After scanning barcode to enter keystrokes

[Hobbsie]

Hi all sorry if this is not in the right place? Mods please move if not in correct place.

I have an piece of software on my works pc that auto imports ebay/amazon orders.
I have put a barcode on the packing slips so the idea is when we scan the barcode it will automatically print out the shipping label.

The barcode works as it highlights the order on the software but then id like somehow the pc to add F3 then alt+C after the scan?

According the the software support this can be done but wont tell me how as its not support blah blah.

Apparently i need a programmable barcode reader and im guessing something liek auto hotkey?

Hope this is making sense and some brain box here may have a solution or some guidance?

Thanks

 

[AHarvey]

what software are you using?

Autohotkey is great for things like this but if it does this natively that would be the best way

 

[Craig321]

So you want to scan the bar code and then it should press F3 then ALT+C?

A lot of scanners will allow you to program key presses after scanning (postamble). Often it's just return, tab, space or something else, but some will let you go much further. Check out some of the Honeywell scanners.

 

[Ian_Eb]

we use a symbol technology handhel reader that we picked up on ebay. You can set it up to send a key sequence of your choice after reading a code.

we currently have it tabbing over to the next field and the user presses enter after all 16 codes are read. Would be pretty easy to set up to do what you need.

 

[Hobbsie]

Hi thanks for your replies, its called one stop order processing.

I wasn't sure if i needed more software to allow the keystrokes after the scan or weather some barcode scanners have built in software to add bits after a scan.
Thanks all i will take a look at the Honeywell scanners, budget is reasonably low until we know it will work well for us then we can spend a lot more.

 

[AHarvey]

Hmm, a programmable barcode scanner would work, but without seeing the software in operation it'll be hard to suggest software to do it.

For instance, some software like Autohotkey and Autoit have options that when a screen of a certain name appears you can tell it to do something etc

 

[Craig321]

If you want cheap, then any old scanner than can send a carriage return or tab after scanning will do the trick, alongside a simple autohotkey script.

The script would be this:

tab::
	send, {F3}
	Sleep 300
	send, !c
Return

The above means when you press tab, F3 and then Alt+c would be pressed instead. You may want to increase the sleep if the application doesn't respond that quickly, 1000 is 1 second.

 

[Hobbsie]

Thanks i think i may try the cheap cheap option and if the boss likes it we will look at a more permanent investment.

 

[Caged]

Most barcode scanners will have a book of programing codes that you can scan in available somewhere, have a search for the manual. If not a basic Symbol scanner is about £50.