EBME Forums Forums Management Equipment Libraries Bar code labels

Good answer, Robert. An appropriate use of barcodes, then. And one that actually solved a problem!

There's lots of barcode related stuff on eBay, of course. Including a couple of the type you mention (with PS/2 connectors). But it looks like most of the hand-held scanners use USB these days.

That is exactly what we want to do book it out to a place and book it back. Will look into a scanner and see what software it comes with.

Cheers

Good news! I won a couple of these off eBay for £ 11 the pair, and one of them works* just as you describe, Robert. It uses PS/2 male and female connections (plus a "little box") that connect between the keyboard and the PC, as you mention. There is a DC input socket on the box, but the thing seems to work OK without any power other than what it filches from the PC PS/2 connector (5 VDC between pins 3 and 4, of course).

There's a button on the scanner handle to flash the barcode. The thing bleeps as it recognises the barcode, and plonks (yes, a good technical term, that) the code in normal ASCII characters wherever on the screen your keyboard cursor happens to be patiently waiting (eg, in a NotePad text file, database field, spreadsheet cell, DOS command line ... wherever). Or even right here (look):-

0106945764400014

(although that was seen as a "download" for some reason ... interesting)

Brilliant! And no need for software (Billy) ... just an initial re-boot.

OK, now I'm looking forward to hours of fun, Mate ... you know, looking out for all the various barcode types to try (and, er, collect)!

* The other may need a bit of coaxing into life!

For some unfathomable reason, "everyone" seems to prefer QR* codes these days.

There seem to be quite a number of QR Code Generators available on line, by the way.

* Quick Response

Linear barcodes, too.

This one, for example.

Not really unfathomable - smart phones are everywhere.

Are they those toys that get whipped out of the back pocket of jeans to be "checked" every thirty seconds or so?

Or worse still, the thing that gets continually glanced at when folk are supposed to be working (and being paid to work)?

What is it that these people are so afraid of missing out on?

And am I the only person that looks where they are going when striding about town these days?

No, I don't have a so-called "smart" phone; and have no intention of ever getting one.

Bar Codes, Electronic Signatures, Service/Operator Manuals online, Electronic Work/PPM Orders. Who needs paper, Do need digital devices though, although I am still upset at the amount time 'staff, not just bme' are looking at their phones whilst supposed to be working.

How much would we have learnt from each other back in the day if mobile devices had been available?

"How much would we have learnt from each other back in the day if mobile devices the internet had been available?"

But I see that we agree about time-wasters at work though, Neil; but what's the answer there, do you reckon?

Rules and regulations have to be enforced, work devices must have limited uses.