Frequently Asked Questions: PSC / Percon Products

Falcon Portable Data Terminal FAQ's

1. How can I access the 8 megabytes of RAM on my Falcon 32X or Falcon 33X portable?
2. How do I develop a program to print directly from my portable to a serial printer?
3. How can I transfer data to and from the Falcon?
4. How can I bypass my program and get to a C prompt?
5. How do I transfer a file using the DOS command line?
6. How do I transfer data from a Falcon to a PC using the PAL data collection application?
7. What modems can I use with the Falcon?
8. How can my C program use the Falcon display?
9. How do I get both triggers to fire the laser?
10. How do I reconfigure the portable?
11. How is the Barcom Serial to Keyboard Conversion Program loaded on the Falcon?
12. How do I reboot or reset my Falcon?
13. How do I configure the Falcon using the Falcon Configuration Utility version 2.6?
14. Why do I get errors when printing after upgrading to PowerNet version 6.2.2?

1. How can I access the 8 megabytes of RAM on my Falcon 32X or Falcon 33X portable?

Warning
A Falcon data collector is a true DOS PC. As such, usage of the extended RAM is controlled by the CONFIG.SYS file on the Falcon itself. See the Related Information section of this FAQ for more information on default RAM configurations.

Solution
The Falcon 32X and 33X portable data collectors come with 8 megabytes of random access memory (RAM). 1 meg of this RAM is used by the operating system of the Falcon and 1 meg is dedicated as the D drive of the Falcon. The remaining 6 meg of RAM is usable as one or more additional logical drives but needs to be configured to be used.

To configure this RAM, a VDISK command needs to be put into your CONFIG.SYS file that runs on the Falcon. The Falcon Configuration Utility has a function to easily create an additional logical drive that uses the extra 6 meg of extended RAM.

Follow these steps to use the Falcon Configuration Utility to configure a 6 meg E drive on the Falcon:

1. Format the C drive on the Falcon.
2. Open the Falcon Configuration Utility version 2.5 (or higher), and click on the Custom button.
3. Open the UPGBase.cfg and UPGBase.prs files when prompted.
4. Make sure the "Falcon 32X or 33X" button is selected next to the "Select Product" option.
5. On the Custom Configuration screen, click on the File Configuration button.
6. On the File Configuration screen, click the Next button once and enable the 2nd Vdisk for 6 meg.
7. Click on the Save button and save this configuration as "UPGBase with Vdisk.cfg". (Saving this configuration will make it available any time you need it.)
8. Click on the Done button to go back to the Custom Configuration screen.
9. You can now download the configuration to the Falcon:
   • Click the Download button
   • Connect the Falcon to the PC using the Falcon cable or Falcon Dock cable
   • Run the LD. BAT file from the C drive of the Falcon
   • Click on the OK button on the PC download verification screen
10. Once the transfer finishes, the Falcon will have an E drive that is 6 meg.
11. You can now download your application using UPG or simple DOS transfer.

Related Information
The Falcon allows you to use an ATA flash card in the PCMCIA card slot. Since the card drivers also load into the Falcon via the CONFIG.SYS file, the order of the drivers in the CONFIG.SYS file will control what drive ends up on the flash card or in the extended RAM. Here are the different drive assignments as set by the Falcon Configuration Utility. If you need a configuration you can manually change the CONFIG.SYS file that runs on the Falcon.

• Falcon using extended RAM and NOT using a flash card:
  The E drive will be created in the extended RAM
• Falcon using a flash card and NOT using the extended RAM:
  The E drive will be created on the flash card
• Falcon using both the extended RAM and a flash card:
  The E drive will be created in the extended RAM and the F drive will be created on the flash card

2.  How do I develop a program to print directly from my portable to a serial printer?

Warnings
Printing directly to a serial printer from a PSC portable is fairly simple in theory. All you need to do is supply the printer with the correct data for the label you want to print. However, the actual process of identifying the correct command structure for the label you want and then getting the portable to create it on demand can be very time consuming.

