FlicWatch Developer Newsletter
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Quick Links
Events – CTIA Wireless, MEDC, WES, St. Patrick’s Festival
Product Spotlight – Scanner Wedge & SDK Updates
Partner Spotlight - SerialMagic API from Serialio.com
Product Spotlight – Microvision introduces new Flic Scanner USB Cables
Customer Success Story – Thompson
Grading
Improves Productivity with Mobile Time and
Job
Tracking Solution from Actsoft.
Flic Developer Resources – Developer FAQ Updates
Subscribe to Newsletter or Send to Colleague
CTIA Wireless
March 27-29, 2007
Orlando, Florida
http://www.ctiawireless.com/
Come visit us at booth #537.
MEDC 2007
April 30 – May 3, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada
https://www.medc2007.com
If you are going and would like to meet, please let us know.
Wireless Enterprise Symposium 2007
May 8-10, 2007
Orlando, Florida
http://www.wirelessenterprisesymposium.com
If you are going and would like to meet, please let us know.
St. Patrick’s Festival 2007
15-19, March 2007
Dublin, Ireland
http://www.stpatricksday.ie/cms/home.html
Looks like a great time; we're sorry we missed it!
***
Are there other events you
think we should know about?
Product Spotlight – Scanner Wedge & SDK Updates
Scanner Wedge for Windows
Microvision has updated Scanner Wedge for Windows to version 1.1.
The biggest change in V1.1 is that support for international
versions of Windows was added. With previous versions of Scanner
Wedge, bar code data was sometimes altered based on the keyboard
settings of the Windows operating system. Scanner Wedge 1.1 for
Windows resolves this issue and supports many international settings.
Contact support for the various keyboards and languages supported.
Another change in V1.1 is improved interaction with Bluetooth
stacks from Broadcom.
Scanner Wedge for BlackBerry and Microvision SDK for BlackBerry
You can now use your Flic Cordless Scanner with the BlackBerry
Pearl 8100. Microvision has updated Scanner Wedge for BlackBerry
to version 1.1 and our SDK for BlackBerry to version 39. These
updates support the new RIM 4.2 OS update on the BlackBerry Pearl
8100, 8800, 8700, and 7130. Scanner Wedge 1.1 for BlackBerry and SDK
for BlackBerry remain backwards compatible with the RIM 4.1 OS.
Partner Spotlight - SerialMagic API from Serialio.com
There are many ways to interface application software to Flic Scanners. To simply add bar code scanning input to an existing application a software wedge works well. Other applications that require additional control over the scanner or bar code data flow benefit from the SDK. There is an “in between” solution - the SerialMagic Pro API. Available for Windows, Windows Mobile, Palm, and BlackBerry, the SerialMagic Pro API provides the easiest path to integrate the Flic Scanner into your application while maintaining control over your data.
While the methods vary by platform, the general concept of the SerialMagic Pro API is to provide two features.
First, SerialMagic provides the user interface and setup for connecting to the Flic Scanner. This minimizes the time and effort required of developers to provide the scanner interface in their application. Second, SerialMagic provides a programmatic interface for passing the data from SerialMagic to the application. Think of this as an event that is generated by SerialMagic that the application can capture and act upon.
The benefits of the SerialMagic Pro API are:
• Provides user interface and connection management for the Flic Laser Bar Code Scanner
• Bypasses shortcomings of keyboard
input:
- Keystroke injection permissions on BlackBerry
- Data going to wrong application
- Data being entered in wrong field
- Application has complete control over data formatting
• Provides fastest path to application integration
For more information go to http://serialio.com/support/SerialMagic/indexAPI.php
Product Spotlight - New Flic Scanner USB Cables
The next generation of Flic Scanner USB connectivity is here. So what’s new?
Two Configurations
This new Flic Scanner USB Cable is available in two forms, a five foot
straight version and a coiled version for portable applications.
Both cables connect the scanner directly to the computer
- the USB adapter cable is no longer needed.
Two Unique Operating Modes
Both coiled and straight USB cables can operate in ‘Keyboard
mode’ and ‘VCOM mode’.
- VCOM mode is no different from the current USB cable – it still allows Windows applications to assign a virtual COM port to the scanner.
