Keyboard Function Key F8 To Scale
Is it possible to encode a keyboard function key 'F8' at the end of a barcode?
I'm using a Mettler Toledo IND560 scale with a symbol scanner connected via usb. The barcode to be scanned contains the tare weight of the unit 25.5. I can use any barcode that allows the decimal in the tare weight.
I can scan the tare weight into the scale but it requires the "T" button to be pressed on the keypad of the scale, to enter the tare. I plugged a standard QWERTY keyboard into the scale, entered the tare weight 25.5, and through the process of elimination found that the 'F8' function key entered the tare to the scale. I assume that the QWERTY 'F8' is equivelent to the 'T' on the scale kepad.
The 'F8' sends E[19~ when plugged into a linux computer. What would be the format to integrate this at the end of my barcode or is it possible?
Thank you
I'm using a Mettler Toledo IND560 scale with a symbol scanner connected via usb. The barcode to be scanned contains the tare weight of the unit 25.5. I can use any barcode that allows the decimal in the tare weight.
I can scan the tare weight into the scale but it requires the "T" button to be pressed on the keypad of the scale, to enter the tare. I plugged a standard QWERTY keyboard into the scale, entered the tare weight 25.5, and through the process of elimination found that the 'F8' function key entered the tare to the scale. I assume that the QWERTY 'F8' is equivelent to the 'T' on the scale kepad.
The 'F8' sends E[19~ when plugged into a linux computer. What would be the format to integrate this at the end of my barcode or is it possible?
Thank you
0
-
The answer is both yes and no.
Barcodes cannot encode keyboard function keys. The reason is that function keys (F1 - F12) are unique to the hardware and are not an ASCII code. For a PC keyboard, function keys transmitted as keyboard scan codes and have no equivalent ASCII control codes that can be encoded into a barcode. However, there is a work around.
Many keyboard wedge scanners can be programmed to substitute a function key each time they scan a specified character. Since a keyboard wedge reader uses the same data transmission standards as a keyboard, they can send a scan code representing a function key.
For example, if the application will never need a plus sign (+) in the barcode, the keyboard wedge replaces the plus sign with an F10 key. If "12345+" was scanned, it would produce the data stream "12345" followed by the F10 key. This same approach may be used even with bar code readers attached to a serial port if a "soft wedge" program is used. This "soft wedge" is a program that takes data from a serial port and treats it as if it had come in through the keyboard. Some of these programs also allow character substitution.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
1 comment