Add scanner support

Thanks Daniel. Are you talking about bar code or QR code scanning, or something else?

There are plans in this regard, although whether it will be the the in development version or the one after is not yet clear.

For now we use bar code (code 39 or 128, I'm not remember). Today we use an special application that takes input from keyboard (the scanner reads the bar code and sends the text to the computer as it was a keyboard) and start PC-Dmis. The bar code is the program name (but whitout the PRG extension) and the scanned program starts. When the measurement routine is finnished, PC-Dmis is closed (in reality PC-Dmis is waiting in the background because it need to start the routine fast).

We use this because we measure around 300 articles per 24 hour almost every day. To save time is very important.

Daniel, please don't forget to vote for your good idea. The more votes, the quicker we will get to it. Thanks

This will be available in Inspect 5.0

It would be very interesting to see if this help us with some issues we have with the current software solution. Good work Neil.

I know the the in-house coder at the swedish branch developed something they call "JoBarCode" which apparently does this - takes input from scanner and loads the corresponding PC-DMIS program.

Other than that, it shouldn't be too hard to code a customized app specifically for this either.

We are currently using JoBarCode but we have some trouble with it. It hides often in the background and we don't have time to force it to foreground with a mouse click. We measure more than 300 pieces per 24 hour so we need a smother solution. We will scan barcode, measure, scan barcode, measure and so on.

If your IT dept allows you to, you can install one of the free "on top" programs that keeps a selected window on top of the other windows. This feature has been removed from Windows, but is possible with third-party apps. Maybe that will help you endure until the barcode features Neil lists below are released.

An example of such an app is "Turbo On Top" but there are several solutions. It will only keep the JoBarCode window "on top" of all other windows (it will always be visible) but I assume you still need to click on it so it retrieves the focus *before* you scan the barcode.

To give some more information on exactly what is coming

-Supports any windows compatible Barcode/QR code readers.

-Ability to associate/learn a bar code with a routine (or playlist).

-New mode initiated from Inspect home screen, where you can scan a code and it will select any routines that match that code.

-Option to automatically execute that matched routine immediately, or after user defined timer.

-If multiple routines match, it will show all matches and allow the operator to chose which to run.

-Ability to select/filter report by scanning barcode - to find the report for that part(s)

-Overlay icon on routine thumbnails to show which have been "learned" with a barcode.

-Ability to specify a mask, so it only "matches" with specific characters in the barcode that identifies the part type. Useful to remove product specicic serial number or batch/lot numbers, which would change.

-Ability to extract ranges of characters from a barcode (e.g. serial number), and inject it into PC-DMIS routine as a PC-DMIS variable.

What a way to kill my reply, Neil! ;-D

Seriously though - it sounds awesome!

This sounds great. Is there an approximate date to release version 5.0?

There's one more feature we're trying to get in, then we will start the release process (localization, marketing videos, etc).

All being well, it will be out this year (late Nov, early December).... but with Covid impacting us,  it could drift into next year.

looking forward to this feature. Hope for a release soon ;o)