Multiple Barcode Scanning

[james_p_martin]

Dear All,

I am having an application where I need to scan the barcode string from 6 different USB Barcode Scanners which are connected at single computer,but what I really want is how can I identify from which Barcode I am getting the string.

I have six text boxes on front panel which corresponds to each scanner, so if I can get any acknowledgementy from the scanner prior to displaying the barcode string in textbox, I will keyfocus that particular textbox.

But I am not having any idea that I can get any kind of ackoowledgement from the scanners which are connected at USB Port.

Please try to help if anyone has some valuable suggestion.

Thanks

[MikeS81]

Hi james p m...,

do you get the string as "normal" keyboard input, or do you have to call a dll? Are all Barcode Scanners using the same type of barcode?

Mike

[james_p_martin]

Hello Mike

I get the barcode string as normal keyboard input.

Thanks

[james_p_martin]

Hello Mike

I get the barcode string as normal keyboard input.

Thanks

[MikeS81]

Hi james p m...,

what about the type of barcode, do they have all the same, or more then one type? Can you use a dll?

Mike

[waldemar.hersacher]

This way you have no chance to know here your input comes from. It came from a keybord which could be:

a PS/2 keyboard, up to 255 USB devices simlulationg a keyboard and possibly thousands of Windows programs simulating a keybord like the OSK program delivered with Windows.

Only the contents can give you a hint from where the contens comes or you have a time shedule of the sequence the barcodes are scanned. Maybe you are able to trigger the scanner.

[Ray.R]

I agree with Waldemar.

However, you may have a "barcode scanning procedure / process".  As part of the process, you would need to initialize the barcode scanners by scanning their associated barcode, which would be used by the program to identify which barcode is which.   You could store their identity in an array that you could lookup (or find the index depending on implementation) in order to identify which barcode is used at what location.

R

[james_p_martin]

HI All,

Thanks for responses, the barcode will be of same type.

Actually I have to implement barcode scanners at a production line , there will be around 15 test benches (machines), and the product goes under testing for various parameters at each machine.

These machines give GO / NOGO output after completion of tests, barcode scanner will be used after completion of test, so when it is scanning and sending the string to Main CPU (which is at the end of line) there will be a Digitial I./O card which will scan and record the result from that machine (Go/NG) with coming barcode string and save into a file...this goes for all machines.

After comletion of all tests at every machine, when the final operator will scan the barcode for printing a new barcode to be pasted on that product the whole report will come corresponding to that particular barcode , that whether product has completed all tests and were all tests OK??  Only then Main CPU will give commmand to print the new barcode having all test information.

Thanks & regards

-----

James

Using LV 8.0

[unclebump]

May want to look at USB ports over ethernet. Might give you an ip address and port number to use for the data location.

http://www.digi.com/products/usb/anywhereusb.jsp

[Brian_Beal]

When using multiple barcode scanners on the same PC, I have always used serial(RS-232) barcode scanners.  This lets me be sure of where the data is coming from.