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Bar coding question

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    Bar coding question

    I have a dumb question concerning utilizing bar coding in our web based browser application.

    We supply our people in the field with a 'job sheet' that has an 8 digit ID number on each job. This job sheet is generated from our desktop application.

    Before they can submit their data via our web based browser app, they have to input this ID number from our job sheet.

    As you can guess, they frequently fat finger the ID number and then subsequently submit data for the wrong job.

    Is it possible to print the ID number on our job sheet using a bar code font and then allow our users to read the bar code from the job sheet with their cellphone and have it automatically input the ID number in the field when read?

    Is it necessary to use a mobile app rather than a web based browser app to utilize the bar code feature?

    Thanks

    #2
    Re: Bar coding question

    Scanning the barcode into a cellphone's web app's text field should be no problem.

    Printing a barcode requires a barcode font and xbasic code to encode the barcode font. I don't know if Alpha will automatically generate a barcode from data; I don't believe I've seen that. Unfortunately, most of the examples on the web that I've seen are for C++ or JAVA. I think you will have to find a barcode font, find out the coding requirements and then write xbasic to do the encode.
    Peter
    AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

    [email protected]
    https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


    Comment


      #3
      Re: Bar coding question

      Another option could be to consider using a qr code instead of a bar code.
      Glen Schild



      My Blog

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Bar coding question

        Originally posted by glenschild View Post
        Another option could be to consider using a qr code instead of a bar code.
        I like this idea but am curious how you would display a numerical field as a QR code in a desktop letter.

        Thanks

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Bar coding question

          Originally posted by Mark Williams View Post
          I like this idea but am curious how you would display a numerical field as a QR code in a desktop letter.

          Thanks
          Hello Mark,

          Check out the following How To article. It should answer your question: https://documentation.alphasoftware....n%20a%20report
          Sarah Mitchell
          Director of Customer Success | [URL="https://www.alphasoftware.com"]Alpha Software Corporation[/URL]
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          Comment


            #6
            Re: Bar coding question

            Originally posted by Mark Williams View Post
            I like this idea but am curious how you would display a numerical field as a QR code in a desktop letter.

            Thanks
            As Sarah said :-)
            Glen Schild



            My Blog

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Bar coding question

              Originally posted by Beta Spark View Post
              Hello Mark,

              Check out the following How To article. It should answer your question: https://documentation.alphasoftware....n%20a%20report
              That helps tremendously- thanks!

              Now I have a follow up question though...

              How would I add a button on my ux on my browser app to read the QR code and insert the value in the ID field on the ux?

              I really appreciate all the help!

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Bar coding question

                Originally posted by Mark Williams View Post
                That helps tremendously- thanks!

                Now I have a follow up question though...

                How would I add a button on my ux on my browser app to read the QR code and insert the value in the ID field on the ux?

                I really appreciate all the help!
                Simply create a TextBox to display on screen. on the button put a {dialog.Object}.setFocus(controlName [, repeatingSectionRowNumber]) in order to get focus to the object. Plug in a USD bar code scanner. Once the Button is clicked on by a user the user can scan the barcode and the data of the Barcode is inserted.

                From here you can do whatever additional logic is required.
                Alex Collier

                "The spread of computers and the Internet will put jobs in two categories. People who tell computers what to do, and people who are told by computers what to do"

                AA Builds from 5221_5152 to Pre-releases >> Deploying to IIS in AWS

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Bar coding question

                  Originally posted by Peter.Greulich View Post
                  Scanning the barcode into a cellphone's web app's text field should be no problem.

                  Printing a barcode requires a barcode font and xbasic code to encode the barcode font. I don't know if Alpha will automatically generate a barcode from data; I don't believe I've seen that. Unfortunately, most of the examples on the web that I've seen are for C++ or JAVA. I think you will have to find a barcode font, find out the coding requirements and then write xbasic to do the encode.
                  You can use Code 39 font which does not require any encoding or programming. Simply download the font

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Bar coding question

                    Originally posted by user10 View Post
                    You can use Code 39 font which does not require any encoding or programming. Simply download the font
                    This is very easy and straight forward.
                    a small hint some fonts requires that you start and end the barcode with "*"
                    also make the barcode a little bit big so it is easy to scan it. code 39 or 93 fonts are easier to read if it is bigger.
                    if you don't find the font online I have a free one I can send you.

                    Good luck

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Bar coding question

                      Originally posted by alexc View Post
                      Simply create a TextBox to display on screen. on the button put a {dialog.Object}.setFocus(controlName [, repeatingSectionRowNumber]) in order to get focus to the object. Plug in a USD bar code scanner. Once the Button is clicked on by a user the user can scan the barcode and the data of the Barcode is inserted.

                      From here you can do whatever additional logic is required.
                      I'm trying to accomplish bar code scanning as well from an iPhone. I thought that a web app cant handle bar code scanning, that I would need to use phonegap. Do you mean USB bar code scanner?

                      Comment

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