400 on Handheld devices

[JamieCairns]

Not sure if this is the right spot for this, but wanted another programmers perspective...

We're implementing bar-coding in our warehouse. We will be getting some WiFi barcode readers. There are 3 basic types : PocketPC based, PalmOS based, and proprietory OS.

I run 5250 emulation on my PocketPC (handy when wandering around the plant), but to fit the entire screen on the display, I have to either scroll back and forth, or zoom out to the point where the font is too small to be easily read. I've heard the same issues apply to the PalmOS based units. Just a matter of screen real estate...

Here's where the question is - Should I try to create display files to run on the reduced size screens of the BarCode devices (ie only use the top left quarter of the screen), or do I go proprietory, and get one with a basic PC program interface, and try to come up with some ODBC/SQL link between the two systems? Whatever solution we adopt, it needs to be real-time communication with the 400, or at least near real-time, as the updates can really affect our orber/backorder situation...

Thanks in advance for your views,

Jamie

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

Have you searched for technology on this? A great place to ask this would be at midrange.com. There is over a thousand people across the world that have expertise in every area of computing. I know there are many people here as well, but unfortunatly, only a handful of us are actually active.

iSeriesCodePoet
iSeries Programmer/Lawson Software Administrator

http://www.koldark.net

See my progress to converting to linux.

http://linux.koldark.net

 

[JamieCairns]

Will do - Thanks

 

[as400pro]

We developed custom screens to fit the small screen size. Management felt the users should be able to look at the screen and see the information without having to scroll, having to scroll around would slow them down.
Our scanners are wireless and are used to track inventory in real-time.


T. Bishop

http://www.as400pro.com

 

[JamieCairns]

Thomas

Thanks - we were leaning towards a "no-scroll" solution for exactly those reasons.

I take from your explanation that you went with the 400 emulation route, rather than the PC Software interface. What kind of handheld H/W and emulation S/W did you use ?

Jamie

 

[as400pro]

The hardware is made by Symbol, I believe the model number is 6840. They do 5250 emulation, the 5250 software came with the scanner but may have been a seperate purchase from the same vendor.

T. Bishop

http://www.as400pro.com