Handheld interface to ASP app?

[Mike]

I'm just looking for some recommendations here - if you may.

My division (IT) would like to integrate a handheld (barcode scanning)
application into a current web-based (ASP) product.

Currently we provide a web based system to the users for validate outgoing
shipments - our users would like this piece more mobile so that they can
validate out in the field - rather than transcribing paper forms.

A web service comes to mind as the means of transferring data via the
internal internet connection (wireless or wired).

I am a handheld developer from way back, but new to .net technology today.
Is this a fit for .net on ppc platforms?

Any help would be appreciated. This may not the best ng to ask this??

m

 

[Darren Shaffer]

Perfect place to ask this question. Most of the ruggedized handheld
manufacturers
with built-in barcode scanners/imagers (Symbol, Intermec, HHP, PSC, etc)
now provide
..Net Assemblies in their SDKs because the Compact Framework is so popular
for
AIDC mobile application development given it's enterprise focus and rapid
development
capabilities. So you have many options, the simplest two of which are:
1) a rich CF app running on the mobile device or
2) a web-based app leveraged via Pocket Internet Explorer on device.

The CF app gives you complete control over the scanner through the
manufacturer's
..Net assemblies. The web-based approach will likely be doing nothing but
intercepting
scan data via a "keyboard wedge" approach and dumping the decoded scan value
into a
textbox on the web page as if it were keyboard input. Problem here is you
don't get to control
when the scanner is on or off, filter the barcode formats you want to be
able to scan, and users
can activate the scanner while focus is on the wrong field. One or two
manufacturers have an
ActiveX scan control that improves on this, but not all do.

The web-based approach would also require a constant, reliable network
connection to the web server
while the CF app could be written to work when no connection is available or
a connection is sporadic using
SQL Server CE for local persistence/data caching. Deployment and
maintenance/admin issues are
reduced with the web-based approach.

So start by considering the capabilities of the device you are targeting and
then look at
how much control you need over the scanner, your network connectivity
situation, and the SDKs
available from the device manufacturer and factor those in making your
decision. The manufacturers
I listed above all have CF samples available in their SDKs.

-Darren Shaffer