Solution

1. Connect the printer to your PC with the standard serial cable that comes with the printer.
2. Using the programming manual from the printer manufacturer as reference, create a text command file that you can send from the PC directly to the printer using Windows HyperTerminal (or some other communication utility) that will successfully print an example of the label you want the portable to print. (Sometimes, the printer will come with label printing software that you can use to create a label. Since the label file is sent to the printer as serial data, you should be able to use the portable to receive the data instead of the printer. If you can do this, you can easily get a copy of the command data required to print your label.)
3. Once you have a command text file that will print a label from the PC, copy this file to the portable.
4. Connect the portable to the printer using the standard serial cable for the portable and the standard serial cable for the printer connected together with a null modem adapter.
5. Print a label by sending the command text file from the portable to the printer. If this does not work, verify that all the parameters you used to print the label from the PC to the printer are being used the same with the portable (baud rate, data bits, flow control, etc.)
6. Once you can print a label using your example command text file, print out the command text file on paper and highlight the areas in the text data where the raw data is used. These areas of raw data in the command file structure will be supplied by variables in the portable program. For example: If you are printing a label that has one bar code of "123456" and one text description of "Test Label", highlighting the data "123456" and "Test Label" in the command text file will show you where the raw data is used.
7. Once you have highlighted the data, everything that is highlighted needs to be supplied by a variable in the program. Everything that is not highlighted will be constant for this particular label. Once you know this, you can develop the program to supply the required constant data and the variable data to create labels with any data you want.
8. Use development software (UPG or 'C' for Falcons and PPG for PT2000s) to create the command text file using variables for the data fields. Keep working until you can print a different label by changing the data in the variables.
9. The last step is to integrate the label creation code into your data collection program so that the label prints when you need it to print.

Once you have the program working, if you want to create a custom label, you can use the two cables connected with the null modem to design a direct cable. Using a continuity tester you can verify which pins on the portable connector go to which pins on the printer connector and use this information to make a custom cable that goes straight from the portable to the printer.

Related Information

Additional considerations when dealing with direct serial printers include:

1. If the cable is not correct, the printer will probably do nothing when data is sent because it never gets to the printer.
2. If the cable connecting the portable to the printer is correct, but the data that is sent to the printer is not correct, the printer may do one of the following:
   • Signal you that it has received data but that the data is not correct
   • Show a general error condition
   • Do nothing

Printers must have correctly structured data that is sent correctly in order to function properly. Consult the printer's user and programming guides for more details.

3.  How can I transfer data to and from the Falcon?

Warnings
The different Falcon portable data collectors are true DOS PCs. This means that any communication program written to run in a DOS environment can work on the Falcon. Screen size can be a limitation, but the standard PC architecture of the Falcon gives the user a wide variety of choices for utility programs.

The data transfer methods listed here are the most common.

Solution
There are 3 common methods for sending / receiving files between a portable data collector and the PC:

1. Universal Program Generator File Transfer Manager
2. UPG Runtime File Transfer
3. Transfer Files Manually via DOS from Portable and PC with UPGXFER / XFER

Universal Program Generator File Transfer Manager
From within the UPG development program you are able to transfer data files / program files to and from the portable. From the UPG menu bar, select the 'Portable' menu option, then select 'File Transfer Manager'. Specify the PC folder that the file will be selected from, or written to. Then, start the file transfer by pressing the appropriate 'Send' or 'Receive' button. A 'Host' button is also available for receiving multiple files from the portable in a single upload / download session.

his transfer method uses Zmodem to send and receive files so you will need to run a Zmodem transfer utility on the Falcon as well. See the section below on using the XFER.EXE utility.

UPG Runtime File Transfer
UPG Runtime was designed specifically for transferring files to, and from, the portable. You should use the version of UPG Runtime that matches the version of UPG that the application was created under.

From the UPG Runtime menu bar select 'File', then 'File Transfer Manager'. Select the appropriate COM port settings, and press the 'Enter' button. The File Transfer Manager window will appear. Specify the PC folder that the file will be selected from, or written to. Then, start the file transfer by pressing the appropriate 'Send' or 'Receive' button.

This transfer method uses Zmodem to send and receive files so you will need to run a Zmodem transfer utility on the Falcon as well. See the section below on using the XFER.EXE utility.

Transfer Files Manually via DOS from Portable and PC with UPGXFER / XFER
NOTE: In the following DOS transfer command lines:

• Substitute your COM port number where you see the number 2.
• Substitute your file name where you see FILENAME.TXT.
• Substitute your baud rate where you see -B38400.

UPGXFER File Transfer
(UPGXFER.EXE has not been distributed since Falcon BIOS rev 1.8. XFER.EXE is the suggested transfer utility but UPGXFER.EXE is still usable on the Falcon.)

