[Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Wed Mar 7 14:48:44 PST 2018

Hi All,

Sorry to post to an old thread, but we recently purchased the Symbol barcode scanners that Wade linked to below. I’m not sure if it’s the same “codabar” issue that Wade mentioned below, but we can’t seem to get them to read our older barcodes. My student worker was doing a little research on the issue and he said it had something to do with the different dimensions of the barcodes. Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you fix it? We did program the scanners with the configuration barcodes when we first set them up, so I’m not sure why we’re having this issue. Our other issue is that one of the scanners will randomly turn off and we have to jiggle the power cord that hooks into the back of the scanner to get it to turn back on. Is this a common problem or did we just get a faulty scanner?

Thanks for your feedback!

Louise Choate
Library & Archives Paraprofessional 4
Lower Columbia College
360 442 2668

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Lesley Caldwell
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2018 2:03 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Yes, and Ex Libris told us the carriage return was the issue. We have a case open (00504084).

Thanks,
Lesley

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Guidry, Wade
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2018 1:37 PM
To: 'WACTCLC Alma Discussion' <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Lesley,

Have you already configured them to enable codabar, and to append a carriage return after the barcode is read?

It may just be a scanner programming issue.

For those of you who may not have ever done it, programming a barcode scanner is a simple process of scanning in configuration barcodes (usually shipped with the barcode reader, or available online).

Most typically for libraries, the configurations required are to scan the barcodes to enable ‘codabar’ (which is the type of item barcodes most libraries use), and also to enable a carriage return after scanning a barcode. Most scanners don’t have codabar enabled out of the box, simply because codabar is not a common barcode encoding standard.

A scanner (aka barcode reader) is basically not much different than a keyboard. It allows the sending of a stream of characters to a computer’s standard input. And depending on the model you buy, some configuration may be required. This is irrespective of the ILS in use.

[Title: Big Bend Community College Logo]

Wade Guidry
Library Consortium Services Manager
Big Bend Community College
wadeg at bigbend.edu<mailto:wadeg at bigbend.edu>

509.760.4474
www.bigbend.edu<http://www.bigbend.edu/>

Big Bend Community College • 7662 Chanute Street NE • Moses Lake, WA 98837-3299

WACTCLC Alma Instance: Alma NA02<http://status.exlibrisgroup.com/>
WACTCLC Primo Instance: Primo NA08<http://status.exlibrisgroup.com/>

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Lesley Caldwell
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2018 1:17 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

This is such perfect timing as Pierce College just discovered our newest  scanners do not play nice with Alma.

In case you want to know which to avoid, we are getting rid of our Honeywell scanners -- model Voyager 1250.

-Lesley

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Nina Pitts
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2018 2:04 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Hi, Dale,

We use the Symbol LS2208 too. I can’t say we’ve recently purchased them, though. We originally bought them in 2008 to use with Voyager. Ours came from Consumers Choice POS, Inc., http://positivelypos.com/ . We purchased the USB interface and the hands-free “intellistands.”  The units have been reliable. Of the original batch we bought, one or two have become a little glitchy – for example, one needs to be pulled out of the stand in order to work. (We moved it to the desk of a staff member who seldom has a need to scan.)

I was grumpy about that, until I just now  looked up the details and realized we’ve had them for almost 10 years. Not too shabby!

Nina

Nina Pitts
Library Supervisor
Peninsula College Library/Media Center
1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 417-6274
npitts at pencol.edu<mailto:npitts at pencol.edu>

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of LeClaire, Paula
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2018 1:14 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Hi Dale –

As usual Wade beat me to the answer !

These are the scanners that we bought here and so far we’ve been pretty happy with them.

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Guidry, Wade
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2018 12:32 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion
Subject: [EXT] Re: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Dale,

The Symbol LS2208 is a pretty standard barcode reader for use with Alma. Usually can be had for under $100, for example:

https://www.amazon.com/Formerly-Motorola-Symbol-LS2208-Handheld/dp/B01DMWD3CO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518208275&sr=8-3&keywords=ls2208+symbol

Wade Guidry
Library Consortium Services Manager, WACTCLC
wadeg at bigbend.edu<mailto:wadeg at bigbend.edu>
(509) 760-4474

From: Wactclc-alma [mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Dale Burke
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2018 11:57 AM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: [Wactclc-alma] Barcode Scanners

Edmonds will be purchasing about 5 new barcode scanners in the near future.  We haven't purchased new scanners in a couple of years.

Have any of you recently purchased new barcode scanners to work with Alma, and if so can you let me know the vendor and model number of the scanners you purchased.

Thanks!

Dale Burke
Technical Services Librarian
[Image removed by sender.]
20000 68th Ave. W
Lynnwood, WA  98036
425-640-1526
dburke at email.edcc.edu<mailto:dburke at email.edcc.edu>
[Image removed by sender.]

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