PowerWedge® 10
User’s Guide
PSC Inc
959 Terry Street
Eugene, Oregon 97402
Telephone: (541) 683-5700
Fax: (541) 345-7140
Copyright ©2003 PSC Inc. An Unpublished Work - All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this documentation or the procedures
described therein may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of PSC Inc. or its wholly
owned subsidiaries ("PSC"). Owners of PSC products are hereby granted a non-exclusive, revocable license to reproduce and transmit this documentation for the purchaser's own internal business purposes. Purchaser shall not remove or alter any proprietary notices, including copyright
notices, contained in this documentation and shall ensure that all notices appear on any reproductions of the documentation.
Should future revisions of this manual be published, you can acquire printed versions by contacting PSC Customer Administration. Electronic
versions may either be downloadable from the PSC web site (www.pscnet.com) or provided on appropriate media. If you visit our web site and
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Disclaimer
Reasonable measures have been taken to ensure that the information included in this manual is complete and accurate. However, PSC
reserves the right to change any specification at any time without prior notice.
PSC is a registered trademark of PSC Inc. The PSC logo is a trademark of PSC. All other trademarks and trade names referred to herein are
property of their respective owners.
This product may be covered by one or more of the following patents: 4603262 • 4639606 • 4652750 • 4672215 • 4699447 • 4709195 • 4709369
• 4749879 • 4792666 • 4794240 • 4798943 • 4799164 • 4820911 • 4845349 • 4861972 • 4861973 • 4866257 • 4868836 • 4879456 • 4939355 •
4939356 • 4943127 • 4963719 • 4971176 • 4971177 • 4991692 • 5001406 • 5015831 • 5019697 • 5019698 • 5086879 • 5115120 • 5144118 •
5146463 • 5179270 • 5198649 • 5200597 • 5202784 • 5208449 • 5210397 • 5212371 • 5212372 • 5214270 • 5229590 • 5231293 • 5232185 •
5233169 • 5235168 • 5237161 • 5237162 • 5239165 • 5247161 • 5256864 • 5258604 • 5258699 • 5260554 • 5274219 • 5296689 • 5298728 •
5311000 • 5327451 • 5329103 • 5330370 • 5347113 • 5347121 • 5371361 • 5382783 • 5386105 • 5389917 • 5410108 • 5420410 • 5422472 •
5426507 • 5438187 • 5440110 • 5440111 • 5446271 • 5446749 • 5448050 • 5463211 • 5475206 • 5475207 • 5479011 • 5481098 • 5491328 •
5493108 • 5504350 • 5508505 • 5512740 • 5541397 • 5552593 • 5557095 • 5563402 • 5565668 • 5576531 • 5581707 • 5594231 • 5594441 •
5598070 • 5602376 • 5608201 • 5608399 • 5612529 • 5629510 • 5635699 • 5641958 • 5646391 • 5661435 • 5664231 • 5666045 • 5671374 •
5675138 • 5682028 • 5686716 • 5696370 • 5703347 • 5705802 • 5714750 • 5717194 • 5723852 • 5750976 • 5767502 • 5770847 • 5786581 •
5786585 • 5787103 • 5789732 • 5796222 • 5804809 • 5814803 • 5814804 • 5821721 • 5822343 • 5825009 • 5834708 • 5834750 • 5837983 •
5837988 • 5852286 • 5864129 • 5869827 • 5874722 • 5883370 • 5905249 • 5907147 • 5923023 • 5925868 • 5929421 • 5945670 • 5959284 •
5962838 • 5979769 • 6000619 • 6006991 • 6012639 • 6016135 • 6024284 • 6041374 • 6042012 • 6045044 • 6047889 • 6047894 • 6056198 •
6065676 • 6069696 • 6073849 • 6073851 • 6094288 • 6112993 • 6129279 • 6129282 • 6134039 • 6142376 • 6152368 • 6152372 • 6155488 •
6166375 • 6169614 • 6173894 • 6176429 • 6188500 • 6189784 • 6213397 • 6223986 • 6230975 • 6230976 • 6237852 • 6244510 • 6259545 •
6260763 • 6266175 • 6273336 • 6276605 • 6279829 • 6290134 • 6290135 • 6293467 • 6303927 • 6311895 • 6318634 • 6328216 • 6332576 •
6332577 • 6343741 • 6,568,598 • 6,578,765 • AU703547 • D312631 • D313590 • D320011 • D320012 • D323492 • D330707 • D330708 •
D349109 • D350127 • D350735 • D351149 • D351150 • D352936 • D352937 • D352938 • D352939 • D358588 • D361565 • D372234 • D374630
• D374869 • D375493 • D376357 • D377345 • D377346 • D377347 • D377348 • D388075 • D446524 • EP0256296 • EP0260155 • EP0260156 •
EP0295936 • EP0325469 • EP0349770 • EP0368254 • EP0442215 • EP0498366 • EP0531645 • EP0663643 • EP0698251 • GB2252333 •
GB2284086 • GB2301691 • GB2304954 • GB2307093 • GB2308267 • GB2308678 • GB2319103 • GB2333163 • GB2343079 • GB2344486 •
GB2345568 • GB2354340 • ISR107546 • ISR118507 • ISR118508 • JP1962823 • JP1971216 • JP2513442 • JP2732459 • JP2829331 •
JP2953593 • JP2964278 • MEX185552 • MEX187245 • RE37166 • Other Patents Pending
Table of Contents
About the PowerWedge 10 ............................................................. 1
Models ...............................................................................................................2
PowerWedge 10 Wedge ...............................................................................2
PowerWedge 10 Serial .................................................................................2
Bar Code Symbologies .......................................................................................3
Input Devices and Connectors ...........................................................................3
Laser/Input Modes .............................................................................................4
Normal Mode ..............................................................................................4
Autoscan Mode ............................................................................................4
Multiscan Mode ...........................................................................................4
Symbol Blinking Mode ................................................................................4
PowerWedge 10 Installation .......................................................... 5
Keyboard Wedge Installation .............................................................................6
(Model FD-000-11) .....................................................................................6
Serial Installation (Model FD-000-10) ...............................................................8
Installing Bar Code Readers .............................................................................10
Installing a Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR) ......................................................11
Programming the PowerWedge 10 ............................................... 12
Predefined Defaults ..........................................................................................13
Auto-Learn .......................................................................................................14
