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Part 1 - User`s Manual

1. BATTERY PROBLEMS PROBLEM ACTION Battery doesn t seem to work after a full Ensure that the charger is plugged into a live electrical outlet or 14 hours of charging The charger may be defective Try using another charger If proven to be defective return to Compsee see procedure at front of this chapter or The battery may be defective Try using another battery If proven to be defective return to Compsee see procedure at front of this chapter or The battery s life expectancy 400 charge cycles has been exceeded Purchase a new battery See Section 12 for part numbers and Section 11 for details on proper battery charging COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS The following procedures provide possible causes and remedies for problems that may occur while attempting to establish communications with an Apex II terminal Information is provided for both hardware and software related problems PROBLEM ACTION Communications with the Apex II Eliminating hardware related problems terminal cannot be established Check that the RS 232 C cable is securely connected to the Apex II terminal and the correct port on the PC the Apex II terminal is powered on in IMMEDIATE mode see Chapter 3 and the baud rate matches the one being used on your host refer to the MODE command information provided in Section 2 or If you are using a Compsee RS 232 C cable and have not verified that it works check the pin assignments see Section 10
2. Before you begin to build your application you will need the following items e A computer which has a RS 232 C port and a text editor e The Apex II LinkMaster Utility Programs these programs were loaded into your PC during installation of LinkMaster diskette as described in Section 3 e Apex II terminal that is connected to a host computer and e Communications software such as CrossTalk PROCOMM 4 or communications software written specifically for your company Using the information provided in this section you will learn to build your application You will be using the Apex I LinkMaster utility programs to upload and download programs The upload and download tasks could also be accomplished using a pre packaged communications package such as PROCOMM or CrossTalk Alternately you could write your own upload and download programs Until you become accustomed to how the Apex II operates it is recommended that you use the LinkMaster programs or one of the recommended pre packaged software programs mentioned above Before loading the application programs into the terminal you should be aware of the following prerequisite information 1 The terminal must be in IMMEDIATE mode as described in Section 2 2 Line numbers must precede each line of the program Compsee 33 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 3 Any existing programs or data files must first be deleted before loading a new program Otherwise old programs whose
3. Programmable auto shutdown mode e Indicator Low battery message e Backup Battery Super Cap preserves RAM for 1 Hour Note Changing a battery will not cause a loss of memory Compsee 64 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 10 DATA COMMUNICATIONS RS 232 C SERIAL PORT This 10 pin communications port is standard in all Apex II data collection terminals It allows the Apex II terminals to communicate with any computer host serial printer modem point of sale terminal and many other devices that support RS 232 C connections and ASCII data formats The primary use of this port is to load COMPSEE BASIC programs and data files into the Apex II s memory and unload any data collected by the Apex II This connection is found at the base of the Apex II terminal It is a 10 pin female with the following pin configuration Looking into the base of the Apex II Figure 10 1 10 pin RS 232 C Communications Port 10 PIN RS 232 C CABLE PIN ASSIGNMENT SIGNAL XT DB 25 AT DB 9 LINE Pin No Pin No i h Part 0227004 Part 0227001 5 Volts DTR Baud Rates The interface is a standard RS 232 C port with a mark being 10 and a space being 10 volts The following is a listing of selectable baud rates 300 600 1 200 2 400 4 800 9 600 19 200 Compsee 65 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Communications Flow Control The Apex II terminal supports both XON XOFF and CTS RTS communications flow control when usi
4. This step will rule out interconnect problems or Log off of the network if your host is connected to one Many communications programs experience problems when a network is active Eliminating software related problems Use the PC s MODE command to set the baud rate to 1200 This is the default communications parameter Refer to your DOS manual for more information on the MODE command In the following scenario it is assumed that the PC s COMI port is being used for communications 1 On the PC from the directory or on the disk where the DOS MODE command resides type MODE COM1 9600 E 7 1 and press lt Enter gt Compsee 44 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 PROBLEM ACTION 2 Ensure that the Apex II is in IMMEDIATE mode and that the mode is set to 2 2 instructions are provided in Section 2 Next create a file on the PC that contains the BEEP command followed by a carriage return line feed sequence To do this you may use an editor or the COPY CON command that is described below Type COPY CON Apexcmd and press lt Enter gt Type BEEP and press lt Enter gt Press F6 and then lt Enter gt The 1 file s copied message should appear on the PC screen The next step involves sending the file to the Apex II This will determine if the Apex II s Receive line is working properly To send the file to the Apex II type 6 COPY Apexcmd COMI and press lt Enter gt If DOS gives you an error messa
5. 6 Select Download OS and Press lt Enter gt Check the Apex II s LCD to ensure that the following message is shown Version 1 02 Has Been Loaded Then press lt ALT gt and lt V gt to view the new operating system version number To return to DOS select Exit from the Apex BASIC Operating System Loader screen Note The version number shown above is provided for purposes only Your version number may be different TROUBLESHOOTING THE LINKMSTR PROGRAM Contained within the Linkmaster exe program is a user friendly error checking interface that will display self explanatory error messages and prompts when something goes wrong Follow the directions that appear on the PC s screen should you experience problems running the demo Other error situations are provided below To use these troubleshooting procedures locate the problem you are experiencing and follow the instructions provided in the Action column PROBLEM ACTION Communications with the Check that the RS 232 C cable is securely connected to the Apex II terminal and Apex II terminal cannot be the correct port on the PC the Apex II terminal is powered on in IMMEDIATE established mode see Section 2 and the baud rate matches the one being used on your host refer to the MODE command information provided in Section 2 or if you are not using a Compsee RS 232 C cable and have not verified that it works check the pin assignments see Section This step will rule out interco
6. Optional ACCESSOTIES sg ee eose eee apii eei essea eap s 61 Apex H SCANNING VARIABLES ic ceeeeeecseeeecneeeeeeeeeeeesecneeeeens 62 Apex II with Detached Bar Code Scanner 62 Apex II with Integrated Laser Reader Standard eee 62 Apex II with Integrated Laser Reader Long Range 065 63 TERMINAL SPECIFICATIONS 1 0 cee eeeseeseesecneeeeceeeeeeeseeeeesecneeeeens 63 Environmental Specifications 0 0 ceseseseescseeeeceseceeeseceeeeeeeeeeens 63 Mechanical Specifications cc ceesecseesecneeeeceseeeseecseeeeesecaeeeeens 63 Additional Terminal Specifications all terminals 000 64 POWER SOURCE wii ch ssiausscehssischecssitsch ty ao e E EE EEEE 64 10 DATA COMMUNICATIONS 22 eee cece 65 RS 232 C SERIAL PORT vcisiestusssesssetscnsecusienssontonsnspnaseousenscasesbenssnuts 65 10 PIN RS 232 C CABLE PIN ASSIGNMENT seee 65 BauidsRAtGS EEEE Se NE E A EE E ES 65 Communications Flow Control seeseeseeeeeeeeeeeeeesesrsrsrrreerereersrereee 66 Additional Parameters eseeeseeeeeeeseseseseeseerstserrerrersersesrereerersersesreee 66 Compsee 10 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 11 CARE MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY LIMITATIONS 66 MAINTENANCE it a a e N E re aE E i 66 Cleaning the Laser Exit WindoW eeseeeeeseeeeeeeereeerersrrrrererrersrereee 67 Cleaning the LCD Display cece ec sesssecsseeecneeeeceseeeceseceeeseeneeaes 67 Cleaning the Keypad Housing 0 0 eeseeecseeece
