each message. Attachment file size is limited to 2MB. If you need to include several files, you may do so by zipping them into a single archive.

If you forgot to attach your files to your post, please do NOT create a new thread. Instead, reply to your original message and attach the file there.

When attaching screen shots, it is best to attach an image file (.BMP, .JPG, .GIF, .PNG, etc.) or a zip file of several images, as opposed to a Word document containing the screen shots. Because Word documents are prone to viruses, many message board users will not open your Word file, therefore limiting their ability to help you.

Similarly, if you are uploading a zipped archive, you should simply create a .ZIP file and not a self-extracting .EXE as many users will not run your EXE file.
See more
See less

Just a quick ?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Just a quick ?

    Has anybody seen the website Blueclaw.
    http://www.blueclaw-db.com/asset_inv...king_cable.htm

    Ok here is my ? can this software make this but better... I am trying to make this but not real sure how... I am new to access and the database stuff. I read the web site it said easy and faster than Access DB. so I am just asking would it work. if so can someone give me a head start...
    I work as a contractor for Comcast and I want to keep track of the inventory and the EQ that the techs take out and then bring back, and I use barcodes that the EQ has on it...Bring it in and then bring it out...

    Thanks in advance.

    #2
    Re: Just a quick ?

    Hi Patrick,

    Originally posted by vpmedia View Post
    Has anybody seen the website Blueclaw.
    http://www.blueclaw-db.com/asset_inv...king_cable.htm
    I know that I haven't, but looking at what's presented, it doesn't look as if it's a big deal.

    Originally posted by vpmedia View Post
    Ok here is my ? can this software make this but better...
    Alpha Five can provide the same functionality and even better. Barcoding and RFID processing are not a problem for PC's if using an Alpha 5 desktop application. A web interface would even allow access to data remotely, however, is not easily conducive to "intelligent" barcode scanning, although you can move the cursor to the field and scan (For PC's, not web phones).

    (By "intelligent" barcode scanning, I mean the software recognizes when something is scanned, and does something intelligent like search for the barcode in the database, if found, go to record change mode, otherwise, create a new record and prefill the barcode field)

    I have generic barcoding routines that do just about everything for the desktop side, and I am working on improving them for "intelligent" barcode scanning for the web applications, however there are some multiple browser compatibility issues still to be resolved.

    Originally posted by vpmedia View Post
    I am trying to make this but not real sure how... I am new to access and the database stuff. I read the web site it said easy and faster than Access DB. so I am just asking would it work. if so can someone give me a head start...
    I work as a contractor for Comcast and I want to keep track of the inventory and the EQ that the techs take out and then bring back, and I use barcodes that the EQ has on it...Bring it in and then bring it out..
    Whether you are capable of doing it varies so much person-to-person. Most of what the Blueclaw software does, most people could accomplish, but "intelligent" barcode scanning can add some difficulties for many.
    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


      #3
      Re: Just a quick ?

      So I would set up the files just like the blueclaw, I think I can do that. I think. But say I scan the Cable boxes in to the database and then pick a tech if I scan the cable box again will it remove it from the inventory and add it to the tech...then when the tech comes back in and did not use the box i would scan it again and it goes back in to the inventory... is it that easy... This is where I am getting confused.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Just a quick ?

        Hi Patrick,

        Originally posted by vpmedia View Post
        So I would set up the files just like the blueclaw, I think I can do that. I think.
        Maybe similar to Blueclaw, but you don't have to be stuck with their concept for data collection and display. A custom database allows you to meet your needs, not the needs of what they provide.

        Originally posted by vpmedia View Post
        But say I scan the Cable boxes in to the database and then pick a tech if I scan the cable box again will it remove it from the inventory and add it to the tech...then when the tech comes back in and did not use the box i would scan it again and it goes back in to the inventory... is it that easy... This is where I am getting confused.
        This is easy for typing it in using the keyboard. Most people just use it as a accurate replacement for typing.

        The problem is (and most don't seem to realize this), is that when you scan something in, you really want to do something automatically with that number. "Intelligent" Barcode scanning, it could add/delete something to inventory, do a find, enter a new record, whatever you program it to do, without any requirement to move the cursor to a type-in field to enter the barcode. This is much harder, and probably beyond a non-programmer's ability.
        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


          #5
          Re: Just a quick ?

          ok I will give it a shot and see what happens...

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Just a quick ?

