LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Excel macro help

I am trying to make an easier way for me to track the hardware that i am given at work, I am a cable guy get issued a lot of hardware every week and if something comes up missing it can some times be taken out of my paycheck.

here is what i thought I would do.

Using LibreOffice and calc, i can scan the items serial number into the spreadsheet and then after the hardware has been entered into the spreadsheet i would like to have a small sticker that has barcodes on it that when scanned it can trigger a ctrl s command and auto insert the date into the save field and close it.

the main issue is getting the barcode to trigger the save command. Any ideas?

napster0317 said:

I am trying to make an easier way for me to track the hardware that i am given at work, I am a cable guy get issued a lot of hardware every week and if something comes up missing it can some times be taken out of my paycheck.

here is what i thought I would do.

Using LibreOffice and calc, i can scan the items serial number into the spreadsheet and then after the hardware has been entered into the spreadsheet i would like to have a small sticker that has barcodes on it that when scanned it can trigger a ctrl s command and auto insert the date into the save field and close it.

the main issue is getting the barcode to trigger the save command. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

I understand what you are trying to do, but your post as a whole raises a few rather important questions...

1 - Why is your employer or contract manager pushing the task of software-based asset management onto you?

2 - Related to the previous question, how would your home-grown or 3rd party asset manager interact with the payroll system? You state that the problem is that missing equipment can be taken out of your paycheck, so there has to be some communication/mechanism to prevent the (temporary) paycheck deduction.

3 - I can understand putting a barcode sticker on an item. But you state this in the context of printing the label upon the return of the asset; I would've expected the printing of the sticker to happen when the item is first cataloged in the asset tracking system.

4 - What does the partial thread title of "OpenOffice, Excel" have to do with your problem description?

They are not forcing me to do this, I am just trying to cover my self.

There will be a computer at work that has just a barcode scanner as the interface.

I bring my returns up. scan the "start" barcode and my tech# to identify who i am.

next I scan my hardware into the spreadsheet that is on the screen.(already have this step done)

Now I would scan the print and save code(s) a copy of the spreadsheet is printed for me and the save goes to a dropbox or sync account for the office. (my biggest issue is to get the barcode to be a command in libre to start the macro for the print and save. I have the macros ready just need to make them into a command using the barcode)

once the hardware has been returned the next person will hit scan and it starts all over again.

There are some barcode scanners that can be utilized from Excel (in a VBA code block). Google around for "barcode scanner vba", and you can find plenty to choose from. Many of them have various sample code snippets that could be cobbled together to achieve your need. (The sticker printout would obviously need some extra equipment that would work in your vehicle, likely with a power inverter.)

Whatever you use, remember that the list you are maintaining would need to be reconciled against your employer's asset management. So you'll need to store whatever unique cataloging value (ie: serial number, sticker) that your employer uses for the item. So make sure that you store that information.


On a related note...
I completely understand your desire to automate things like this. However, there's clearly an issue with how inventory is being tracked by your employer, such as physical asset management and device provisioning at the customer site. Otherwise, you wouldn't have created this thread at all. And since that is what determines what deductions occur, if any, with the payroll system, then I don't see the value gained (in the context of this thread) by a programmatic implementation paid from your own pocket when weighed against a clipboard sheet and a pen. If you wind up moving forward with this, then good luck and please post any updates on your project.

I agree that it is an issue on the companies side. If I can get this working the techs would be responsible for their returns. right now a supervisor is doing 5 things in the morning and misses some boxes here and there. The tech could do this and make things a lot faster and simpler.

This is certainly doable,but may be patented. It was being done in 1989 by General telephone,Florida in the central offices,to log circuit cards in and out of stock,into service,and to repair.

npublici said:

This is certainly doable,but may be patented. It was being done in 1989 by General telephone,Florida in the central offices,to log circuit cards in and out of stock,into service,and to repair.

Click to expand...

I'm quite certain that asset management of electronic devices was utilized well before 1989.