-=> Langley wrote with startling eloquence to All <=- 
LM> Does anyone know anything about bar code readers.  I want to write an
LM> applet for inventory control in Delphi and don't have a starting
LM> point.
I did a similar program several years ago in TP with the Paradox Engine.
LM> I have seen several bar code printing VCLs, but I am not sure
LM> how to use the reader/wand as input - does it take the place of
LM> keyboard entry or what?
Depends. You'll probably find that barcoding devices are very easy to
use. Some, such as those used with point-of-sale systems (video store
rental is a popular example) essentially pretend to be a person at the
keyboard entering long numbers.
If you're doing an inventory control system, you are more likely to be
using a portable barcode data collection device. These often accumulate
data, then do a dump of a flat data file to your pc using a utility 
program that comes with the BCR. Then you simply parse the data file.
When I did my inventory system I found that by far the most complex and
time consuming part was dealing with the printing of barcode labels. I
wasn't lucky enough to have anything like the VCL controls that are now
available.
EEAS
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