Re: Frist Time Handheld Developer - Is it Hard to Code a Basic Barcode Scanner App?

You can choose either of three approaches.

You can use the "keyboard wedge" that comes with the scanner. This is
an app that will collect output from the scanner and redirect it to
whatever window has focus. This method avoids any need to deal with
device-specific SDK. Richard Mueller provide methods to make sure the
right window has focus. I'm much lazier; I display very few windows at
any time and assume users will learn to keep the right one in focus.
This approach has worked far better than I feared. I have had _no_
complaints from users or my boss.

Another approach is to use the SDK for the bar code. You could fully
embed calls to that SDK in your app. Or you could modify the wedge to
work more closely with your app, by figuring out the right window.

Another approach is to buy the app. I'm definitely biased, but really
do think this approach is often less expensive. The individual pieces
are not so hard. But they do add up. Making it all work in the real
world can be tough. And, unless the requirements really are clear and
not at all likely to change, you will need to handle changes. Some
apps are likely available for less than a month of your time.

You can find at least a bit more by using google
(http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search) to look up
wedge
in this newsgroup.


On 3 Apr 2006 18:14:11 -0700, hack123@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

G'Day all,
I am a fairly fluent developer in vb.net 03/05 and some basic c# also.
But I have never had anything to do with pocket pc / windows ce.
However I am now faced with the task of purchasing a barcode scanner
device (something like a symbol branded unit) that runs pocket pc 03/05
and writing an application that can scan in the data from the barcode
scanner on the end of it, pump it to a text/portable sql file, doing
checks to see if its been scanned before or not ect...
My main question is, is it hard to code an app that uses the barcode
scanner or is something that you just say: (pseudo code)

on button click

scan.scansomeitem.totext

save text to file/sql

end

Do I have to do any crazy dll programming for the scanner part or??
I await your replies eagerly!!

Dave.

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