Where to start? VB and Pocket PC app..

[uczmeg]

Hi,

I need some advice on where to start looking (and use what tools) to achieve the following task...

We have a VB6 app (ADO to an access db) that deals with invoicing customers. Each customer has a list of prices specific to them in the database.

A client likes this but wants to go mobile and do it on a pocket pc.

So I need to be able to upload the customer price lists to a pocket pc.

On the pocket pc I need to be able to interrogate the lists and build an invoice. They would also like to print the invoice (can this be done from a pocket pc?)

On returning to head office they want to be able to download the invoices back into the access db.

Is embeddedVB the way forward? Does it do database stuff?

I've seen Appforge, but I don't think our budget stretches to that.

Any advice on the methods needed, and how to sync the databases much appreciated.

Cheers
Marc

 

[AndyWatt]

eMbedded Visual Basic does ADO. You can use ActiveSync to convert Access mdb files into Pocket Access format and back again. I'm afraid I've never tried printing from Pocket PC, so can't help there. And best of all eVB is free!


Andy
"Logic is invincible because in order to combat logic it is necessary to use logic." -- Pierre Boutroux
"Why does my program keep showing error messages every time something goes wrong?"

 

[atruhoo]

Printing from a PDA is possible here are a couple of links to look at.

http://www.pocketpcdn.com/sections/printer.html

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...61-236259-242184.html?jumpid=go/pocketpcprint

http://www.pdastreet.com/articles/2002/10/2002-10-17-WESTTEK-Viewing-App.html

Hope this helps

 

[Zeroanarchy]

Hi uczmeg,

The answer to your question is yes, pickup a copy of EVB from here.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...48-31EE-4CBE-AAC5-0AFFD5FB27DD&displaylang=en

In relation to the printer there are several options.

1) When the pocket PC is placed in the cradle make it export your data to a MDB file and then print from there.

2) There are new bluetooth parallel connectors on the market, they are not well known about but they are around. The concept is that you can place the parallel connector on the back of any printer instead of having a parallel cable and then from the pocket PC print the invoice.

3) There are small thermo bluetooth printers on the market that can be placed on your belt and you can write an app to print to them.

Now the last two options require bluetooth, if you plan on using a pocket PC might I add it would be worth your while getting a business machine and not a toy.
What is the Diffrence? Well a toy looks good has lots of features but can not work with you or for you.

Have a look at the HP IPAQ units. For what you want to do you might want to look at the H5550 or perhaps and earlier model if your client does not want to spend to much.

The following units have bluetooth
IPAQ H5550 (Released 6mth ago)
IPAQ 3970 (Released 1yr ago)
IPAQ 3870 (Released 2yrs ago)

Good luck I hope I have given you some ideas.

Cheers


ZeroAnarchy
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake
when you make it again.