Menu Programming .........................................................................................15
Entering Values ..........................................................................................16
Entering Strings .........................................................................................16
Setting an Autoterminator ..........................................................................17
Bar Code Batch Programming .........................................................................17
Guidelines for Creating Batch Bar Codes ...................................................18
On-Screen Programming .................................................................................19
Displaying and Printing Current Settings ...................................................22
Serial Batch Programming ................................................................................23
Cloning ............................................................................................................24
General Programming Parameters ....................................................................26
Serial Programming Parameters ........................................................................28
User’s Guide iii
Data Type (I.D. #C0) ................................................................................28
Baud Rate (I.D. #C1) .................................................................................29
Data Bits (I.D. #C2) ..................................................................................29
Parity (I.D. #C3) ........................................................................................29
Stop Bits (I.D. #C4) ...................................................................................30
Xon/Xoff Handshaking (I.D. #C5) ............................................................30
Protocol (I.D. #CA) ...................................................................................30
Code 39 and ASCII Equivalents for Serial Characters ................................31
Magnetic Stripe Programming Parameters .......................................................33
Programming Options .................................................................. 34
Programming Bar Codes.............................................................. 46
Predefined Defaults ..........................................................................................47
Auto-Learn .......................................................................................................47
Cloning ............................................................................................................47
Serial Parameters ..............................................................................................48
Code 39 ...........................................................................................................50
Interleaved 2 of 5 .............................................................................................52
Matrix 2 of 5 ....................................................................................................55
Standard 2 of 5 ................................................................................................57
Code 11 ...........................................................................................................59
Codabar/Ames .................................................................................................61
MSI ..................................................................................................................63
Code 93 ...........................................................................................................65
Code 128 .........................................................................................................66
Labelcode 4/5 ...................................................................................................68
UPC-A .............................................................................................................68
UPC-E .............................................................................................................69
EAN/JAN ........................................................................................................70
UPC/EAN/JAN Extensions .............................................................................71
Magnetic Stripe Channels ................................................................................72
Other Controls ................................................................................................73
Host Device .....................................................................................................79
Full Keyboard Support.................................................................. 81
IBM Terminals ................................................................................................92
iv PowerWedge
®
10
Connectors ................................................................................... 98
Host Interface Connector .................................................................................98
Input 1 Connector .........................................................................................100
Input 2 Connector .........................................................................................101
Cloning Cable ................................................................................................102
Technical Support ................................................................................................109
PSC Website Technical Support ....................................................................109
Reseller Technical Support .............................................................................109
E-Mail Technical Support ..............................................................................109
Telephone Technical Support ........................................................................109
PSC Solutions Group .....................................................................................109
User’s Guide v
About the PowerWedge 10
About the
PowerWedge 10
The PowerWedge 10® is a small but powerful fixed-station decoder. It
accepts input from a variety of devices, and it recognizes and automatically
discriminates among many bar code symbologies.
