Need advices on my new project

[mechslayer]

I am a student from Singapore and I am new to this Visual Basic programming and I am learning it because I recieved a new project from the school to develop a system.

Project :
Is to help people to locate their cars after they parked in a big carpark.

Solution:
Install a simple biometric fingerprint reader on all pillars. The user just need to scan on the fingerprint reader to have their fingerprint enrolled and store in the database of the system.

When the user wants to locate his/her car, they'll go to our car locator system with the fingerprint reader located at each lift lobbies leading to the carpark. The user will just need to use the fingerprint reader, then by using his fingerprint as the 'key' to find the matching fingerprint. Once the system found the matching fingerprint, it will show on the monitor where the fingerprint is last being captured, showing the location of which pillar the reader is being located provided with a map to further show the user the specific location and pillar the fingerprint reader is mounted onto.

Problem:
This is the first time I interacted with this Visual Basic Programming, although I have learnt some of the basic knowledge required but its still insufficient for me to start on the program. I am totally clueless on how to get started.

Request:
I hope to recieve advices on how to start on this program.


Thanks for reading this thread and hope you could gladly lend a helping hand.

[gaylo565]

This all depends on how the fingerprint readers connect to your system. Are they are all remotely connected to a single computer or do they each have their own computer system of some sort? This sounds like a difficult programming solution. The actual keeping track of places is very easy using a data base and placing the various inputs in different locations within the db file dependent on where they input comes from. The hard part will be mapping out your devices so that they give you the desired inputs.

[Xav]

This could be tricky. It's impossible to suggest a method of receiving biometric input without first knowing how the scanners connect. Maybe an API will be available, or you might have to do things manually. In any case, the easiest part should be the actual program statements that work out which scanner was used, and hence which pillar.

[mechslayer]

Originally Posted by gaylo565

This all depends on how the fingerprint readers connect to your system. Are they are all remotely connected to a single computer or do they each have their own computer system of some sort? This sounds like a difficult programming solution. The actual keeping track of places is very easy using a data base and placing the various inputs in different locations within the db file dependent on where they input comes from. The hard part will be mapping out your devices so that they give you the desired inputs.

The Fingerprint reader are all remotely connected to a single computer. So actually what should I know to get my project started. This is the first time I doing such project therefore I got a lot to learn. Thanks for replying.

[mechslayer]

Originally Posted by Xav

This could be tricky. It's impossible to suggest a method of receiving biometric input without first knowing how the scanners connect. Maybe an API will be available, or you might have to do things manually. In any case, the easiest part should be the actual program statements that work out which scanner was used, and hence which pillar.

So where can I get the API or how should I do the things manually. To be frank, even the easiest part of my project seem to be the hardest for me. Hope that you could let me know how or where to start. Thanks a lot for replying.

[Xav]

It really depends on the fingerprint scanner used, or the software supplied. If it comes with an API or one is available for download, it's simple. Otherwise, it's deadly.

[mechslayer]

Originally Posted by Xav

It really depends on the fingerprint scanner used, or the software supplied. If it comes with an API or one is available for download, it's simple. Otherwise, it's deadly.

When I bought the fingerprint reader, its only came with a installation disc. So how do I know whether its came with a API or how to find one to download? I think I am dead meat now.

[Xav]

Try installing it, then in VB click Add Reference, go to the COM tab, and see if there's an entry for your software. Otherwise, check the website. Otherwise, give up.

[mechslayer]

Originally Posted by Xav

Try installing it, then in VB click Add Reference, go to the COM tab, and see if there's an entry for your software. Otherwise, check the website. Otherwise, give up.

I think i found this entry named : 'NetaShell 1.0 Type Library' This is the file from the software I installed. So what should I do about that?

[Xav]

Perfect! Add the reference. Take a look at the References section of the Solution Explorer, and see what the name of the new library is called. Then, in code, type the name of the library, then a dot (.). This will display a list of objects, so you can see how it fits together.