PC UPGXFER -R -P2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon UPGXFER -S FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Download File from PC to Falcon in DOS:
PC UPGXFER -S -P2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon UPGXFER -R -B38400

XFER File Transfer (Version 1.6 or Lower Uses Xmodem)
Upload File From Falcon to PC in DOS:
PC XFER -2R FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon XFER FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Download File From PC to Falcon in DOS:
PC XFER -2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon XFER -R FILENAME.TXT -B38400

XFER File Transfer (Version 1.74 or Higher Uses Xmodem (default) and Zmodem)
UPG (2.0 and up) and Falcon Configuration Utility (ver 1.8 and up)

Upload File From Falcon to PC in DOS Using Zmodem:
PC XFER -Z -R -2 -O -B38400
Falcon XFER -Z FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Download File From PC to Falcon in DOS Using Zmodem:
PC XFER -Z -2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon XFER -Z -R -O -B38400

Upload File From Falcon to PC in DOS Using Xmodem:
PC XFER -2R FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon XFER FILENAME.TXT - B38400

Download File From PC to Falcon in DOS Using Xmodem:
PC XFER -2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
Falcon XFER -R FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Related Information
Both the UPGXFER.EXE and XFER.EXE transfer utilities have help screens that list all of the command line options available for each respective program. To access the help screen, run the utility with the /? Switch.

4.  How can I bypass my program and get to a C prompt?

The following procedure readies a Falcon for use with a custom UPG program, IntelliTrack portable application, or standard PAL software. Reconfiguration should be done whenever there it is suspected that the loaded configuration or application files have become corrupt or a malfunction occurs. Usually, this is evidenced by erratic performance.

Getting To A "C" Prompt
Bypass the automatically loaded application program by doing a "safe boot": simultaneously depress the CTL, ALT, and DEL keys; as soon as "wait…" appears on the Falcon display immediately press the DEL and ESC keys on the top left of the keypad. It the Falcon beeps once before you depress these keys, then you will need to start the reboot again.

The Falcon should emit first a low than a higher frequency beep. After the portable loads its parameters files, a C prompt should appear on the display.

Reformatting The C Drive
This step will erase all of the data on this drive. Be sure you have uploaded any data files that you wish to save or else they will be lost.

At the C prompt type format. After the portable is finished formatting, delete all files on the D drive by typing del *.* at the D prompt.

Reconfiguring The Falcon Using The Configuration Utility
Install the Falcon Configuration Utility on your PC. This program comes on floppy disk with the Falcon or on our web site in the Software Updates section. You will need zip software on your computer to expand the files needed for installation.

If your goal is to reload the PAL applications, then select "default" from the main menu. If you're planning to reload a custom UPG program or an IntelliTrack portable application, then select "custom" from the main menu. From the open file dialog box select "upgbase.cfg." This step readies the parameters files that will be downloaded to the portable.

When the next open file dialog box appears, select "default.prs." This will ready another set of files to download to the Falcon. When all of files for downloading have been prepared and queued, a menu will appear.

If you selected default from the main menu, then you will be prompted to prepare the portable to receive files from the PC. If you opted to run custom, then you must click the download button before the Utility will prompt you to ready the portable. Be sure that you have the portable connected and the proper port selected. Once you have said OK to the message on the PC and typed LD on the Falcon, the file transfer process will begin. The PC will then begin sending files to the portable, which should display transfer information about the files it is receiving.

When the transfer process is complete, reboot the portable by simultaneously holding down the CTL, ALT, DEL keys until the Falcon beeps. If you have loaded default, the the Falcon should load PAL upon rebooting. If you chose custom, the Falcon will display a C prompt and you may begin reloading your application software.

5.  How do I transfer a file using the DOS command line?

The Falcon DOS portable data terminal uses standard serial communications to send and receive files from a PC. Most Falcons are used either with a supplied Portable Applications Library (PAL) program or one created using the Universal Program Generator (UPG) (or with another application development tool in conjunction with the Developer´s ToolKit). Standard applications usually accomplish data file transfer through a menu option send command, rather than directly from the DOS command line. In some cases, however, you may wish to control file transfer functions from DOS by calling a utility and specifying file name and other parameters.

In addition to enabling you to exchange data between a Falcon and PC, understanding DOS command line operations can help you test serial communications between these two devices. Running a file transfer utility from the DOS prompt allows you to bypass the send/receive functions in your application, thereby eliminating a possible faulty link in the communications process. Using the parameter switches allows you - for testing and development purposes - to exert direct control over serial communications, such as baud rate settings, protcol, port selection, and other variables.

Automating Data Exchange With Batch Files
Many PC applications, such as database programs and spreadsheets, are not directly capable of interfacing with a portable data terminal. Consequently, an intermediate piece of software is required to facilitate data exchange between a PC and portable.

