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Integrating Barcode Reader with Siebel Applications

This document has been written to demonstrate how to enable barcode toolbar in Siebel Call center, How to Map fields such that the barcode input always goes into a particular field and automatically perform tasks like insert.

About Barcode Scanner and Barcode Scanner

A Barcode reader is one which scans a Printed Barcode, Decode it and Convert it to Data. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a photo conductor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. It contains a Decoder circuitry that can analyze the barcode image, convert into Data and places it in buffer.

Barcode Reader pastes the data where ever there is a cursor to accept input or just keep the input in buffer.

Using Barcode Reader in Siebel Call Center Application

             Barcode Reader can be used in Siebel in two ways

  • By Placing the cursor in the desired field and firing the barcode reader
  • By enabling the Barcode toolbar and mapping fields to accept the barcode input

By placing the cursor in the desired field and firing the barcode reader

First method requires no extra configuration. Any plug-and-play barcode reader can paste the data of the barcode if it finds a cursor. Means that we can place the cursor in the required field, read the barcode using the barcode reader and automatically the data gets into the field.

            Drawback of this method is that it is not automatic and every time we have to place the cursor in the right field. For example If Siebel has to automatically retrieve a record based on an assert number on a product when we read its barcode, then we cannot use this method.

Second method is by using Siebel barcode toolbar and mappings.

Using Barcode Toolbar

 

 

Barcode toolbar has three modes new, Update and Find.

 

  • When used in New Mode, Siebel Creates a new record, inserts the data extracted from the barcode in the Field specified in the mappings(Mapping is covered in the later part of the document)
  • When used in Find mode, Siebel fetches a record with the field(Field specified in the mapping) value equal to barcode value and displays it.
  • When used in Update mode, Siebel fetches a record with the field(Field specified in the mapping) value equal to barcode value and keeps it ready for updating

Enabling Barcode Toolbar

Barcode toolbar is by default Present in Siebel Field Service. To enable it in Siebel call center, we need to edit uagent.cfg with a property value.

Barcode Toolbar accepts inputs only when it is Active.

Steps to Enable Barcode Toolbar in Siebel call center

Step 1: Find uagent.cfg

Step 2: “ShowBarcodeToolbar” parameter must be added and set to “True”

This parameter will not be available in uagent.cfg. we have to add it in between n “MessageBarUpdateInterval” and DataSource parameters.(shown in Fig. below )           

Step 3: Launch the application using this CFG file.

 

Following this process will display a Barcode Toolbar in Siebel Call Center.

For a server configuration, a barcode toolbar parameter must exist in the SFSObjMgr. The name

of this parameter is Barcode Toolbar Enable Flag. A value of TRUE enables the barcode toolbar,

While a value of FALSE disables it.

Barcode Mappings

For a Barcode toolbar to accept data from a barcode reader, we have to map barcode data

 Steps to map barcode data to views, tabs, and fields

Step 1: Navigate to the Administration - Service screen > Barcode Mappings view.

Step 2: Create a new record for every field that is to receive barcode data.

Step 3: Complete the fields.

 Based on these mappings, each View-Applet pair has some fields to accept barcode data that appear in a dropdown list

 

Based on Mappings done in FS Barcode Mappings, the Data automatically gets pasted into a particular field and performs particular task like insert, update, find etc 

Configuring Barcode Reader and Simulating Barcode Toolbar without a barcode reader

 For Siebel to accept the data from the barcode reader,

  • Barcode Toolbar should be active
  • The data should be prefixed with Ctrl+/ and suffixed with Ctrl+\.

These Signals act as Start of Transmission and End of Transmission messages to Siebel. So to use a barcode reader, it should be programmed in such a way that the data is suffixed and prefixed with these codes. (Almost all barcode readers are configurable. contact your vendor or customer care for details)

 We can also test barcode toolbar functionality without a barcode reader. To do this,

  • just go to a view and the applet into which the data should be placed
  • Select appropriate field from “Use” dropdown of Siebel barcode toolbar
  • Hit Ctrl+/
  • Type data
  • Hit Ctrl+\

 These steps allow you to test the functionality of the barcode toolbar and validate mapping without actually using a Barcode Reader.