Bar Code Scanners

[ACEAQ1]

How can I use a bar code scanner to do inventory in Access 2003?

 

[JimS]

Your question is too general. This forum is designed to help folks work
through issues, syntax, strategy, etc. There is not space to go through the
strategy at that level.

What I will say, is that many bar code readers present themselves as
keyboard replacements. If you have an application, you can typically click
into a text box or combo box, actuate the bar code reader, and it will "type"
the bar code translation into the box for you.

Inventory is an application that has "been done" a million times. Google
"Inventory Management Access", and you're likely to find a dozen pre-written
apps you can buy, use, or use as a starting point.

 

[FatMan]

ACEAQ1:
Not sure if this well help but here it goes. I created an access database
to handle the manual data entry of our inventory and it worked well for a
couple of years. Then we decided that we wanted to start using bar code
scanners so I contacted a company that sell scanners and had them write a
custom program that will capture the data we needed (bar code, qty, location,
date, time, etc.) as well as allow us to upload our inventory list (bar
codes) to the scanners for error checking. Once the count is done we can
download the captured data from the scanners and import it to our database.
Sounds expensive and difficult to use but it was under $1000 to have the
custom program written and anyone can do the upload/download and import. We
originally rented the bar code readers but like the program that we decided
to purchase the bar code readers. It certainly has cut down GREATLY on the
amount of time it use to take to count and manually enter the data into the
access database.

The company I dealt with was in Markham, Ontario, Canada.

Hope it helps,
FatMan

 

[Pete D.]

On the flip side, a bar code scanner simply snaps a shot of the barcode and
turns it into text in whatever location your cursor is located using a
serial port, inline with keyboard port or usb. Now that of course was
simplified but if you are decent with access all it requires is basically
having the cursor in the right location (programmed or manually) when you
scan the bar code to update the item. Scanners provide triggers to equal
pressing the enter key or whatever. If you are not that great with VBA or
programming hiring someone is a valid option. Also there are package
scanner deals that provide interface to Access and have directions on how to
do it. Search Google for MS Acess Barcode Scanner.