Frequently Asked Questions: PSC / Percon Products

QS1000, QS6000 Plus, SP400

1. What is Programming Mode?
2. How can I program my scanner using bar codes?
3. Which interfaces are supported by the QS1000, QS6000 Plus and SP400?
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 add a Carriage Return ("Enter") as a suffix to the data being scanned?
7. How do I expand UPC-E to UPC-A format?
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

• SP400: The scanner will not read the label and will not sound a tone.
• QS1000 or QS6000 Plus: The scanner will reject the label, sounding an error tone (six rapid beeps).

Scanning a valid programming label while in Programming Mode

• SP400
  • If the feature is supported by the active interface, the scanner will sound a low-to-high tone. This is the same tone that sounds when you enter Programming Mode.
  • If the feature is not supported by the active interface, the scanner will sound a long low tone. For example, if the active interface is OCIA and you scan an RS232 interface parameter (e.g. Baud Rate = 9600), the scanner will sound a long low tone.
• QS1000 or QS6000 Plus
  • 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 (six rapid beeps).

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 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.)

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 the QS1000, QS6000 Plus and SP400?

QS1000, QS6000 Plus and SP400 scanners support the following interfaces:

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

Note: All handheld scanners, except SP400, will select the basic interface type based on the interface cable. The SP400 requires one additional step; you must scan the interface selection label located in either the programming guide or on the interface cable.

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

QS1000, QS6000 Plus, and SP400 support the following symbologies:

• UPC/EAN
• Code 39
• Code 128
• Interleaved 2 of 5
• Standard 2 of 5
• Codabar
  MSI/Plessey (Note: SP400 does not read 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.

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 Configuration Items, ASCII Character Set, Setting Symbology Specific Label Identifiers (QS1000), Label Transmit Configuration Items, Symbology-Specific Label ID (QS6000 Plus) or the RS232, Symbology Specific Identifiers or Keyboard Wedge, Symbology Specific Identifiers (SP400) sections of the programming guide.

6. 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 in 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.

For complete instructions and programming labels see the Label Transmit Format Configuration Items, Prefix & Suffix (QS1000 & QS6000 Plus) or RS232, Prefix & Suffix or Keyboard Wedge, Prefix & Suffix (SP400) sections of the programming guide.

7. 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 guides under Symbologies, UPC/EAN Options.

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 QS1000 or QS6000 Plus programming guides under Symbology Selection.

In the SP400 Programming Guide, the bar code labels are available under Interface Selection, RS232, UPC Data Format. Note: This feature is also available in Keyboard Wedge.

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

The QS1000, QS6000 Plus, and SP400 support 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 QS1000 and QS6000 Plus programming guides under Interface Selection, Keyboard Wedge or in the SP400 Programming Guide under PC Keyboard Wedge.

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 programming guide under Interface Selection, RS232. 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.(UL)
   • 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.

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 is available on the QS6000 Plus scanner and 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.

Notes:

• You must ensure that Low Power Mode is disabled when using this feature.
• The SP400 requires the SP500 Slim Stand for AutoSense® operation.
• The QS1000 has LaserSense™ functionality built in. An accessory stand is available for purchase to support a "hands free" scanning application.

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