Typically, file transfer operations that are launched within a Windows or other application use a batch file (a special type of DOS file with the extension ".bat") that executes a series of commands in succession. One batch command, for example, could launch a file transfer utility and specify certain parameters such as file name and source and target locations; another might copy the transferred data from one location on the hard drive to another, so that it is available to an application. An example of a common batch operation is the unpacking of self-extracting Zip files that have been downloaded from the Internet.

Most Windows users have encountered batch files, such as when a function is called within a Windows application that causes a DOS window to open. Though it may happen quickly, the operations carried out by the batch file all occur from the DOS command line.

XFER File Transfer Utility - The Communications Link
Regardless of the application type, the Falcon uses a utility called XFER to transfer files to and from a PC. In order to do so, XFER must be run simultaneously on both the Falcon and PC. Once communications are established between these two devices, through a series of "handshakes" (allowing each to recognize the other and determine that they are using a common language - called a "protocol"), file transfer commences.

Whether you are attempting to transfer a file directly from the DOS command line or building a batch file of your own, you must be aware of the location of XFER on your system´s hard drive and how the various communications parameters are specified (these are enumerated in the Falcon User´s Guide).

XFER Communications Protocols
Beginning with release 1.8 ( which currently ships with all Falcon portables) XFER is the single DOS file transfer utility for use with the Falcon, UPG, and UPG Runtime. UPGXFER, formally used in conjunction with UPG, has been removed from UPG 2.0. XFER 1.8 uses the X modem serial protocol by default, but can be set to use Z modem (the default protocol of UPG) rather than Percon Ack/Nak. Hence, the "-p" switch described in the examples pertaining to release 1.5/1.6 no longer apply to newer releases.

While XFER 1.8 no longer defaults to Ack/Nak protocol for file transfer, current releases of PAL can use Ack/Nak to send a file directly through the Falcon´s serial port - bypassing XFER entirely. This enables the portable to transfer data to a variety of host computers using the protocol of choice: X modem, Z modem, or Ack/Nak.

DOS File Transfer Utilities:
Percon Transfer Utility: XFER 1.8
Application: File Transfer between Falcon and PC with DOS or UPG 2.0
Default yProtocols: X modem is default and Z modem is optional

Percon Transfer Utility: XFER 1.3-1.6
Application: File transfer between Falcon and PC with DOS
Default yProtocols: Ack/Nak is default and X modem is optional.

Percon Transfer Utility: UPGFER
Application: File transfer between Falcon and PC with DOS or UPG 1.2
Default Protocol: Z modem

Percon Transfer Utility: XFERSMBL
Application: File transfer between Symbol portable and PC with DOS and all UPG 1.2 and 2.0
Default yProtocols: Unknown

UPGXFER was originally designed for use with UPG and, because it used Z modem, was not compatible with early releases of XFER (1.0 - 1.6). If you must continue using a release of UPG prior to 2.0, then UPGXFER should be loaded on the Falcon C drive.

Software Version, BIOS, and Compatibility
The Falcon Configuration Utility includes XFER and PAL software and is available on this web site in the Software Upgrades section. PSC recommends that you use the most current software and BIOS for the Falcon (currently at 1.8) for the Configuration Utility, BIOS, and XFER, and 2.0 for PAL and UPG. You can ascertain the BIOS version of your Falcon by typing REV and Enter at the C prompt. Be sure that the Configuration Utility you´re using matches this BIOS. If you download the most current Falcon software from this web site, you will be sure to have the latest release of XFER and other related components.

DOS Communications - Procedures For DOS Command Line File Transfer
Search your PC hard drive for XFER.EXE (or, with older versions of UPG, UPGXFER.EXE; if you are using a Symbol portable, the file will be named XFERSMBL.EXE). Take note of the directory in which this file resides. Then, go to a DOS prompt on the PC, log in to that directory, and type the appropriate command (described below) at the DOS prompt on both the PC and the portable. Next, press the Enter key on the receiving PC before pressing the enter key on the transmitting portable.

Note: In most cases, if you are using either PAL or a custom UPG program, the application will have a "send" command built into it. Hence, DOS command line file transfer will be unnecessary.

In the following examples of command lines for portable communications, please note the following:

1. 38400 is the baud rate for these examples. You may specify other speeds, but be sure they are the same on both the portable and PC sides.
2. The number 2 specifies the com port used in this example. You may choose a different one, but we recommend using either com 1 or 2.
3. Substitute the name of your text file for the generic "filename.txt."
4. You will be working from the DOS prompt logged to the appropriate directory where the file transfer utility resides. Moreover, you will need to have the source file in the directory you are running the transfer utility from, or else specify the full path to that file in the file transfer command line. Be aware that files sent to your PC will, by default, be written to the directory in which you are running the transfer utility.

