Frequently Asked Questions: PSC / Percon Products

PowerScan FAQ's

1. What is Programming Mode?
2. How can I program my scanner using bar codes?
3. Which interfaces are supported by PowerScan™?
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 select a specific Keyboard Wedge interface type?
10. How do I know which RS232 communication parameters to use for my scanner?
11. How can I tell if problems with my PC RS232 application are caused by my scanner or my host terminal?
12. What is AutoSense® and how do I enable this feature?

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 SET 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 any END label available in the programming guide. 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 END 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 in the programming guide. (Note: Use this label with caution, as it will disable ALL features that may have been programmed since the scanner's installation.)

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. SET 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. END label (Exit Programming Mode)

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

1. SET 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. END label (Exit Programming Mode)

The only exception to the SET/END sequence is when selecting an interface type as these labels already contain the SET/END information.

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.

3.  Which interfaces are supported by PowerScan™?

PowerScan™ supports the following interfaces:

• Keyboard Wedge
• RS232
• Undecoded
• Wand Emulation

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

PowerScan™ supports the following symbologies:

• UPC/EAN
• Code 39
• PharmaCode 39
• Code 93
• Code 128
• Interleaved 2 of 5
• Standard 2 of 5
• Codabar
• MSI/Plessey

Interface type and symbology (bar code type) selection determines which symbologies the scanner will decode. See the Symbologies 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.

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; Prefix, Suffix and Label ID; Setting Label ID section in the programming guide.

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 programming guide under UPC/EAN Options, UPC/EAN Expansion.

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. An "Enter" key is comprised of a Carriage Return <CR> and a Line Feed <LF>. To program a <CR>/<LF> scan 0,D,0,A (as shown in the ASCII Character Set table on the back cover of the programming guide).

Every Prefix and Suffix must have four characters. Therefore, to program a <CR> whose value is only 0,D you must scan 0,D,0,0 to fill the buffer.

The bar code labels required to perform this task are available in the programming guide under Label Transmit Format Configuration Items; Prefix, Suffix, and Label I.D.; Setting Universal Suffix(es).

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 last digit (Check Digit) may be disabled using the bar code labels available in the programming guide under UPC/EAN Options, Price/Weight Check Digit, UPC Data Format Settings.

Note: The NSD settings operate with RS232 and Keyboard Wedge interfaces only.

9.  How do I select a specific Keyboard Wedge interface type?

The PowerScan™ supports a variety of PC Keyboard Wedge interfaces. A complete listing of supported interfaces and the bar code labels required to activate them are available in the programming guide under PC Keyboard Wedge Interface Selection.

10.  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 Handshaking (CTS/RTS)
• Software Handshaking (Xon/Xoff)
• ACK/NAK Option
• Intercharacter Delay

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

11.  How can I tell if problems with my PC RS232 application are caused by my scanner or my host terminal?

One way to troubleshoot is through HyperTerminal which is available on many Windows based PCs.

1. In your Windows application select Start/Programs/Accessories or Start/Programs/Accessories/ Communications. Select HyperTerminal and double click on the Hypertrm.exe file.
2. The Connection Description dialog box will appear. Enter "test" in the "Name" field, leave the icon unchanged and then click OK.
3. The Phone Number dialog box will appear. The only field of interest is "Connect Using". Select the COM port your scanner is plugged into. Click OK.
4. The COM Properties dialog box will appear. Enter the parameters in each of the following fields to match the parameters of your scanner.
   • Bits per second (baud rate)
   • Data bits
   • Stop bits
   • Flow control
     Note: If you are unsure of your scanner's settings, program the scanner to match the parameters you set in Hyperterminal.
5. Scan any bar code. The data will appear on your computer screen unfiltered by your application. You can analyze the bar code data to determine whether you want to make any changes to the data format.

12.  What is AutoSense® and how do I enable this feature?

The AutoSense® feature allows "hands free" operation of the scanner when used with the AutoSense® stand. To enable this feature go to the General Features, AutoSense® Stand Mode section in the programming guide and scan the appropriate bar code labels.

Note: You must ensure that Low Power Mode is disabled when using this feature.

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