using barcodes

[beltramidave]

First of all, I know nothing of using barcodes.
This is what I would like to do: I would like to scan a barcode and link it to open a program file in EMC2.
I have many different programs that I run daily and would like a simple way of selecting and opening a file to run other than drilling through a list of file names.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[underthetire]

Here is a handy list of barcodes
Types of Barcodes

A simple alpha numeric code is easy, if you have a smart phone you can play around with free apps to kind of see what you want. As far as the EMC, i wouldn't know how to help you.

[svenakela]

I happen to work with barcodes every day.
If you buy a simple USB/wedge scanner, the scanner output will be entered as it was keyboard input. If you make barcodes that represents the name of the file, you simply would click Open file in the GUI, scan the barcode and the correct filename will be entered in the file dialog. Not more complicated than that.

In Ubuntu you can install GLabels, it has support for several barcode formats. An EAN128 format allows all characters you need to make it happen. See the attachment.

[beltramidave]

Thank you. I had been told that this would be a simple process, so I didn't get too excited about it when I delivered the machine to my customer. Their IT department have been trying to make it happen and failing.

Is there a simple way of just scanning the bar code without having to use a mouse to click 'open' first? This is being used in a production setting and I am trying to speed the process up with minimal contact (and user error) with the keyboard or mouse.

I don't have the machine or bar code scanner available to use, so any guidance would be appreciated.

Dave

[ger21]

Not the answer you want, but Mach3 can do it.

[beltramidave]

Thanks Gerry. Glad to know that it can be done. Changing to Mach really isn't a option at this time.
I would have to assume that it can be done in EMC...just need to figure out how.

[svenakela]

If the barcode starts with an o, which is the keyboard shortcut for "open", it will do what you want. A barcode like "o/home/beltramidave/gcode/myfile.ngc" will do the trick.

[lwill]

This may be a place to start:
ZBar bar code reader

I looked at it but it is not very well documented, but can also scan from a camera and does 2D codes which can imbed commands.

[beltramidave]

Can' get much easier than that! Thanks again.

[beltramidave]

Can' get much easier than that! Thanks again.

[beltramidave]

As I said originally, I know nothing of barcoding. After looking into creating a barcode, it appears there may be more to it than I thought. It appears that there are many different formats. Is it dependant on the scanner or the program that it will be used for?
What is a good format for what I am trying to do and what program would you recommend to create it?
Once again, all I want to to is create a bar code based on a CAM program file and have it load it into EMC to run.
It doesn't appear that this will be too difficult for me...but I am an electrician by trade.
The knowledge of all the people who belong to these forums is just amazing!

Thanks

[ger21]

Download the font and create your barcodes in Word. Typically, the barcode is just the filename. As long as your software knows what format it's scanning, that's all there is to it.
Free Barcode Font - Code 39 - Not a demo, COMPLETELY free