Using barcodes to update the same field under multiple entries

[dr. chim richuls]

Howdy, I'm brand new and I apologize if this is in the wrong section, Im too much of a n00b to know otherwise
My company has an Access DB that we use to track our tool locations, i.e. out at a job or back at the shop. I would like to use a barcode scanner to update a location field under multiple tools at once. basically every tool i scan, the location field is updated. Is this a possibility? and if anyone would be so kind, how might i start the work to do so?

 

[James Dudden]

Hi,
Can you clarify what you have at the moment scanner wise.

 

[dr. chim richuls]

Well I havent purchased one yet because I have to come to my supervisor with a solution first I was looking at this one:
w w w.amazon.com/Contact-Barcode-Scanner-Rugged-Design/dp/B000GGTTC8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304457564&sr=8-4


I understand that the barcode scanner inputs the code into whatever window is selected, and in text format. But where i run into my problem is that im not keeping track of inventory quantity. Im tracking a tools unique location i.e. Job # 10-012

Thank You!

 

[James Dudden]

Yes this is definitely achievable but what I'm not quite sure about is if you are going to need something more sophisticated than just a scanner i.e. will you need a bespoke program to go on the scanner.

In MS Access you can create your barcodes - which can be any alphanumeric combination e.g. Job ID etc - by using a barcode font in a report and printing them out. Then as you say all you need to do is scan the barcode and that will appear in the box in Access with focus.

If you need to scan multiple items then really you will need to store that information somewhere on the scanner so I think you will need to write a small program in something like Visual Studio to manage this. Then you will have to connect the scanner to the computer and copy the text file to the computer an import it into Access.

Hope some of that helps but let me know if you have any other questions.