EPOS! I Reading from a BarCode Scanner 2

[kozy]

I'm using a BarCode Scanner to read info into my app. The problem I'm having is what event to use to analyse the info recieved or which component to use.
Basically I'm reading a value and looking it up in a database, but the focus is never gained or lost by the edit box. If the value is found then apporpriate data is displayed or the edit box is reset. I can't use the on change event because this occurs for each character recieved.
Any ideas?

 

[Ragnafar]

How about using the OnChange event and checking if it's the right length before looking it up?

 

[mattlacey]

It sounds as if you're using a keyboard wedge with your scanner to read the data into an edit box. Might I suggest OnChange as an event to process the data on.

If you are connecting your scanner via a serial port, I would suggest looking at the ASync Pro components from TurboPower (

http://www.turbopower.com).

You can use these to capture the data as the port receives it and then do whatever processing you like with it.

 

[LorenPechtel]

My solution to a similar problem: The barcode reader is programmed to add an unusual character before and after the code (different characters). When I get the initial character I figure it's probably a barcode and the barcode analyzer is activated. When I get the trailing character I check the buffer to see if what I got is a properly formatted barcode message.
It is possible for a human to type it in but it would be awfully hard to do so by accident.

 

[trevveler]

I have some experience working with barcodes. In every case I know of, when scanned the barcode itself was followed by a carriage return. I don't know if this is always true, but if this is the case in your situation, then you can use OnKeyDown and test for VK_Return.

 

[LorenPechtel]

That's a feature of the scanner and not the barcode itself.

 

[kozy]

Thanx everyone, you pointed me in the right direction! I reprogrammed the Bar code Scanner.