csnuttge@cybaswan.UUCP ( k nuttgens) (06/06/90)
####################################################################### Does anyone have experience of reading bar codes using C. I want to use either Turbo C or Microsoft C to read bar codes into Paradox (using the Paradox engine). If anyone has relevant experience (or preferably code) that they would be willing to share, could they please mail me at: csnuttge@uk.ac.swan.pyr With thanks Karen Nuttgens ######################################################################### -- Karen Nuttgens Computer Science University College Swansea SA2 8PP
john@chinet.chi.il.us (John Mundt) (06/09/90)
In article <1875@cybaswan.UUCP> csnuttge@cybaswan.UUCP ( k nuttgens) writes: >Does anyone have experience of reading bar codes using C. I want to >use either Turbo C or Microsoft C to read bar codes into Paradox (using >the Paradox engine). Not your problem! This is something that is generally done transparently for you by the barcode widget. Whether you have a light pen or a laser scanner, the input comes from a black box which transfers what the light pen read into ASCII. Most of the black boxes sit between the terminal and the computer, or the keyboard and the computer, and pass data between the two constantly unchanged. When the light pen reads something, it is put onto the input stream as if it had been typed at the terminal. The black box will put a header string or trailer string onto the data read by the reader if you wish to distinguish between keyboard and light pen. Or, if you want to be difficult, it can be output to an RS232 port which you can read to see if any data has come in. A good company for this, with good equipment (plug coming and I don't work for them, but like their stuff) is Worthing Data, 417-A Ingalls Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (408-458-9938). If you want to print barcodes, Symbologic, PO Box 4749, Cerritos, CA 90703 offers source code for $79 that you can incorporate into your programs. 213-926-2823. -- --------------------- John Mundt Teachers' Aide, Inc. P.O. Box 1666 Highland Park, IL john@admctr.chi.il.us *OR* fred@teacha.chi.il.us (312) 998-5007 (Day voice) || -432-8860 (Answer Mach) && -432-5386 Modem