7. Port Compsee 53 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 ApexName Apex II Filename PCName EXT Apex II Filename An example of parameter usage is provided in the following Apexfile instructions Apexfile 2 DATA TXT DATA This command tells the system to 2 Open and establish communications on COM2 ApexName Load the PC file DATA TXT into the Apex II PCName EXT Assign the name DATA to the file loaded from the PC The Arcover exe program allows you to recover deleted Apex II data files NOT PROGRAM FILES Program files are permanently deleted when an Apex II is accidentally re booted Note This program must be used IMMEDIATELY following a reboot To use the ARECOVER command 1 Connect the Apex II to the PC s serial port COM1 or COM2 Change to the directory where the Arcover exe program resides Type ARECOVER and press lt Enter gt You will be prompted to enter the COMM Port Number Watch the status information display area for information about current recovery process Dunk wy The first file name will appear You will be prompted to type the first letter of the data file to be restored Recover file MPL Y N You will be prompted to type the first letter of the data file to be restored 7 Once restored the file name will be displayed in the Files Recovered area 8 The next file found will be prompted for 9 Answering NO to a recover option will end the program 10 The program Apexdata exe may be used t
8. will be able to take advantage of enhancements to the COMPSEE BASIC Operating System after their original purchase To determine which version of the COMPSEE BASIC Operating System is resident in your scanner 1 Place the scanner in the IMMEDIATE mode If you are not familiar with the Apex II s operating modes or how to get to and from each of these modes of operation please consult Section 2 2 Once the scanner is in the IMMEDIATE mode press the lt ALT gt key and the letter lt V gt alphanumeric keypad The Apex II s display will show the current version number of the operating system Compsee 29 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note Access the Compsee Bulletin Board Service instructions are provided in Chapter 7 or contact your Compsee dealer for the latest operating system release It is recommended that all Apex II terminals be upgraded when a new operating system becomes available from Compsee This will ensure that all terminals take advantage of operating system enhancements A NEW OPERATING SYSTEM When Compsee releases an updated operating system it will be made available to the general public on the Bulletin Board Service and through a direct mailing to the registered resellers If you receive your new operating system from your Compsee Reseller it will be contained on the Operating System diskette or a Utility diskette The File is Apexos x where x identifies the hardware revision currently at A Lo
9. 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Error Code 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Description Underflow Reserved Invalid function parameters Cannot dimension a string to zero Numeric stack overflow Character stack or operator stack overflow Ilegal expression Array out of bounds Invalid array reference Undefined label Duplicate label ELSE with no THEN IF with no THEN FOR with no NEXT WHILE with no WEND File does not exist File number incorrect File already open File record length invalid File with same name already exists File name invalid File not opened Out of file memory Too many files Form statement out of range Form statement syntax error More variables than form elements Read past the end of a record Write past the end of a record RESUME without error RETURN without GOSUB Cannot load the RAM file Reserved Ilegal date or time Ilegal cursor position Invalid input length Too much memory allocated by clear or invalid byte count Invalid RESTORE line RESTORE with no DATA statement NEXT with no FOR WEND with no WHILE Ilegal mode Form field does not match data Out of data Out of buffer space 58 Part 1 Error Code Description 74 Break point table full 75 Read past end of file 76 Write pa
10. BASIC program named R Run Apex II BASIC program in memory S Save Apex II Program into the Flash C Strip comments from Apex II BASIC program lines L Add line numbers to program as it s being loaded An example of parameter usage is provided in the following Apexprog instructions Apexprog K D O ApexTrak apx R S C L This Apexprog command tells the system to K Kill existing files in Apex II s memory D Set Apex II date and time according to PC s date and time O Open and establish communications on COM1 filename Load the file named ApexTrak apx and strip comments from program R Issue the RUN command to the Apex II terminal S Save the Apex Trak program to Flash The information provided in the following table is organized in a manner that defines the activities occurring on both the PC and the Apex II O PCPhae i O Phase Apex II Phase Use approved cable to connect the Apex II to 1b Reboot Apex II and ensure that it remains powered on the PC so that the PC can establish communications Sa i tee Li 9600 E 7 1 This is the default setting of the Apex II after it has been rebooted the RS 232 C port and wait for the Apex II to respond detect something being sent to its COMM port The CRLF sent by the PC will force the Apex II to send out a gt character If the Apex I is not in the IMMEDIATE mode it will not acknowledge the CRLF The host system will record this lack of response after so many seconds as determi
11. Batteries e 2 Diskettes e Apex Trak Tracking Programs e LinkMaster UpLoad DownLoad Utility Program e Manual User Guide e Apex Trak Program Instructions e BASIC Instructions Apex II General Accessories COAAIIPG0000 Program Generator COAMIIUG0000 Apex II Manual 1 Included with Apex II COAAIICRD1 Apex II Communication Cradle Kit Apex II Battery Accessories 0214040 Battery Pack Nickel Metal Hydride NIMH with lead 0214044 Battery Pack Nickel Metal Hydride NIMH leadless 02MC519 Battery Charger NIMH Wall Charger to Apex II for Internal Charging of Battery 0227000 Adapter Cable for External Charging of the NIMH Battery Pack Requires 02MC519 Battery Charger Apex II Communication Cables 0227001 RS 232 Cable to PC 9 Pin 1 Included with Apex II 0227004 RS 232 Cable to PC 25 Pin 0227002 RS 232 Cable to QuickReader AUX Port 0227003 RS 232 Cable to QuickLink AUX Port Compsee 71 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1
12. C interface The Apex II is then used to collect and store data in its memory This collected data can then be transmitted downloaded to your data processing host system Application programs may be written for the Apex II in COMPSEE BASIC For details on programming and the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter refer to the Part 3 of this manual BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual Two other standards incorporated into Apex II terminals are the use of an RS 232 C port and the storage of data in ASCII format Because of these standards your data can be shared with existing application programs spreadsheet applications and database programs We have therefore eliminated the need for expensive data dumping devices which extract and unscramble data Thus the basic steps for using the Apex II terminal and your application program are as follows Action Result Create the application program on a PC using COMPSEE BASIC programming through a text editor Upload the programs to the Apex II terminal using a standard serial port and the RS 232 C interface Collect data by reading bar codes with a non contact laser scanner or contact wand reader Download the collected data in standard ASCII format directly to a mainframe or PC for processing Use the collected data in existing application programs including standard PC spreadsheet and database programs Compsee 12 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 A graphic representation of these
