Tablet and bluetooth barcode scanner

[Richard Kreiss]

Top post:

One of the upgrades that 5.8 has is one can now create a screen with a scrolling field.  You can now have say a 40 character field and only display the first 20.  The field displays an end indicator so that the user knows that this field will scroll when entered.

There are ruggedized tablets and laptops out there.  The military uses them.  One can also get cases for various model tablets that will protect them if dropped.  Keep in mind that today's tablets rarely have any moving parts so dropping one may only crack the screen if it isn't in a protective case.

Also, keep in mind that Bluetooth has a limits distance from a receiver and does not yield a very strong signal.  One might have problems with Bluetooth in a warehouse or factory environment because of this.

You might want to consider a device that will connect directly to the tablet.  This would require having a tablet with some type of USB connection.  

I have a client who gives their drivers MS Surface Pro tablets.  They do have issues with these but have had very few broken screens.  The company owner tested various tablets before going with the Surface Pro.  They prefer the Surface Pro 3 to the newer models.  I replaced my ThinkPad with a Surface Pro 4 and added a 200Gb mini sd card for more storage.  The advantage is that all of my programs and data are stored on this card.  If the tablet dies, I just have to remove the card and put it into a new table.  I use this machine almost strictly for Programming and getting emails when I am away.

Richard

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Filepro-list [mailto:filepro-list-
> bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf Of Jose Lerebours
> via Filepro-list
> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2018 2:35 PM
> To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: Re: Tablet and bluetooth barcode scanner
> 
> A while back I wrote a Pick & Pack / Repacking module for a filePro based (SCO
> Unix) WMS.  At the time, SYMBOL was the best mobile device we could find
> paired with WiFi placed around the facility.
> 
> We telnet to server and ran filePro right off the device but I do not recall if we
> had to install any 3rd party application but likely not ...
> 
> Tablets for a warehouse seems risky (drop it and it is a total loss!), they are not
> tough enough.  I also remember looking at a cart with batteries to power
> laptops and connecting wired scanners to the laptops as an alternative.  This
> concept got a lot of attention because it gave user a bigger screen to work with
> and access to the entire WMS and not just the scanning module (not easy to
> work when you only have about 16 columns and some of your SKUs/strings were
> over 20).
> 
> The process was very slick:
> 
> 1. Work order or release order produces
> 2. pick ticket which warehouse personnel will get and 3. scan barcode on pick
> ticket so that program can make sure proper SKUs from reserved locations are
> picked 4. Ails/Column is scanned and then product pulled which is then placed in
> a bin or inner-box which later 5. inner box or package gets a label (printed using
> Zebra or Monarch at the time) and a manifest; then 6. inner box is placed in a
> skid which is also labeled and a master manifest was generated and at time of 7.
> dispatch, the master was scanned to confirm all "picked parts" were shipped or
> loaded to truck and 8. inventory is updated as goods are no longer in the facility
> 
> all of the above then trigger a couple of "mile stones" which in turn opened the
> floodgates to tracking, billing and whatever else was needed.
> 
> Love this kind of programming, very few are fortunate enough to work in
> environments where not everything is black and white ...
> 
> 
> On 01/12/2018 01:53 PM, Josh Reader via Filepro-list wrote:
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Is anyone out there using a tablet and Bluetooth barcode scanner in
> conjunction with filePro?  I'd like to scan a part # on a barcoded pick list and
> then scan the barcode on the front of the bin to verify the correct part is being
> picked.  We already use laptops and corded USB barcode scanners but I'm
> looking for a more mobile solution.  FilePro runs on CentOS7 and we're using
> PuTTY from Windows 10 computers to access it.  I'm looking for any feedback as
> well as tablet and scanner recommendations.  Also what terminal emulator are
> you using on your tablet if it's something other than PuTTY (which I believe
> would only be available on a Windows tablet)?  I have been testing Shelly on iOS.
> It seems to work good once it's configured but it doesn't rotate for landscape
> mode.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Josh Reader
> > Mercury Electronics
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> --
> Jose D. Lerebours
> 954-559-7186
> https://www.cargosaas.com
> http://www.ezbookeep.com
> http://www.ezdaemon.com
> http://www.fp2php.com
> 
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