Jan/Feb 2006

If your company uses the Datalogic Jet range of PDA-style handhelds terminals and wants to create its own applications, but you don't have any skilled in-house developers, you might be attracted to a new set of integrated software tools announced by Belgian-based MCL Technologies.

Datalogic reckons the new MCL-Collection enables even non-skilled programmers to develop data collection applications quickly for the JET range.

The suite comprises MCL-Designer for Datalogic (an easy development tool for Windows programmers); the MCL-Net engine (to collect data via network); the MCL-Link engine (to collect data via serial connections; and MCL-Client (mandatory runtime programs).

The MCL-Designer interface supports click and drag-and-drop design elements such as text, graphics, barcodes and database interfaces.

 

The other components add the necessary connectivity and enablement to make the devices work in the chosen environment. MCL Bridges, for instance, offers advanced data mapping between the host applications and mobile computers. The MCL-ODBC Bridge allows developers to provide an interface to access a database without knowing the proprietary interface. There is also a generic SAP R/3 tool called MCL-R/3 Bridge.

MCL specialises in application development for handhelds, and offers a range of suites for specific makes including Casio, Datalogic, Symbol, Hand Held Products and Unitech. It supports Linux and Palm operating systems as well as Microsoft Windows CE, and Datalogic says a version supporting its other .Net devices is coming soon.

The latest Datalogic version is available as a free trial download from Datalogic's own Web site.