Barcode Scanner Configuration

When it's running PTS Comms is visible as a barcode icon in the Windows notification area. It is frequently hidden, and will have to be exposed using the "^" button.

This guide assumes that the PTS Comms Client is installed and connected to the server without errors. If you have any doubts, see the PTS Comms Client Installation page first. You won't be able to configure your barcode scanners until PTS Comms is up and running on the PC.

Overview

One of the major features of our various barcode scanning applications is that they are designed to allow the host PC to be used by other people, and other applications, even while the barcode scanner is in use. We accomplish this by setting the scanners up as emulated serial or COM ports.

However, out-of-the-box, most barcode scanners function as a virtual keyboard and when a barcode is scanned behave as if you were typing the barcode text into the PC. This would of course require the PC to be focused on a dedicated text field of some sort, and is therefore not something that could run in the background.

For this reason you'll need to configure new devices to work properly with the PTS Comms Client, which is done with the use of setup codes included in the bundled hardware manual. The primary setup code you need will be labelled as one of:

• USB-COM
• USB-COM-STD
• CDC Mode
• Serial Emulation
• PAP130

Scan the appropriate code as directed by the user manual to reconfigure the scanner. If the scanner does not work properly, consider scanning the appropriate "Reset" or "Restore Factory Defaults" codes and trying again.

If the device is a wireless scanner and base station combo, you'll probably have to scan an appropriate link or unlink code as a means to connect it up to the new base station.

How do I know if my barcode scanner needs configuring?

A barcode scanner in virtual keyboard mode will do something like this when a barcode is scanned and Notepad is open. PTS will not be able to connect to a scanner in this mode.

More often than not a brand new barcode scanner will act as a virtual keyboard, which is not the correct mode for use with PTS. You can identify this problem quite easily by bringing up a Notepad window, and while it has focus, scan a PTS barcode. If the barcode text is written to the Notepad window then the scanner is in virtual keyboard mode and should be reconfigured as described below.

In addition a cordless scanner needs to be configured if its signal indicator or other factors imply that it is not connecting to the base station.

It's worth pointing out that even if neither of these examples seem to be apparent, reconfiguring a problematic scanner can sometimes still help as the device will be reset as part of the procedure.

Cheatsheets for popular scanners

Scanning barcodes directly off the screen is something traditional 1D scanners struggle with, so you'll have to consider printing the relevant pages.

You can use the middle button of your mouse to open the links in a new tab. Be sure to only print the specified page; some of these manuals comprise hundreds of pages!

In some cases if you still have the manual/s that came in the box with your scanner you may be able to find the barcodes in there, though the page numbers may not match.

Datalogic Heron HD3430

1. Page 16: Scan "Factory Default Settings"
2. Page 9: Scan "Select USB-COM-STD"

Datalogic Heron HD3130

1. Page 14: Scan "Factory Default Settings"
2. Page 6: Scan "Select USB-COM-STD1 (simulates RS-232 standard interface)"

Datalogic Powerscan M8300

1. Run through this setup sheet.
2. Note: these scanners are approaching end of life.

Datalogic Powerscan 9100

1. Page 17: Scan "Restore Custom Default Configuration"
2. Page 19: Scan "Unlink"
3. Wait for 5 seconds, then place the scanner in the base station and wait for no less than 10 seconds (the scanner may beep while it connects - wait for this to complete).
4. Page 17: Scan "Restore Custom Default Configuration"
5. Page 15: Scan "Select USB COM-STD"
6. Scan your user code, and then complete the configuration according to the instructions on the PC screen.

Datalogic Powerscan 9300

1. Page 18: Scan "Restore Custom Default Configuration"
2. Page 19: Scan "Unlink"
3. Wait for 5 seconds, then place the scanner in the base station and wait for no less than 10 seconds (the scanner may beep while it connects - wait for this to complete).
4. Page 18: Scan "Restore Custom Default Configuration"
5. Page 15: Scan "Select USB COM-STD"
6. Scan your user code, and then complete the configuration according to the instructions on the PC screen.

Datalogic Touch 65 TD1100

1. Page 14: Scan "Restore Custom Default Configuration"
2. Page 10: Scan "Select USB-COM-STD"

Zebra/Symbol Scanners

1. Page 62: Scan "Set Factory Defaults"
2. Page 239: Scan "USB CDC Host"
3. Page 88: Scan "Add Enter Key (Carriage Return/Line Feed)"
4. Page 270: Scan "Disable ACK/NAK"

Honeywell Voyager 1200g

1. Page 1-9: Scan "Remove Custom Defaults"
2. Page 1-9: Scan "Activate Defaults"
3. Wait for 5 seconds, then place the scanner in the base station and wait for no less than 10 seconds (the scanner may beep while it connects - wait for this to complete).
4. Page 2-6: Scan "PAP130"
5. Remember that prior to PTS 5.0.3.7, the Voyager drivers are only installed with Complete installations of the PTS Comms Client.

