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Enabling finds by scanner...

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    Enabling finds by scanner...

    Some time ago I posted about a db I was working on for renting videos.

    I have it going and pretty much doing everything I need and whilst it's not the prettiest piece of work I've ever seen it is functional (at least it is for me :) )

    I now find that I need to convert it to be able to scan the customers card (it is barcoded) as well as being able to scan the dvds which also carry a barcode rather than the current system which relies on the operator entering the customers ID (5 digit number) and then entering the movie ID's (also 5 digit number)

    As usual my brain has turned to mush mainly because I don't even know where to begin and I could really use a "jump start"

    I've zipped up the db and it is just on 1mb in size so if anyone wants to have a look (no laughing) let me know.

    As always, thanks in advance,

    Greg

    #2
    RE: Enabling finds by scanner...

    Themis, I haven't done this myself, but I recall several threads in this forum dealing with input from barcode readers. Some recommend something called a 'Wedge' that sits on your serial port and behaves with Alpha Five like a keyboard data entry person. Suggest you search for related message threads.

    -- tom

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      #3
      RE: Enabling finds by scanner...

      Hi Tom, yes I already have one of the wedges which basically acts by entering the number and pressing enter.

      The thing is that I am using a form which has all the clients details on it as well as an embedded browse that shows the clients history of rentals.

      What I want to do is to scan the clients card and then proceed to a new record in the browse and scan the ID of the movie in question.

      Currently I have to tab through all of the fields in the client record or use the mouse to go to the browse and navigate to the end of the browse from there.

      I'm hoping that there mnay be some way to turn on a "transaction" mode that will allow me to bypass the tabbing procedure and just input the movies being hired.

      Hope that doesn't sound to convoluted but its late and I'm nodding off at the keyboard :)

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Enabling finds by scanner...

        I've done this with the old alpha4 program a few years ago. I made the fields that I didn't have to fill in any information skip based on the entry field such as item numner. When I scanned the item number in it pased to the next field that I had not setup with the skip expression of
        .NOT.isblank(ITEMCODE). Itworked for me using a wedge scanner on auto parts.

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Enabling finds by scanner...

          Hi,

          If I were doing this, I would create barcoded cards for customers (if they did not exist), and create DVD barcode labels if they did not exist.

          If both those pieces are in place, you need to create forms that will make it most efficient for you to enter transactions. I envision a form like the Alpha sports invoice, with a header (customer info, date, ect.) and line items (one line for each dvd).

          Your database must have records which match the barcodes on the customer cards and the dvds. Make sure your barcode reader (gun or wand) is set to automatically insert a "TAB" after each entry, so you can do as much as possible without touching the keyboard or mouse. Programming instructions for the reader will come from the manufacturer.

          I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info.

          Regards,

          Jay Talbott
          Jay Talbott
          Lexington, KY

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