Populating 2 columns with barcode data and advancing to new row - Inventory Application

[PDEXHELP]

Hello!


I am trying to build a rudimentary inventory data capture tool and was hoping for some help. I have a barcode reader that i can get to feed data directly into excel. I can set the barcode reader to terminate with either a <return> <tab> or anything else, really. There is a whole Bunch of programming I could do to the reader itself but a trying to keep it simple.


I would like to capture 2 different barcodes (part number, lot number) for each item/box I scan, and populate 2 columns of a spreadsheet with this data, then automatically move on to the next row to write the data of the subsequent box being scanned.


Ex. if scanning 3 boxes, 6 consecutive scans would produce the following:


Column A. Column B. Column C
Part Number Lot number
A1234 AAAB
A5678 BBBC
B1234 CCCD


I can get the barcode reader to tab from column A to column B, but is there a way that I can write some code into the cells in Column B that would return the curser one row down and back to Column A despite the barcode reader automatically adding a tab after writing in Column B?


Perhaps a formula in Column C that moves he curser one row down and 2 columns over as soon As it finds a cursor there?

Is there a way of simply limit a spreadsheet to have only 2 columns, and so the tab function would advance to the next cell?


Any help is very much appreciated!


PD

 

[AhoyNC]

Here's one thing to try.
Since your reader is set to tab.

Highlight column A and B (or the range you want to enter data in).
As long as the range stays selected the cursor will move from A1 to B1 to A2 to B2, etc. if you just use tab to enter the data.

 

[bschwartz]

Another way:

1) Highlight the entire worksheet.
2) Right click --> Format Cells --> Protection --> Unlock Cells (uncheck Lock Cells).
3) Highlight from C1 all the way to the right and all the way down (select in C1, and use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow and Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow).
4) Right click --> Format Cells --> Protection --> Lock Cells.
5) On the review tab, select Protect Sheet.
6) Uncheck 'Select Locked Cells' and hit Ok.
7) You should now be able to tab through columns A and B only.

 

[PDEXHELP]

Thanks guys! This worked great. Much appreciated.

Another way:

1) Highlight the entire worksheet.
2) Right click --> Format Cells --> Protection --> Unlock Cells (uncheck Lock Cells).
3) Highlight from C1 all the way to the right and all the way down (select in C1, and use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow and Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow).
4) Right click --> Format Cells --> Protection --> Lock Cells.
5) On the review tab, select Protect Sheet.
6) Uncheck 'Select Locked Cells' and hit Ok.
7) You should now be able to tab through columns A and B only.

 

[bschwartz]

Thanks guys! This worked great. Much appreciated.

I'm glad it worked. Thanks for the feedback.