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Question and Answer

Tom Kyte

Thanks for the question, Mo.

Asked: March 15, 2003 - 4:41 pm UTC

Last updated: August 13, 2004 - 5:51 pm UTC

Version: 8.17

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You Asked

Tom:

1. Do you have any information/reference on how can barcode scanners interface with oracle database. I have a web inventory management system with a shipment table. When someone picks something from a bin, I need to create a record in the shipment table which has date shipped, stock number, storage code, and quantity. The storage code is the one that can be scanned. The way it should work is that invenotry people can create records into oracle using scanners. Would the scanner show exactly the web page showing on the pc?

2. I have a column "description" in a table . Several records has " in it which cause a problem in javascript lookup because javascript uses it as string terminators as x = "this is a table"

What would you use to replace all " with blank. Would you use replace function here.

Thank you,


and Tom said...

1) they do not interface with Oracle anymore then your KEYBOARD does.

A barcode scanner is just a rudimentary input device, like a keyboard, scanner, or a mouse.

You need a UI that the barcode will "type into", then you can process the newly "keyed in" data.

The barcode scanner just types a number into a field and tabs to the next field, not any different then a keyboard really.

2) umm, how about instead of destroying the data you:

"How about this string with a \" in it?"

then you do not destroy the data -- you use \ to escape things in javascript. So, you can replace " with \"

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Comments

Scanners

kiro, March 18, 2003 - 6:04 am UTC

Hi
Just to give you additional info: There are keyboard handheld scanners that could be connected together with keyboard and every scan of barcode will enter encoded barcode like numbers.
We are using such kind of scanners with Oracle Forms 6i (text field) to enter products barcode information.


barcode scanner

kero, January 02, 2004 - 2:54 pm UTC

hi
how to connect between barcode and oracle forms?
i mean how to collect data from barcode into oracle form builder

Tom Kyte
January 02, 2004 - 4:23 pm UTC

there is generally *nothing* to be done.

the barcode just "pretends to type in a number and hit a tab" in general (most of them).

so, you position cursor in field, scan and wa-lah -- the code appears, as if you typed it in on a keyboard.

if it doesn't work that way, you need to ask your barcode vendor "so, how do you use this thing"

barcode

mo, August 07, 2004 - 10:19 am UTC

Tom:

You say the barcode scanner is like a keyboard. Would it also be the monitor too?

It seems these devices are connected to a PC at warehouse and what you scan shows up at the PC.

If I have an HTML form that simply shows a columnar form (stock number, storage code, quantity) and warehouse person received a shipment and wants to process/save using the wireless scanner.

1. Now he is several feet away from the PC. would his handheld scanner show a form or you have to create a UI using some kind of language for the scanner?

2. Then after he does various scans. we want to hit "ENTER" which basically runs an oracle procedure (URL) to save all that? Can this happen from the wireless deveice?

3. I wonder whether the scanner UI will allow you to have dropdown menus (list od all stock numbers) where he can select "values" too for other fields that he does not scan.
Basically he select "stock number", hit tab, scan storage code, hit tab and key in quantity, then go to next record. After entering al records, he hits "Enter" or "Save" and all recrods are saved in the oracle shipment table.



Tom Kyte
August 07, 2004 - 10:35 am UTC

to Oracle, a monitor is a meaningless thing.

to Oracle, to an application, the barcode scanner is an input device. they act like "a keyboard"

<quote>
It seems these devices are connected to a PC at warehouse and what you scan
shows up at the PC.
</quote>

change scan to type and you described a keyboard.



You'll really need to talk to someone that manufactures the devices you are interested in. they sound like something more than a scanner, they sound like a computer themselves.

barcode scanner

mo, August 12, 2004 - 6:45 pm UTC

Tom:

After some research, you were right is that a scanner is only a keyboard. However the wireless devices seem to come in different O/S and features.

1. Palm or Pocket PC which is a combination PC/scanner can run IE. If this is the case I should be able to use HTML as a UI and the 8IAS as my interface to the database. Correct? Just like sitting at a PC.

2. The other options would be creating a UI using application software like tracer for that device and then sending the data to a VT client (telnet) or ODBC application to send data to database? Do you know of any reference on how to do this to oracle database?

3. There is a book ORacle 9i Mobile and it says there is a set of wireless services in 9IAS. I have not seen the book but is this related to creating UI applications on wireless devices that interface to oracle database?

Thank you,



Tom Kyte
August 13, 2004 - 9:41 am UTC

1) if you have a wireless card it in, sure, else you are going to write a palm/pocket pc application (perhaps using Oracle lite or whatever) and "sync up" when they put it into a cradle.

2) nope, no experiences there.

3) it is about using the plethora of wireless devices out there (think "cell phone" for example, palms, pocket pc, whatever) as devices to input information and display information. You need the AS wireless option to use that.

barcode scanner

mo, August 13, 2004 - 11:42 am UTC

Tom:

We want to do it in real time meaning after users does the proper scans he hits a "Enter" and it gets saved to the database. No need for a cradle, sync and batch processing.


1. Is Oracle Lite product used to develop applications (data capture forms) for wireless devices? or it basically creates a local database on the wireles device that you have to sync with the server database later?

2. Would oracle Lite also have the APIs to interface the wireless device UI to the server database?

3. Would oracle lite work with 8i database?

4. If I decide to use IE and HTML user interface on the wireless device do I need wireless option for the 8iAS. It should work exactly as it is now?

Tom Kyte
August 13, 2004 - 5:51 pm UTC

then you are looking for an always connected wireless device. pick one.

you would not use oracle lite, it would be for "syncing up later"


Bar code reader

umer zameer, June 13, 2008 - 1:26 am UTC

yup, my barcode reader is working fine , its only reading the values but still i can use my keyboard to write into the text field of forms 10g
this makes confusion , how can i disable keyboard input ???