            Ira, on a desktop app, if you are not scanning from a field on a form, how are you capturing the scanned data - from a form onkey event script?
            Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
            972 524 8714
            [email protected]

            ____________________
            "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Just a quick ?

              This is the first time I am tring this I have no clue what I am doing... just trying to make this...

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Just a quick ?

                Scangun scans barcode and inputs code into database....Reports print the number but not the actual barcode. We need this code to rescan equip. back into system. Any ideas.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Just a quick ?

                  Hi Martin,

                  Originally posted by martinwcole View Post
                  Ira, on a desktop app, if you are not scanning from a field on a form, how are you capturing the scanned data - from a form onkey event script?
                  An onkey event, typically on a form, but could be on a browse, xdialog or elsewhere, calls a Barcode() function I have (about a 1000 lines of real code). If not the 1st character (Prefix character), it just returns. Otherwise, it scans in the rest of the barcode, and then processes everything else that needs doing, e.g.
                  • saving current record (with/without prompt),
                  • sounding good or bad scan beeps or wave files (allows operation without viewing the screen)
                  • doing a find
                  • go into enter or change mode depending on find
                  • move to desired field on form (which may not be the barcode value or the default 1st field)
                  • Save the new barcode
                  But the barcode function can also be operated in a more manual way such that after the barcode is retrieved, you can then process the value as needed by your own code (e.g. posting to an inventory table). On the browser side, it's much more complicated because each browser technology has different ways of processing key events, although there are some that are similar and I am looking into support of that in the not to distant future.

                  On the flip side, it's relatively easy to generate most barcodes, IF, you can generate the checksums (if any, and some are rather complex to compute) and map the values to the font, no matter what barcode font is chosen. On the web side, the barcode font display is just converted to an image to display and/or print.

                  The exception to this might be Code 128, which is has both self checking bars as well as checksums, and supports all ascii values to 127, including control codes), and can be very compact for numbers. My Barcode_C128() generates these and allows control of which codesets to use and creates the shortest possible code (not easy to do!).

                  I have created an unlimited Trial version of some of these (people can email me at link along bottom if interested), but the Trial mode returns or displays only every other character in trial mode. There is a built in Diagnostic/Test Dialog that can be used for experimenting, even in trial mode.

                  The actual licensing structure and costs has not been established.
                  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: Just a quick ?

                    Hi Patrick,

                    Originally posted by vpmedia View Post
                    Scangun scans barcode and inputs code into database....Reports print the number but not the actual barcode. We need this code to rescan equip. back into system. Any ideas.
                    Is there a question here? Don't worry about the barcode scanning or printing of the barcodes. If you can enter the barcodes via keyboard, then barcode scanning can be added.

                    Printing barcodes as just text will serve as a placeholder for printing barcodes until you need to get the final product.

                    If what your are asking is how to take a barcode scan (or keyboard input) and mark an item in or out, that's just changing values in a record, or creating records indicating an item's history.

                    This is all relatively easy to do in Alpha Five (and a whole lot easier than Access), but you need to learn about tables, field rules, forms, lookups, and reports in Alpha 5 to start the process.

                    There are lots of tutorials in Alpha as well as some 3rd party books/manuals if you want to do it yourself. If you want someone else to do it, try an A5 consultant. Sometimes, it helps to just have use an A5 consultant for a couple of hours as a mentor/trainer to get you going.
                    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


                      #11
                      Re: Just a quick ?

                      ok great thanks for that.. Yes I am tring it by my self... to learn new stuff and help my boss out...

                      Thanks again for the help.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Just a quick ?

                        I have placed a trial version of my barcode functions on my web site. Currently, the barcode scanning is not available for the WAS, but you can generate barcode images for displays and reports.

                        The trial version will return every other character of the barcode, but otherwise is not crippled. In test and graphic displays, you will see the full actual barcodes.

                        There are barcode scanning (for desktops) and Barcode creation (for desktop and web) functions, as well as very useful test modes useful for working with barcodes.

                        Currently, the only functions being made available are
                        • Barcode() - used for scanning
                        • Barcode_C128() - Used for creating any Barcode 128
                        Additional barcode symbologies (starting with Code 39) will be made available upon request or as changes are made to incorporate user requests.

                        To install, just download the Self-Install Exe file, or use the Zip file. Unzip, and place the AEX in the FOLDER C:\Program Files\A5v10\Addins_Installed or similar. Then start up A5, and run the functions without arguments for the built-in documentation.

                        To download the Self-Install EXE file, Zip file (which includes the documentation), or to view the documentation, go to CSDA Barcode Page

                        Comments and suggestions are welcome
                        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

                        Working...
                        X