Question; I'm interested in some sort of asset tracking system - I guess something where we could (for example) print out a bar code sticker thing and stick it on some physical asset and then scan that into a database. Does anyone have any experience in things like that ? I have no idea where to even start looking for something like that.

So... wouldn't a system like you see at coles or woolies do the trick? Not only would they use their bar code scanning system for price checks, but I'm sure they would use it for stock checking n s***.

I know a tin of baked beans is far different from a 64 port bajillion ten million terabyte switches, but its the jist yeah?

I'd just be asking my local corner store what they use :P

yeh that's the gist I guess. Maybe OfficeWorks has some s*** like that? I'm sure it's a fairly common requirement?!?!

u dont want to just write your own?
perl + sql = not long to do

can I write a barcode scanner in perl?

yes

i have lots of code for reading scanned barcodes!

you tell me what format barcode you are scanning, and ill give you the code to decode it

or did you mean you are chasing the hardware for it?

coz hand scanners are cheap as



last edited by Spook at 14:29:48 08/Nov/06

you can get scanners that plug in like a keyboard and just dump whatever the barcode reads. I've seen php/mysql stuff that reads the barcode reader into a form.

yer, we got plenty of hand held scanners around work

they just dump the barcode into notepad or whatever u want to capture their input

then just decode that with nifty perl, insert into database
profit

last edited by Spook at 14:39:51 08/Nov/06

or did you mean you are chasing the hardware for it?

Yeh, well both - I have no idea. After thinking about it some more I was wondering if scanners would be overkill but if they're not a jillion squiggabucks then they're probably worth it i guess.

What sort of scanners should I be looking at/where can I get 'em from?

I've seen POS systems that are just a web site, when the item is scanned it drops the barcode number or ID tag into a form field and then presumably, magic happens, and you pay for your items and leave.

Looks like your covered on this now. If you still want a Database hacked up let me know. I can put a stand alone Database together with Filemaker and export it as a runtime so you dont need a licence for it.

I imagine you'll be wanting to do more than scan an existing code wouldn't you? Wouldn't you need to be able to create the lables in the 1st place so you can put them on stuff? A plug in I have for Filemaker does all that.

ok, apparently we buy our hand scanners from this mob!

http://www.pospos.com.au/

teehee
pospos

am I an idiot or does their website suck a fat dick - if I click 'products' and go to something from the dropdown I get a blank page with the header of whatever I selected :(

mmm, it does appear to be bust right now

i just asked the production manager who we buy our scanners off and thats the website he gave me

maybe go for the personal touch and drop em an email?

Barcode scanners are pretty common. they usually just interface with the computer as a keyboard device.

I think what trog is after is more along the lines of a complete system. Where you get non removable barcode stickers that have an asset number on them that can then be used to index the asset database.

maybe something like this trog.

Custom Labels - blank or printed
Jabac Connections provides an extensive label printing service for both small label runs and large label runs, including technical and custom designed artwork.

Jabac specializes in printed products for industrial and special applications for all your labels and labeling needs.

We can print you barcode labels, asset labels, industrial labels, safety sign labels, cable labels, wire labels, appliance test tags, switchboard labels, circuit board labels, asset labels, component identification labels, labels for patch panels and any other label you can think of.

what do you want it for exactly ? i was under the impression that you wanted it incase something got stolen.. which you can get the police to write shiz on your system in that fancy invisible pen so when someone robs you and sells it at cash converters you can get it!

he needs to tag and bag all the ausgamers hardware and phatlewt stuff


yes, including the ferrari's and jets!

Unless its truely massive ammount of assets ?

buy labels (get good ones that won't peel off after a day or 2)
buy a barcode scanner (couple of hundred for a usb one)
download Code39 True type font

Then you can make either a database or excel sheet and scan everything in and stick your pretty little labels on everything.

And when you want to do it again ....
walk around scan everything in
then in the list you can for example write an excel formula like =if(countif(columnijustscannedin,cellinoriginaldatawithbarcode)>0,"","Who f***in took it home")
then filter for not blank and you have a list of pilfered goods.

Or you can buy and expensive hand held stock computer...