Figure 1. The PowerWedge 10
Connector for host
interface cable
Power jack
(Serial model only)
Input connector 2
Input connector 1
Light-emitting
diodes (LEDs)
On/Off/Program
switch
Speaker
1 PowerWedge
®
10
Models
About the PowerWedge 10
The PowerWedge 10 is available in two models.
PowerWedge 10 Wedge
The PowerWedge 10 wedge model (FD-000-11) is a true keyboard wedge.
It sends scanned bar code data to your computer as if it were typed on the
keyboard.
NOTE
NOTE
For installation information, see
PowerWedge 10 Installation on page 5.
A custom cable lets you install the PowerWedge 10 between a keyboard
and computer or terminal in seconds. No additional hardware, software,
or power supply is necessary. Power for the decoder is drawn from the
host.
PowerWedge 10 Serial
With a stand-alone serial configuration on a DOS-based computer, you can
use a software utility named BARCOM to enable the computer to accept serial
input as if it were typed on the keyboard. Contact your dealer for information
about BARCOM.
The PowerWedge 10 Serial model (FD-000-10) uses a serial interface
cable to communicate with a computer or terminal. You can install it in a
“stand-alone” configuration (connected directly to a computer) or an
“eavesdrop” configuration (between a terminal and the host computer).
Power is supplied by a 9-volt DC adapter.
User’s Guide 2
About the PowerWedge 10
Bar Code Symbologies
The PowerWedge 10 recognizes and decodes the following symbologies:
•Codabar/Ames •JAN-8/13
•Code 11 •Labelcode 4/5
• Code 128 • Matrix 2 of 5
• Code 39, including: • MSI
- Extended ASCII • Standard 2 of 5
- MIL-STD-1189 • UPC-A
•Code 93 •UPC-E
•EAN-8/13 •UPC/EAN/JAN extensions
• Interleaved 2 of 5
The symbologies listed above were supported at the time this user’s guide
was printed. Additional symbologies may also be supported, while some of
the symbologies listed may be discontinued. Please contact your dealer or
NOTE
Customer Service for current information.
Input Devices and Connectors
The PowerWedge 10 decodes input from any of the following devices on
input connector 1:
• Wands (visible light and infrared)
• Handheld laser scanners
• Handheld charge-coupled device scanners (CCDs)
• Magnetic stripe readers (MSRs)
• I.D. badge readers
NOTE
For installation information, see
Input connector 1 can also be used for both input and output of cloning data
(see page 24).
PowerWedge 10 Installation on page 5.
3 PowerWedge
®
10
The second input connector on the PowerWedge 10 accepts input from a
magnetic stripe reader. The PowerWedge 10 can read two magnetic stripe
tracks simultaneously, and it supports the California driver's license magnetic stripe.
Laser/Input Modes
The PowerWedge 10 can operate in any of the following laser/input
modes:
Normal Mode
Bar codes for setting laser/input modes are on page 78.
NOTE
In normal mode, the PowerWedge 10 accepts bar code or magnetic stripe
input from all supported types of input devices except serial devices. This
is the default setting for the PowerWedge 10’s laser/input modes.
About the PowerWedge 10
Autoscan Mode
Use this mode for stand-mounted lasers. This mode returns the laser to
the ready-to-read state immediately after each read.
Multiscan Mode
This mode allows you to scan bar codes without pressing and releasing the
trigger for each read. In this mode, the laser or CCD remains in the readyto-read state for as long as the trigger is held down.
Symbol Blinking Mode
Use this mode for automatic scanning with a Symbol laser mounted on
the Symbol IntelliStand.
User’s Guide 4
PowerWedge 10 Installation
The PowerWedge 10 comes in two models (see page 2). The model number is printed on the label on the bottom of the unit. Follow the installation procedure for your model.
The interface cable you need to use with the PowerWedge 10 depends on
which model you have and the type of computer or terminal you are connecting it to. Be sure you have the correct cable before beginning the installation.
NOTE
(Contact your dealer or Customer Service for more information about cables.)
PowerWedge 10
Installation
5 PowerWedge
®
10
Keyboard Wedge Installation
(Model FD-000-11)
1. Turn your computer or terminal off, and unplug the keyboard.
2. The largest plug on the cable is labeled with the cable number.
Attach that plug to the jack labeled
Wedge 10 (see
Figure 2. Connecting the PowerWedge 10 Wedge
Drawing not to scale
Figure 2).
