Write Programs for Wireless Barcode Scanner

[raptormanad]

Does anyone have any recommendations for software that writes programs for wireless barcode scanners like the Symbol PDT 6800? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Jenner]

The Symbol PDT 6800 development kit is designed for C programming, so anything that does C programming would work like Eclipse.

On the other hand, the Honeywell Dolphin 7600 scanner runs Windows Mobile 6, so you can actually program the thing in .NET using Visual Basic or C# since it uses the Compact Framework. I like to program for these scanners since I'm very familiar with Visual Basic already. When I was first handed one, it only took me about two weeks to have a fully functional application running on it. It even used a miniature compact MS SQL database to hold my transactions. Motorola has several scanners that run Windows Mobile as well.

[raptormanad]

Thanks for the info. Ever heard of WaveLink Studio?

[Jenner]

No, afraid I never used it (I Googled it though). It's probably pretty handy for developing on scanners that aren't running Windows Mobile. As long as your scanner is supported that is.

[Tom.Net]

Im not sure what your referring to as writing software for wireless scanners. If you have a wireless scanner it should come with drivers needed to automatically input barcode scanned values into any control that can accept the text input.

[Jenner]

No, we're not talking "dumb" barcode scanners here. A "dumb" barcode device is nothing more than a keyboard type device. Open notepad, scan a barcode, the info appears in notepad as if you typed it out on the keyboard. Yes, they come in wired and wireless models.

What we're talking about is referred to as a "smart" scanners; i.e. mobile computers. These things have CPUs and run a rudimentary OS. You can take them to remote warehouses far away from the main computer and use them to perform whatever scanning transactions you desire. Think of them as powerful pocket PCs with built in barcode systems.

Thus, they run a piece of customized software which more likely than not, must be programmed to match the inventory control system at the site. They don't send data to the home-base computer immediately when you scan either. They dump the transactions into your network via a docking station, or one of the various networks they typically come equipped with. Bluetooth, 802.11, and even GSM phone networks are common on these things.

Unfortunately, they have pricetags to match their power; some several thousand dollars. The most expensive one we ever bought to program for was about $5000.

[mjelic]

Does anyone have any recommendations for software that writes programs for wireless barcode scanners like the Symbol PDT 6800? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Have you had any success programming the PDT6800?

I am about to buy one off eBay for my company to help us with Stock Takes. I have scoured the internet for any info I can find, and your question came up in Google. (You're famous! )

Were you able to create a program and run it on the PDT? I found QuickBasic 4.5 as a free download, and I figure for my very simple application (3 inputs - part# barcode, location barcode and qty keyboard input - then write to CSV, repeat) that this will be more than enough for what I need, since it can compile BASIC code to a DOS .EXE file.

So how easy is it to transfer data/programs to/off it? Can modern computers still see the device on the network, or did you use a serial cable?

Let me know how you are going with it all. Sorry to bombard you with all these questions, but seems like you have travelled down the same road ahead of me and would really appreciate any directions.

Cheers from Australia.

Mark

Keywords: Symbol Barcode Scanner PDT 6800 PDT6800 Portable Data Terminal Wireless Program Basic DOS .EXE QuickBasic Stocktake