barcode scanners

nikko50

hi there. I'm looking for some info on barcode scanners. I would like to create barcode labels and be able to scan the barcode into a mysql DB i have created. What type of scanner would I need to buy to pull data for a barcode into a mysql db. Any info would be great!!
Sharon

jpmoriarty

most barcode scanners just act as a way of inputting data into a computer, so in a way they're a bit like a keyboard. You scan a barcode, and it will output the letters or numbers that the code represents.

What you then do with that information is up to you, but if you want to get that info into mysql, then you'll probably need to design a php page that takes the output and puts it into the database - probably just by using a form on a webpage.

But it would be no different to you typing in the numbers from the barcode and inputting those - just a bit quicker, obviously.

I'd suggest googling "barcode scanner" and having a gander at the results. i dont think there'll be much to choose between them somehow.

bastien

The scanner actually plugs in between the keyboard and the box. You need to decide on fonts. Some fonts, like UPC require licensing and it ain't cheap. There are free fonts, so again just google. We use the wasp scanner from tiger direct($150 bucks or so)

All the scanner does is simulate the keyboard input (you can add checksum characters to test for keyboard vs scanner input and add things like auto-return (like hitting the return key)into the barcode pattern

hth

xenologer

Hi,
I'm also doing an application that needs a barcode scanner
Web based Point of Sale system

From what Ive heard so far, basically the scanner gun outputs a string of text as a keyboard, with a carriage return at the end
so as the php developer, all i need to do is have a form to accept this string as the productID

what about.... item quantity? are there barcode scanners that additionally have a keypad on them so after scanning the item you can punch in a quantity? then submit both numbers? how would that work? some combined string of both ID and quantity that i need to parse? two submits?

I dont actually have a scanner gun yet, im looking for the right one... and thinking about how i need to design the application end of things first....
any thoughts?
thanks

Tracer

I do lots of this... The best scanners by far (of course they are also expensive) are the SYMBOL scanners (www.symbol.com).

You can set the scanners to automatically append a RETURN after they scan (Great for WEB FORMS with SUBMITS)

To create barcodes..I have used this code which also works great http://www.mribti.com/barcode/

good luck

bastien

for quantity there are two approaches, both client side

let the user enter each item as its own record
use javascript, and trap each entry, with onblur or something, then check to see if the enty matches any of the current entries, then increase the quantity for that item

xenologer

So basically
to buy 10 of a given item
i have to pull the trigger 10 times
or manually type onto my computer

theres no such thing as a scanner with a numberpad on its head?
i want something like:
pull trigger, item gets sent to computer
that also does:
pull and hold trigger, tap quantity into scanner, realease trigger, item and quantity both get sent to computer(as a single string)

yeah, its a point of sale, but having to scan a barcode, then go to the computer an manually specify a quantity via keyboard is going to suck
its going to be checking out both small and very large immobile objects, so probably need like a 12 foot cable (no i dont think wireless or batch system is going to work, 200$ budget)
and walking back and fourth 12 feet between scans and quantity updates..... anyone know a solution? maybe theres a magic scanner that does exactly what i describe? cheap, corded with a numberpad
how would such a scanner encode its data tho? i need to plan ahead for the php end of things....

bastien

they make 'em, but they ain't cheap...google for [barcode scanners with keypad] and search, try ebay...

HomeDepot does business with the multiple scans on same items for quantity. They have large objects...gotta remember that the people using the system (cashiers) are basically tangerines and will f*ck things up, given half a chance