Friesen@PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM (01/08/89)
I am interested in writing some software for barcode readers. The hard thing is finding the hardware. What I would like to do is modify a Tandy bar code reader 'pen' (for their portable 100's,102's) so it would plug into the joystick port of the ST. The pen has a nine pin plug, and I have pin layouts for the ST's and the Pen's plugs, so I can make an adapter to connect the current and ground etc. They use the same voltage so that is no problem, but I would like to make sure that the type of signals the pen sends would work through the joystick port and if this idea is feasible. If anyone has done this, I would appreciate any help (I'm not much of a hardware hacker so I can use all the help I can get). I also would like to know of any books that would be helpful for programming the barcode reading/writing software. Thanks in advance Aric Friesen Addresses: Genie: A.FRIESEN ARPA: Friesen%PCO@BCO-MULTICS.ARPA
dwheeler@well.UUCP (Douglas N. Wheeler) (01/09/89)
In article <890108003518.926496@PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM> Friesen%PCO@BCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM writes: >... What I would like to do is modify a >Tandy bar code reader 'pen' (for their portable 100's,102's) so it would >plug into the joystick port of the ST. The pen has a nine pin plug, and >I have pin layouts for the ST's and the Pen's plugs, so I can make an >adapter to connect the current and ground etc. > >Aric Friesen You're in luck! I've already converted a Tandy Barcode reader to use with the ST (they were on sale). I move the wires to the following pins (they just slide out): White - 6 Red - 7 Black - 8 That will give you the equivelent of a button push (left mouse, or joystick, depending upon which port it's plugged into) whenever the reader passes over a bar (I don't recall whether white or black lines cause a pulse, experiment). I would love to hear how it goes, as I just haven't had the time to write the software. Good luck. --Doug
lharris@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu (Leonard Harris) (03/29/89)
Reference to Commercial posting follows - skip if this offends you for some reason .... Read Comp.newprod for a description of Harris Electronics Design's Bar Code readers for $195.00 Canadian. Harris Electronics Design 234 Lonsmount Drive Toronto, Ontario M5P 2Z1 (416) 962-5967