PowerWedge 10 Installation
HOST INTERFACE on the Power-
×
1
Female plug—connect to
keyboard cable or port
O
U
T
Male plug—connect to
keyboard input jack on
computer or terminal
Cable number 00-001-00 is shown. Your computer or terminal
may require a different cable.
User’s Guide 6
PowerWedge 10 Installation
On Macintosh computers, the keyboard connectors are called Apple Desktop
Bus (ADB) ports. They are marked with the following icon:
NOTE
3. Attach the small male plug of the cable to the keyboard input jack
on the computer or terminal. Attach the female plug of the cable to
the keyboard cable or port (see
Figure 2). (For cables with telephone-
style connectors, attach the cable plug to the computer or terminal,
and plug the jack from the keyboard into the socket on the cable
connector.)
4. Plug your bar code scanner into the connector labeled
the PowerWedge 10 (see
Figure 1).
5. Move the switch on the PowerWedge 10 to the
INPUT 1 on
ON position.
6. Turn on the computer or terminal. The decoder should beep, and
the green LED (light-emitting diode) should light up.
7. Scan the programming bar code for the type of computer or terminal you are using. (The bar codes for host devices start on page 79.)
You can now begin using the PowerWedge 10.
7 PowerWedge
®
10
PowerWedge 10 Installation
Serial Installation
(Model FD-000-10)
1. Turn your computer or terminal off.
2. One plug on the serial cable is labeled with the cable number.
Attach that plug to the connector labeled
PowerWedge 10 (see
Figure 3. Connecting the PowerWedge 10 Serial decoder to a standalone PC
Drawing not to scale
1
Figure 3).
Connect to serial port on
computer or terminal
Power adapter
HOST INTERFACE on the
This figure shows cable number 00-874-04. Your computer or
terminal may require a different cable.
Figure 2 shows cable number 00-874-04. Your computer or terminal may
require a different cable.
On Macintosh computers, attach the smaller cable connector to the modem
NOTE
User’s Guide 8
port. The modem port is marked with the following icon:
PowerWedge 10 Installation
3. STAND-ALONE CONFIGURATION Attach the other end of the cable
to an available serial port on your computer or terminal (see
E
AVESDROP CONFIGURATION Locate the cable that connects your
computer or terminal to the host. Unplug that cable from the computer or terminal’s serial port, and attach it to the connector labeled
COMPUTER on the PowerWedge 10 interface cable. Then attach the
connector labeled
computer or terminal’s serial port (see
Figure 4. Connecting the PowerWedge 10 to a terminal in a multiuser system
Drawing not to scale
Connector labeled COMPUTER—
attach to cable from host
TERMINAL on the PowerWedge 10 cable to the
Figure 4).
Figure 3).
1
Power adapter
Connector
TERMINAL—attach
labeled
to serial port on terminal or
computer
Figure 4 shows cable number 00-876-02. Your computer or terminal may
require a different cable.
Use only a power adapter supplied by your Dealer. Using another adapter can
NOTE
damage the decoder or input device.
4. Attach the small, round plug of the 9-volt power adapter to the
power input jack on the PowerWedge 10 (see
Figure 1). Plug the other
9 PowerWedge
®
10
PowerWedge 10 Installation
end into an outlet or power strip (preferably one that has surge protection).
NOTE
5. Plug your bar code scanner into the connector labeled
INPUT 1 on
the PowerWedge 10.
6. Move the switch on the PowerWedge 10 to the
ON position. The
decoder should beep, and the green LED (light-emitting diode)
should light up.
7. Turn on your computer or terminal.
8. Scan the following label to set the decoder for serial operation:
*$+$-C8C050EE*
You can now begin using the PowerWedge 10.
The decoder is set at the factory with the following parameter settings for
serial communications. For information about these parameters, see
Programming Parameters on page 28
.
Serial
CODE PARAMETER I.D. # DEFAULT SETTING
Host device C0 ASCII
Baud rate C1 9600
Data bits C2 8
Parity C3 None
Stop bits C4 1
Xon/Xoff handshaking C5 Off
Installing Bar Code Readers
On both models of the PowerWedge 10, INPUT 2 is reserved for magnetic
stripe input. Connect your bar code reader to
User’s Guide 10
INPUT 1 (see Figure 5).
