Frequently Asked Questions: PSC / Percon Products

Duet / VS800

1. What is Programming Mode?
2. How can I program my scanner using bar codes?
3. Which interfaces are supported by Duet™ and VS800™?
4. Which bar code symbologies will my scanner read, and how can I enable or disable a specific symbology?
5. How can I determine which symbology my scanner is reading?
6. How do I expand UPC-E to UPC-A format?
7. How do I add a Carriage Return ("Enter") as a suffix to the data being scanned?
8. Can I disable the first and/or last digits of a UPC/EAN bar code?
9. How do I know which RS232 communication parameters to use for my scanner?

1.  What is Programming Mode?

Programming Mode is a state in which the scanner must be placed in order to accept programming commands. To enter Programming Mode, scan any SWITCH label in the programming guide. While in Programming Mode the green LED will continually flash, and the scanner will only recognize the special programming bar codes contained in this programming guide. Programming changes made to the scanner are set in default memory and are saved even if the scanner is powered down.

To exit Programming Mode, scan the SWITCH label again. The scanner will reset upon exit.

Additional Tips:
Scanning regular bar code labels while in Programming Mode
The scanner will reject the label, sounding an error tone.

Scanning a valid programming label while in Programming Mode
If the feature is supported by the active interface, the scanner will sound three beeps. If incorrect programming has been entered, the error tone will be sounded. Additionally, when programming a feature requiring you to scan single digits to set a multi-digit number, such as Minimum Length ID or Label ID, scanning the SWITCH label before completing all input will result in an error tone and cause the scanner to exit Programming Mode. Under these circumstances, the current feature you were trying to set is thrown out; any previous labels scanned during the session will take effect.

If, during the programming session, you find that you are unsure of the scanner's settings or wish to reset the scanner's configuration, use the Return to Factory Settings label available in the Programming Overview section of the above programming guides. (Note: Use this label with caution, as it will disable ALL features that may have been programmed since the scanner's installation.)

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

2.  How can I program my scanner using bar codes?

For a scanner feature to be modified bar code data must be scanned in the sequence listed below. The simplest programming requires scanning at least three bar code labels:

1. SWITCH label (Enter Programming Mode; green LED flashes)
2. ITEM TAG/ITEM VALUE label (Scan label for features you want to enable or change such as Set Baud Rate to 1200)
3. SWITCH label (Exit Programming Mode)

Some programming changes require the scanning of additional labels to allow flexible programming with larger item value numeric ranges.

1. SWITCH label (Enter Programming Mode; green LED flashes)
2. ITEM TAG label (Scan labels for feature you want to enable or change such as I 2 of 5: Set First Fixed Length)
3. SELECT ITEM VALUE DIGIT ONE
4. SELECT ITEM VALUE DIGIT TWO
5. SWITCH label (Exit Programming Mode; the scanner will reset)
   Note: Not all features are available for all interfaces. The scanner will sound an error tone when scanning programming labels that are invalid to the current interface.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

3.  Which interfaces are supported by Duet™ and VS800™?

Duet™ and VS800™ support the following interfaces:

• IBM
• Keyboard Wedge
• OCIA RS232
• Undecoded
• Wand Emulation

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

4.  Which bar code symbologies will my scanner read, and how can I enable or disable a specific symbology?

Duet and VS800 support the following symbologies:

• UPC/EAN
• Code 39
• Code 128
• Codabar
• Interleaved 2 of 5
• MSI/Plessey

Interface type and symbology (bar code type) selection determines which symbologies the scanner will decode. See the Symbology Selection portion in the programming guide for a complete listing of the symbologies supported by each interface and the corresponding bar codes required to enable or disable specific symbologies.

Note: The scanner has the ability to autodiscriminate between different symbologies making it possible to enable all symbologies the scanner is capable of reading. To ensure optimal scanning performance, disable the symbologies not being used for your application.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

5.  How can I determine which symbology my scanner is reading?

The RS232 and Keyboard Wedge interfaces can be configured to identify the symbology being read. This feature is called Label ID.

With Label ID enabled, when a bar code is scanned it will send a label identifier in front of the bar code (e.g. letter A for UPC-A symbology). You can program the scanner to identify the specific Label IDs for each symbology. For complete instructions and programming labels see the Label Transmit Format Configuration Items; Setting Label ID section in the programming guide.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

6.  How do I expand UPC-E to UPC-A format?

The bar code labels required to expand the UPC-E to UPC-A format are available in the above programming guide under UPC/EAN Options, UPC/EAN Expansion.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

7.  How do I add a Carriage Return ("Enter") as a suffix to the data being scanned?

This feature is available for the RS232 and Keyboard Wedge interfaces only. The bar code labels required to perform this task are available in the programming guide under Label Transmit Format Configuration Items, Setting Label I.D.

The bar codes to scan are identified as follows:

• Global Suffix = <CR>: Adds a carriage return to the suffix
• Global Suffix = <CR><LF>: Adds a carriage return and a line feed to the suffix.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

8.  Can I disable the first and/or last digits of a UPC/EAN bar code?

Yes. The first digit (NSD or Number System Digit) and the last digit (Check Digit) may be disabled using the bar code labels available in the above programming guide under UPC/EAN Options, UPC/EAN Check Digit Transmission.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.

9.  How do I know which RS232 communication parameters to use for my scanner?

Your computer or terminal will require your scanner to match certain data format or communication parameters. These RS232 parameters are:

• Baud Rate
• Parity
• Data Bits
• Stop Bits
• Hardware Control (CTS Flow/Scan Control)
• Software Control (Xon/Xoff)
• Host Echo
• Intercharacter Delay

The bar code labels required to establish these parameters are available in the above programming guide under RS232 Interface Configuration. Scan the labels that correspond to the data format settings on your computer or terminal.

Reference: R44-1740: Duet™ and VS800™ Scanner Programming Kit
Click here for product manuals.