Symbol PDT 6100 - Bancolini BAGS Software

[chrisg147]

Hello

I would like to write a basic inventory counting program to run on a Symbol PDT 6100. C++ would be the obvious choice, but I'm not an expert programmer, this is more of a hobby for me. I found the Bancolini BAGS software which seems like a really simple way to do what I want. I've used the demo version and it seems fine. I've tried to contact the company, but they don't reply to emails, all the phone numbers are unobtainable and I tried registering from their online shop but they did not email back the user name. I'm guessing maybe they are no longer trading. Does anyone know if I can buy a copy of this software? Or if you have any other advice about how I can go about this it would be much appreciated

many thanks

Chris

 

[JRB-Bldr]

Personally I'd look to find another software vendor to deal with instead of trying to do as you have suggested.

If you do a Google search for:
barcode scanner wireless
you will find a whole host of other wireless barcode readers.

And among that group you will find other vendors who can also either directly provide you with interface software and/or recommend software interface products

Among that group I have worked with:

http://www.systemid.com/mobile_computers/

and found them to be very helpful.

BUT on another note, if you are planning on creating your own software with C++, what do you need that off-the-shelf package for?

You should be able to create your own without needing that other package at all.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[chrisg147]

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I already have the hardware and as a little project for myself I want to write my own software. The BAGS software is an application builder which would make things a bit easier for me but you're right I could go right back to basics with c++. I'll check out the link

Cheers

 

[JRB-Bldr]

I want to write my own software. The BAGS software is an application builder which would make things a bit easier for me

First - any off-the-shelf software that has NO support will NOT make things easier for you.

Secondly - I doubt that the 'applications' which the BAGS software built would be able to be directly integrated with anything you might write in C++.

If I were you I'd contact Symbol to get a Programmer's Guide to their Symbol PDT 6100 and/or I'd contact a good 3rd party vendor (someone who sells the units) who could assist you with understanding how to program the unit.

There are a number of languages that you could use to write your own application. Using C++ would be one that was most definitely state-of-the-art.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[JRB-Bldr]

One of the BIG things to understand is how the barcode reader sends data to the recipient PC.

Will the reader send in 'batches' containing all of the info from all of its reads since the last 'download'.

Or will it send the info one-at-a-time as the reads are made and appear in the PC as though it had come in through the keyboard.

Once you understand that, you can write your application to utilize the read data (info) as you need.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[chrisg147]

It was a batch setup I had in mind. Something like this:

Set counting location as a constant
Scan barcode or input from keyboard
If code is in current batch prompt to update qty
If not look up description from products file and prompt for qty
If description not found prompt for description and qty
Write location/code/qty to output file
Change location as many times as required
Then when finished download output to host pc and upload products file for next batch lookups

The BAGS software allows me to do this pretty easily in demo mode but you need the full version to actually compile the application

Chris

 

[JRB-Bldr]

If code is in current batch prompt to update qty

That is not what I call "having the Symbol PDT 6100 send the codes in a Batch mode"

My use of the term is to have the Reader:
* Read Code 1
* Read Code 2
* Read Code 3
etc.
* Send ALL codes in a sequential string via a 'Batch' mode to PC
I have worked with a number of non-hard-wired Barcode Readers which worked like this.

Then it would be up to your application software to receive ALL codes and then sequentially process each as needed.

Your description suggests that you want the Reader to:
* Read Code 1
* Send that code to PC
Not what I refer to when I say 'Batch'

After which your application could check if it needed to Update it somewhere or not.

NOTE - your description suggests that you might not fully understand what is happening where.

Also Note - it is true that I have not worked with this particular Symbol Barcode reader so the following is based on my assumptions of the non-hard-wired readers that I have worked with. If my assumptions are wrong and the Symbol unit has a LOT more capability, then the following may be off-base as well.

Since the reference data tables are not likely to reside within the Symbol Reader itself, the following is most likely occurring within the application on the PC workstation
If code is in current batch prompt to update qty
If not look up description from products file and prompt for qty
And the following is also most likely to be occurring within application operating on the PC workstation as well.
If description not found prompt for description and qty
Write location/code/qty to output file
And the following too is most likely occurring within application running on the PC workstation which may or may not be the 'host PC' itself or the write may be to a 'backend' database data table possibly residing on a Server.
Then when finished download output to host pc and upload products file for next batch lookups

Your description of what you want to do sounds like a reasonably easy database application whereby the data from the Reader is referenced against existing data in the data tables and then some action is taken (or not).

Again - if the BAGS development tool is NOT supported, Trial or Full version wouldn't matter. Working blindly is not a very effective approach. And, if the resultant application was not integratable with your work in C, what value would it deliver?

The functionality you describe could be done reasonably easy in MS Viaual Foxpro, MS Access, or a number of other database application development tools.

Doing it in C++ might be a little more of a challenge, but it would be a good learning opportunity. Personally if I were to consider doing it in a C language I'd use C# (C Sharp or C.Net) since it is the most current version.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[chrisg147]

Thanks. Maybe I didn't explain very well. The main pc database will be written in Access. The mobile application will be written in BAGS or c++. The reference data will be uploaded to the mobile device from the pc so that all the lookups will happen on the mobile device. The resulting data table (location, code, description, final qty) will be downloaded to the pc at the end if the batch and at the same time the reference data will be refreshed on the mobile device from access. This CAN be achieved on the mobile device using BAGS to write the application and probably in c++ too. That was the reason for the original post asking if anyone knew if BAGS was still in use/available.

 

[JRB-Bldr]

OK, thank for clarifying things.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[JRB-Bldr]

By doing a Google Search for:
"Symbol PDT 6100" applications
I found a few sites listing their software compatible to run on the DOS-based

One company:

http://www.barcodedatalink.com/pages/software.php

lists a number of applications that they have written for the Symbol PDT series. Maybe one would work for you.

Additionally another Google Search for:
DOS application development tool
yielded a number of DOS application development tools which might meet your needs.

Lastly a Google Search for:
symbol pdt inventory
may also turn up something that will work for you.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[chrisg147]

Thank you