PowerWedge 10 Installation
Installing a Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR)
Both connectors on the PowerWedge 10 Wedge and PowerWedge 10
Serial can accept input from magnetic stripe readers. However,
optimized for bar code readers. Attach your magnetic stripe reader to
INPUT 2 (see Figure 5). If you are using two MSRs, connect the primary one
INPUT 2 and the other one to INPUT 1.
to
For information about programming parameters for magnetic stripe readers, see page 33.
Figure 5. PowerWedge 10 Input Connectors (both models)
Drawing not to scale
INPUT 1 is
INPUT 2—connect primary
magnetic stripe reader
INPUT 1—connect bar
code reader or second
magnetic stripe reader
11 PowerWedge
®
10
NOTE
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Programming the
PowerWedge 10
Programming Options on page 34 for the default settings for all code parame-
See
ters.
The PowerWedge 10 is configured with certain default parameter settings
before it is shipped from the factory. These predefined defaults will work
for most applications. However, you may need to customize your settings
for the specific types of bar codes you will be scanning.
You can use any of the following methods to program the PowerWedge
10:
• Predefined-default programming—see page 13
•Auto-Learn—see page 14
• Menu programming—see page 15
• Bar code batch programming—see page 17
• On-screen programming—see page 19
• Serial batch programming—see page 23
• Cloning—see page 24
User’s Guide 12
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Predefined Defaults
The PowerWedge 10 has the following three sets of default parameters:
•
Predefined Default 0 (D0) turns every on/off parameter off and sets all
minimum and maximum lengths to zero (00). Menu programming
remains enabled. This default set makes it easy for you to start with
everything off and then enable only the bar code symbologies and
parameters you wish to use. This can prevent unwanted data entry
to your applications.
The host device setting (C0) is not affected by the predefined default sets.
NOTE
•
Predefined Default 1 (D1) turns every on/off parameter on and sets all
maximum lengths as high as possible. It also sets bar code and magnetic stripe preambles and postambles. This default set gives you the
best chance of reading an unknown bar code symbology, and it also
identifies the bar code type for you.
•
Predefined Default 2 (D2) is the default set that was installed in the
decoder at the factory. This default set meets most users’ needs.
You can reset your PowerWedge 10 to one of the predefined default sets by
scanning one of the following bar codes:
D0
*$+$-D0EE*
D1
*$+$-D1EE*
D2
*$+$-D2EE*
13 PowerWedge
®
10
Auto-Learn
NOTE
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Auto-Learn is the simplest method of customizing the PowerWedge 10.
With Auto-Learn, you “teach” the decoder to accept the types of bar codes
you use.
The current settings for the PowerWedge 10 remain unchanged unless
they are explicitly set during Auto-Learn programming. For example,
enabling Code 11 does not affect other symbologies. To disable all symbologies except the ones you want to use, program the decoder to use Predefined Default 0 (see page 13) before starting Auto-Learn.
To program the PowerWedge 10 using Auto-Learn . . .
The Auto-Learn feature does not affect terminators or checksums. To set
them, use one of the other programming methods described in this section.
1. Scan the
bottom of the PowerWedge 10.)
START bar code below. (The bar code also appears on the
START
*$+$-*
2. Scan a sample of each of your bar code labels. Be sure the decoder
beeps after each read. It is important that you scan each type of label
(e.g., Code 39, UPC) as well as the smallest and largest bar codes
(e.g., 6 characters and 10 characters) that you want the decoder to
read.
User’s Guide 14
Programming the PowerWedge 10
To quit Auto-Learn mode without saving the setup, scan the following bar
codes (E first, F second):
NOTE
*E*
*F*
3. Save the setup by scanning the bar code labeled E below (or on the
bottom of the PowerWedge 10) twice. After the first scan, the
decoder should beep once and the red LED should flash. After the
second scan, the decoder should beep five times and the green LED
should be lit.
Menu Programming
This programming method makes use of a “menu” of bar codes found on
the bottom of the PowerWedge 10. You can use these bar codes to enter
the programming I.D. numbers and settings listed in
page 34.
E
Scan this twice.
*E*
Programming Options on
To program the PowerWedge 10 using the bar code menu . . .
If you make a mistake or “get lost” while in programming mode, scan the
bar code. This will reset the decoder to expect a code I.D. number, ignoring
any entries you made since you were last at the base level of programming
To quit programming mode without saving any changes, scan the E bar
mode.
NOTE
code and then the
1. Scan the
F bar code.
START bar code on the bottom of the PowerWedge 10.
