Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!fernwood!lanslide!hls.com!tima
From: tima@hls.com
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Bar code reader
Message-ID: <1991Jun26.121723.181@hls.com>
Date: 26 Jun 91 20:17:23 GMT
References: <1991Jun26.215859.1@elec.canterbury.ac.nz>
Lines: 30

In article <1991Jun26.215859.1@elec.canterbury.ac.nz>, rozee@elec.canterbury.ac.nz writes:
> Has anyone got any useful info on using a bar code reader with a P.C.?
> ...... as far as I can tell the reader will be a wand type, connected
> to a P.C. The hardware is a commercial product, and the software is what
> is going to be written. What is of particular interest is what sort of
> output the reader is likely to produce, format and the likes; will it be 
> the numeric equivilent of the bar code, or something else.

I am just winding down a barcode project in which we 'bar-coded' our
manufacturing floor. ($40K worth) At some of the data entry stations we used
"wedges" (approx $400) which are boxes which connect between the PC keyboard
and the PC. The output appears to the PC as if it was typed on the keyboard.

           *************
           *           *                /--======
           *    PC     *               /    wand
           *           *              /
           *************           *******          ************
           *           *-----------*wedge*----------* keyboard *
           *************           *******          ************
> 
> A software package is available for the reader; cost about twice the 
> price of the hardware. Uneconomic.
> 

If you are going to do anything besides a very simple data entry program,
I would strongly suggest that you use a commercially written package rather
than re-inventing the wheel.

Tim Ames