Software for Access to Handheld Device

[aclemens]

Hi!

This might be a little confusing, but I'll try my best to explain...

I have three components I'm trying to link together:
-PC with Microsoft Access
-Software to translate Access information from a PC to a Hand held PC
-Hand held PC with bar code scanning

Here is an existing version of what I'm looking for:
http://www.barcodemegastore.com/catalog/rioscan/fixed-assets.htm

I'm wondering if anyone is aware of different version of the software that RioScan is using to translate the Microsoft Access info to a hand held PC? As in, another company that makes software that does the same thing. It's absolutely mandatory that the hand held PC have bar code scanning capability.

Again, if this is vague, or just confusing, I'll do my best to clarify.

Thanks!

 

[Banana]

Well, from what I've seen on other threads about bar scanners, they say it's usually programmed to input a text into a textbox on Access directly.

However it doesn't sound like you are trying to recording a barcode just scanned, but rather get data from Access for the handheld PC?

A description of the workflow may help illustrate what you actually need.

 

[aclemens]

Okay, this example should help...

Say someone in quality assurance is checking on a series of printers...
They scan a bar code on the printer with their hand held PC.
The hand held PC then begins a series of questions for the QA operator, such as:
-Is the printer quiet?
-Are there any lines in the printing?
-Did the printer shut off properly?
-etc.
Once finished answering the questions, the data is then stored into the hand held PC, and the next printer bar code is scanned, asking the same questions again.
After all bar codes have been scanned and all of the questions have been answered, the hand held PC is then linked to a desktop PC and all of the information is dumped into Microsoft Access via the "translating" software found on the PC.

 

[Banana]

Ah, I see now. So in the end, Access isn't giving out data to the PC but rather will receive the data consisting of answers the operator enters based on the product scanned & processed, then?

 

[aclemens]

Exactly! And I'm pretty sure that's what the software I linked above does, but I'm just trying to see if any similar software exists for the sake of variety and comparison.

 

[Banana]

As I said, I've not worked with it before, but I know that there has been a fair number of threads asking about bar scanning around here and some dropped the version/company of bar scanning in use. You could search the forum (or use google with the "site:access-programmers.co.uk/forums/" prefix) to find those thread and see what they've had used.

HTH.

 

[aclemens]

Seems like a similar question, but no conclusion:
http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=157034

:\

Ideally, this would come down to being extremely user friendly.
Scan, answer questions, plug into computer, open access, info is all there via 'translating' program.
If there aren't any other options that we're aware of then, eh I tried.

Thanks for the help so far by the way!

 

[aclemens]

I found a program called "WinWedge" that seems to be a more broad program, but according to their site, it does what I'm talking about:

WinWedge inputs serial data directly into any PC application. Collect data from Scales and Balances, Gages, pH/Electrochemistry Meters, Laboratory Instruments, Sensors, Densitometers, GPS Receivers, Barcode Scanners, Magnetic Stripe readers, ID Tag Readers, Telephone Systems, etc... any RS232 instrument or device. Input real-time data directly into EXCEL, ACCESS, LIMS, MMIs, Statistical and Math software, VB, etc... any Windows or DOS application program.

I figured I'd update this in case someone else has a similar question in the future...

 

[Banana]

Thanks for updates. I'm sure it'll be useful for someone with same question.

 

[aclemens]

after talking to each company and then thinking "winwedge" was the right choice, my boss informed me that it wasn't.... kind of frustrating...

Here's an additional set of requirements I was given that could possibly help:

I'm wanting a software which will pull data from Microsoft Access, create custom inquires (a series of 10 questions), where this information will then be sent to a handheld PC. Once all the data has been collected the user of the handheld PC will then connect it to a computer where the information will then be transferred back into Access.

Example:

A company currently barcodes electricity poles with identification numbers. They are wanting to pull data from MS Access with the software we're looking for, where they would be able to make custom reporting questions (mainly for inspection purposes). This information is then transferred to the handheld where a technician will use the handheld PC in the field by scanning the barcode and answering the 10 questions. At the end of the day the HH PC will be connected to a desktop PC (w/ MS Access) where it will gather all the data the technician created and insert it in the appropriate place in Access.

 

[Banana]

Since it's more of interactive thingy, I'm inclined to think that you may want to either write software for whatever OS the handheld PC uses and have it link to Access. There's SQL Server CE if your handheld PC uses Windows CE, but I don't think there's a version of Access that runs on handheld PC.

 

[boblarson]

I don't think there's a version of Access that runs on handheld PC.

That is true. It would need to be some sort of third party tool which is an interface between Access and whatever backend is being used on the handheld.

 

[aclemens]

correct, what i'm looking for is the interface you're referring to.

access would really just be a "home base".
-questions are created in access.
-responses are dumped back into access.

in between transferring the questions to and from the pc and handheld device, there needs to be a third party software that is located on the PC and capable of transferring info to the handheld PC. that's what i'm looking for.

 

[Banana]

Note that you didn't specify what OS the handheld PC would be running. That is much more important.

Assuming it's a Windows CE, if you have the capability & resources, you probably could use .NET framework to write a CE software which I would imagine should be able to bind to the Access using either OLE DB or ODBC interface and send/receive queries.

I would sooner pick out a off-shelf application, but if you can't find one that fits the needs, that may be your only option.

 

[boblarson]

Yeah, is the OS Palm based or Windows Mobile (or something else altogether)?

 

[aclemens]

Well... that's the other part of this operation. I was waiting to identify an ideal program to then pick the ideal handheld device, but if the conclusion is that this is something that has to be programmed and doesn't currently exist, then I'll have to just pick one or hand the project off to someone else.

 

[boblarson]

I would probably select a device that uses Windows Mobile just so you can be working in the same "Microsoft Realm." Then using SQL Server CE and Access might not be a big problem. I've not explored heavily what is out there for an interface but I know that there are a few things out there.

 

[Banana]

In that case, I would probably buy Windows CE only because there's SQL Server CE and .NET which makes it fairly easy to bind with other applications, including Access. Sorry I don't know of any off-the-shelf application.

 

[boblarson]

You might check this out.

 

[aclemens]

I guess the only thing about this WinWedge program, which also offers a "WinWedge CE" version; is that it doesn't say they offer "custom reporting". I spoke with someone from the TAL-Tech company and they said it is possible, but I'm under the impression that it will require some sort of programming... I think the idea is to avoid having to create IT services for a program that would otherwise just be bought off the shelf...