13. Manual Note This manual contains the operating instructions interface features care and maintenance and technical specifications applicable to the Apex II terminal The following items are available as optional accessories RS 232 C Interface Cable to a 25 pin connector Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Pack NIMH Battery Charger 120v 60 HZ US Internal Charging of the NIMH Battery Adapter Cable used with the Battery Charger for External Charging of the NIMH Battery Apex II Program Generator Refer to Section 12 for a listing of part numbers Figure 1 2 shows the standard Apex II components Detailed descriptions of these components are supplied toward the end of this chapter after the Checkout Procedure topic Compsee 15 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 1 Power Key 5 Function Keys 2 Scanner Key 6 Numeric Keypad 3 LCD Display 7 Alpha Keypad 4 Scanner Port 8 RS 232 Port Apexc amp i Figure 1 2 Apex II Components Compsee 16 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 1 Exposure Label 3 Certification Label Inside Laser Scan Engine Housing Underneath Strap Catch WARNING for Standard Model DANGER for Long Range Model 2 Aperture Warning Label 4 Identification Label Caution for Standard Model Underneath Strap DANGER for Long Range Model Apexlbls Figure 1 3 Apex II Label Locations CHECKOUT PROCEDURE After performing the initial damage inspection check operation of the Apex II terminal as described in t
14. OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE EVEN THOUGH COMPSEE MAY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE INTENDED USE OF THE PRODUCTS BY PURCHASER Warranty Limitations Prior to operating the terminal review the following warranty limitations Failure to adhere to the provisions of these limitations voids the warranty e Do not attempt to open or disassemble the Apex II case There are no user serviceable parts e Charge the battery pack only with an approved Compsee charging device as these devices contain a special charging circuit Use of any other device can potentially damage the Apex II terminal e Do not spray cleaners directly on the keypad or use a saturated cloth for cleaning the unit e Do not clean the Apex II using alcohol acetone or mineral spirits This will damage the unit Compsee 2 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 e Do not leave the unit in rain or direct sun or immerse in water e Use only Compsee cables for data transfer purposes Attachment of other cables may cause damage to the unit and or attachment device See Part 1 Section 12 for a list of Compsee cables Laser Scanner Only e Do not clean the laser exit window with soap or abrasives In addition failure to heed the following recommendations while not voiding the warranty may result in program or data loss e Never reboot the terminal once the application program has been loaded Application program loss will occur e Do not attempt to operate the Apex I
15. a fully charged pack will require recharging after less than 100 days on the shelf Compsee 69 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 12 PARTS LISTING This section consists of a listing of Apex II product part numbers and descriptions ORDERING PROCEDURE Please contact your VAR for information regarding availability and pricing of the products shown below Apex II Portable Data Collection Terminals FEATURE MEMORY COLOR INPUT OPTION COAPII12BKST COAPIIS1BKST COAPIIIMBKST COAPII12BKST M COAPIIS1BKST M COAPIIIMBKST M COAPII12WTST COAPIIS1WTST COAPILIMWTST COAPIII2BKLS COAPIIS1BKLS COAPIITIMBKLS COAPII12BKLS M COAPIIS1BKLS M COAPITIMBKLS M COAPII12WTLS COAPII51WTLS COAPIIIMWTLS COAPII12BKLR COAPII5SIBKLR COAPIIIMBKLR COAPII12BKLR M COAPIIS1BKLR M COAPITIMBKLR M COAPINL2WTLR COAPIISIWTLR COAPITIMWTLR Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Standard Standard Standard Standard with Modem Standard with Modem Standard with Modem Standard Standard Standard Laser Laser Laser Laser with Modem Laser with Modem Laser with Modem Laser Laser Laser LR Laser LR Laser LR Laser LR Laser with Modem LR Laser with Modem LR Laser with Modem LR Laser LR Laser LR Laser 70 Part 1 Each Apex II Includes e Apex Trak 3 Preloaded Tracking Programs e Asset Inventory e tem Track e Physical Inventory e On board Compsee BASIC Interpreter e RS 232 Cable 9 Pin e 64 Alkaline
16. a new operating system However if you are requested to do so this chapter will provide the step by step instructions e Section 5 Troubleshooting Procedures can be used to determine and correct problems that you may encounter during day to day operation of the terminals e Section 7 Error Codes e Section 8 Keypad Commands e Section 9 Model Differences and Terminal Specifications e Section 11 Care Maintenance and Warranty Limitations Compsee 7 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 e PART 2 Apex Trak Operations And Instruction Manual This describes the three Tracking Programs that have been pre loaded into the Apex II These programs provide an example of a turnkey applications working between a PC compatible computer and the Apex II terminal The functions of these programs represent the most common activities that are performed when using the data collection terminals If you are asked to evaluate the terminals this chapter can be used to give you a feel for the abilities and power of the Apex II e PART 3 BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual This part of the manual does not contain information of interest to the Level 1 user e PART 4 Glossary of Terms This can be used to help you understand the scanning and bar code jargon that may at first seem difficult to comprehend Level 2 User If your job responsibilities include supervisory duties and you have prior experience with the Apex II terminals or some other type
17. and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions in this manual may cause interference to radio communications Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the user at his own expense will be required to correct the interference Compsee 5 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 INTRODUCTION This manual provides the information necessary to properly operate and maintain the Apex II terminal Contained herein is a description of the hardware and software procedures for unpacking and checking operating functions instructions for operating the terminal charging or replacing the battery pack and maintaining the terminal and much more Before attempting to understand anything new it is important to first gather all of your resources Whether you are a novice without any experience in using computers or a confident user with the added advantage of knowing BASIC this manual contains what you need to become proficient in operating the Apex II terminals Depending on the intended operation of your application program additional resources may be necessary to pr
