[sane-devel] RS232 Scanner

[Dan Scott]

Hi,

Thanks for your comments.

I don't think that there is an image - the log file for the ltrace
output is only ~40kb. I think that the scanner is returning the array
and there is no post-processing by the diagnostic application.

The scanner is also capable of returning an image of the scanned file.
So I was hoping that I would be able to use sane to communicate with
the scanner and work out what is happening. I was thinking that I
would eventually need a standalone app - but I could use Sane for the
image part of the scanning. Maybe even use/develop a backend for this
scanner?

Thanks,

Dan

2008/7/30 m. allan noah <kitno455 at gmail.com>:
> but is this diag software output post-processed by the pc? if you have
> logs of the data in flight, and there is no image, then you dont need
> sane, you need a standalone app.
>
> allan
>
> On 7/30/08, Dan Scott <danieljamesscott at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>>  I think it's a bit simpler than that. The diagnostic software shows an
>>  "array" showing the marked boxes. Here's what I get form the
>>  diagnostic software when I scan a slip:
>>
>>  Please select:
>>  Ticket count: 1
>>  ticket data len=52
>>  <..> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 A B C D <..> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 A B C D
>>  < 1> * * * . . . . . * . * * . <21> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 2> . . . . . . . . . . . . . <22> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 3> . * . . . . . . . . . . . <23> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 4> . . . . . . . . . . . . . <24> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 5> . . . . . . . . . . . . . <25> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 6> . . . . . . . . . . . . . <26> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 7> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 8> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  < 9> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <10> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <11> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <12> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <13> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <14> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <15> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <16> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <17> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <18> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <19> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>  <20> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>>
>>  So I only have to worry about getting this data - not downloading an
>>  image and then extracting the mark information.
>>
>>  Thanks,
>>
>>  Dan
>>
>>  2008/7/30 m. allan noah <kitno455 at gmail.com>:
>>
>> > i have quite a bit of omr experience, and have done a bit with rs232
>>  > in the past, but never scanners. do your logs show the actual data
>>  > being passed? if so, i think your first effort should be to extract
>>  > image from logs.
>>  >
>>  > allan
>>  >
>>  > On 7/30/08, Dan Scott <danieljamesscott at gmail.com> wrote:
>>  >> Hi,
>>  >>
>>  >>  I'm working on getting a RS232 scanner working on Linux. I see that
>>  >>  Sane has some support for serial port scanners but not much. The
>>  >>  scanner is attached to a POS system for retail sales and runs RHEL5.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Unfortunately, I have no documentation for the scanner, I'm not even
>>  >>  sure of the brand. There's a logo on the front which is 'G' followed
>>  >>  by a globe symbol, followed by 'T' so it could be 'GOT' or 'GT'. There
>>  >>  does not appear to be a model number although there is an
>>  >>  identification place which is written in Chinese.
>>  >>
>>  >>  I have a compiled diagnostic application (no source code) which can
>>  >>  control the scanner and I have tried logging the system calls using
>>  >>  the 'ltrace' command, so that I can figure out the protocol. I have
>>  >>  tried writing a program to mimic the diagnostic application which
>>  >>  sends the same commands to the serial port but the scanner does not
>>  >>  respond.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Does anyone have any expertise in RS232 scanner protocols? All my
>>  >>  searching on the web reveals results for barcode scanners which appear
>>  >>  to work very differently from image scanners.
>>  >>
>>  >>  As a final note, I am trying to use the scanner for OMR - the
>>  >>  diagnostic application returns an array of data relating to the marks
>>  >>  entered on a slip of paper - if that is any use. Also, I can attach
>>  >>  the log file of system calls made by the diagnostic application if
>>  >>  that will help anyone.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Thanks,
>>  >>
>>  >>  Dan Scott
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  --
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>>  >
>>  >
>>  > --
>>  > "The truth is an offense, but not a sin"
>>  >
>>
>
>
> --
> "The truth is an offense, but not a sin"
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