15 PowerWedge
ESC
®
10
Programming the PowerWedge 10
2. Look in the section, Programming the PowerWedge 10, for the identifica-
tion number (I.D. #) of the parameter you want to change. Scan the
bar codes for the digits of that I.D. number. Then scan the bar codes
for the setting you want to make or string you want to enter.
For example, the I.D. number for enabling Codabar is 20, and the
code for On is 1. So to turn on Codabar, you would scan 2 and 0
(for 20) and then scan 1 (for On). (For other examples, see “
,” “Entering Strings,” and “Setting an Autoterminator,” below.)
Val ues
Entering
3. After making all your changes, save the setup by scanning the bar
code labeled
E on the bottom of the PowerWedge 10 twice. After the
first scan, the decoder should beep once and the red LED should
flash. After the second scan, the decoder should beep five times and
the green LED should be lit.
Entering Values
To enter a value setting, you must scan two bar codes for the I.D. number
and two more for the value. For example, to set a minimum length of 6
for Code 128, you would scan 4 and 1 (for I.D. #41, Code 128 minimum
length) and then 0 and 6 (for the value 06).
Entering Strings
To enter a string, look in Full Keyboard Support on page 81 for the ASCII values
of the characters you want to enter, and then scan the bar codes for those
values. End the string by scanning the bar code for
string character.
For example, to include a tab at the beginning of every block of data you
read, you would set a bar code preamble by scanning the bar codes for the
following characters:
B6 09
I.D. number for
bar code preamble
User’s Guide 16
ASCII value for the
tab character
//
//, which is the end-of-
End-of-string
character
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Setting an Autoterminator
An autoterminator is an ASCII character that the decoder places at the end
of each data transmission. You can use autoterminators to separate input
with tabs, carriage returns, punctuation, or other ASCII characters.
To set an autoterminator (I.D. #B1), scan the bar codes for the ASCII
value of a single ASCII character with no string terminator (//). For example, to set an autoterminator of CR (carriage return), you would enter
B10D. To set no autoterminator, you would enter B100.
Bar Code Batch Programming
The bar code batch method uses bar codes that program the PowerWedge
10 with a single scan. Each batch bar code contains commands to place
the decoder into programming mode, set one or more parameters, save the
settings, and exit programming mode. When you successfully scan a batch
bar code, your decoder programs itself to your settings, beeps five times,
and automatically returns to read mode, ready to go to work.
To program the PowerWedge 10 using batch programming . . .
To accept batch programming, the PowerWedge 10 must be programmed to
use the extended (or full ASCII) Code 39 character set. The decoder was
shipped from the factory ready to read the extended character set. If you have
changed the default, use the bar code menu or on-screen programming to set
NOTE
I.D. #05 to on.
1. Find the batch bar codes you need in the section titled,
Bar Codes on page 46, or create custom bar codes containing the pro-
Programming
gramming I.D. numbers and parameters you want to set. You can
create the bar code with a bar code printing program, a word-processing program, a desktop publishing program, or any other program that can use and print a Code 39 font. See the guidelines
below.
2. Use a wand, laser, or CCD connected to the PowerWedge 10 to read
the bar codes. The decoder beeps five times when programming is
successful. If a bar code contains an invalid programming entry, the
17 PowerWedge
®
10
NOTE
Programming the PowerWedge 10
decoder beeps twice and ignores the programming instructions in
the entire bar code.
Guidelines for Creating Batch Bar Codes
Keep the following in mind when creating bar codes for batch
programming:
Programming Bar Codes on page 46, contains batch bar codes for most of the set-
tings you will need. To make your own batch bar codes, see the section titled,
Programming Options on page 34, for parameter I.D. numbers and acceptable set-
tings.
• Create your programming bar codes using the standard Code 39
character set, not the full ASCII character set. (You must read the
bar codes in full ASCII Code 39 mode, however.)
• The first and last character of each bar code must be an asterisk (*),
the start and stop character for Code 39. (Most label-printing software programs automatically place the asterisks in Code 39 bar
codes.)
• The first asterisk of each bar code must be followed immediately by
the characters $+$-. This lets the decoder know that it is reading
programming information rather than data.
•Each bar code must end with EE and the final asterisk.
• String data must appear in a programming bar code after the I.D.
number for the code parameter. Use two slashes (//) to terminate the
string. (Parameters that accept string data include preambles and
postambles.)
• You must enter control or “action” characters (for example, tabs, line
feeds, or function keys) by encoding their Code 39 equivalents (see
Full Keyboard Support on page 81). For example, to enter a horizontal tab,
you would include the character pair $I in the bar code.
