Jeff,
Exactly. Switched to wireless scanners a long time ago. Thanks for
reading...most of it! lol.
I've even provided a barcode scan cheatsheet that will allow them to
scan a barcode to delete the previous scan entry, or clear the entire
form and start over. The barcodes are printed on card stock and
laminated 4"x6" cards. I'm trying to automate, but they seem to
understand and feel more comfortable with hand keying.
Maybe if their index fingers were tied behind their backs...
Mike
Jeff Johnson wrote:
On 10/1/2014 2:52 PM, Mike Copeland wrote:
All,
I have a problem with end users hand-keying information that should
be scanned with a barcode scanner to improve accuracy.
Here's the gist of the issue...
Every piece of inventory has a barcode sticker on it representing a
unique serial #, always 8 characters long.
(My application offers a way to reprint the barcode label in case
this label gets torn, damaged.)
What I need to force, somehow, is that the # represented on the
barcode label MUST be scanned by a simple barcode scan gun connected
to the computer.
As ya'll know, all the scanner does is convert the barcode data into
standard keyboard keystrokes and stuff the data into the keyboard
buffer...really fast. In other words, a very fast, very accurate
typist. But most importantly, the CORRECT # is input (so that the
correct inventory item is recorded as 'processed.')
The problem is that the users hand-key the number at the prompt...and
frequently hand-key it wrong.
So, to try to stop the hand-keying I removed the human-readable text
under the barcode on the label. So now, you either scan it or you
learn to read barcode by eye. One would hope/think that this would
have solved the problem...but no.
Now (by watching security video footage) we find that they are
1. opening Notepad
2. scanning the barcodes, which enters the barcode data in human
readable form, obviously
3. then hand keying the data into my application when they should use
the scanner.
And...errors are being made regularly. And, yes, training, threats,
etc. have been tried.
From the application's viewpoint, the only difference between a
barcode scanner providing input and a human typing on a keyboard is
the speed with which the data is input.
So, my last-ditch idea to force scanning and negate hand-keying is
to, somehow, use a timer on the input. Set the timer to a short time,
like 1 second, which is faster than 99% of humankind can type 8
characters. Start the timer on the first keystroke and when the timer
fires again if the length of the input is less than 8, clear the
input...because they're not scanning.
My question, is this nuts? Is there a better way? Am I barking at the
moon? Begging for problems? Any other Ideas?
Thanks for feedback.
Mike Copeland
Lot to read here, but I tried to read most of it. Did I read that you
tried wireless scanners? I have a point of sale application that
includes a massive parts inventory. They have two wireless scanners
and they can scan orders, do price checks and stock checks while
walking around the entire area. They also use them to take
inventory. They scan everything and it has been working reliably for
about 10 years.
I understand the part about stacking the boxes and then doing the
paperwork, but with a wireless scanner the input goes directly into
the application in real time.
HTH
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