Asset Manager
This project was created from a need to quickly scan in and out about 20 ipads (or other pieces of technology) between about 20 members of staff. We have a paper system they NEVER use, and we're worried about the possible theft from classrooms if we don't keep track of things. We thought of using the library system, but we wanted these in a different, locked room without easy access by children. We looked at android or Apple QR scanning apps, but all seemed to fit only with expensive and complex parent sites.
So I build this. It's an excel macro - you have to enable macros to run it (we will run on an old stand alone laptop. If your's is not stand alone just check you are happy to do this). I have in no way protected the code so once you download, if you know anything about programming in VbA then you can look at the code.
This program will not screw up anything else on your machine, but in terms of it working, I've only beta tested it. If it doesn't work just clear the data and start again (leaving the word 'end' at the bottom of each column.) Any problems, comments or advice, please contact me with the link above.
basically, for us, anything is better than then system that's not working at the moment.
You will need:
A windows computer running excel (any version I think)
A barcode scanner (I'm waiting on a £10 one from ebay)
A barcode for each person and one for each item you want to keep track of. We used our library system to generate ours, but here's a site that does the same for free: http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php - barcodes are simply a quick way to enter a number for each person or item, barcodes aren't magic or anything and can be scanned into spreadsheets, appearing as the number they're stored as.
So I build this. It's an excel macro - you have to enable macros to run it (we will run on an old stand alone laptop. If your's is not stand alone just check you are happy to do this). I have in no way protected the code so once you download, if you know anything about programming in VbA then you can look at the code.
This program will not screw up anything else on your machine, but in terms of it working, I've only beta tested it. If it doesn't work just clear the data and start again (leaving the word 'end' at the bottom of each column.) Any problems, comments or advice, please contact me with the link above.
basically, for us, anything is better than then system that's not working at the moment.
You will need:
A windows computer running excel (any version I think)
A barcode scanner (I'm waiting on a £10 one from ebay)
A barcode for each person and one for each item you want to keep track of. We used our library system to generate ours, but here's a site that does the same for free: http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php - barcodes are simply a quick way to enter a number for each person or item, barcodes aren't magic or anything and can be scanned into spreadsheets, appearing as the number they're stored as.
Of course. Finally, we're a school. We have no money and do everything on a shoestring :)
To use it
Here's the file:
To use it
- Open the spreadsheet, enable macros (in older versions of excel you have to do this then close and re-open excel :/ )
- Make sure the spreadsheet is on the welcome tab. Click on the 'Asset Manager' button.
- Attach your scanner (this should just then 'work', like attaching a mouse)
- To use it the first time you will need to scan each name barcode and type in a name to match, you will have to also manually scan then type in the name of each piece of equipment (make sure the last line of each sheet is 'end')
- The rest is self explanatory, I think...
Here's the file:
asset_manager_pro_version1.xlsm | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | xlsm |
A note on macros: You should never open a macro from someone you don't know, as macros contain lines of code which could include virus's. You don't know me, so in theory shouldn't use this, but I can tell you I wrote every line of code in this, and it simply automates some of the jobs used to store name and item barcodes together. To look at the code (google for more details) (in newer versions of excel: enable the developer tab (excel button > excel options > show developer tab), in older versions use tools > security > visual basic) and you can see the forms I've made and the code or programming I've done. It's not beautiful, I'm sure, but it will only affect things in this spreadsheet. It will not go off to do things anywhere else on your computer - I'm not that clever!.