I did this in 1986-88 range don't remember exactly, but it's fairly simple. Since you mentioned using your std 5250 environment there is plenty of barcode hardware available that you can plugin directly to a 5250 device such as a terminal or emulated PC. From there it's just a matter of scanning the codes directly onto the screen. <BR>
For example, popup a 5250 screen with empty fields, scan a barcode and the codes are entered into your fields. User presses enter and you receive the info. This is how I did it for a real-estate barcode system where the user received thousands of customer receipts monthly for payments. They were entered quickly and then the payments were posted. There are many variations, but what your asking to do is very simple.

Thad, thanks for the information. <p>Could you point me in the direction of some hardware vendors that I could contact ? <p>Also, my biggest concern right now is making sure that folks are forced to use their own userid. The timeout on our system is set pretty high (folks around here are SO spoiled) & I need to have some equipment that'll force you to enter your userid/pwd after a separate timeout that is separate from the QINACTITV system value. <p>Perhaps a hand-held RF unit that you could program with a simple program ? <p>TIA <BR>
Martin

Intermec makes some barcode readers that are actually an interactive session on the 400, with a standard signon screen, etc. You code the screens and applications just as you would any green-screen, but with a keyword that specifies the screen size. We have both older systems with a twinax controller, and newer ones that are TCP/IP virtual devices (MUCH nicer). Both hardwired CAT 5 and RF/Cat 5.

For starters a link to a sample and there are other options. <p><a href="http://www.system3x.com/as400_products/100611.asp">http://www.system3x.com/as400_products/100611.asp</a> <p>As for the user id issue just call the chkpwd API when you start your program for barcode entries and/or a various intervals, like when they press enter. Every time they press enter is a little onerous so you'll have to determine the best approach. <p>CHKPWD: <BR>
<a href="http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/pubs/html/as400/v4r5/ic2924/index.htm">http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/pubs/html/as400/v4r5/ic2924/index.htm</a>

Daniel, <p>Would you be able to gimme some model #s of your scanners that work like an interactive session ? <p>That sounds perfect ! <p>TIA, <BR>
Martin

Try the <a href="www.intermec.com">Intermec</a> web site. They have a pretty good site. <p>Main points to consider: <p>To do 400 green-screen they should do 5250 data-stream. (OK, I said they have a pretty good web site, but you'll have to look for "5250" and/or "IBM terminal emulation") <p>Handheld scanners - All the ones that I have seen that do 5250 use a smaller screen than 24x80, so you have to set the display size in the DDS. You will also have to setup the signon screen for the smaller screen. Basically you have to custom code your screens and applications for the screen. <p>Various models of scanners are there for different purposes, the bigest difference you might not see with the naked eye, is how far away it will scan. We use some that allow us to scan a reflective barcode on a rack 25ft above the person scanning. <p>VMUs (Vehicle mounted units) can have seperate scanners. The VMUs have full screen capability and will not require re-coding for the screen size. However, you still have to code for the barcode input. <p>TCP/IP connectivity is the only way to go. They used to have (don't know if they still do) twinax connected gateways for the RF scanners, but the TCP/IP connected ones work much cleaner. They just create a QPADEVnnnn device like any other PC connecting in. <p>I could probably get exact model numbers of our stuff if you really want it, but the different needs are so different I'd advise you researching on your own. Even though we've settled on Intermec, there may be something else out there that suits your needs better. <p>Feel free to ask questions as you do your research. There will certainly be factors that are not obvious that people in here can help you with.

Daniel, <p>I'm looking for something pretty simple right now. <p>1) Everything that I'll scan will be close range, < 1 foot for right now. Largest scan distance that I see a need for would be like 5 feet TOPS. <p>2) Main application to start with is simple inventory picks/issues. Data input would be transaction code (ex. 01 for pick; 02 for issue, might scan this) <BR>
part (might scan this) <BR>
location (also probably scanned) <BR>
qty (typed) <BR>
TRANSMIT <BR>
Then run through regular transaction processor for our ERP system to process the transaction. <p>3) Would like to ensure that each person uses his/her own userid for each transaction that they do - for accountability purposes. <p>4) I was looking on Intermec's sight for something like this before I got your message & the unit that came up was the CK30. It mentions that it will do terminal emulation if you also get Intermec's TE2000 software. <p>Do you use that as well ? <p>Martin

Martin, <p>Sorry it took so long, but below is the reply I got from the guys in my company that install our RF equipment. <p>-dan <p><!--mccodelink_begin--> <BR>
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<hr width=50 align=left><small><a href='http://www.mcpressonline.com/mc/showcode@@.6aeae4e6/8' target='_blank'>Code</a></small> <BR>
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Talking about barcoding - has any body yet interfaced RFID technology into the iSeries ? <BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cheers <BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;George

Dan <p>Thanks so much for the list. This will give me some more options. <p>I spoke with an Intermec rep today & he was pitching their CK30. It couldn't be easier to use, native 5250 terminal with 20x20 screen on it, BUT it is PRICEY: $2500 w/o Scanner, I believe he said. WHEW. <p>That's going to be a hard sell to management. <p>But, I'll see what they say. <p>Thanks again.

I could not see why it would not function, since the Savant is written in java and commpunicates via webservices and TCP/IP Sockets.
<p>
What I am not sure is how well the multi-user commercial processing iseries would handle the constant stream of incoming data.<p>
<p>
Personally I would think it makes more sense to run the Savants and first level filtering on a PC (Windows or Linux). Since you may end up having these scattered through the business. Then have the application data filtered back to the As/400 based on the required business events. <p>
I built a demo with a beta savant running (now OAK Systems) on Linux connecting to an filter layer which then used middleware to send events back to the Appliction Server.

I just tried to change my DDS to use CODE128 instead of CODE3of9 & the barcode is EXACTLY the same size ? <p>I was told that CODE128 produced a much shorter barcode. <p>I tried printing on an IBM 4224 & an IBM 4230 & both printed the same exact thing. <p>? <p>Martin

There are 3 types of CODE128 barcodes (A/B/C), so it depends on what you are printing. If it's all numbers, yes, it can be "condensed". <p>I seem to remember that a 4224 is a dot matrix right? The minimum width of bar is limited to the width of a single pin on that print head. So, it may be condensed on a laser printer but on a dot matrix, not necessarily so. <p>Chris

I'm looking to "bar-codify" some common inventory transactions that folks do. <p>I'd like to allow somebody to scan a transaction barcode off of a laminated 8.5"x11" template, scan a part#, scan a location, type in a quantity & then submit it to the AS400 to run through the usual pgm that processes such things in the interactive green screen environment. <p>They want this to be real-time, of course. Preferably no batch jobs to run to update. <p>Need to be able to enforce everybody to use their OWN userid as well.... <p>Perhaps I could use data queues ? <p>Anybody know of any software packages that'd interface with the AS/400 ?? <p>Thanks, <BR>
Martin

Ahhh....that explains it... <p>We are printing both letters & numbers. <p>Thanks for the insight.