HELP INFORMATION GENERAL Use the cursor keys to move up and down this text. Press ESC to quit. To Activate a pull-down menu press the ALT key and the first letter of the desired menu. Then use the cursor up/down keys to move the selection bar to the required menu. If you want to know more about a particular menu press the F1 key. You quit most menus by pressing the ESC key. (MORE... press cursor down key) The blue EDIT menus are different. The current item is highlighted. This is always the ACCEPT button when the window first opens. Use the TAB key to move forward to the next item, or SHIFT TAB to move back. If an item is a toggle item (e.g an item having two possible states... the ticked items are toggle items) its state is altered each time the space bar is pressed. To exit the menu highlight ACCEPT button and then press the ENTER key. If you made a mistake and wish to retain the original menu configuration then highlight the CANCEL button and press ENTER. A mouse can be used to toggle and make selections. Use the left button. Some windows can be closed by using the right button. Experiment with the keys and mouse to close windows. At the moment you may view the whole HELP file below. Normally when you select HELP you will be presented with just the information relating to the current menu selection. In this way you will not be overwhelmed by irrelevant information. This type of help system is called a 'CONTEXT SENSITIVE HELP SYSTEM' FILES MENU The files menu activates a pull down menu allowing the selection of file related activities. It also has the QUIT and SHELL commands. FILES: Load .CFG from disk Loads a configuration file from disk into computer memory. Once in computer memory it can be edited, saved to disk, or copied to the decoder. Configuration files are usually stored on disk under a name having .CFG as the filetype suffix. Although this is not compulsory it is highly recommended as it enables configuration files to be easily identified. FILES: Save .CFG to disk Transfers a configuration file from computer memory to disk. Any filename may be chosen but the filetype suffix .CFG is recommended to enable configuration files to be easily identified. Multiple configurations may be saved under different names allowing the decoder to be quickly reconfigured simply by uploading the appropriate file. FILES: Download .CFG from device Gets the current configuration from the decoder into computer memory. It may then be edited and uploaded back to the decoder or saved to disk. It is often more advantageous to modify an existing configuration rather than start from the beginning. Potential problems ================== The decoder only accepts commands for a short period after first powering up. If you get no response from the decoder try powering it down and then up again. This program expects the decoder to be operating at 9600 baud by default. if you have reconfigured the decoder to work at a different baud rate then use the COMMS menu to match this program to your decoder. FILES: Upload .CFG to device Sends the configuration currently in computer memory to the decoder. Most configuration changes are acted upon immediately however this would be impractical for RS232 format changes. RS232 changes become effective after the decoder is next powered up. Potential problems ================== The decoder only accepts commands for a short period after first powering up. If you get no response from the decoder try powering it down and then up again. This program expects the decoder to be operating at 9600 baud by default. if you have reconfigured the decoder to work at a different baud rate then use the COMMS menu to match this program to your decoder. FILES: Receive data from device Copies barcode/magstripe data directly from the decoder to disk. This is only of use if the decoder is operating in ACCUMULATE mode. You may choose any filename to save the data, if your filename choice already exists on the disk you will be warned and given the opportunity to choose another name. Data is not wiped from the decoder until you specifically ask for this to be done. This provides security against loss of data if for any reason the save to disk fails. Potential problems ================== The decoder only accepts commands for a short period after first powering up. If you get no response from the decoder try powering it down and then up again. This program expects the decoder to be operating at 9600 baud by default. if you have reconfigured the decoder to work at a different baud rate then use the COMMS menu to match this program to your decoder. FILES: Comms Provides the means to change this program's RS232 format to match the decoder. Some choices in this program cannot be used by the decoder. These have been included to allow compatibility with future Altek products. This selection is NOT for changing the decoder... if you wish to do that use the 'EDIT: RS232 format' menu. FILES: Shell to DOS Enables access to normal DOS functions and other programs without loosing a configuration currently in memory. This is often required for file handling and other purposes. For example you may wish to use the DIR command to see names of files. To return to this program enter the command EXIT from the DOS prompt. FILES: Exit Quits the program and releases the decoder from program mode. Any configuration in computer memory will be lost so save it first. If you forget a warning will be displayed. EDIT MENU The edit menu activates a pull down menu allowing the selection of all the decoder configuration editing functions. EDIT: Barcodes After selecting this menu a sub menu is displayed which lists the different barcode formats for configuration editing. EAN/UPC Code 39 Interleaved 2 from 5 Codabar Plessey Code 128 EDIT: Magstripe Displays the magstripe configuration menu. The decoder is able to read all three tracks simultaneously if fitted with an appropriate reader head. The items on the menu relating to synch characters and sentinels should not be altered unless you have a full understanding of these parameters. The default settings are suitable for the standard ISO magstripe cards. EDIT: Transmission Allows the transmit mode of the decoder to be altered. It also allows the insertion of a small delay between the transmission of data characters. A separate delay is programmable for both KeyWedge(tm) modes and RS232 modes. The default values will normally be suitable. You may need to increase the values if you find characters are getting 'lost'. This has been found to occur on some machines particularly when running network software. Networking imposes a high operating overhead and this sometimes reduces the frequency