XFER - All Release And UPG 2.0
Uploading a Text File from a Falcon to a PC:
On the PC type: XFER -2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
On the Falcon type: XFER -R FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Downloading a Text File from a PC to a Falcon:
On the PC type: XFER -2R FILENAME.TXT -B38400
On the Falcon type: XFER FILENAME.TXT -B38400

UPGXFER - UPG to 1.2 and Older

Uploading a Text File from a Falcon to a PC:
On the PC type: UPGXFER -R -P2 - B38400
On the Falcon type: UPGXFER -S FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Downloading a Text File from a PC to Falcon:
On the PC type: UPGXFER - S -P2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
On the Falcon type: UPGXFER -R -B38400

XFERSMBL
Uploading a Text File from a Symbol Portable to a PC:
On the PC type: UPGXFER -R -P2 -B38400
On the Symbol type: XFERSMBL -S FILENAME.TXT -B38400

Downloading a Text File from a PC to a Symbol Portable:
On the PC type: UPGXFER -S -P2 FILENAME.TXT -B38400
On the Symbol type: XFERSMBL -R -B38400

6.  How do I transfer data from a Falcon to a PC using the PAL data collection application?

Warnings
This download example uses a baud rate of 57600. Please be aware that while this transfer rate is common for use with the Falcon, various factors can interfere with fast data transfer. Should you find difficulty transferring data at 57600, try choosing a slower transfer rate. Many people recommend 9600 as a base rate for establishing first-time communications between a portable and host. You may wish to experiment with various baud rates, but be sure to set the same rate on both the Falcon and in the receiving software on the host.

Solution
Each Falcon comes with a disk containing our standard software: the Falcon Configuration Utility, Portable Applications Library (PAL), and file transfer software. PAL programs contain menus for configuring communications settings on the portable and for initiating and running the send-file procedure. The following assumes that the portable is properly connected to the host, power is turned on, and the PC has the proper software and configuration for receiving a file from the portable.

Readying The Falcon Portable

1. From the PAL main menu, select F5=Setup
2. From the Setup Options screen, press the "m" key for more options.
3. Select F6=Serial on the More Options screen.
4. Press the F1 key to verify the current protocol settings.
5. Line 3 of the Protocol Settings screen shows the current protocol. For this example, Xmodem should be selected. To be certain, press the F2=Xmodem key to set it.
6. Back on the Serial Setup screen, press the F2=Baud Rate key to verify the baud rate setting.
7. For this example, set the baud rate to 57600 by pressing the F6 key.
8. Exit from the Serial Setup screen by pressing the F10 key

Readying The Host PC
Check to be sure you have a serial port available on the host PC.

1. Open a DOS prompt and change directories to the following path: C:\Percon\Falcon\program. (This is the default location for the XFER.EXE transfer utility. If you installed the Falcon Configuration Utility to a directory other than the default, you will need to work from the Program folder from that directory.)
2. Type one of the following commands but do not press the Enter key. These commands differ depending on the com port to which the Falcon is connected:
   • For Com1 type: XFER -1RXB57600 MYDATA.TXT
   • For Com2 type: XFER -2RXB57600 MYDATA.TXT

Transferring a File

1. Connect the Falcon to the host PC com port using PSC direct cable (p/n 00-884-31) or have a Falcon Dock ready and connected to the PC using a "null modem" or PSC Dock cable (p/n 00-884-32).
2. On the Falcon, exit the PAL Setup screen (F10) and reenter the program you were using to collect data, in order to get to a send screen and initialize the file transfer procedure.
3. Once you have gotten back into the specific PAL application that you used to collect your data, press the F2=Send key.
4. The next screen is to let you see what protocol and baud rate the transfer is configured for. As we have already set up the transfer settings, line #2 of this screen should say XFER -X -B57600 showing that XFER is the transfer utility being used, Xmodem is the current protocol and 57600 is the current baud rate.
5. Press the Enter key on the Falcon and then press the Enter key on the PC keyboard. A countdown of the transmitted bytes will appear briefly on the Falcon screen and then change to a message screen that should say "File Transfer Successful." The PC screen should show one file received.
6. The data file (MYDATA.TXT) should now be in the default Percon\Falcon\Program directory or the directory in which XFER resides (if different).

Related Information

Serial Ports
Your PC may have multiple serial ports. To avoid communication conflicts between the portable and your PC be sure to connect the Falcon to a port that is not being used by an internal device such as a modem.

