Peter Togel

Q: Laser Barcode Scanners on a Mac

I'm trying to get a USB laser barcode scanner to work on my MacBook Pro (Mac OS X 10.8.2). And for some reasons, it does not work.

First, I bought a Taotronics TT-BS003. When I plug it in, it does make all the sounds it should do. It scans, but it does not write anything in TextEdit.
Looking at the System Information in the USB section, it shows:

WIT 122-UFS V2.00:
 
    Product ID:    0x1010
    Vendor ID:    0x05fe  (CHIC TECHNOLOGY CORP)
    Version:     0.01
    Speed:    Up to 1.5 Mb/sec
    Manufacturer:    WIT Electron Company
    Location ID:    0x06200000 / 4
    Current Available (mA):    500
    Current Required (mA):    500

If I plug this scanner on a PC laptop with Windows 7, the reader scans out of the box and puts the code in Word. Back to the Mac, nothing other then the green light for a successful scan and the ok sound.

After talking to their support, it was recommended to return the scanner.

So I bought a “different” scanner from a different vendor. But after receiving that scanner, it seems to be the same scanner just with a different brand name.
Looking at the System Information in the USB section, it also shows:

WIT 122-UFS V2.00:

   Product ID:    0x1010
   Vendor ID:    0x05fe  (CHIC TECHNOLOGY CORP)
   Version:     0.01
   Speed:    Up to 1.5 Mb/sec
   Manufacturer:    WIT Electron Company
   Location ID:    0x04100000 / 4
   Current Available (mA):    500
   Current Required (mA):    500

So how can I get these scanners to work on a Mac. Some people left feedback that they had it working out of the box. One person wrote:

 

If using it with a Mac, follow these steps: 1) connect it to a USB port on your Mac (the scanner should beep twice). 2) Go into System Preferences and click on Keyboard. 3) Click "Change Keyboard Type..." which will bring up the Keyboard Setup Assistant. 4) Click Continue and scan a barcode (can be a UPC label from a package / book). 5) Select "ANSI (United States and others) and click Done.

 

Well, I scan a barcode but I can never reach the section where I can select "ANSI (United States and others).



I’m just losing my mind over this. Any idea? And please, the manual is a joke. The scans do not help.

Peter

Posted on Sep 25, 2012 2:02 PM

Close

Q: Laser Barcode Scanners on a Mac

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Ramón Tech,

    Ramón Tech Ramón Tech Apr 16, 2013 7:01 PM in response to Peter Togel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 16, 2013 7:01 PM in response to Peter Togel

    I have that exact scanner, worked out of the box for os x.

    If it ever asks for keyboard stuff, close keyboard setup and start using the scanner in text edit, pages, your webbrowser, or what ever app you wish to use the scanner for.

  • by aldohiggins,

    aldohiggins aldohiggins Nov 27, 2013 4:16 AM in response to Ramón Tech
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2013 4:16 AM in response to Ramón Tech

    At step 4) above you may feel you are stuck at the keyboard recognition step as it looks for you to select the "key the right of the enter key" however simply scanning a barcode at this step allows you to continue. Note that the scanner light is aways on!

  • by Ian on iTunes,

    Ian on iTunes Ian on iTunes Aug 12, 2016 5:09 AM in response to Peter Togel
    Level 1 (72 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 12, 2016 5:09 AM in response to Peter Togel

    It's been years since this question was asked, but it is still relevant. I found the quoted answer given in the original question did help me select U.S Keyboard - I tried Europe too as I'm in Europe - but Apple always uses U.S. standards.

     

    My Mac recognises the 'keyboard' (the barcode scanner), I scan the Output barcode in the manual, selected a keyboard standard, and it now outputs the EAN number from products into TextEdit, but how do I make it do something else, such as open my default browser and search Google or search a product inventory app for the code? I've seen other barcode scanners do it, so I'm hopeful it's possible with this scanner.

     

    Thanks for your help.

     

    Ian

  • by lukas.ebner,

    lukas.ebner lukas.ebner Sep 14, 2016 11:56 PM in response to Ian on iTunes
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 14, 2016 11:56 PM in response to Ian on iTunes

    the original question did help me select U.S Keyboard - I tried Europe too as I'm in Europe - but Apple always uses U.S. standards.

     

    Excellent, that helped me getting my Taotronic working somehow. Thank you