Barcode Scanning/generation

[Nikhil]

Hi all,

I have following queries related to the Compact Framework and
PocketPC device :
1.I searched a lot regarding Barcode scanner support on .net CF but the only
thing I could find is the support on Symbol Devices which provides its own
SDK and classes for Barcode scanning and generation.I have iPaq device and I
want Barcode scanning and generation.Does anyone knows about the solution to
this requirement ?

2.I also found that there is no native support available for the barcode
generation in .net.does anyone knows about the possible solution ?

3.Is it possible to have wireless Ethernet card and Barcode scanner
connected to the PocketPC device at the same time ?What are the possible
solutions ?

Any input on above queries will be appreciated.

Thanks
...Nikhil

 

[Girish NS]

Hi,

The following link might be useful to u.
http://www.opennetcf.org/BarCode.asp

Girish.

 

[Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]]

1. There is no standard API for barcode scanner operations. Every scanner
works differently. When you say that you want barcode scanning and
generation, you aren't telling us anything without saying what scanner and
what printer, etc.

2. You can buy fonts which represent barcode information, but even in
desktop Windows there's no native support for barcode generation.

3. If the device has both a Compact Flash slot and a PCMCIA sleeve or
something, then you should be able to use a serial-based scanner and a
PCMCIA-based RF card, yes. Maybe you should consider some of the devices
which are already out there that have this capability built-in, rather than
trying to integrate pieces from many different suppliers. Does the device
need to be hand-held? If so, think Symbol. If not, then think about one of
the many fixed/vehicle-mount terminals, which have a lot of I/O and don't
rely much on sleeves, etc.

Paul T.

 

[Nikhil]

I have already gone thru this site and knows that the library supports only
socket scanners which acts like a keyboard but no support provided for the
bar code generation.Actually I am exploring the possibilities of a device
independent solution and after reading all information provided on various
web sites I guess its not possible.

Anyways thanks for your mail.

Thanks,

...Nikhil

 

[Nikhil]

1. There is no standard API for barcode scanner operations. Every scanner
works differently. When you say that you want barcode scanning and
generation, you aren't telling us anything without saying what scanner and
what printer, etc.

Actaully I am looking for a generic,device independent solution because our
customers are having different type of devices on which they are running our
application's earlier version and if we develop a device dependent solution
they will have to discard their devices.But it looks like we can't scap from
this dependency and will have to develop the application targetting specific
scanner and printers.
We want to use thermal printer.

2. You can buy fonts which represent barcode information, but even in
desktop Windows there's no native support for barcode generation.

Thanks for the useful information .

3. If the device has both a Compact Flash slot and a PCMCIA sleeve or
something, then you should be able to use a serial-based scanner and a
PCMCIA-based RF card, yes. Maybe you should consider some of the devices
which are already out there that have this capability built-in, rather than
trying to integrate pieces from many different suppliers. Does the device
need to be hand-held? If so, think Symbol. If not, then think about one of
the many fixed/vehicle-mount terminals, which have a lot of I/O and don't
rely much on sleeves, etc.

Thanks for the information.Yes I agree with you on symbol.But still need to
search for the options available for iPaq 3600 series.

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi ,

Thanks for the information.Yes I agree with you on symbol.But still need to
search for the options available for iPaq 3600 series.

Did you see Symbol SPS 3000 :
http://www.currentdirections.com/hardware/symbol/sps3000.html

Cheers,

 

[Nikhil]

Yes...
But again it doesn't support .net.

Thanks
...Nikhil

 

[Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]]

I think you need to come to terms with the fact that you're going to have to
learn how to P/Invoke to native code. If they provide a C-callable library,
then, unless they've played fast and loose with structures that contain
arrays, etc., it should not be a big deal to call those functions from
VB.NET or C#.

Paul T.

 

[Chris Tacke, eMVP]

It goes on a PPC, which does support the CF. It undoubtedly has a scanning
API, so it can be P/Invoked.

 

[Nikhil]

When I said it doesn't support .net, I meant to say that it doesn't provide
libraries for .net.Yes invoking the C-Callable Library functions from the C#
or VB.net is the possible way of doing this.

Thanks Paul and Chris for all your valuable inputs.

Cheers
...Nikhil

 

[Martin Robins]

Nikhil,

As others have pointed out, there is no "standard" API for communications
with barcode scanners and as such it would be difficult to provide native
support for such devices under .NET CF.

I have been working with scanning devices from various manufacturers and the
..NET CF for about a year now and I have overcome the problem by defining my
own interface for scanning communications and then creating wrappers around
the libraries provided by the manufacturers that expose those libraries as
per my interface. This then allows me to support various scanners from
tethered scanners through to the built in scanners on Symbol and Intermec
devices.

The other option that you could also consider is the fact that most of these
scanning devices can be used via the keyboard - that is that they can be set
to present their data as if it were being typed and this would then mean
that you would not have to specifically support anything other than a CF
application.

Martin.