[Zope] Barcodes, magnetic cards, etc.

Curtis Maloney curtis@umd.com.au
Thu, 24 Aug 2000 09:51:14 +1000


On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, Erik Enge wrote:
> [Curtis Maloney]
>
> | On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, Erik Enge wrote:
> | > What is the mainstream format for the codes when the are scanned in?
> |
> | I don't understand what you mean.
>
> Are the barcodes usually a collection of integers, characters, special
> characters or what?
>
Ah.. now we come to the interesting parts. (o8

Different barcode character sets contain different symbols.  Mostly, however, 
they will contain letters and numbers.  Take a look at an item with a 
barcode, and you will see a string underneath it.  This is the human readable 
form of the barcode.

> And, by the way, do you know if there exist a magnetic card scanner
> that plugs in to the PS/2?  And if yes, which information would get
> from such a card?  Just a number, or are there other possibilities?
>
What is on the card is, strangely enough, what is on the card.  Magstripe 
readers commonly interface to ps/2 keyboard ports via a 'chok' or 'wedge', 
which just plugs inline with your regular keyboard.


> Thanks.
>

Not a problem.

Curtis.