BAR200.THD --- Copyright 1987 by Phil Wheeler An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by Forum members only. Many folks purchase the Tandy barcode reader ("wand") for use with their Tandy 200, only to find that the software runs on the 100/102 (only). But there is 200 barcode software available. These messages discuss the part numbers(!) for ordering/buying this software from Tandy. **Updated 10/17/87** Message range: 157602 to 158462 Dates: 10/3/87 to 10/17/87 Fm: DON SCHRYVER 74270,2426 To: [F] Tony 76703,4062 Do you know if there are any programs that can be used to read and print barcode with the 200? (In the Dl's) The program supplied with the Tandy barcode wand will not work on the 200 as it was written for the 100 (Cat No. 26-1183) I have use for a utility that will print barcode labels from alphanumaric info. I have looked at BARCOD.CAT in DL 7 but can't find any 200 Pgms. Thanks for your help> Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: DON SCHRYVER 74270,2426 There are no "public domain" programs that read or print barcodes for either the Model 100 (102) or Tandy 200. The programs you need are available from Radio Shack. Since the Barcode reader was originally designed for the Model 100, you have to order the software for the Tandy 200 separately. See the message thread [BELOW] with Gary Davis on this subject, who also has a 200. There are several options fro printing barcode labels, depending on which type of barcode you want to use. You can look into BAR CODE DRIVERS, BAR CODE WRITER, and TANDYCODE, all from Radio Shack, and available for the Tandy 200. Some of these are reviewed in files in DL13. S/KEY=BAR* should get you a list of files. Sb: #Bar Code Reader for 200 Fm: GARY DAVIS 72256,2551 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Tony - I may know a whole bunch 'bout photography, but I'm TOTALLY confused 'bout the use of the Bar Code Reader with my new Model 200! Remember that I have no manuals for this "new" 200, so maybe that's my first problem. Anyway, I have the wand and have used it for a long time with my 100 to "decode" the 3of9 stuff in PCM. Now, of course, I want to do the same with my 200. I'm finding it impossible, however, to get any correct information. The current (Oct.) issue of PCM says, on page 135, that I need RS Cat. No. 700-3407. Two different RS stores tell me there is no such number! Further, a check of the current RS catalog only shows a software program from PCSG but the description fails to say whether it will do 3of9! In other words, I have a Bar Code Reader complete with software that is useless for my "new" 200. More depressing than that is the fact that I can't ( so far) find a single RS employee who knows what to do, what to order, etc. HELP!!!!!!!!!! Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: GARY DAVIS 72256,2551 We go through this every couple of months, when someone with a 200 wants to use the Model 100 Bar Code Reader Wand with the 200. ... As the Wand comes from the factory... er, warehouse, it has an instruction book, and cassette tape with machine language programs for the Model 100 (and 102). If you want to use it with the Tandy 200, then you need the Tandy 200 software, which is Catalog #700-3407, and which must be ordered from the TEW Warehouse. It costs $5.00. It does exist, I've held it in my hands! (Radio Shack salesmen are not noted for being overly informed.) The Tandy 200 machine language programs provide support for the 3of9 and Plesy codes only. If you need the UPC codes, then you need to buy more software yet; Tandy 200 Bar Code Drivers, Catalog # 26-3894. Which, in addition to the standard UPC, gives you European UPC, and long and short versions... Whatever they are. Go ye, and be depressed no longer. However, I don't think the program that is published periodically in PCM is tailored for the Tandy 200. Haven't checked, though... it may be usable on both the 100 and 200. Best take a look yourself. Fm: GARY DAVIS 72256,2551 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Further to my earlier message, I stumbled around and found BARCD1.THD in one of the DL's. Thus found your message citing the same RS Stk. No. that was denied by 2 different RS stores! Played Sherlock Holmes (!) and have since found out that we're ALL correct, i.e., There's no such stock number...unless you drop one of the zero's! So, it's 70-3407 in the RS special order file (saw it myself on the CRT in the local RS back office!). Guess maybe RS changed from 3 to 2 digits and forgot to tell us! Anyway, have now ordered this item, so we'll see what happens next. I assume this is all I need now, i.e., 70-3407 combined with the 100 software that originally came with the wand. Will let you know how it all works out. Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: GARY DAVIS 72256,2551 The cassette I had in my hands less than a month ago, was numbered 700-3407, as is the message I am currently looking at from Fran McGehee of the Marketing Department, and as does the instruction sheet(s) that comes with the 200 software that advises what changes need to be made in the 100 manual, to make it "200 compatible". On that basis, I'm stuck advising everybody it's 700-3407. Fm: GARY DAVIS 72256,2551 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Fascinating....and yet just this afternoon I stood in the RS store in Thousand Oaks, Ca and clearly say 70-3407 on the CRT in the back office as the RS dude accessed the info! Oh well, I don't care if it works out to be 7000000000-3407 as long as I eventually get it and it works! Thank you, sir, for your usual kind attention! Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: GARY DAVIS 72256,2551 Maybe he had a defective computer? Maybe it was a computer error? Maybe someone fed it into the database incorrectly? Maybe they changed it after I saw it? Who knows? Fm: LOUIS SELF 74076,1273 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 I've heard all this about the 200 bar code software and note you've even had it in your hand. However, I have not heard anyone saying that it worded properly and had it running on their T-200. Have you heard of this illusive person or persons? Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: LOUIS SELF 74076,1273 Oh, I ran the stuff to see how it all worked, and to verify it was loadable and usable. While I didn't try printing any barcodes, I did read the various test samples in the manual, saved data to a RAM file, etc. So that all works. I didn't try typing in PCM's (looooonnnnngggg) barcode program, though.... no interest. So I don't know whether it is 100 specific or not. Perhaps the text which accompanies the program in the magazine will tell. Sb: #BAR200.THD Fm: FRED WOLFE 73100,2616 To: Tony Anderson I've hhad the same problems with the Bar Code Reader program for thhe Tandy 200. But I think we seem to get more support from Phoenix area R/S dealeers than you seem to get in CA. When I first encountered trouble, I was referred to the Customer Service Dept in Fort Worth. Thhey gave mme the Stock Number -- 700-33407. I ordered, received, and have in hand a new tape with the above stock number. The tape was given to me FREE by my Dealer because we both thought the original wouuld work on the 200. The new tape loads just fine into the 200 and works perfectly (as long as you spend an hour or so practicing with the Wand). As far aas the PCM Mag. "BAREAD.BA" listing is concerned, iit WILL work on the 200 provided you change Line 1500 as follows: 1500 CLOSE:CALL 60305:CLEAR 500,HIMEM:MENU BELIEVE ME, Tony, it's far easier to type this in one time and Save it (and then use the Bar Code listings than to type in any of the much longer prrograms. Try it annd see. Here are a couple of hints I find helpful when reading tthe PCM Bar Codes. 1. Cut a 12" ruler in half annd use one hallf as a guide for thhe Wannd. 2. At the end of each column or two, STOP, Scan the "Stop & save" strip. 3. Try to load the partial xxxx.DO File into BASIC. If you've goofed in the scanning process, you probably missed part or all of a Line number after the , in which case you'll get a ?DS ERROR message. If so, return to MENU, go to TEXT, Load the .DO File, and print it out. Search the printout carefuully for consecuutive Line numbers annd for partially missing Line numbers. If you find any, Edit them in and press F( to return the corrected file to Menu. Now you can load the .DO file into BASIC and save as a .BA File. 4. Now returnn to BAREAD.BA, scan a "Resume" strip, Scan Liinne 1, and then continue at the first nnew column. Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: FRED WOLFE 73100,2616 Thanks for the additonal information, but are you SURE you got it by asking for catalog number 700-33407? Or is that double 3 a typo? The one I had in my hands, and for which I still have copies of the paper documentation gave the number as 700-3407, and it was ordered by Gary Davis as 70-3407. This mix up on numbers is maddening! Unfortunately, the bar code wand I had for testing was on loan from Tandy's Marketing Department, and they wanted it back (for some reason...), so I don't have one any longer to do any testing with. But your info is good to have around for the barcode crowd, and I'd suggest you get it all together, make a file of it, and upload it to one of the DL's as a barcode tip file... mabe we can start a series, BARTIP.001.... Nah! That's not a good name... maybe BCRTIP.001. The other sounds like something you leave the bartender.