User's Guide to The

User's Guide to the

ETC Terminal

Doc-To-Help Standard Manual

Contents

Preliminary Notes 1

Introduction 1

Features 1

Set Up 1

ETC Terminal Functionality 2

Power On 2

Menus 3

ETC Cfg Menu 4

Menu Navigation 5

ETC Diagnostics Menu 6

Host Connected Mode 7

Bar Codes Configuration 7

Configuration Descriptions 9

Default Settings 9

Feature Descriptions 13

UPC-A 13

UPC-E 14

EAN-8 15

EAN-13 15

Code 39 16

Interleaved 2 of 5 17

Industrial 2 of 5 18

Code 128 19

Codabar 20

MSI/Plessey 20

Code 11 21

Code 93 22

BC412 22

Code 4 23

Code 5 23

Bar Code Setting Menus 24

ETC Number Settings 35

Appendixes 38

Appendix A 38

ETC Connector Pinouts 38

Appendix B 39

Sample Circuit for Wiring an External DC Device 39

Appendix C 40

Sample Circuit for Wiring an External AC Device 40

Appendix D 41

Relay Specifications 41

Appendix E 42

ETC Menu Configuration 42

Appendix F 43

Code39 A-Z Chart 43

Glossary of Terms 45

Index 47

User's Guide to the ETC Terminal Contents · ii

Preliminary Notes

Introduction

Congratulations on choosing LINX Data Terminals, Inc. as your vendor of low-cost, high quality, data collection equipment. The rugged RJ-45-connected ETC terminal provides task-requisite capabilities and high reliability at a low price, while eliminating the expense of installing and supporting special-purpose, proprietary networks.

The ETC terminal connects directly to Ethernet (no adapter boxes) and answers the need for server-centric applications that do not require intelligent terminals. Applications for the ETC terminal include shop floor data collection, work-in-process, labor tracking, access control, and time and attendance, among others.

Features

The industrialized ETC terminal comes with an internal barcode reading chip, a laser port, an “Accept/Reject Indicator”, a 2 by 16 back lighted LCD display, and internal beeper, and an internal relay for access control applications. These features are provided in a small package (1.3” H [3.3.cm] x 6.72” W [17.1cm] x3.48”D[8.8cm]) and it weighs only 1.58 lbs. (717g), with a total shipping weight of 3.1 lbs. (1407g) including power supply.

Set Up

The ETC terminal requires minimum set up, uses non-proprietary methods (i.e. an active-x control) and communicates through standard TCP. With Active-X controls any developer on a WINDOWS platform can create ETC terminal applications with any WINDOWS language that supports active-x, including Visual BASIC, FoxPro, Access, Web Pages, Visual C++, Power Builder, and J++.

ETC Terminal Functionality

Power On

On power-on, the ETC firmware checks for a 'LOW' level on pin #4 of the "INPUT" connector, which places the ETC in "Manufacturing Diagnostics Mode". This can be accomplished by tying Pin 4 to Pin 7. The purpose of these tests is to verify that the hardware is operating correctly and load default settings. Once these tests have been executed successfully, the "Default ETC Configuration" will be stored in EEProm (pronounced E squared Prom). This provides a means to "Restore Defaults" at any time.

The default ETC parameters are as follows:

ETC IP Address: 0.0.0.0

Host IP Address: 0.0.0.0

Gateway IP Address: 0.0.0.0

SubNet Mask: 255.255.255.0

TCP Port: 52442

Barcode Prefix String: ""

Short Beep Duration: 30 (300 milliseconds ~ 3/10 sec)

Long Beep Duration: 70 (700 milliseconds ~ 7/10 sec)

If "INPUT" pin #4 is not 'LOW', normally the case, then the EEProm will be checked to determine whether the ETC configuration menu has been entered. If not, then the configuration menu will be entered automatically, which forces the user to configure the ETC before use. However, if the user desires to use the "default" settings, then "ENTER" (or "EXIT") can be scanned and the ETC will enter "Offline Operating Mode". (See "MENUS" below)

Once the configuration has been entered, the ETC terminal will display the following:

"Linx ETC Vxxxxx"

"Waiting for Host"

This will be termed the "Offline Operating Mode" and should appear within 2 seconds after applying power to the ETC.

Menus

While navigating the menu system, every successful bar code read will be followed by a short beep. This will signal the user that the input device is active.