You can check the status of your system's ports by going to the Windows Control Panel/System/Device Manager. In addition, clicking on the Modems icon in the Control Panel, then selecting the Diagnostics tab will display the port assignments for an internal modem as well as port assignments for other devices. Finally, if you have a new computer that has not yet been used for serial communications, be sure that the com port you plan to use with the Falcon is enabled in the system setup (consult your computer's manual for details.)

Creating a Desktop Icon for XFER
One very easy way to upload a PAL text file to the PC is to create a desktop icon that will, with a double-click of your mouse button, start the XFER file transfer utility on the PC. The following is an explanation of your to create such an icon. (Note: this example assumes the Falcon Configuration Utility is installed to the default directory on your PC.)

• Right mouse click on an open area of your PC desktop.
• Select the New command then select Shortcut.
• For Command Line type: "C:\Percon\Falcon|Porgram\Xfer.exe -1RXB57600 FILENAME.TXT" (Note: FILENAME.TXT must be replaced with the actual name of your file)
• Click the Next button, enter a name for your icon, and click Next again.
• Select an icon for your shortcut and then click the Finish button.

A Shortcut icon for launching XFER and receiving your data will then be created on your PC desktop.

Using the Shortcut to Receive a Data File From the Falcon:

• On the PC, begin the upload process by double-clicking on the file transfer icon on the PC desktop.
• A DOS window will appear indicating the transfer utility on the PC side is waiting for the Falcon to send the file.
• On the Falcon, select the Send option from the application menu and acknowledge the settings.
• The file transfer process will occur.
• Once the transfer is complete, the uploaded file will reside in the folder containing the XFER program.

7.  What modems can I use with the Falcon?

Viking Fax Modem Card Recommended for Use with Falcon

Many customers have asked PSC about using fax/modem cards with the PSC Falcon DOS portable. PSC's recommendation is to use an external modem with a Falcon. For customers who wish to use an internal fax/modem card, we recommend the Viking 33.6k modem.

By default, the Viking modem card is capable of going into "sleep" mode when not actively used, which will greatly extend the battery life if the modem is left in the card slot.

To manually set the Viking modem to automatically sleep while not connected to a phone line, issue one of the following commands from your portable program:

• "ATS24=1¥CR>" for 1-second power down
• "ATS24=3¥CR>" for a 3-second power down.

Note: The power management settings do not become activated until the Viking modem card is put through one power cycle. This means that inserting a Viking card into a Falcon that is already on will allow the modem to work but it will not establish the power management and will drain the batteries very quickly. To ensure the power management is working, always turn the Falcon off and back on after inserting the Viking card into a Falcon that is already on.

PSC also recommends the use of nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries when using a modem, as they have greater storage capacity than other batteries.

While connected to a phone line and running, the Viking modem draws 175 ma. In sleep mode, the modem current draw is 23.5 ma.

8.  How can my C program use the Falcon display?

The Falcon 310/315 8-line display supports standard CGA video modes with character sizes 8x8, 6x8, and 8x16 (only modes 4-6 support 8x8 fonts). Developers should bear in mind that the Falcon display works as a "view port," offering a 128 x 64 pixel view of a potentially larger screen of texts or graphics. Consequently, display navigation may be an important consideration in planning the video and graphics implementation of your application.

In accessing video controls for the Falcon 310/315 display be careful when writing to video memory. The address for Falcon 310/315 video memory is A800—not the typical B800. PSC recommends making calls to the BIOS rather than directly to hardware. For this reason graphic-intensive applications may have difficulty running properly on the Falcon 310/315 8-line display.

The graphics capability of the Falcon 310/315 display, which is utilized with the Falcon Developer's Toolkit, has been thoroughly tested. Nevertheless, PSC cannot provide support for applications that have been developed with this tool because of the sheer number of variables that come into play in making an application run properly. Moreover, PSC will not confirm that all graphics-related commands will perform as expected when they are implemented in a specific application.

9.  How do I get both triggers to fire the laser?

By default the left trigger of the Falcon fires the laser scanner and the right toggles the alpha mode on or off. It is possible, however, to change the trigger orientation settings so that both triggers fire the laser. This is accomplished by simultaneously pressing the FN 1, FN 2, and INTL keys at the same time. An inverted "P" will appear on the display. Then, simply press the right trigger twice. Both triggers will now fire the laser.

Setting trigger orientation is covered in the Falcon User's Guide. However, change to the trigger orientation settings made through the keypad will hold only as long as the unit is not rebooted. To make such changes permanent, so that the new laser settings are retained after a reboot, the Falcon Developers ToolKit and programming in C are required.