User’s Guide 18
Programming the PowerWedge 10
The following bar code provides an example of batch programming. Scanning it will turn off the autoterminator and set the maximum length for
Interleaved 2 of 5 labels to 15.
*$+$-B1%U0A35EE*
Like all Code 39 bar codes, this one starts and ends with an asterisk (*).
$+$- starts programming mode. B1 specifies the autoterminator parameter, and %U is the Code 39 equivalent of the null character, which turns it
off. 0A specifies the Interleaved 2 of 5 maximum-length parameter, and
15 sets it to 15 characters per label. EE saves the new settings and exits
programming mode.
On-Screen Programming
This programming method lets you display programming parameters and
settings on your screen. You can select parameters and change their settings using the computer’s keyboard.
To program the PowerWedge 10 on-screen . . .
For on-screen programming of the PowerWedge 10 Serial model, you must
use a communications program (such as Procomm). Be sure the decoder’s
serial parameters settings (baud rate, parity, etc.) match the settings of the
communications program.
NOTE
For keyboard wedge installation, on-screen programming is available via
cable 00-001-00 for AT-compatible computers, or cable 00-061-00 for PS/2
style computers.
1. Open a text editor (for example, the DOS EDIT utility), or go to
the DOS prompt.
2. If you are using a text editor, use Courier or another monospaced
font. If you are programming from the DOS prompt, type copy con
nul and press
3. Move the switch on the PowerWedge 10 to the
Figure 1), and then press the Enter key on your keyboard. The decoder
Enter.
PRGM position (see
19 PowerWedge
®
10
Programming the PowerWedge 10
should beep three times, and the on-screen programming menu
should appear on your screen, as shown in
Figure 6. Main menu for on-screen programming
***** POWERWEDGE 10 VER X.X MAIN MENU *****
BAR CODEMAG. STRIPECOMMUNICATIONS
--------------------------------0 CODE394 CHANNEL 1 & 2C HOST SELECTION
0 I2of5
1 M2of55 CA DL CONVERT
1 S2of5D DEFAULTS
1 CODE11D MORE CONTROLS
2 CODABAR/AMES
2 MSIE SHOW/EXIT
2 CODE93B OTHER CONTROLSE CLONING
3 UPC-A
3 UPC-E
3 EAN/JAN
4 CODE128
5 LCODE-4/5
USE BACKSPACE TO EXIT MODES
(0-E):
Figure 6.
The menu is arranged in categories and subcategories identified by
numbers and letters. Two or more categories or subcategories can
share a single number or letter; for example, Code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5 both use 0 (zero).
The last line of the menu prompts you for input.
4. Type the I.D. of the category or subcategory you want to display or
change, and press
Enter. For example, enter 2 to display the current
parameter settings for Codabar bar codes. This will also display the
parameters and settings for the other symbologies having 2 as an
I.D., as shown in
User’s Guide 20
Figure 7.
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Figure 7. On-screen programming options for Codabar, Ames, MSI, and Code 93
CODABAR/Ames
0 ENABLE=1
1 MIN LENGTH=04
2 MAX LENGTH=20
3 TRANSMIT START/STOP=0
4 CODABAR TO CLSI CONVERSION=0
5 INTERCHARACTER GAP CHECK=0
MSI
6 ENABLE=0
7 MIN LENGTH=04
8 MAX LENGTH=10
9 2ND CHECKSUM REQUIRED=0
A 2ND CHECKSUM MOD 11=0
B TRANSMIT CHECKSUM=0
CODE93
C ENABLE=1
D MIN LENGTH=02
E MAX LENGTH=20
(0-B):
Notice that the parameters in this list are also identified by numbers
and letters. The value following the equals sign (=) in each line is the
current setting for that parameter (0 means off, and 1 means on).
The last line is the input prompt.
To return to the previous menu level, press the Backspace key on your keyboard.
NOTE
5. Type the I.D. of the parameter whose setting you want to change,
and press
Enter. A prompt will display the valid settings or range of
settings for the parameter, as shown in the following example:
ENABLE CODABAR/AMES (0¦1):
6. Type the setting you want to use, and press
Enter. The list of options
will be redisplayed to verify the change you made.
21 PowerWedge
®
10
Programming the PowerWedge 10
7. Select another option from the list, or press the Backspace key to
return to the main menu.
NOTE
To leave on-screen programming without saving any changes, type
press Enter.
EF and
8. When you are finished checking or changing parameter settings,
type EE at the prompt and press
Enter. This will save your changes
and exit on-screen programming.