Datalogic Gryphon GM4100

1. Unplug the base station from mains power so it is connected via USB only. You can plug the power supply back in when finished.
2. Page 24: Scan "Unlink"
3. Page 30: Scan "Restore Custom Default Configuration"
4. Wait for 5 seconds, then place the scanner in the base station and wait for no less than 10 seconds (the scanner may beep while it connects - wait for this to complete).
5. Page 68: Scan "Select USB-COM-STD"
6. Scan your user code, and then complete the configuration according to the instructions on the PC screen.

Datalogic Quickscan QM2400

1. Page 11: Scan "Unlink"
2. Wait for 5 seconds, then place the scanner in the base station and wait for no less than 10 seconds (the scanner may beep while it connects - wait for this to complete).
3. Page 12: Scan "Standard Product Default Settings"
4. Page 14: Scan "Select USB-COM-STD"
5. Scan your user code, and then complete the configuration according to the instructions on the PC screen.

Newland NLS-HR22 & NLS-HR32

1. Put the scanner into the cradle and press the join button. The scanner should beep to confirm.
2. Page 39: Scan "Enter Setup"
3. Page 39: Scan "Restore All Factory Defaults"
4. Page 66: Scan "USB CDC"
5. Page 66: Scan "Exit Setup"
6. Remember that prior to PTS 5.0.3.7, the Newland drivers are only installed with Complete installations of the PTS Comms Client.

If the scanner is "flashing green", and/or doesn't produce a beam when the trigger is pulled

This behaviour is the scanner trying to communicate that it is not in a usable state. Unfortunately this presents an obstacle when you're trying to scan the configuration barcodes to get it working again.

Hold down the trigger for a few seconds to force a scanning beam, then begin scanning the configuration codes. After a few tries the scanner should be returned to normal.

If the scanner is still unresponsive and appears to be locked up in some way, you should try to disconnect the battery pack and reconnect it to force a reboot of the device. The battery is usually connected inside the handle in most cordless scanners. See the device's user manual for instructions on disconnecting the battery.

Easily overlooked solutions

It can't be overstated how often these simple things can assist in all manner of circumstances. Whether you are having trouble setting up new devices or an issue has occurred out of the blue, these solutions really can help.

• Restart the PC
• Restart the scanner
  By disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable in the case of a corded scanner. Cordless scanners can usually be restarted by holding the trigger for several seconds, and/or by removing the battery pack. Most scanner's batteries are connected at the base of the handle (sometimes secured by a screw).
• Connect the scanner or base station into a different USB port on the PC
  Pharmacy PCs have a hard life and USB ports fail frequently. Trying a different USB port is a simple and effective option - even if the original USB port seems to be providing power to the scanner. In particular, try switching from the back of the PC to the front or vice versa.
• Try a different USB cable
  Again in a home environment you may not be used to the idea of USB cables failing, especially if there is no obvious damage, but this is far from rare. All of our supported scanners and base stations have replaceable USB cables. Even if they appear to be moulded in they will be removable with the use of a pin hole.
• Spread devices out across as many PCs as possible
  While there is no hard limit on the amount of devices you can connect to a single PC, reducing the number can improve performance as well as the legibility of the output messages.

A note on cordless scanners and power supply

Some Datalogic cordless scanners, namely Gryphon and sometimes Powerscan scanners, will not configure properly if the base station is plugged in via mains power as well as USB, and therefore the mains power supply should be disconnected while configuring them. Unfortunately we have no control over this. You can and should of course reconnect the power supply when the devices are configured successfully. We acknowledge the oddness of this procedure.

It's worth noting that these scanners, and indeed most if not all cordless scanner options we supply, will only supply a "trickle" charge to scanners in the cradle if only connected via USB due to the low power rating of the USB 2.0 standard. This is usually not much of a problem, but if the devices are heavily used, or if many devices share a small number of cradles for charging, they may not ever be getting a full charge which can result in flat batteries.

If you begin to struggle with scanners going flat during operating hours, you should strongly consider using a mains power supply.

Thin clients & virtual desktops

In Device Manager, right-click the device, click Properties, go to the Details tab and then select Hardware IDs from the list to see the device's IDs.

IT departments at Trusts using such environments are likely already familiar with what is involved in forwarding a connected device to a VDI. Broadly speaking, the process involves mapping the hardware IDs and the COM port to the virtual desktop.

After setting up the device as above, open Device Manager, locate the device and make a note of the Device and Vendor IDs. If the device has already been assigned a COM port, make a note of that too. Next use the VDI interface to map these parameters so that the device is passed through.

The device may only be assigned a COM port once the device IDs are mapped. If so, run through the appropriate configuration barcodes (above) after having mapped the device, and the scanner should finally be assigned a COM port which you can now also map through the VDI.

Once the Vendor ID, Device ID and the COM port are mapped, PTS Comms should finally be able to detect the device.