with which the computer can attend to data in the keyboard buffer. The result can be buffer overflow which manifests itself as missing characters. It should not be necessary to change the delay if working in ACCUMULATE mode. EDIT: RS232 Format This is really a transmission function but it is convenient to group the RS232 parameters in a separate menu. RS232 parameters can be selected even if a keywedge mode is selected for transmission. When uploading changed RS232 parameters to the decoder remember the alterations will not become effective until after the decoder is next powered up. If you change the parameters in this way remember to change the COMMS setting of this program the next time you wish to communicate with the decoder. EDIT: Global This menu accesses items that affect all data read from barcodes or magnetic stripes. EDIT: Channel A Accesses parameters relating exclusively to channel A EDIT: Channel B Accesses parameters relating exclusively to channel B EDIT: Tone Enables The decoder generates many different sounds to identify different events. The TONE ENABLE menu allows one or more of them to be individually switched off. The menu also includes a master volume control which affects all sounds. Volume level 1 is the quietest, 8 is the loudest. If you select volume level 0, ALL sounds are turned off. If you wish to identify a particular tone choose the SOUNDS-DEMO menu. OPTIONS MENU Provides shortcuts for some editing tasks. OPTIONS: Set Defaults This option sets all configuration parameters in computer memory to the default factory settings. This is automatically done when the program starts. Selecting this item will overwrite any configuration currently in memory. A warning is displayed with an opportunity to abandon. OPTIONS: Copy Channel A to B Copies all Channel A parameters to the B channel. Saves work if you wish both channels to be identical OPTIONS: Copy Channel B to A Copies all Channel B parameters to the A channel. Saves work if you wish both channels to be identical SOUND-DEMO MENU The decoder generates many different sounds to identify different events. The SOUND-DEMO menu allows these to be played back on request to aid identification. SOUND-DEMO 1 Channel A: Good-Read + Buffer Empty A "Good Read" from a scanner connected to Channel A will sound like this if the decoder is in IMMEDIATE mode. SOUND-DEMO 2 Channel B: Good-Read + Buffer Empty A "Good Read" from a scanner connected to Channel B will sound like this if the decoder is in IMMEDIATE mode. SOUND-DEMO 3 Channel A: Good-Read Only A "Good Read" from a scanner connected to channel A will sound like this if the decoder is in ACCUMULATE mode. SOUND-DEMO 4 Channel B: Good-Read Only A "Good Read" from a scanner connected to channel B will sound like this if the decoder is in ACCUMULATE mode. SOUND-DEMO 5 Buffer-Empty (All data transmitted) Tone transmitted when the last byte in the data buffer is transmitted. When the decoder is in IMMEDIATE mode it is sounded a moment after the "Good read" tone for the particular channel. In IMMEDIATE mode "Buffer Empty" may be used as a diagnostic aid. If the decoder sounds the "Good Read" but fails to sound "Buffer Empty" then you can be sure there is a problem with the transmission circuit. The most likely cause is either a faulty cable or a handshake failure. In ACCUMULATE mode the Buffer-Empty tone is sounded just after the last byte is transmitted to the host. SOUND-DEMO 6 Main data buffer "Nearly Full" This tone will only be heard when in ACCUMULATE mode. It indicates to the user that the buffer area is nearly full and that steps should be taken to download the data soon. By default the "Nearly Full" tone is sounded when 250 bytes remain and at every subsequent read. The "Nearly Full" level is programmable from the GLOBAL menu. SOUND-DEMO 7 Main data buffer overflowed It the "Nearly Full" tone is disregarded a time will come when the buffer is filled and data will overflow the buffer and be lost. If this happens the "Main Data Buffer Overflow" Tone sounds. Note that the software is arranged so that a partial scan will not be put into memory. If the whole data from any scan will not fit into memory then this tone is sounded and all the data from that scan is discarded. SOUND-DEMO 8 Coldstart Powerup This tone will only be heard if a link is made on the decoder circuit board. The link is only made on those decoders having no backup storage capacity and as a temporary measure for engineering purposes. The link could be made if the internal battery fails thus disabling the "Dead Battery" tone. SOUND-DEMO 9 Warmstart Powerup This is the normal powerup tone sounded whenever power is applied to the decoder. It indicates that the decoder is working correctly. SOUND-DEMO 10 Buffer has data at powerup If the decoder is being operated in ACCUMULATE mode and data is being held in memory then this tone is sounded immediately after the "Warmstart Powerup" tone. SOUND-DEMO 11 ASCII BEL chime If the decoder is operating in RS232 mode the computer may issue a BEL character to attract the attention of the operator. The decoder sounds this tone in response. SOUND-DEMO 12 RAM Corrupt (Dead Battery?) This tone indicates that the power up routine has detected corrupted data in memory. This will most likely be due to a discharged battery. Depending on conditions the battery fitted should last several years. To prevent unexpected loss of data the battery should be replaced after 10 years even if it still seems serviceable. When this tone sounds it immediately loads the factory default configuration. You could use the decoder in this condition indefinitely however if you try to program any other configuration it will revert to the factory defaults whenever the unit is powered down. SOUND-DEMO 13 RS232 Receive Buffer Overflow The RS232 is interrupt driven and this tone will be rarely heard. If it sounds repeatedly it indicates you should reconsider your operating conditions. If you are using the decoder on an INLINE system you may need to disable the RS232 receive circuit. See the ADVANCED PROGRAMMING section in the manual. SOUND-DEMO 14 RS232 Parse Buffer Overflow This tone will be rarely heard. It indicates that more than 80 characters have been received at the RS232 port since the last CARRIAGE RETURN character. It will most likely indicate an operating error, possibly a baud rate mismatch. SOUND-DEMO 15 Test Tune: Jesu Joy This is a test tune. It assists when setting the volume control and has engineering diagnostic capability. SOUND-DEMO 16 Test Tune: British Grenadiers This is a test tune. It assists when setting the volume control and has engineering diagnostic capability. end of file