18. encounter the situation where the message shown below will appear BREAK where is the line number where the abort took place If this is the case you may be in the DIAGNOSTIC mode not the IMMEDIATE mode Press lt ALT gt lt V gt If the operating system version number appears you are in the IMMEDIATE mode Or you may see the following BREAK message with the gt prompt BREAK HH gt Type QUIT and press lt Enter gt You will then be placed in the IMMEDIATE mode Detailed information on error codes can be found in the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual Description Line too long Out of table memory Invalid use of characters Name too long Invalid character Unmatched parentheses Invalid name Invalid number C OCmMmNI DAMN FWN He Missing Quote Invalid line number pai fak ma Oo Out of program memory jmi N Undefined line number ww Invalid syntax p amp Number out of range Nn Cannot continue j an Duplicate Definition a Array not dimensioned a o0 Invalid use of a variable Ke Receive timeout N Parity error N Invalid record length on a load command N N Invalid record count on a load command N W Invalid header format on a load command N A Transmit timeout N nN Invalid expression N O Divide by zero N String too long N oo Overflow Compsee 57 Apex
19. event the case is broken loose cracked or perforated operation of the unit should cease Operation should resume only after the case is repaired or replaced WARNING DO NOT OPERATE SCANNER IF CASE IS PERFORATED BROKEN OR LOOSE DO NOT TAMPER WITH THE CASE USE OF PRODUCT WHEN CASE IS BROKEN PERFORATED OR LOOSE COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO EYES IF LASER LIGHT IS VIEWED DIRECTLY It is also recommended that all persons using the product should not look into the scanner beam while the unit is operating Compsee 4 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 The following exposure label is a reproduction of the label mounted on the Apex II Data Collection Terminal DANGER laser Light when open AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE DANGER AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE THE SCANNER CONTAINED IN THE COMPSEE Apex II DATA COLLECTION TERMINAL IS A CLASS IIA LASER ANY DIRECT VIEWING OF THE SCANNING BEAM IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND DIRECT VIEWING OF THE SCANNER OUTPUT IN THE AIMING MODE SHOULD BE AVOIDED The following is a reproduction of the label mounted on the Apex II with long range scanner CLASS Illa LASER PRODUCT AVOID EXPOSURE LASER LIGHT IS EMITTED FROM THIS APERTURE LASER LIGHT AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE y 680 nm LASER 5 0 MILLIWATT MAX OUTPUT CLASS Illa LASER PRODUCT PRODUCT CONFORMITY Product complies with 21 CFR 1040 10 No user serviceable parts Opening voids the warranty WARNING This equipment has been tested
20. gt Angular brackets are used to enclose hard keys keys whose name and function do not change located on the Apex II or PC such as lt ALT gt and lt Enter gt e Underlined type is used for titles that refer to manuals e Important points are included as notes throughout this manual Note headings are printed in bold italic typeface Notes are centered on the page e Caution and warning messages provide information which if not observed could result in equipment damage data loss or personal injury Caution and warning messages are shown in boxes e Square brackets enclose variables that the user is instructed to enter for example a specific filename filename or a specific number num Compsee 6 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 HOW THIS MANUAL IS ORGANIZED It is sometimes necessary to get started immediately and not have to read large amounts of information to determine how to operate our terminals For this reason we have taken into account that some users may want to use our manual as a reference tool only If you opt to do this we strongly recommend that you review the What To Read topic shown later in this section That topic bullet lists the chapters and topics you should focus on according to your job function The following paragraphs briefly describe each of the four parts of this manual PART 1 User s Manual PART 2 Apex Trak Instructions PART 3 BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual PART 4 Glossar
21. processes is shown below lik PROGRAM UPLOAD gt DOWNLOAD PROCESS PRINT Figure 1 1 The Basic Steps INFORMATION ENTRY As illustrated in Figure 1 1 the terminal can be used as a remote data collection device because of the data collection program that has been developed by your applications programmer and then uploaded to the Apex II terminal Data can be collected with the Apex II once the data collection program has been loaded into the Apex II The three ways of collecting data with the Apex II are described below Automatically by Scanning The terminals are capable of reading and automatically discriminating between eight 8 major bar code symbologies as defined by the AIM Automatic Identification Manufacturers Inc specification Code 11 Code 39 or Code 3 of 9 Code 93 Code 128 Codabar Interleaved 2 of 5 Standard 2 of 5 Matrix 2 of 5 MSI Plessey 10 UPC A and UPC E 11 EAN 8 and EAN 13 SOE OOS ON ON a Ne es Various scanning instructions and considerations are provided later in this chapter under the Checkout Procedure topic Manually Through the Keypad During the data collection process the Apex II may prompt you for additional information Through the use of the keypad the operator would then enter additional information such as quantity price location etc Compsee 13 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note When the Apex II prompts
22. to view a listing of valid area names If you are unsure of the area type M Compsee Uploads 6 Next you will be asked if you want to password protect the file Type Y or N 7 When prompted you can also enter a description up to 2 lines 40 characters per line 8 Enter the command appropriate to your PC s communications software to start the upload A pop up screen will appear so that you know the information is being uploaded It will contain the file name area being saved to total blocks block bytes etc Using the Download Option As previously mentioned the download option is used to transfer programs files and data from the BBS to your PC A sample BBS download procedure follows 1 Log on to the BBS 2 Access the Files Menu as previously described 3 Select D download You will be prompted for the program name 4 In this example the LinkMaster program called Apexprog exe will be used Enter the program name and the extension ZIP For example Apexprog zip 5 Follow the instructions for your PC communications program s download process The process of downloading the program to your PC will begin The file s will be copied to the directory specified during your communications software installation procedure 6 Exit the BBS and your communications program when you are finished downloading the information The following paragraphs contain additional information on manipulating the programs and files once they
23. topics that follow The BBS Help Feature To aid in effective use of the BBS extensive on line help is available from any menu or option at any time by typing a question mark You will be presented with helpful information pertinent to the menu or option For example when the question mark is selected from the BBS Main Menu help text will be presented for each option that is listed on the screen You can scroll through the screens as needed by pressing lt Enter gt First Time BBS Access First you will access your communications software and use your PC and modem to place a call to the Compsee computer where the BBS resides If you do not know the procedure you should refer to the documentation that came with your communications software Once connection is established for the first time you will be presented with the Compsee Support BBS Welcome screen The navigational component of this screen is described below e The Pause Prompt is comprised of m C ontinue used to continue the session and view other options not shown on the screen m NJonStop used while viewing a program listing m S top used to end the current function and display the Option Selection Line described later Then you will be asked a series of questions about you and your company s business It is very important that accurate answers be provided for these questions The information you provide will be used to ensure that you receive product
24. updates and other notices During the log in process you will be asked to enter a password Some guidelines regarding passwords follows e The password cannot exceed 15 alphanumeric characters e Select a password that is easy to remember but not obvious such as m First name last name or nickname Birthday date e DO NOT disclose your password to anyone After you have successfully logged in you will be presented the Compsee Technical Support Bulletin Menu screen discussed later in this chapter Compsee 47 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note After four unsuccessful attempts to enter your password access will be denied and you will be presented with a screen prompting you to send a message to the BBS System Operator SYSOP In the message you should explain why you could not access the BBS When the SYSOP receives the message your previous password will be cleared out At that time you will be able to enter a new password Subsequent BBS Access On subsequent log ins the BBS access method is as follows 1 Gt RS Access your communications software refer to the manual that came with your communications software for instructions Use your PC and modem to place a call to the Compsee computer where the BBS resides Enter your first name Enter your last name Enter your password After you have successfully logged in you will be presented with the Compsee Technical Support Bulletin Menu screen th
25. viewing of the beam will not cause retinal damage You are strongly cautioned against any direct viewing of the scanner output Compsee 3 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 WARNING FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE PRECAUTIONS WARNINGS AND PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS GUIDE MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS VISIBLE LIGHT RADIATION The following is a reproduction of the label mounted on the Apex II Data Collection Terminal CLASS II LASER PRODUCT AVOID LONG TERM 1 VIEWING OF DIRECT LASER LIGHT 1 AVOID EXPOSURE LASER LIGHT IS EMITTED FROM THIS APERTURE Sa LIGHT DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM 680 nm LASER 1 0 MILLIWATT MAX OUTPUT CLASS II LASER PRODUCT The following exposure label is a reproduction of the label mounted on the Apex II Data Collection Terminal CAUTION laser Light when open DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM Apex IT LONG RANGE LASER The COMPSEE Apex II Data Collection Terminal has been designed and manufactured to exacting standards for performance reliability and safety This product emits invisible laser radiation Certain warnings and precautions in addition to the operating and care instructions in this manual are provided for safe operation of this product CAUTION Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous laser light exposure The integrity of the case is critical to the performance and safe use of the product In the
26. you for additional information regarding the data you are collecting your applications programmer has previously defined the Apex II s program to work this way The terminal will not operate in this fashion until your company s application program has been loaded Systematically Through the Communications Port Information can also be uploaded or downloaded from the host computer system to the unit through the RS 232 C port See Sections 4 and 10 for details INFORMATION PROCESSING The Apex II terminal also permits the operator to store process and transmit acquired information Application programs written in the familiar BASIC programming language allow the unit to be customized to practically any portable data collection need The built in RS 232 C interface provides for ready communication with other data processing equipment Commands and program lines must be sent to the Apex II in ASCII format UNPACKING AND INSPECTING FOR DAMAGE WARRANTY AND SAFETY NOTES Prior to operating the terminal it is recommended that the user review the warranty limitations and the Safety Precautions topic located at the front of this manual If operating the Apex II with integrated laser failure to heed the recommendations and precautions described may result in exposure to hazardous laser radiation and possible voiding of the warranty Inspecting the Terminal The Compsee Apex II terminal is specially packaged to protect the unit during shipping Re
27. 63 Figure 10 1 10 pin RS 232 C Communications Port cesses 65 List Of Tables Table 6 1 The BBS Main Menu Options ceeeeeescesseeeesecseeeeeeeneeees 49 Table 6 2 The BBS File Menu Options eceeeceseeceeseeneesecneeeeceeenees 50 Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual 11 Part 1 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Compsee s Apex II terminal is a full function data collection terminal designed for gathering of bar code and key entered data in a broad range of environments and applications Features of the Apex II terminal include a 4 X 16 display full alphanumeric keyboard 128k to 1 Mb of memory 16 bit Intel microprocessor bar code input port and RS 232 communications port Users who will be programming the Apex II terminal should know that one of the standards that we chose to adhere to is the BASIC programming language BASIC has been the standard programming language on microcomputers since 1975 Using a universal BASIC like language such as our COMPSEE BASIC allows the freedom of applications development on a PC at your own pace and using your own style Our breed of BASIC has all of the standard features of Microsoft BASIC plus enhancements which include bar code event handling symbology recognition and discrimination RS 232 C configuration enhanced file handling and improved input output data formatting Programs developed by the applications programmer can be uploaded to the Apex II terminal via a standard RS 232
28. 8 7 7 8 8 7 7 8 8 7 7 8 8 7 7 Press lt Enter gt to save the new settings ES E When modifying the communications parameters DO NOT terminal until you have completed all of the steps NNNNNNNN RRR RRR Re power down the Apex II listed above If you power down prior to completing the procedure and then power the unit on again the last comman In some cases screen buffer may contain the previous communications parameters lead you to believe th verify that the new se will appear While the keyboard is the baud rate values a status values command remains in ALT mode un after y d entered wil still be displayed ou have changed the communication parameters the Press lt E T The lt E This may terminal did not recognize the new settings To ttings ar executing the MODE command nd lt ALT gt lt Y gt ASCII value 25 nter gt key ASCII value 13 sets the RS 2 stored press lt ALT gt lt X gt nter gt to return to the previous screen lt ALT gt lt X gt steps through steps through the terminates the MODE 32 C port and restores the scr til the lt ALT gt key is pressed Keyboard Command CLEAR BUFFERS lt ALT gt lt Z gt Clears the four COMPSEE BASIC buffers 1 RS 232 C receive 2 RS 232 C transmit 3 Keyboard 4 Bar Code Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual n The new settings
29. ASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for SYSPARMS information Pulling the trigger does not Your application program may have disabled the scanner with the SYSPARMS activate the scanner statement This is a common programming mistake that can be remedied in the application program Do the following to confirm this problem 1 Save all valuable data presently stored in the Apex II terminal see Part 2 for instructions 2 Reboot the Apex II and try scanning a bar code instructions can be found in Section 1 If the scan works the problem is related to the application program and not to the Apex II Scanning a bar code causes Bar codes can be read until the 64 byte internal bar code buffer has been filled the terminal to emit 10 short The problem may be one of the following 1 the application program is not beeps retrieving the bar codes 2 the application program is not keeping up with the user s scan rate or 3 there is no application program in the scanner to retrieve the bar codes POWER PROBLEMS The following information provides possible causes and remedies for common Apex II terminal power problems PROBLEM ACTION Apex II terminal will not Ensure that a fully charged battery is in the Apex II power on Note A fully charges battery 14 hour charge provides power for approximately 15 hours of operation at an average of 30 scans per minute Compsee 43 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1
30. ATED CLOTH FOR CLEANING PURPOSES DO NOT CLEAN Apex II TERMINALS USING ALCOHOL ACETONE OR MINERAL SPIRITS BATTERY RECHARGING REPLACEMENT When battery power becomes low a warning appears on the Apex II s LCD as shown below accompanied by five short beeps Low Battery Once the warning is displayed the present scan is completed Subsequent scans are inhibited and the terminal automatically powers down in five 5 seconds When this occurs e replace the exiting battery pack or batteries with 4 AA Alkaline or rechargeable batteries e replace the existing battery pack with a fully charged battery pack e charge the existing battery pack inside the unit Compsee 67 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 CAUTION Do not attempt to operate the unit once it has powered down due to a low battery condition WARRANTY LIMITATION NEVER OPERATE THE UNIT WHILE CONNECTED TO THE CHARGER Proper Charging The battery pack must be charged when the low battery warning appears The average life expectancy of a battery pack is a minimum of 400 charge cycles Note A charge cycle is defined as the use of the battery until depleted and then giving a full 14 hour re charge Removing the Battery Pack or AA Batteries To remove the battery pack 1 Turn off the unit 2 Turn the screw on the back of the unit 1 4 turn to the right Use a flat screwdriver or a coin 3 Remove the battery pack or AA Batteries Charging the Batte
31. Apex II Compsee PORTABLE DATA COLLECTION TERMINAL Manual COAMITUG0000 Operations amp Programming Manual PART 1 User s Manual COMPSEE All rights reserved No part of this manual including illustrations and specifications may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without permission in writing from Compsee The material contained in this manual is for informational purposes only and subject to change without notice Compsee 1997 Printed in USA Revision 1 2 Compsee 1 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Apex II DATA COLLECTION SERIES LIMITED WARRANTY Note to Purchaser This warranty and license contains important information on the servicing and use of your new Apex II Data Collection Terminal Limited Warranty Compsee warrants that for one year from date of purchase the Apex II Data Collection Terminal shall be free from significant defects in material and workmanship and that it will operate satisfactorily under normal conditions of use and service as more fully described in this manual or other product specifications published by Compsee Compsee s responsibility under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement of any part of the terminal which proves to be defective in normal use and service during the warranty period Refer to Part 1 Section 5 Troubleshooting Procedures for the equipment return procedure Program License Your terminal contains an operating system in fir
32. Apexware and press lt Enter gt 3 Type COPY 001 LPT1 and press lt Enter gt Compsee 30 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 While you are loading the new operating system the following will be displayed on the PC screen File Apex Setup Quit LinkMaster Utilities for the Apex II Ver 1 0 Compsee 1995 C This program provides a list of utilities to assist in using the Apex II handheld computer Please use your arrow keys to select a menu choice 01 09 1996 08 58 00 Establishing communications please wait Current version in Apex II v1 0la Updating Apex II operating system v1 01a with disk 1 02 To Load a New Operating System Prior to beginning the operating system install you must first install the Linkmaster exe program onto your PC s hard disk as described below This will cause a Apexware directory to be created The files will be copied to this directory 1 Insert the Apex II Utility diskette into drive A 2 Type A and press lt Enter gt 3 Type INSTAL and press lt Enter gt 4 Your DOS prompt will display when all files have been copied Note If you add these directories to your DOS path you will be able to run Linkmaster exe from any directory located on your hard disk The Linkmaster exe program s files will appear on the PC s screen as they are being installed onto the hard disk A standard listing and descriptions of the files follow LINKMSTR EXE A compiled QuickBASIC 4 5 program that wil
33. BS Main Menu Table 6 2 lists and describes the major BBS File Menu options Note Because the File Menu contains the important and commonly used uploading and downloading procedures more time is devoted to explanation and instruction for these options Table 6 2 The BBS File Menu Options ee Quit to Main This option is used to return to the BBS Main Menu Menu Upload a File s This option is used to send programs files and data from your PC to the BBS Instructions for using this option are provided later in this chapter Compsee 50 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Option Message Menu Read a Text file Info on a File Edit Marked List List Available Files New Files Since N Text Search for Files Stats on Up Downloads Join a Conference File Transfer Info Download a File View a ZIP file Goodbye amp Log Off Help Level Command Help Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Description The option allows access to the same Message Menu that is located on the BBS Main Menu It is re listed here as a time saving measure When this option is selected a prompt will be shown requesting the name of any ASCII file listed in the file database The selected file is then displayed with appropriate screen pauses This option is used to view information about a file to include the person who uploaded the file the last access date or whether password is required When this option
34. E Compsee operates an electronic Bulletin Board Service BBS 24 hours a day seven days a week It can be reached by dialing 910 439 1332 The BBS contains sample programs and utilities written by Compsee It also contains information and tips offered by both the Compsee Technical Support Group and by fellow end users See Section 6 for details on how to access the BBS ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OWN ORGANIZATION Many companies designate support personnel to handle the Apex II application programming functions Sometimes the best source of assistance may be your own company when it has been determined that the problem is with the application program Compsee 39 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR VAR COMPSEE DEALER The comprehensive troubleshooting chapter provided in this manual should first be used if you encounter problems using the Apex II terminals If you cannot resolve the problem your VAR should be contacted Your VAR is familiar with your needs equipment and application programs and should be able to provide you with the information you need When you call your VAR please have the following information available to help resolve your problem and answer your questions more quickly e Prior to calling the VAR jot down the steps leading up to the error condition and the problem encountered This will help if it becomes necessary to duplicate the error condition or identify the cause of the problem and th
35. FICATIONS Environmental Specifications Operating Temperature 0 C to 50 C 32 F to 122 F Storage Temperature 20 C to 60 C 4 F to 140 F Humidity 0 90 non condensing Mechanical Specifications Weight 934 Ib Width 3 8 inches Depth 2 1 inches Height 8 4 inches Compsee 63 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Additional Terminal Specifications all terminals Display 4 lines by 16 character LCD Alphanumeric Keypad A Z 0 9 Enter Scan F1 F2 F3 F4 ALT Backspace Period Arrows Right Left Up Down Indicators Programmable Audible Beeper Good Read LED Integrated Laser Models Only Communications Port 10 pin RS 232 Communications port CPU 16 bit Intel 80196NP Micro Processor Memory RAM dynamically allocated among the operating system application programs and data All models contain 128k byte Flash and can have 128K 512K or 1 MB of RAM Clock Real time clock calendar Automatic leap year Scan Rate 36 scans second POWER SOURCE e 4 AA Alkaline or 4 AA NICAD Batteries e Nickel Metal Hydride NIMH Rechargeable Battery Pack The battery pack consists of 4 cells with operational capability of 15 hours at the use rate of 30 scans per minute Note If the unit s operation is limited to manual data entry only operating time increases This is the result of the reduced load placed on the battery pack e Power Save Mode Backup battery preserves data and program in RAM
36. I terminal once it has powered down due to a low battery condition Charge the existing battery pack or replace with AA batteries or a fully charged pack SAFETY Apex II STANDARD LASER The COMPSEE Apex II Data Collection Terminal has been designed and manufactured to exacting standards for performance reliability and safety This product emits invisible laser radiation Certain warnings and precautions in addition to the operating and care instructions in this manual are provided for safe operation of this product CAUTION Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous laser light exposure The integrity of the case is critical to the performance and safe use of the product In the event the case is broken loose cracked or perforated operation of the unit should cease Operation should resume only after the case is repaired or replaced WARNING DO NOT OPERATE SCANNER IF CASE IS PERFORATED BROKEN OR LOOSE DO NOT TAMPER WITH THE CASE USE OF PRODUCT WHEN CASE IS BROKEN PERFORATED OR LOOSE COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO EYES IF LASER LIGHT IS VIEWED DIRECTLY It is also recommended that all persons using the product should not look into the scanner beam while the unit is operating Caution Direct Viewing Is Not Recommended The scanner contained in the COMPSEE Apex II Data Collection Terminal is a Class II laser It is a low power laser Momentary
37. IZATION saeeeeeeee 39 WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR VAR COMPSEE DEALER 40 EQUIPMENT RETURN PROCEDURE seere 40 SCANNING DIFFICULTIES 0 ec eceeeecssecneeeecneeeecseeeeesaecateseeneeees 41 POWER PROBLEMS ccce ninaeneri reari E aR 43 BATTERY PROBLEMS 3 s scsiousesthsitesssneotestesbisessneatiasebssbosatenisenstbanst 44 COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS 1 0 eeeceeceeeesseereeteceeeeeeeeeeeaees 44 OTHER PROBLEMS n 5 6 estes tb bible viens a eea eine 45 6 COMPSEE SUPPORT 2 ee eee eee ee eee eee 46 BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE 1 0 ceeeceeesceeneeeeceeeeeeeseeeeeseeneeeeens 46 Navigation ne ree A snneees ound E E cunceeeetuactd 47 The BBS Help Feat rese recone eon a A E R R 47 First Time BBS ACCESS aii rruen eaea seis ais Aaea 47 Subsequent BBS ACCESS rise are E a 48 The Compsee Technical Support Bulletin Menu eee 48 Using the Upload Option cece eeessescessecreesecseseecsseeeesaeeeeeseenenees 52 Using the Download Option ce eeecsssecseeeecneeeeceeeeeeeseeeeeseeneeaes 52 Additional BBS Feature sssecsesesosssseserossnetsevsncnenenensesonenes 52 BBS TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES seere 55 ERROR CODES aonan ee gd eel de Sed aie tc ge tes eee EES 56 8 KEYPAD COMMANDS eee ee eee eee e eee 59 IMMEDIATE MODE COMMANDS cc ceeeeccseeeceseeeceseeeeesecneeeeens 60 DIAGNOSTIC MODE COMMAND cceesseecsssecneeeecneeeeeeeeeeees 60 MODEL DESIGNATIONS eeceeeecseeeceseceeeecneeeeeeaeeneaecaeeseenees 61
38. Interleaved 2 of 5 bar code symbology is 14 digits If you have modified this bar code symbology to be higher or lower than the default make sure your software uses the SYSPARMS statement to set the number of digits to be decoded An Apex II programmed to read a 12 digit bar code will be unable to read any other length of Interleaved 2 of 5 Likewise the default number of digits for a Codabar bar code symbology is 5 or greater If modified use the SYSPARMS statement in your program See COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for more information on the SYSPARMS statement If the reading device is a wand ensure that you are using the correct wand Ifa Compsee wand is not being used check that the pin assignments are correct Note This is a major cause for no read conditions Bear in mind that a wand is designed for a specific bar code density and wavelength visible versus infrared Ensure that the wand you use is selected properly for your type of bar code density Contact your Compsee dealer for further information about available bar code wand types Compsee 42 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 PROBLEM ACTION Scanner struggles to read The application program should include the SYSPARMS statement that is used to bar codes disable all unused bar code algorithms and turn redundancy scanning off This will enable the Apex II to concentrate only on the type symbology you are attempting to read See the COMPSEE B
39. The keyboard 27 Part 1 Note If you attempt to scan a bar code when the buffer is full the terminal will give ten short beeps Press lt ALT gt lt Z gt to temporarily clear the buffers 3 COMPSEE BASIC INTERPRETER OPERATING SYSTEM This section details the Apex II s operating system and defines its characteristics and functions It describes how to determine your operating system s version number and provides instructions for loading a new operating system from the PC using the Linkmaster exe program Apex II BASIC INTERPRETER OPERATING SYSTEM The Apex II BASIC Interpreter Operating System is a program written in 80196 Assembly Language by Compsee A version of this program is resident in all Apex II terminals and is responsible for controlling all of its activities After a BASIC application program is loaded and executed within the terminal the operating system becomes a slave to this program The BASIC program tells the operating system which functions it needs to perform BASIC and all other languages are simply multi instruction user friendly command sets that allow you to control a device through its base operating system Like operating systems on all other computers the Apex II BASIC operating system has commands that allow direct manipulation of its functions For example if you wanted a directory listing of files in the Apex II s memory you do not have to write a BASIC program to view the listing You would simply send t
