Hand scanner for advanced sample registration scripts

General
1

Hi everyone,
I’d like to see if there is any lab that are actively using a hand scanner to register samples or inventory equipment with custom scripting through the API rather than using the scanner interface in the UI.

Example:
We have QR code for:

  • chemical

  • location ( storage unit - rack - box - position)

  • register (event to register)

We want to express-register the chemical by only scanning the QR representations in the following sequence integrating with an automatic script after scanning the following codes:

chemical —> location → register

It would be nice to hear if anyone has experience with this and could give advice on good scanner manufacturers, preferably with a good SDK documentation.

Best,
Filip

2

Hi Filip,

A few weeks ago, we started updating our inventory in openBIS to bring it up to date.

Unfortunately, during a system migration, only some of our inventory items were transferred to openBIS. To add the missing inventory items, we have developed a web app and an API.
The API is based on pybis and the openBIS advanced search.

Using a QR code scanner, we scan our labels and check whether they are already stored in openBIS. If not, we add them automatically.

I could show you how it works if you’re interested.

Best
Jannik

3

Hi Jannik and thank you for your answer,
I would be very interesting for us to see your solution and what type of scanners you use.
Please let me know if you’re willing to have a demo and in that case what date/ time would work for you.
I’m available most times this week as we don’t have any internal meetings right now.

Best
Filip

4

Hi Filip,

I’ll contact you via mail.
For everyone else, who is interested in our type of Scanner:
BCST-42, manufacturer F & M Technology GmbH (Inatech)

Best

Jannik

5

Hi Jannik,
this sounds like a very useful thing. Can I confirm, that you could import objects with existing PermIDs into a new openBIS instance with your script? So that the QR code remain valid?

We at the IPF in Dresden are in the process of setting up OpenBIS for our institute and were wondering if we could migrate an inventory from a test instance into a production instance later. It doesn’t seem possible to just import openBIS entries with their existing PermIDs from the documentation, but it seems like with your script it would be possible?
Thanks!
Julia

6

Hi Julia,
we do not import Objects with existing PermIDs.
We are using costum barcodes as our main identifier, so different PermIDs don’t matter for us.
As far as I know the PermID is always created by openbis and the registration date is a part of it.

I guess it’s not possible (or at least, it has no plans to) to create an Object with a defined PermID?
But that’s just a guess.