- Keyboard mode turns the cable into a simple hardware wedge. No wedge connectivity software is required to scan bar codes into an application. By emulating a USB HID-compliant device, the scanner becomes plug’n’play. Keyboard mode is supported for both Windows and Mac platforms.
Easy installation
Although the VCOM mode requires a driver, it can now be installed
before or after the cable is plugged in.
Keyboard mode installation is nearly instantaneous on Windows computers as it uses standard HID drivers. Mac users simply plug in the cable, scan a bar code when input is required, and configuration is complete.
More affordable
The new USB cables retail for $24.95 MSRP – about half the
price of the previous USB cables.
RoHS Compliant
To comply with European requirements and recently enacted legislation
in the United States, both USB cables are RoHS complaint.
Three ways to put the Flic Scanner to work for you right now.
Purchase the Microvision SDK for BlackBerry.
Check out the Compatibility Matrix.
Report device compatibility issues or successes.
Flic Developer Support. Need Help?
You Ask, We Answer by Tony Cataldo
What are symbology identifiers
and how can
I make use of these in an application?
Symbology Identifiers are codes that identify the specific bar code symbology scanned. This identifier can also include additional details about the symbology such as if supplemental information was included, if the check digit was stripped, etc. You can configure the Flic Scanner to return the Symbology Identifier with each scanned bar code. There are many ways your application can use the Symbology Identifier including:
- Your application can reject bar codes symbologies not supported by your application. For example, if your application uses Code-39 bar codes then you can alert the user if a UPC bar code is scanned. This method gives you the flexibility to check the bar codes on the host computer. As an alternative you can disable unwanted bar code symbologies in the Flic Scanner itself. As an application designer you have the flexibility to perform the symbology checking on the scanner (through configuration) or on the host (through software).
- Certain bar code symbologies are normally used for specific types of data. For example, RSS is used in the health care industry and retail products typically use UPC. The carton (or “case”) that holds the retail product normally uses ITF (also called “Interleaved 2 of 5” or “I 2 of 5”). If the application detects the ITF bar code then it can process the data for the case differently than for the individual retail item.
The Flic Scanner supports two types of Symbology Identifiers, namely, AIM Codes and NCR Codes. AIM codes seem to be used more frequently. AIM Symbol Identifiers use this format:
| ]cm | where: | ] |
Symbology indicator ($5D hex) |
c |
AIM Code (Symbology identification): A = Code 39, |
||
m |
AIM code modifier | ||
The AIM code modifier varies depending on the bar code symbology. For example, the modifiers for Code 39 are:
0 = No check character or Full ASCII
1 = Reader performed mod 43 check
2 = Check character was stripped
3 = Check performed and stripped check char
The NCR symbology identifiers are:
A = UPC-A
E = UPC-E
F = EAN-13
FF = EAN-8
A = Code 39
B = ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5)
F = Code 128, UUC/EAN-128
R = RSS
You can enable the symbology identifiers using SDK function calls, sending an S (SET) command (if writing an interface from scratch), or by scanning a control bar code.
Customer Success Story – Thompson Grading Improves Productivity with Mobile Time and Job Tracking Solution from Actsoft.
Using a BlackBerry handheld on the Nextel network, Actsoft’s
Comet Tracker software and a Flic Cordless Scanner, Thompson Grading
synchronized the home office with field-based job and time tracking.
With this solution they gained the following benefits:
» Reduced Overtime—Thompson Grading realized monthly savings, contributing to company health and profitability.
» Increased Productivity—Crew leaders now redirect hours previously used to deliver documentation to job better on-site job management.
» Improved administration—Sharing documents keeps
track of the details that affect
job costing and customer billing.
Why did they choose the Flic Scanner?
» It was Simple: One-button operation captures bar code data and pushes it to BlackBerry application via Bluetooth connection.
» It was Affordable: Low acquisition cost, no training required, and common AAA batteries makes for low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
This Flic Scanner image was sent to us by enthusiast Sean O’Malley; we’re struggling to make the connection.
Send us your most clever caption, and you may find it included in the next edition of the FlicWatch Developer Newsletter!
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