There are a number of compact flash barcode reader cards. Some have the reader built-in with a lens on the top of the card and some have an attached wand with 24 to 36 inches of cable on it. Most of the software that comes with these devices simply mimics keyboard inputs. That way an app you are running on the device simply sees the data coming in from the reader as if you were manually entering the data yourself via the keyboard on the screen. You can even configure the software to append carriage return or tab characters onto the end of the incoming data to advance through fields in a data entry screen or spreadsheet.
I couldn't access the link to this, but using barcode and mag stripe readers in the past, I know that they are just meant as an easy input device. They really are just meant to read in the number (same as if you just typed it in with keyboard). That's all they do. You still have to have a frontend (usually a database app of some sort). That will allow you to perform various functions using the barcode that was read in. Just a convenience device to save you from having to type in every barcode number.
For what it's worth, this is the same way that a barcode works at a store as well (with a register).....it's just usually preconfigured in registers, only requiring a list of all products/prices/etc.
Originally posted by pyro But if you have no own store it's pretty useless, as you can only read the number of the bar code, not more.
Information isn't stored in it.
I'm not sure if you mean in general or the above product((didnt' look at it.), but the Cue Cat's were supposed to be able to scan bar codes on CD's and DVD cases and give you the title and publisher, etc..
I'm just giving an example so I don't know if any of the bar code readers out there do the same thing. My guess would be that may be what they are wanting to use it for or keeping tracking of items a company may own. In other words like an asset tag.
Just my guess and $.01.
As a side question why is this question under Wireless? ;)
to answer your question - it's now in accessories :)
Anyway - as far as barcode scanners for the Axim go, there are a few CF scanners. I own my own used bookstore and have looked into them. The costs are mostly prohibitive, though. They range in the $300+ range and don't do anything more than a standard reader does (take the UPC code and all information and plop it into a text file). If you want to see the available products, though, you can check out Socket Communications main page here: http://www.socketcom.com/product/bar.asp
Currently I'm using a CueCat scanner for those items (CDs, DVDs, books, etc.) that actually have a barcode. You then need to be able to process that information and (if for a CD, DVD or Book) look it up on an available service such as Amazon, Tower, etc. (A great software product that does this is Readerware)
HTH!
Nick
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Quote:
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
- Philip K. Dick
The Cue Cat actually reads the barcode from a product and then accesses a database on the web to attempt to lookup that code and then redirect you to the web site for that company/product. It would work with any company's product that had made an arrangement with the Cue Cat folks to be included in their database.
For the purposes of a bar code reader installed in a PDA, that is a different application. For example, taking inventory in a warehouse. You would have a database, spreadsheet, or some other "front end" app that is designed to accept the data input from the reader. Then all the reader, as has been pointed out, is capture the data from the bar code and fill in the data entry fields in the "front end" application.
A slightly more sophisticated approach is what you see at the check out register at many stores. They scan the code on the product and that triggers a database lookup to locate the info about that product based on the code that was read in. All the info about the product (name, description, price, etc) is not stored in the bar code itself. That bar code simply contains a unique ID number that is used to then cross-reference an entry in a database that contains all the data. That retrieval from the database then supplies all the data to print on the receipt.
All the info about the product (name, description, price, etc) is not stored in the bar code itself. That bar code simply contains a unique ID number that is used to then cross-reference an entry in a database that contains all the data.
Exactly what I was getting to earlier TSB8C.....Just to let everyone know, there is a type of barcode that can actually store more characters/info than a standard UPC-style barcode. These are called 2D Barcodes (aka. PDF 417 barcodes). They can hold a little over a kilobyte of data (about 1000+ characters). You'll find them on newer UPS shipping labels, backs of some drivers licenses, etc. I don't know of any CF 2d barcode readers, but you can find plenty that are serial-based. I'm pretty sure this is not what the post-starter was looking for, but I thought it might help someone else who is reading this post later on. 2D barcodes allow a lot more flexibility for some types of applications, although simple inventory management is still best dealt with by using UPC-style barcodes and a database frontend.
I've got an old socket Wand that I used on my Jornada 548, It works great on the 548 but my axim wm2003 machine thinks its a modem, It's an older wand so i think it might be somthing to do with revision ?????? I've tried installing the new drivers from Socketcom but still no joy.
Any Idea's ????
the wand is :-
Socket wand SL2701-112 for Win CE "REV A"
Cheers
Jim
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