Re: TimeTable

["Dan Downs" <retnuh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Do you need to use magnetic strip type cards, or could the card just be
printed off with a barcode and scanned? I know the mechanics would end up
having dirty hands, but I don't know how well the magnetic strips will read
if there's a layer of grease on the strip, it would be something to test.

If you ran note cards through with the barcodes on it something
like(hopefully this shows up right):


|-----------------------------|
|----Job-#:-12345-----------|
|-----------------------------|
|---------||-||||-|-||-|||----------|
|-----------------------------|
|---Desc.--------------------|
|------Blah-Blah-------------|
|------Blah-Blah-Blah-------|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|

The mechanics would just have to try and keep their dirty figures off the
barcode, but the number would be as well for verification, if they need to
type it in.

The cards would be printed up in the office, and would be disposable. It
could even be a cheap as getting a ream of card stock and cutting it to
whatever size cards you want, that should be very cost effective, and last a
while, unless the mechanics are insanely fast or there's 50+ of them. I'm
assuming, but I think barcode readers are cheaper then the magnetic strip
readers, but I could be wrong.

Either way you will probably have to test the equipment to see about
potential problems(complexity, interface, easily breakable, requires the
mechanics to sterilize their hands before every use), and then worry about
cost.

Dan


> Thanks Dan! Thanks Adam!
>
> The plan currently exist in my mind.  We don't have any hardware to do
> this.  I'm looking for the best/easiest way to set this up... cost
> effectivly is a must!  More comments below.  If either of you, or anyone
> else has any ideas where I should start looking for the
> hardware/software, please let me know!
>