RE: Portable barcode reader

["David Brennan" <dbrennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We've successfully used both the Percon unit we got with the III system and the Intermec 9445 that we had from our old DRA system. Barcode readers are pretty dumb, so the only thing you need to know is how to get the data out and what III expects to see. In the case of inventory, it is just n:1234567890 (n: + the barcode # and a line feed) Just about any reader will spit barcodes out at you, and then just pull the file into Excel, add the n: and save back as a text file to process through III. Don't need the setup that III provides. 
Offline circ with units other than the B321 is another matter entirely, since the III unit is preprogrammed to add circ date/time stamps to the barcode, as well as the patron barcode (see example below). It is possible to batch things that way, though, even with another unit. We do our annual faculty recall with the old unit and append the date stamp to the data to batch check in/out all of their items. Just takes some manipulation of the data. Once you have a good procedure together for it, runs quickly.

B321 III Circ checkin data:

i:0306131115:35206001400722		
i:0306131115:35206000942864		
i:0306131115:35206000942872		

where "i" indicates "Checkin", then the date (YYMMDDHHMM), then the item barcode. 

B321 III Circ checkout data:

o:0306141200:35206001400722:25206000038947:0406010800

-	"o" is the prefix for checkout
-	then the check out date stamp
-	then the item barcode
-	then the patron barcode
-	then the due date stamp

 
David
 
 
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David Brennan, MLS
Electronic Services Librarian
Clifford E. Barbour Library
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
616 N. Highland Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-441-3304 x2256
412-362-2329 (FAX)
dbrennan@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.barbourlibrary.org
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