10.  How do I reconfigure the portable?

The following procedure readies a Falcon for use with a custom UPG program, IntelliTrack portable application, or standard PAL software. Reconfiguration should be done whenever there it is suspected that the loaded configuration or application files have become corrupt or a malfunction occurs. Usually, this is evidenced by erratic performance.

Getting To A C Prompt
Bypass the automatically loaded application program by doing a "safe boot": simultaneously depress the CTL, ALT, and DEL keys; as soon as "wait…" appears on the Falcon display immediately press the DEL and ESC keys on the top left of the keypad. It the Falcon beeps once before you depress these keys, then you will need to start the reboot again.

The Falcon should emit first a low than a higher frequency beep. After the portable loads its parameters files, a C prompt should appear on the display.

Reformatting The C Drive
This step will erase all of the data on this drive. Be sure you have uploaded any data files that you wish to save or else they will be lost.

At the C prompt type format. After the portable is finished formatting, delete all files on the D drive by typing del *.* at the D prompt.

Reconfiguring The Falcon Using The Configuration Utility
Install the Falcon Configuration Utility on your PC. This program comes on floppy disk with the Falcon or on our web site in the Software Updates section. You will need zip software on your computer to expand the files needed for installation.

If your goal is to reload the PAL applications, then select "default" from the main menu. If you're planning to reload a custom UPG program or an IntelliTrack portable application, then select "custom" from the main menu. From the open file dialog box select "upgbase.cfg." This step readies the parameters files that will be downloaded to the portable.

When the next open file dialog box appears, select "default.prs." This will ready another set of files to download to the Falcon. When all of files for downloading have been prepared and queued, a menu will appear.

If you selected default from the main menu, then you will be prompted to prepare the portable to receive files from the PC. If you opted to run custom, then you must click the download button before the Utility will prompt you to ready the portable. Be sure that you have the portable connected and the proper port selected. Once you have said OK to the message on the PC and typed LD on the Falcon, the file transfer process will begin. The PC will then begin sending files to the portable, which should display transfer information about the files it is receiving.

When the transfer process is complete, reboot the portable by simultaneously holding down the CTL, ALT, DEL keys until the Falcon beeps. If you have loaded default, the the Falcon should load PAL upon rebooting. If you chose custom, the Falcon will display a C prompt and you may begin reloading your application software.

11.  How is the Barcom Serial to Keyboard Conversion Program loaded on the Falcon?

A Falcon application program generally expects data to be input from one of the following sources: the Falcon keyboard, the Falcon integrated laser, or an undecoded input device. Alternatively, a serial device can be attached to the Falcon via the COM port, and the application program uses a serial input function to populate data fields. Using the Barcom Serial to keyboard conversion utility, the attached serial device can populate the application input fields that are normally populated via keyboard style input methods.

Following are the basic steps for installing and running the Barcom utility software on the Falcon:

1. Install Barcom files on PC
2. Run the Barcom configuration utility (BCONFIG.EXE) on the PC in order to create the configuration file (BARCOM.CF)
3. Download necessary Barcom files to Falcon
4. Run the Barcom.exe program on the Falcon
5. Turn on Barcom using Baron.exe
6. After input of data is finished, turn off Barcom using Baroff.exe

Related Information
See the expanded instructional document (PDF file format) including detailed steps and screen shots explaining how to load and use Barcom.

12.  How do I reboot or reset my Falcon?

See Chapter 7 of the Advanced User´s Guide for information on resetting the Falcon: Warm Boot, Cold Boot, Safe Boot, and Hardware Reset.

13.  How do I configure the Falcon using the Falcon Configuration Utility version 2.6?

In order to connect to the network using the Falcon Configuration Utility v. 2.6, you must add the socket.cfg file to the list of application files to download to the Falcon. If you are using TCP/IP as the protocol, the IP address, subnet mask and router must be put in the socket.cfg file.

Step 1:

• Open the Falcon Configuration Utility, click the CUSTOM button. A screen will appear where you are to choose the configuration files to be loaded to your Falcon.
• Depending on which RF card is in your unit, and the protocol you are using, select the appropriate card. For example, if you are loading the Symbol Spectrum 24 card that uses the 802.11 protocol, select the S802tcp.cfg file. (A complete listing of the files offered and the corresponding RF card is listed below.)
• Click OK. (You can view the contents of the configuration file by opening it in Notepad. To do this from within the Falcon Configuration Utility, right click the file then select Open With.. (or Open) from the dropdown box. If you selected Open With, choose Notepad to view the file. If you chose Open, your file should open.)