9. Press
Ctrl+Z and then press Enter to return to the DOS prompt.
Displaying and Printing Current Settings
While you are in on-screen programming mode, you can display the current settings for all the parameters. At the main menu prompt, type E and
press
Enter, and then type D and press Enter again. At the next prompt
ECHO SETTINGS TO SCREEN), type 1 and press Enter. A list of all the parame-
(
ters will appear on your screen. You can pause the display of the list at any
time by pressing the
continue the display.
If you are using a text editor, you can use commands in the editor’s menu
to print the list of settings or save it to a file. If you are working from the
DOS prompt, you can also save or print the list of settings. To print or
save the list, follow steps 1 through 9 above, with the following changes in
step 2:
Pause key on your keyboard; then press any key to
• To print the list, use the following command: copy con prn.
• To save the list as a file, use the following command: copy con file-
name.
User’s Guide 22
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Serial Batch Programming
The serial batch method of programming involves creating an ASCII file
of programming commands and then transmitting the ASCII file to the
PowerWedge 10 Serial model. The decoder’s serial parameter settings must
match the host’s settings, and the setting for start-program enable (I.D.
#B0) must be either 01 or 03.
Follow these guidelines when creating ASCII files for serial batch
programming:
• The first line of the file must begin with $+$-. This is the decoder’s
“trigger” to enter programming mode.
• Valid characters for the first character in a line (except the first line)
are programming variables or a semicolon.
• A semicolon as the first character in a line indicates the beginning of
a comment. A semicolon anywhere else in a string is treated as a normal character. An end-of-line character (CR or CR/LF) marks the
end of the comment. (Comments contain information useful to you
or anyone else reading the file. They have no effect on the decoder.)
• Data must appear in a line in a specific order: the programming I.D.
number for the parameter followed by a value for the parameter setting. If the parameter type is a string, the string characters must be
followed by two slashes (//) to terminate the string. (You can use
strings as values for preambles, postambles, and extra fields in input
editing.)
For Code 39 and ASCII equivalents for serial characters, see Table 2 on
page 32.
NOTE
• You must enter control or “action” characters (for example, tabs, line
feeds, or function keys) as a “mnemonic” word enclosed in parentheses (see
Full Keyboard Support on page 81). For example, to enter a hori-
zontal tab, you would type (TABR).
23 PowerWedge
®
10
Programming the PowerWedge 10
• The file must end with EE followed by an end-of-line character (CR
or CR/LF) for the programming changes to be saved and the
decoder to exit programming mode.
The following is an example of an ASCII file used for serial batch
programming:
$+$;This is a file example with comments
;The first line started programming mode
;Use predefined default D0
D0
;Enable Code 39--00 is Code 39 enable/disable,
; 1 = enable
001
;Set Code 39 minimum length (01) TO 4 (04)
0104
;Set postamble (B7) to a right tab
B7(TABR)//
;Save changes and exit programming mode
EE
The last line of the file is blank, because a carriage return ended the line
before it.
The following example would have the same results when used to program
the decoder:
$+$-D00010104B7(TABR)//EE
Cloning
Cloning is a way to copy the setup from one PowerWedge 10 to another.
Once you have programmed the first PowerWedge 10, you can use it as a
master to turn other PowerWedge 10s into clones of the first one.
To program the PowerWedge 10 using cloning . . .
User’s Guide 24
Programming the PowerWedge 10
Cloning will work only if the master and slave are the same model. For example, you cannot use a PowerWedge 10 Serial as the master and a keyboard
wedge model or a Mini PowerWedge as the slave.
NOTE
1. Connect a bar code reader to the connector labeled INPUT 1 on the
programmed PowerWedge 10 (the “master”), and set the On/Off/
Program switch to the
2. Scan the following bar code:
You can also use the bar code menu on the bottom of the PowerWedge 10 to
enter cloning mode. Scan the labels for
ON position (see Figure 1).
*$+$-EC*
START, E, and C, in that order.
NOTE
This puts the programmed PowerWedge 10 into cloning
mode. While the decoder is in cloning mode, the red and
green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) alternate flashing twice
(that is, the flashing sequence is green-green-red-red,
green-green-red-red, and so on).
3. Remove the bar code reader from the master, and connect one end
of the cloning cable (part number 00-874-25) to
INPUT 1 on the
master.
You can also use the bar code menu on the bottom of the PowerWedge 10 to
enter cloning mode. Scan the labels for
NOTE
START, E, and C, in that order.
25 PowerWedge
®
10
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