The overall idea behind a scanner is that it needs to get the barcode and related information input to the program that consumes that information. That means it needs to do those small extra little tasks that are critical to enabling the program to recognize it as a barcode. For HID, and Keyboard Wedge style interfaces the prefix and suffix are very important. Since the input is taken in just like someone typing the information you need a way to differentiate between normally typed text and a barcode scan. Control characters are the way this is done.

• Location of key: CTRL stands for control, and it is a key on the bottom left most position of your keyboard in most cases. There is another below the right shift button as well for most keyboards.
• What is a CTRL + B: If you hold CTRL and hit the letter B on your keyboard it will send CTRL + B to the active screen / application. This is a special character that can be used for shortcuts in windows. These control type characters are not normal characters so they can be used to perform special actions like indicating that a barcode is about to be scanned.

It may be necessary to ensure that the CTRL + B character is being properly sent to your application. The easiest test is to do a scan in the DOS command prompt. Open a DOS command line window and perform a scan “^B” is the character you are looking for. It shows as 2 characters, but it is really only one character. There are ways to test and ensure this.

A similar test can be done in the setup wizard of System Five. The barcode setup allows you to scan a barcode and you will see a “(2)” scanned at the start. This is how we display the HEX character 2 which is a CTRL + B character. If the (2) shows up when testing your scan, it is being scanned correctly.

The supported hardware list can be found here: supported equipment list. It may be more current than the information below. Please check this link for changes.

• Symbol Technologies, LS2208 (Tested). http://www.symbol.com/LS2208/. Link to programming instructions: programming_a_symbol_ls_2208_barcode_scanner
• Symbol Technologies, LS9208 (Tested). http://www.symbol.com/LS9208/
• Metrologic, MS7 120 Orbit (Tested). http://www.metrologic.com/corporate/products/pos/ms7120.htm. Link to programming instructions: metrologic_series
• Metrologic, MS9520 Voyager (Tested). http://www.metrologic.com/corporate/products/pos/ms9520.htm. Link to programming instructions: metrologic_series

• Here is the current link to support central for Symbol Technologies http://support.symbol.com/support/supportcentral/supportcentral.do?id=m1
• FAQ: What Is a Symbol Universal Scanner?
• FAQ: Is a Universal RS-232 Cable that Pulls Power from Host Pin 9 Available?
• FAQ: What Do I Do If the LS9208 Connected Via USB Loses Host Programming?
• FAQ: What Cable Should Be Used to Connect the LS9208 to Series A USB?
• FAQ: Which Symbol Scanner Models Are Compatible with the PDT81xx that Has a Micro-D RS232 Port?
• FAQ: How Can I Provide Power via PS/2 to a Symbol Scanner that Is Attached to a Portable RS-232 Host?

• Here is the current link to support central for Symbol Technologies http://support.symbol.com/support/supportcentral/supportcentral.do?id=m1
• Here is a link to the quick start guide for the LS2208 (as of Oct 25, 2010-cm). There are some additional barcodes needed for programming the STX Prefix, but this guide has some very useful information on the cabling options available. It is very important to get the correct cabling for your implementation scenario.

This is the beginning of the documentation of other models in use by customers. Conversely I also want to make note of any scanners that have been problems and do not work for one reason or another.

• xi3000 from posx.com. This link provides a how to article on setting up this device. POSX.com products seem to have windows programming interfaces. I think this makes things much easier for windows based installations.
• Metrologic, MS 9540
• Symbol, LS4278

• setup_of_keyboard_wedge_usb_scanners_via_rdp
• using_barcode_scanners_with_windows_terminal_services

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