barcode scanners

kidgeek_dfw

I want to build a barcode scanning app out of PHP & MySql for concert tickets.

Can anyone tell me the best "wireless barcode scanners" to get?
I'd like to have them all connect to one central computer that has a local version of PHP & MySQL running...

I've looked through various scanner apps WASP & Symbol and I'm not sure where to start...

The basic functions I need the scanner to do is tell the ticket taker if the ticket is good, instantly.

So maybe a green light let the customer go in.
Red Light the customer has a bad or duplicate ticket.
Something like that...

Any suggestions?

I've seen the program PHPMYTICKET, and its pretty close to what I'm thinking...
But I need to know what kind of wireless setup to start with....

Thanks for any help.

Jack_McSlay

you can't interface hardware with PHP and evei if it did, it would run really weird. what you should be looking for is a java application that reads barcode, and then tell php what to do with it, and I guess this forum is not a great place to ask for barcode scanner suggestions, simply because you cant use them in PHP

dotnotwhat

Not sure exactly what you are trying to achieve, but barcode scanners can be used to some degree within a PHP project.

Some years ago, I had to make a simple inventory tracking system for a client. The user would sit in front of a web browser on their PC, looking at a web page with a form input element that was used to enter a product's code. This code could be entered by hand using the keyboard, or alternatively a barcode scanner could scan the product's barcode and the decoded product code, entered into the text box automatically.The barcode scanners we used at the time (not sure what make they were now) could 'replicate' keyboard input so as long as the text box on the web page has focus (you can use javascript to force this), scanning a barcode automatically entered the product code into the text box and submitted the form. What you do with this info is up to you. Using PHP you could check it against a database and go from there.

As for actually choosing a barcode scanner, check that they can be configured to enter data as if it had been typed in by keyboard. Some scanners can be set to also add a carriage return after the code which means the web form will be submitted automatically. The user won't have to click anything on the pc.

Hope this is of some help.

kidgeek_dfw

thank you dotnotwhat...
and Jack thanks for the response as well...

more and more php developers are getting into this...
So I knew it was not outside the focus of this forum...

I am going to build the exact system you just mentioned for a non-profit local clothing store and a bookstore... I just saw at the local warehouse for nerdbooks.com the exact system you mentioned, and it was very cool...

This concert system is checking people in only once to concerts.
Kind of a security thing, to keep people from duplicating tickets, and leaving and coming back type of thing...

I didn't word my first paragraph correctly, but I do know that I may need an app to go to the mysql db...

So in stead of the wand scanner having to be right next to the pc and the ticket taker having to look at a screen to monitor each person;

I thought maybe there was some solution that could do it all from the wand wirelessly...

Lots of new technology out now, so I thought some php developer might be able to lead me in the right direction... I'm not looking for an expensive system either... It seems that symbol might be the source of the hardware...

codeye

I have developed a stock control and warehousing application in php that uses a combination of barcode scanning and user input.

We use the Symbol MC3000 which is basically a hand held PC with an integrated barcode scanner. These are not cheap and it maybe that you don't need the flexibility of a full PC.

You could look at mono screen devices such as the Intermec CK30 which allows you to restrict the device to your single application. They run a version of IE that has extensions which control the functions of the device.