Using a Bar Code Reader
Selecting a Bar Code Reader
Any standard bar code reader that can be connected between the computer keyboard input connecter and the keyboard itself (sometimes called a keyboard wedge) can be used with At Your Service. The bar code characters are then received by the computer as if they were characters typed directly from the keyboard. Therefore, anywhere that text can be typed directly into a field, the bar code reader may be used to enter the data by scanning it instead.
While the bar code reader will likely be able to scan many different bar code formats (e.g. UPC), bar codes printed on At Your Service forms and reports are always printed using the standard Code 39 format. Therefore the bar code reader that is used should be able to read that bar code format. It is also recommended that the bar code reader be configured to automatically enter a carriage return character or a tab character following the data entry so that, depending on the program module, the cursor moves to the next field or the data is automatically processed (see Moving Between Fields).
Working with Bar Codes
Bar codes are printed on repair labels (see Label Types), and can optionally be printed on standard repair forms(see Form Options). To quickly look up a repair order record using the printed bar code, position the cursor in the repair order number filter field column and then scan the bar code (see Filtering or Searching Data by Column (Field Filters)).
Bar code listing reports may also be printed as a quick reference to enter customer numbers, makes, models, etc. quickly and accurately by scanning a bar code from the printer list (see Customer Bar Code Listing, Inventory Bar Code Listing, Makes and Models Bar Code Listing, Makes Bar Code Listing, Package Codes Bar Code Listing, Service Codes Bar Code Listing, and Vendor Bar Code Listing).
Bar codes can also be added to customized forms, labels, and reports (see Adding Fields, Bar Codes, or Graphics to Existing Forms, Adding Fields, Bar Codes, or Graphics to Existing Labels, and Adding Fields, Bar Codes, or Graphics to Existing Reports).
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