Step 2:

• Another screen will appear where you are to choose a program setting file for your Falcon. This file determines the lengths and types of barcodes you are scanning with the Falcon. The default.prs file will be selected by default and may be used to connect to the network. You can change the settings at a later time in the installation if you wish. For example, if you do not want users to scan I 2 of 5 barcodes longer then 10 characters, you can set the maximum length to 10. Select the file you wish to download to the portable and click Open.

Step 3:

• The next screen that appears has four buttons you can choose from. Select the button labeled ‘File Configuration'. The list of files located under the title ‘Application Files' lists the files that will be downloaded to your Falcon. You must add the SOCKET.CFG file to this list.
• Select the ADD button, then the BROWSE button
• Click on the RF folder located in the OPEN pop-up box.
• Select the NETWORK folder. Inside the NETWORK folder change the "Files of Type:" prompt at the bottom of the pop-up screen to read ‘ALL [*.*]' .
• The SOCKET.CFG file should appear.
• Highlight the SOCKET.CFG file.
• RIGHT click on the file. A drop down box should appear.
• Select Open. The SOCKET.CFG file should open and you can enter your IP address, Subnet Mask and Router.
• Make sure you save the file after editing it by clicking FILE and SAVE.
• Click Open. The File Selection screen should appear showing the paths of a) where the file is located on the PC and b) where the file is to be placed on the terminal.
• Edit the location of the file on the portable to read C:\NET\SOCKET.CFG. Click OK.
• The application list should now appear and the SOCKET.CFG file should be in the list of files under the title ‘Application Files'.
• Also notice the NET.CFG files. There are two listed and which one you will use depends on the type of Falcon you are using. If you are using the 310 or 315, then select the Net31X. If you are using the 320, 325, 330 or 335, then select the Net32X. Depending on the RF Card manufacturer you have chosen, you may need to edit this file to reflect the appropriate NET_ID or Domain. Please refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your RF card for more detailed information on this topic.

Step 4:

• Click the next button at the bottom of the screen.
• Select the appropriate items you wish to add and select NEXT.
• If you wish to add anything to the Autoexec.bat, Config.sys or the text file, you may do so at this screen by selecting the appropriate button. Also, be sure that the appropriate Falcon type is selected under ‘Select Product'. Then select Done.

Step 5:

• Click on the COMM SETTINGS button and ensure that the appropriate COMM Port and baud rate are selected.
• Click OK to return to the File Configuration screen.

Step 6:

• Select Download.
• After the files you wish to download are ready to be transferred to the portable, a screen will appear that asks you to type LD at the DOS prompt on the portable.
• Type LD and click enter on the PC. The files should transfer from the PC to the Falcon.

Step 7:

• At the end of the transfer, you will see an error message that says ‘Insufficient Disk Space'. This is a cosmetic error only and will not prevent your unit from connecting to the network in any way.
• After the file transfer is complete, reboot the unit.
• Once the unit is back at the DOS prompt, try to PING the portable from a PC connected to your network.
• To do this, go to the DOS prompt and type ‘PING XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX' , where the X's are the address you gave to the portable. If it is successful, you will see a reply from the portable. If you do not, FORMAT the Falcon and try the above steps again making sure all of your configurations are set correctly, such as your IP address, your Domain or NET-ID and other configurations which can prevent you from connecting to the network.

Step 8:

• You will be asked to save the configuration file after clicking EXIT.
• Choose YES and save the configuration with an appropriate name. The next time you need to configure a Falcon with this configuration, all you need to do is select it under the Configuration menu. The Socket.cfg will automatically be placed in the list of files to download so you will not need to add it again, although if you are using it to configure multiple Falcons, you will need to change the IP address information for each unit you are configuring.

14. Why do I get errors when printing after upgrading to PowerNet version 6.2.2?

After upgrading to version 6.2.2, users may experience printing problems if their BIOS on the Falcon is version 2.6 or below.  Please ensure that the BIOS of the Falcon is also upgraded when using version 6.2.2 of PowerNet. Upgrading the BIOS (also known as  performing a core update) is done by using the COREXFER utility available in the C:\Percon\Falcon\Util\Coreupd directory after the Falcon Configuration Utility is installed.  Instructions for completing a core update are available within the COREUPD.hlp file. If you do not have the latest version of the Falcon Configuration Utility, you may download it from this website. Go to the Support Section and follow the links to Software Updates . Please contact technical support if you need further assistance.

Tech Support : 973-579-0103  or  973-579-1309
Fax : 973-579-7564
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