Donnerstag, 23. September 2010

The Windows 7 Printing Bug

Of course I do not know if it is a bug. But internal we call it so. We learned about it some month ago. A customer uses our DOT.NET based software WWS-LITE Win for stock and inventory and claimed he is not able to print the article lists...

Of course we are a bit confused. Our article list is saved in a DataGridView table. With a small printing sub we send the content of the table to the printer by using the DOT.NET printerdialog.

First very well known action of the printerdialog is to open the printer window to let the user choose between the installed printer. But this fails. There is no printer window under Windows7. It works under Windows XP - but fails under Windows 7 64bit Home Edition.

The solution: UseEXDialog

We learned there is a UseEXDialog member inside printerdialog and we never used it before. In our Visual Studio 2005 Prof. Version the UseEXDialog member undocumented. (Undocumented means: there is no text what should happen if we use the member.) So we never thought about using it and all the software before worked without using it.

But we learned another thing too. It is important to set the member at TRUE. With this small change the software still opens the printer window and all runs completly under Windows 7 64bit. Heureka!

OK - here is the sample which works in our environment.

        Dim prt1 As New PrintDialog
        With prt1
            .AllowSelection = True
            .AllowPrintToFile = False        'TRUE führt zu Absturz!
            .AllowCurrentPage = False
            .AllowSelection = False
            .Document = Me.PrintDocument1
            .UseEXDialog = True
        End With

Of course we are updating all our software packages to make them printable under Windows 7 64bit...

Mittwoch, 22. September 2010

Mobile Data Terminal - Software Update

Yes, it was really a bit hard work. But it is done! NOW! The WinCeMobileData software package gots new features. Designed for mobile data capturing in inventory stock management, warehousing and more, for mobile data terminals with Windows CE / Windows Mobile ....

The hint came from our customers. Wishes about more freedom how to individualize the headers inside the forms. So we put some headers in public shared strings, put them inside the setup menu and let the user define whatever he / she wants. The values will be saved inside the INI file, so they can be used in the next startup also.

What does it mean in practice? It is possible to put own headers above the addon field before article / qty input. It is also possible to change the article host file, field03 is free for own use and the header text can be also defined via setup menu.

And now it is ready. And the software is available. Free trial - direct for download from our website: WinCeMobileData English version.

Montag, 13. September 2010

Using XML as programming language



Of course we know: XML is a data format. It is machine generable and human readable. But what is the idea with using it as programming language?

In fact the idea growth with our linux based PC terminals. TRM416, TRM816 - very rough embedded line for using in harsh and hard conditions. And programmable under linux operating system in an embedded version.

If the whole world would be able to write the software under linux - this would be no problem. But in fact, we learned the world is not full of experienced linux programmers. So it was time to make things easier....

In the beginning was a detailed study of what customers do with the terminals. The answer was simple: any kind of data capturing and data collection, machine control. In fact this contains some really equal activities: Data input via keyboard, barcode or RFID / proximity reader, some output inside LC display and some communication mostly via TCP networking port. Sometimes direct SQL database access...

Based on this results - our idea was born:

writing a small linux software which works as XML interpreter. The interpreter supports the most often used things of an application software and describes them as XML command tags, e.g. for display output, user input, interface in- and output, networking or direct SQL access. The result can look like this:


Based on the linux XML interpreter we put a Windows PC software to the stuff. Using as graphical XML interface for creating the individual application. The user specify his application with the PC software, the software creates an XML file, the XML file can be uploaded into the the terminal - and the terminal interpreter runs the XML file as programm during runtime.


Sounds easy. Is easy - and the most advantage: with using the XML interpreter customers can create their own application - without any expert programming. Without any compiler or the knowledge of other expert details. It is not needed to know C, C++ or any other programming language. Simply use the XML PC generator, create and download your application - and run it on the terminal. Thats all...

See more inside our solutions page: XML configuration toolkit and programming tool


Freitag, 10. September 2010

Handheld Software - for resellers

Just right now we got some requests from Handheld distributors to sell their hardware together with our Windows CE / Windows Mobile (c) software packages as bundle with hard- and software.

Information here

Of course we have an "open ear" for this requests. Our handheld software is designed for a various field of hardware up from Windows CE 5.0 or later, QVGA display 240x320 resolution and touch screen. We tested it on a DATALOGIC MEMOR system but we know it runs on much more systems with same or similar configuration.

If your target hardware has different configuration - this will be no problem in most cases. For our software experts it is normally not a big problem to update the software for a full VGA display or for totally changed configuration. Best idea is to contact our local experts for details. And please do not forget to give us specifications for what hardware you want to use it!

Donnerstag, 9. September 2010

Software packages for mobile Handheld devices



Mobile handheld devices with Windows CE / Windows Mobile (c) operating system are available - in germany we have a saying: - like sand at the beach. You can choose between different pricings, between hundreds of online shops which guarantees the fastest delivering and much more...

For some customers, after their buying they look in the eye of the tiger: they have a wonderful brandnew, powerful and cheap hardware - but no software for this. Of course it is possible to start Pocket Word for barcode reading. And if they like they can also press the TAB key and can input a value qty after their barcode input. This is inventory data capturing at its base - and maybe some people will be satiesfied with this...

But much more comfortable can life be with an excellent fitting software. This is what we are offering: two software packages wridden for mobile handheld devices with Windows CE / Windows Mobile(c). Especially designed for using in several kind of mobile applications e.g. direct for mobile inventory, order, dispatch / approach of goods in the warehouse stock - or for measurement / time / work capturing of worksman.

This software fits perfectly in the wold of mobile data capturing and supports open data formats, e.g. an uploaded host file with article data, input data format in XLS / CSV format for further data processing with Windows Excel or OpenOffice Calc and some more. To make it customizable both packages contain a setup menu for a wide individual configuration - and even if the customer needs more - our software experts can create new versions at any time...

Read more directly at the webpages:

- WinCeMobileData Package - For mobile inventory of goods and warehousing

- WinCeReptime - For mobile data capturing from the workman

Montag, 6. September 2010

Java based Panel PC



Just right now - the PC based terminals programming with embedded linux are known in the embedded world. But some people asked for programming java instead linux. So it is time for an upgrade.

The OPT57V is an open frame panel PC with linux and Java SDK. We support Java 6, the standard Java from the PC world. All what Java programmers need is included e.g. Swing SDK. The system fits perfectly in 19" racks and contains a very bright and good readable TFT display 5.7" in VGA size.

Nothing more to say - all to see directly on the OTP57V page.