| Les Shewchuk 2006-02-13, 1:23 pm |
| Any one that suites your needs really. Remember, a scanner is just a
different type of keyboard device.
Things too look for.
Built in de-coders. There are a lot of different barcodes out there. Some
of the most common are UPC, 3of9 and US Postal. The scanner should have the
ability to read several different codes and convert them to keystrokes.
Programmability. Can you change what the reader sends to the computer? A
P.O.S. application I work with uses the ~ as a "Start new line" code.
Normally, the scanner doesn't send this. But some have the option to add
special characters.
Type. Does it use a laser or an LED to scan. LEDs usually are less
expensive but are short range. You have to press the reader against the
item being read. (This is the "gun" style handheld scanner). Lasers can be
smaller ("Pen" style) or can have a longer range. (Usually the "fixed"
style, built in units that you see at a grocery store).
Also, Is it a USB or a PS2 or AT keyboard style connector? If it is an AT
style plug (5 pin, about 1/2") you will need adapter cables, a PS2 to AT to
plug your keyboard into the scanner and a AT to PS2 to plug it into the
computer.
If you have a USB keyboard, you probably HAVE to use a USB scanner. On some
systems, if the USB keyboard is detected by the motherboard, it will
automatically switch off the PS2 socket (our Dell's do this, when USB
keyboards first came out, you had a problem if the Operating system went
Ga-Ga. Safe Mode or Motherboard set-up wouldn't recognize the USB keyboard)
The reverse could also be true, If you get a USB scanner and you have a PS2
keyboard, you may disable your keyboard.
Handheld "gun" type scanners usually have a narrow read area (about 3-4
inches) If you are using a 3of9 code that can be a lot of character, it is
possible to print barcodes wider than the scanner's read area. Also
durability. LED "guns" are less expensive, but some of them cannot take a
drop. Here you get what you pay for.
Les Shewchuk
"J Phillips" <wanabefl@aol.com> wrote in message
news:6m$OgH%23LGHA.1148@news-server...
> Anyone Know best brcode scaner to use with Vsual Dbase
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