Appendix E contains these barcodes. / The ETC terminal has two menus that can only be entered while in the "Offline Operating Mode". These menus are: "Etc Cfg Menu" and the "Etc Diags Menu", and are navigated using special barcode strings. The ETC terminal will have an "Etc Menu Configuration" page containing these strings that should be used to set up the terminal. The following strings will be used:

"ETCCFGMENU" Scanning this will "Enter" the configuration menu

"ETCDIAGMENU" Scanning this will "Enter" the user diagnostics menu

"ENTER" Used to Start a displayed menu item and also to 'save' changes to a menu item

"EXIT" Used to exit from a menu item. This also provides a means to discard changes if so desired

"NEXT" Used to move to the next menu item with a menu

"PREV" Used to move to the previous menu item with a menu

"0-9"and '.' Used to enter IP addresses

For ETC Menu Configuration Barcodes see “Appendix E” on page 42

ETC Cfg Menu

The configuration menu contains the following submenus:

Terminal Menu

Bar Code Menu

Beeper Menu

Terminal Menu

The "Terminal Menu" contains the required setup parameters for TCP connectivity. These are as follows:

"ETC IP Address"

"Host IP Address"

"Gateway IP Addr"

"Subnet Mask"

"Remote TCP Port"

The ETC IP address is the IP address desired for the ETC terminal, which should be assigned by the IT system administrator. The ETC does not allow dynamically assigned IP addresses (DHCP/BootP)

The Host IP address is the IP address of the server or PC that will execute the data collection application. This address should also be obtained from the system administrator.

The Gateway IP address is the IP address of the local gateway, if one exists.

The ETC and the host application must have matching subnet masks. / The SubNet Mask is the required mask for the sub network so that the ETC can receive data packets.

The Remote TCP Port is the TCP port number that the host application will use to "Connect".

Bar Code Menu

The "Bar Code Menu" has only one submenu:

"BarCode Prefix"

This menu allows the user to provide a "PREFIX" string before the bar code data. The prefix string can be up to 16 characters, such as "DEPT 2001". If a user scanned "William Smith", then the string: "DEPT 2001William Smith" will be returned to the host.

Beeper Menu

The "Beeper Menu" has only two submenus:

"Short Beep Count"

"Long Beep Count "

These menus allow the user to specify the beep duration in 10 millisecond intervals. The default short beep is 30 which sets a duration of 30x10=300ms or 3/10ths seconds. The default settings should be applicable for most applications.

Menu Navigation

If a parameter has been changed but found to be invalid, the setting will not be saved! / Using "NEXT" and "PREV", the user is able to scroll through these submenus. When "ENTER" is scanned, the displayed menu will be entered and the current setting can be observed. If the user desires to change the current setting, they must "ENTER" again which will display an empty line. This blank line will serve as the entry field for the new setting. As the user scans a '0-9' or '.' this character will be displayed in the entry field. Once the correct setting has been entered, the user scans "ENTER" to save the changes or "EXIT" to discard changes. The parameter setting will be re-displayed on line #2.
The Code 39 A-Z chart is provided with the ETC terminal. / In the case of the "BarCode Prefix", the Code39 A-Z chart can be used to provide additional characters. Since the maximum length of the prefix string is 16 characters, any attempt to enter more than 16 characters will result in a short beep. The user may either save these 16 characters by scanning "ENTER", or discard with "EXIT".
See the “Code39 A-Z Chart” on page 43. (Appendix F)

ETC Diagnostics Menu

To allow the user to exit, the “Etc Diag Menu”display does not automatically enter the diagnostic menus. / If the user scans "EXIT", the ETC will return to "Offline Operating Mode". In fact, the user must scan "ENTER" again to start the user diagnostic menus.

The user diagnostics menu contains the following submenus:

">Display Test "

">Barcode Echo "

">LED Test "

">Relay Test "

">Ethernet Test "

The Display Test scrolls all displayable characters to the LCD display.

The Barcode Echo Test will 'echo' all scanned bar code data. In addition, the length and bar code type will be shown.

The LED test will alternately turn each LED ON then OFF in sequence.

The Relay Test will cycle the relay ON and OFF in 2 second intervals.

The Ethernet Test will 'PING" the configured host using an ICMP echo command. The host will be pinged 4 times a second to eliminate unnecessary network traffic.

The following display should appear on the ETC:

line #1: "Pinging Host "

line #2: "Reply # xxxxxxxx"

If an error should occur, an error message should appear on line #2.

