Hi Everyone!

Has any of you had good experience with
barcode reading under pick/D3 running on
Windows?

I want to add this feature to our software
and I would like to have your input about
this...

In particular,
which hardware device is working with D3?
Do you access it like a file or what?

It would be great if you could show me a little
example file...

All the best, and may the D3 force be with you!

Samuel.

Use a laser or CCD scanner that interfaces via keyboard wedge. Anything
that is scanned is sent as key strokes just like any other key-type
interface. If you want portable RF or batch terminal transaction capability,
then that's a lot more complicated than just implementing barcode scanning.
Check out WaveLink @ JMO Systems for a nice RF solution. They are
maintaining the Pick monitor + API for the WaveLink scanner/terminal
clients. We've been using it for over 6 years.

Glen
http://mvdevcentral.com

<samuel.kortas (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

If you are considering RF, you may also want to check out Worth Data. That
is what we use. We also use keyboard CCD scanners as Glen mentioned.

"Glen B" <webmaster.at.allspec.com> wrote

Thank you very much Glen for your information.

Sorry to be so dumb, but what "RF" and "CCD" means? I am
pretty new to the field!

Samuel

Jeffrey,

Thank you very much for your input.

Just to know, do you use a scanner directly linked to the
machine or using a kind of radio transmitter from the scanner
to the box????

Any scanner driver working under windows will be mapped
as a pick device or are there any traps to avoid?

Samuel

RF = Radio Frequency
RF is usually 2.4Ghz spread spectrum or frequency hopping technology.
Frequency hopping is perferred over spread spectrum due to the inherent
security of the devices swapping channels randomly. An example would be
Symbol Technologies' "Spectrum24" access points and devices. Spread spectrum
is less expensive, but the data being transferred can be easily snooped.

You can use WLAN devices now, on the same software platforms as older RF
equipment. WaveLink has moved a lot of their development towards Windows
wireless LAN devices like 802.11a/b/g based palm computers and scanners.
Their software still supports older SS/FH based equipment.

CCD = Charge Coupled Device. It's an electronic 'eye' that can detect
changes in light frequency and intensity. Typically, a CCD scanner consists
of an inexpensive low-resolution CCD detector and an array of visible LEDs
to light the bar code. Scanning/decoding is typically done as a picture
snapshot. Laser scanners are a lot more complicated and use a laser beam to
scan a very thin part of the barcode in 2 directions, hundreds of times per
second. The bars and spaces are decoded by timing when the laser point
reflects off white bar or is absorbed by dark bar . CCD scanners are more
fault tolerant and power efficient since they require close proximity
scanning. Unfortunately, they are _really_ picky about the quality of the
barcode being scanned. I stopped using them because of that. Lasers offer
longer range, sometimes 3-4 ft/1-2m, and have high enough scan resolution to
read 2-dimensional "PDF-style" bar codes if the application calls for it.
They also can read poorly printed barcodes, since they do not take a
snapshot of the entire barcode at once.

Glen

"Samkos" <samuel.kortas (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

Samkos wrote:
RF = Radio Frequency.

CCD = Charged-Couple Device. This is the type of scanner that reads
using an array of LEDs rather than a laser. The CCD itself is the chip
that picks up the image, and is somewhat analogous to the human retina.
CCDs are also used in digital cameras.

Luke

Worth Data has a base station that connects to the Pick box. The remote
devices are radio frequency terminals (we call it a RaFT).

It took us a quite a few weeks to figure out the interface and write the
application. And we have been doing this for a while. You may want to hook
up with a consultant to get you going in the right direction.

"Samkos" <samuel.kortas (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote