Set focus with scanner

[rikklaney1]

Is there a way to set the focus to a specific text box when using a scanner? For instance, I was told today that a scanner wasn't entering data into a field. No, it won't when you're focused on facebook! Is there a way I can tell access that when the scanner trigger is pulled I want that data to go to a specific field even if something else has the focus?
Thanks.

 

[Minty]

Nope I don't think so - it's a input device , just like a mouse or a keyboard.
The only thing you might be able to do would be to get it to send some ninja escape characters that you programmed windows to recognise as a shortcut to Access?

Alternatively you can program your work routers to block facebook....

 

[rikklaney1]

Oh I can solve the facebook part easy enough. But it would still be nice to have the trigger pull automatically set the focus to the correct field. How would I call out a scanner in access? Something like 'If "scanner" = 1234 then me.text1 = 1234' wouldn't even need to set the focus.

 

[Minty]

The problem is that Access is event driven, if word or outlook or chrome has the windows focus the input device will be feeding whichever program has the focus.

It's no different to having Access open on one monitor and Outlook on your second monitor and without realising typing "Dim sSql as String" in the middle of an email you forgot you where writing.

 

[rikklaney1]

Done that too. But forgetting any other program can I actually use the scanner to set the focus to a specific text box?

 

[Minty]

We have a form we use with a scanner - it only has three fields on it. The first one is a Job number. It is the only one that is enabled. Once a numeric value is entered (scanned in) it goes away checks its valid and enables and sets focus on the next field - the box number also scanned, rinse and repeat the third box then is enabled and compares a stored invoice number against the third scan of the shipping docs (with the invoice number on them) if all three match it completes the booking out, and resets the form if not it bleeps and won't let anything else happen until it's corrected.
It's relatively foolproof.