Host Connected Mode

The “Host Connected” message will disappear as soon as the host application writes the application prompts. In other words, this message may or may not be apparent to the user. If the host application sends a new message for display line #2, the previous message will be overwritten! / Once a host has 'connected' to the ETC, the message "Host Connected" will be displayed on line #2, and in this mode, all menus are disabled! In this mode, the ETC is waiting for host command strings and sending all bar code scans directly to the host connection.

Once the host "Disconnects", the "Waiting for Host" message will be re-displayed, and the ETC will re-enter "Offline Operating Mode"

Bar Codes Configuration

The bar code decode used by the ETC terminal supports 15 code types and by default they are all enabled. The default settings for these codes will accommodate the majority of users, but in some cases, the settings may require modification.

The codes supported include:

UPC-A

UPC-E

EAN-8

EAN-13

Code 39

Interleaved 2 of 5

Industrial 2 of 5

Code 128

Code MSI/Plessey Code

Codabar

Code 11

Code 93

Code BC412

Code 4

Code 5

The default settings are listed in Table 1, Default Settings.

See “Default Settings” on page 9.

Each of these codes has configurable settings that can only be changed while in "Offline Operating Mode". To change code setting, scan the corresponding bar code in the Bar Code Setting Menus.

See “Bar Code Setting Menus” on page 24.

If the change was successful, a long beep will occur, otherwise a very long beep will be generated on error.

Configuration Descriptions

Default Settings

The ETC is shipped from the factory with the default settings shown in Table 1 below. These settings are shown in Bold Italics in the feature descriptions and the SetUp Command listing.

Table1, Default Settings

SETTING / DEFAULT
UPC-A / Enabled
Send Number System Digit / Yes
Send Check Digit / Yes
Read Two Digit Addendum / No
Read Five Digit Addendum / No
Addendum Required / Yes
Add Separator Space / Yes
Send UPC-A as EAN-13 / No
Scan Verification Times / 2
UPC-E / Enabled
Send Number System Digit / Yes
Send Check Digit / Yes
Read Two Digit Addendum / No
Read Five Digit Addendum / No
Addendum Required / Yes
Add Separator Space / Yes
UPC-E Expansion / No
Scan Verification Times / 2
EAN-13 / Enabled
Send Induced Country Code Digit / Yes
Send Check Digit / Yes
Read Two Digit Addendum / No
Read Five Digit Addendum / No
Addendum Required / Yes
Add Separator Space / Yes
Scan Verification Times / 2
EAN-8 / Enabled
Send Induced Country Code Digit / Yes
Send Check Digit / Yes
Read Two Digit Addendum / No
Read Five Digit Addendum / No
Addendum Required / Yes
Add Separator Space / Yes
Scan Verification Times / 2
Code 39 / Enabled These cannot be changed by user
Full ASCII Mode / On
Verify Check Digit / No
Send Check Digit / No
Send Start/Stop Characters / No
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Interleaved 2 of 5 / Enabled
Fixed Length / Off
Verify Check Digit / No
Send Check Digit / No
Scan Verification Times / 2
Min Length / 4
Max Length / 60
Industrial 2 of 5 / Enabled
Fixed Length / Off
Verify Check Digit / No
Send Check Digit / No
Scan Verification Times / 2
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Code 128 / Enabled
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Codabar / Enabled
Verify Check Digit / No
Send Check Digit / No
Send Start/Stop / Yes
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 2
Max Length / 60
MSI/Plessey / Enabled
Send Check Digit(s) / No
Single Mod 10 Check Digit / No
Mod10-Mod10 or Mod 10-Mod 11 / Mod10-Mod10
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Code 11 / Enabled
Check Digit(s) / 2
Send Check Digit(s) / No
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Code 93 / Enabled
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Code 4 / Enabled
Scan Verification Times / 1
Code 5 / Enabled
Scan Verification Times / 1
BC412 / Enabled
Send Check Digit / Yes
Scan Verification Times / 1
Min Length / 1
Max Length / 60
Serial Interface Parameters / These Are Not Changeable
Baud Rate / 9600
Parity / None
Data Bit / 8
Stop Bit / 1
Handshaking / Software
Xon Character / DC1
Xoff Character / DC3

Feature Descriptions

UPC-A

Enable/Disable: It is a fixed format symbology and there are no variations allowed. If disabled, the data from the symbology will be disregarded.

Send Number System Digit: Yes or No - The first encoded digit in the UPC-A symbol is the number system digit. If enabled, the first digit of the transmitted data stream is the number system digit followed by the manufacturer's number. If disabled, then the first five digits transmitted are the manufacturer's number.