We are upgrading our Internet service today, so expect sporadic outages as we make the transition.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

HandHeld Products has announced the IK8570 Image Kiosk.  This device is similar to the IK8560, but adds a Magstripe reader.  This is a windows CE 5.0 based device with a 320w x 240h screen (landscape mode).

ITScriptNet currently supports the IK8560, and we will be adding support for the IK8570 Magstripe reader shortly.

If you've received a Dolphin 7600 recently, you may have noticed that the ITScriptNet Omni client comes pre-loaded with some new Ready-To-Go^TM applications.  These applications can be used out of the box with no additional licensing required.  The new owner of a Dolphin can see samples of data collection programs, including barcode scanning, without having to write an application first.

There are 10 new applications pre-loaded on the 7600.  These are:

• Asset Tracking
• Gift Registry
• Lookup
• Meter Reading
• Order Picking
• Physical Inventory
• Price Change
• Receive/Move Inventory
• Stock Transfer

A user guide for these applications is installed on the PC when the full ITScriptNet package is installed, which includes a description of the programs and sample barcodes.

On the ITScriptNet client, you can specify a Device Alias on the Configuration screen. This Alias is saved into each collected data record and can be used to identify which device was used to collect a specific data record.

The Device Alias is also used as part of the filename for Image Capture or Digital Ink, along with a date/time stamp. This means that if you use a character in the Alias that is not a valid filename character, you will have problems saving the captured images.

What are the valid and invalid characters for a filename on a Windows CE/PocketPC/Windows Mobile device? Although it seems like an easy question to answer, the details turn out to be difficult to pin down. The Microsoft Knowledge Base has several articles about filenaming conventions, mostly with regards to the PC. Here are a few:

Errors Creating Files or Folders in the Root Directory

Naming a File

However, these articles list differing information on which characters are allowed. Are '?' and '*' allowed or not?

With the .Net Compact Framework 2.0 and higher, there is a function called GetInvalidFileNameChars which is supposed to return the list of invalid file name characters.

We created a test program using this function, and it returned the following invalid characters.
All characters between 0 and 31, along with the " < > | characters.

However, we tested creating files on a PocketPC device and determined that the ? * : \ / characters are also not allowed, even though they were not returned by GetInvalidFileNameChars.

So what is the answer to the question, what characters are not allowed in a Windows CE/PocketPC/Windows Mobile filename? It appears these are the invalid characters:

Avoid using any of these characters in your Device Alias to prevent problems saving Image Capture or Digital Ink characters.

We have added a pair of knowledge base articles describing this issue.

INFO: Invalid Filename Characters for Windows CE / PocketPC / Windows Mobile.

PROBLEM: Unable to Save Image error with Image Capture or Digital Ink.

With Extended Daylight Savings Time turning our clocks forward 3 weeks ago, you may have put that whole problem behind you.  This past saturday was the original Daylight Savings Time changeover date, so any devices which were not updated with the new rules will have changed their clocks ahead.  Take a moment to double-check your devices and make sure all clocks are in sync!