dswett2
asked on
Creating a list of items on a filemaker record using a barcode
I have about 6000 work orders that go out and come into the office daily. Right now, a list is manually kept and when someone takes a work order out, they add it to the list and if they bring it in, they take it off the list.
I want to create a system where all they have to do is scan it with a barcode scanner and it adds or deletes it from the list (if it is already on the list and scanned, it gets removed). I want to do this in Filemaker even though it won't be more than one record because all of our computers have filemaker on them and we have a server specifically for filemaker db hosting.
Here is what I have so far:
Barcode scanner
Barcode font (3 of 9)
Work Orders with barcodes on them
So now all I need is a script to add an entry once it is scanned. It will add the entry to one of four lists on the record depending on the first letter in the barcode (A goes to list one, B goes to two, etc). I don't want to have to press enter or a button after each entry is scanned. What will my script look like?
I want to create a system where all they have to do is scan it with a barcode scanner and it adds or deletes it from the list (if it is already on the list and scanned, it gets removed). I want to do this in Filemaker even though it won't be more than one record because all of our computers have filemaker on them and we have a server specifically for filemaker db hosting.
Here is what I have so far:
Barcode scanner
Barcode font (3 of 9)
Work Orders with barcodes on them
So now all I need is a script to add an entry once it is scanned. It will add the entry to one of four lists on the record depending on the first letter in the barcode (A goes to list one, B goes to two, etc). I don't want to have to press enter or a button after each entry is scanned. What will my script look like?
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Thanks for the comments, guys but I'm not sure if I am explaining it well enough. In this totally seperate, unlinked filemaker database, there will be only 1 record. This record will have 4 lists and an input field. I want to be able to scan a barcode that has already been generated from a work order (a totally seperate, unlinked system) and have it appear on the list. The barcode is simply a Letter + the address of the work order. I want to insert the address on the list that the letter represents.
Good idea on the timestamps!
Good idea on the timestamps!
If you are talking about just maintaining a text list in a filemaker record that defeats the purpose of using a DB software like filemaker. You want to set up a table with one workorder per row in the table. The entire table will make up your list.
What you are asking is not very complicated, but if you already have a filemaker DB running for the rest of the business I would recommend integrating it with that system. Whoever designed the existing system should be able to do this in a fairly short amount of time. I'm starting to think that may be the best route to take.
What you are asking is not very complicated, but if you already have a filemaker DB running for the rest of the business I would recommend integrating it with that system. Whoever designed the existing system should be able to do this in a fairly short amount of time. I'm starting to think that may be the best route to take.
4 lists? then you either need 4 tables, or have 4 relationships in between a calc field worked out from the entry one (extracting the first character) and 1 single list for get 4 different views for each character list.
in either case, you only need to add a goto related record/field and add or delete.
Probably easier to have 4 filtered views from the same table and add /delete directly in the main table as I described earlier.
in either case, you only need to add a goto related record/field and add or delete.
Probably easier to have 4 filtered views from the same table and add /delete directly in the main table as I described earlier.
maybe a little example...
https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/ee-stuff/6709-barcode_entry.zip
https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/ee-stuff/6709-barcode_entry.zip
the automatic "enter" is better done on barcode reader than on filemaker side, all barcodes readers/scanners are able to do that.
the basic script sketch would be:
start loop
goto data entry layout
pause
- get the code
- find it
- if found, > delete it
- if not create it. and keep a timestamp maybe.
end of loop
What I would add, is a log a all entries in // to be able to track any error you realize the day after, especially if one of the actions you understake in the loop consists in deleting a record where there is no Ctrl Z!
this log would simply keep: timestamp, add or delete, work order.
No big deal really, you need 1 hour to do that.
Another approach could also combine the main table and the log but using an entry table where you log orders added, and another one deleted orders; pending orders would be the records in the entry table having no related record in the other one. I don't have enough info so far to choose in between. Extra requirements like logging the time spent to deal with the order (in between entry and deletion) may tilt the balance on one side...