Imation DGPRG200 Users Manual

DataGuard rf™ UHF Label Programmer Manual

Introduction

The Imation DataGuard rf Tape Tracking System is a complete turn-key solution that uses RFID technology to track the movement of tape cartridges in and out of a data center, off-site facility, or Data Recovery location. The user scans RFID-enabled cartridges, either individually or within a transport case, as they arrive and exit a location. The system automatically logs each cartridge transaction into a tracking database that is linked to the customer’s tape management system. This solution efficiently accounts for the location of all data cartridges and provides both reporting and audit capabilities.

This manual describes the DataGuard rf UHF Label Programmer that scans barcode labels and converts and writes their label identification to RFID tags embedded in the labels. The system also reads the RFID tags and verifies that they match the barcode labels that are to be placed on the tape cartridges for tracking purposes.

Imation Programming Station Contents*

1. Imation Programming Station (66-0000-9000-2)

2. Power Adapter (Phihong Model PSA15R-090P and USA plug Model RPA)

3. USB Cable 2 m

4. Software and Documentation CD

5. USB to Serial Installation Guide

6. USB to Serial / Parallel CD *Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Safety Instructions-please read thoroughly before using the Scan Station

Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, short circuit, damages, fire, or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Keep a copy of the operating manual close to the Scan Station for easy reference for all operators.

• Follow the operator’s manual carefully. Follow the correct procedure when setting up the device.

• Do not open this device or attempt to disassemble or modify it. The device contains no user serviceable parts. If it appears to be malfunctioning, have it inspected by qualified service personal. Modifying or disassembling this product will void the warranty on this product.

• Do not expose this device to rain, use it near water, or in damp, or in wet conditions, or place containers on it that contain liquids that might spill into an opening.

• If unusual smells, sounds, or smoke emanate from the Programming Station, or if liquids enter the Programming Station, switch its power off immediately.

• Use this device in compliance with all national legal requirements and local electrical codes.

• Use this device only with the Imation supplied software.

• Use only with the supplied power adapter.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any term by any means without the written permission of Imation Corporation. Imation reserves the right to make any changes or improvements in the products described in this document at any time without prior notice.

Using the DataGuard rf™ UHF Label Programmer

User Manual

Version 7.0

4/10/2008

Hardware and Software Installation

Follow these steps to install the hardware, and to install the software and the USB drivers for a host computer running Windows® 98SE, 2000, or XP operating systems:

A. Locate the DataGuard rf Label Programmer in a suitable location near the computer

and power receptacle.

B. The DataGuard rf Label Programmer has a power jack and a power switch. Connect

the supplied power adapter to the power jack and to a suitable power receptacle.

Turn on the power switch. C. Turn your computer on. D. Once your computer has finished loading the operating system and any programs

that launch when you start up, log onto the computer so that you have administrator

privileges. E. The DataGuard rf UHF Label Programmer contains a four port USB to serial adapter.

Please follow the instructions in the USB to Serial Quick Installation Guide which is

included with your unit to install the necessary drivers for this adapter. In the

Hardware Installation section on page 3 where it says “Plug the other end into the

back of the USB to Serial adapter”, plug the other end into the USB port on the

DataGuard rf UHF Label Programmer instead.

F. Insert your DataGuard rf UHF Label Programmer Setup disc into the computer drive.

(If the installer does not automatically run, browse to the installation disc drive and

double-click on the Setup.exe file to start). G. Once the program has launched the Welcome screen, click OK.

Figure 1

Figure 2

H. Select the installation folder where the DataGuard rf program will appear (Figure 2).

If you prefer the default Program Files folder, click the large button with the install

icon. If you prefer a different folder from the default folder, select that folder by

clicking the Change Directory button.

I. Choose the program group you wish to include the software in and press the

Continue button on the Choose Program Group Installation dialogue box (Figure 3)

to begin the installation. When the installation is complete, click on the OK button to

exit the installation set up of the software for the DataGuard rf UHF Label

Programmer.

Figure 3

Introduction

The Imation DataGuard rf UHF Label Programmer allows the user to write (“Program”) the RFID tags embedded in barcode labels before the labels are removed from their printed sheets. The programmer has twin laser readers that pick up the barcode information as the labels pass below the readers and converts the laser barcode information to RFID identification data. Twin RFID antennas use those identification data to initialize the RFID tags in the labels. The RFID antennas can also read the RFID data in order to display the label information or to verify that the laser barcodes are identical matches with the RFID tags.

The startup screen appears below.

Figure 4

Before You Scan

Press the “New Order” button to initialize the software and prepare for scanning and programming an entire order of RFID tags.

Order/Label Entry Info

Fill in the customer order number in the box labeled “Customer Order Number”. Fill in the RFID lot number in the box labeled “Item”. Fill in the total number of tags in the order in the box labeled “Order Quantity”. When the “Order Complete” button is pressed at the end of the scan cycle the software will check to make sure that the number of tags scanned and programmed equals the number of tags in the order. Fill in the “Barcode Start” and “Barcode End” fields with the first and last VOLSER label ID’s in the order. The software checks to make sure that all barcode labels read by the laser scanners fall within this range before the RFID tag will be initialized. Be sure to include the media identifier (“L1”, “L2”, etc) if present on the barcode label. Fill in any additional information you may want to save about the order in the “RFID Customer Info” field.

It should be noted that the information in all of the above fields is optional. However, to get the maximum benefit of the logging and error checking algorithms built into the software Imation recommends that the info in the fields be entered prior to scanning.

1. Scan/RFID Write Mode

The Scan/RFID Write mode is the default mode. This mode is active when the software starts up, when the “New Order” button is pressed, or when the “New Sheet” button is pressed. It allows the user to scan labels printed with barcodes and convert those identification codes to RFID codes while simultaneously writing them to the RFID tags embedded in the labels. Once the program is in the Scan/RFID Write mode, place the sheet of labels on the programming station as shown below. Place the top two barcode labels under the laser scanners and pause there until the labels are initialized (there is an audible confirmation and the barcode number will appear in the lower window). Then slide the sheet up until the next two labels are in the scan region and pause there until the labels are initialized. Continue until all the tags on the sheet are initialized.

Barcode Scanner 1 / Barcode Scanner 2

These two columns list the current barcode label being scanned in the upper box and the last label detected in each column of labels on the printed sheet. The column background areas turn green when a label is detected in its respective column. The label identification number then appears in the respective column. Each column also includes a list count of the number of labels successfully programmed. Labels are counted only once even if they pass under the scanner more than one time. Thus, if you notice that you have missed a label it is OK to go back and try it again.

Figure 5

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