40. ading a new operating system requires the following Apex II terminal be in IMMEDIATE mode Baud rate 9600 Even parity 7 data bits and 1 stop bit The Mode set to 5 3 EnA Se Compsee ships a program named Linkmstr exe with the Apex II Linkmstr exe was developed in an MS DOS environment It can only be used on a PC running under DOS If you do not have access to the MS DOS environment contact your Compsee dealer The operating system load procedure is described in the topics that follow Refer to Section 6 Compsee Support if you are using the BBS to load a new operating system To assist during the install process an error checking interface is provided Self explanatory messages providing corrective action s will appear Should you experience problems simply follow the directions that appear on the PC s screen Before attempting to install the new operating system on your Apex II the text files should be printed read and understood Some of these changes may affect the way your program operates Therefore it is important that you read and understand the information To print the documents on a parallel printer you will first need to install the Linkmaster exe programs and files onto your PC s hard disk instructions can be found under the To Load a New Operating System topic shown later in this chapter Do the following to print the text files 1 Ensure that your printer is connected to your PC s parallel port 2 Type CD
41. al keyboard commands When an Apex II terminal is first powered up the default keys are assigned the proper ASCII values to invoke the keyboard commands The user is free to reassign these ASCII values to other keys See Section 8 Keypad Table for further information on reassigning key values Compsee 24 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 The following is a quick reference guide for Compsee keyboard commands Set communication parameters when they are displayed lt X gt to change first number lt Y gt to change second number Press lt ENTER gt to exits el Buffers i Z Run the Run the Progam ATRO O OO R mode Keyboard Command _CONTRAST LEVEL UP DOWN lt ALT gt lt I gt or lt ALT gt lt J gt Keystrokes assigned by the operating system to control contrast lt ALT gt lt I gt increases the contrast while lt ALT gt lt J gt decreases the contrast Keyboard Command _RUN lt ALT gt lt R gt Executes the application program stored in memory Keyboard Command _VERSION lt ALT gt lt V gt Displays the COMPSEE BASIC version level of the operating system stored in RAM for three seconds The content of the screen is saved before the version is displayed Three seconds later the content of the screen is restored Compsee 25 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Keyboard Command MODE lt ALT gt lt X gt Change the communications parameters of the RS 232 C port The content of the screen is
42. applications programmer must modify the program before you can continue working Because errors are dependent on the application program every distinction cannot be made in this document Attempt to recover from an error condition by using the procedures described in the examples that follow If problems are still encountered see your applications programmer When the Apex II encounters an error not accounted for in the application program execution may be halted the information currently displayed is saved and the error code and line number will be displayed on the first line of the Apex II s LCD Example 1 If the Apex II were to attempt RS 232 C communications using RTS CTS flow control with no device connected the following error message would be shown on the Apex II s LCD where E24 L450 gt E24 is the error code and L450 is the line number location of the error NOTES 1 Errors of this type should be discussed with your programmer DO NOT attempt to exit the DIAGNOSTIC mode without first consulting with your programmer 2 Some application programs may be designed to delete data files and re initiate variables to 0 values By re initializing your program with the lt ALT gt lt R gt key sequence you could delete data Consult with your programmer to determine if this is the case Compsee 56 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Example 2 If the error has not been accounted for in the program you may
43. at is discussed on the following page Note If your log in is not successful hang up the modem and try again To ensure that you are properly accessing your communications software consult the documentation that came with the package You may also refer to the troubleshooting topics located at the end of this chapter The Compsee Technical Support Bulletin Menu The navigational component of the Compsee Technical Support Bulletin Menu are described below The Option Selection Line is comprised of Enter bulletin number type the desired bulletin number and press lt Enter gt m R used to relist the Bulletin Menu screen ENTER used to quit viewing the Bulletin Menu and display the BBS Main Menu Note The Option Selection Line will appear after all Bulletin Menu options have been listed or re listed When done viewing the bulletins the BBS Main Menu can be accessed by pressing lt Enter gt The BBS Main Menu is the area where most of your interactions with the service will take place Table 6 1 lists and describes the major BBS Main Menu options Compsee 48 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Table 6 1 The BBS Main Menu Options 7 yY Message Menu When this option is selected the Message Menu will be displayed The options shown on the Message Menu are used for message and mail manipulation Comments This option is used to send a private message to the BBS SYSOP Comments are automatically sent to a separat
44. d symbol If you are able to decode the test bar code the original bar code symbol was defective For data accuracy and aggressive scanning bar codes should be printed so that they reasonably conform to the AIM standard Note Be sure to test the terminal by reading a bar code of the same symbology as defined in the application program For example if the Apex II terminal is set to read 10 digit Interleaved 2 of 5 it will not read a 14 digit Interleaved 2 of 5 symbol With the exception of Interleaved 2 of 5 Codabar and MSI Plessey no other symbologies need to have the number of characters set in the SYSPARMS statement Consult COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for more information More specific reasons for scanning difficulties as they relate to the Apex II terminals are provided in the troubleshooting procedures that follow PROBLEM ACTION Scanner will not read the Ensure that the bar code symbology is one recognized by the Apex II terminal that bar code you are using See Section 1 for a listing of bar code symbologies that can be read by the Apex II terminal Make sure the application program has included the bar code symbology in its SYSPARMS set up it is possible for bar code symbologies to be ignored if specified in the applications program Turn all others off and redundancy too See COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for more information on the SYSPARMS statement The default setting for an
45. directly at the bar code Observe Automatic Power Down If the unit is powered up and left inactive for a period of 90 seconds the unit will automatically power down The 90 second power down feature is a default setting which can be modified Refer to the SYSPARMS statement in the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual Reactivate the unit by pressing the lt POWER gt Key Observe Buffer Full Indication all terminal models Unless an application program has been loaded into the Apex II terminal the scan buffer becomes full after several scans The Apex II s buffer is defined as the assigned part of memory used as a temporary holding area To observe the buffer full indication scan additional bar code symbols After several reads the terminal will emit ten 10 audible tones indicating that the buffer is full Press lt ALT gt and lt Z gt to clear the buffer Alternatively you can clear the buffer by rebooting the terminal as follows In addition to clearing the scan buffer rebooting the terminal erases any programs and data that are in RAM Compsee 19 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Action Result Reboot the Terminal Power down the unit Simultaneously hold down the lt ALT gt and lt gt keys While still holding down the keys press lt POWER gt The screen will clear and then the Compsee Inc copyright screen will appear CAUTION Rebooting an Apex II terminal erases your applicati
46. e PC The Apex II Program Generator is designed to allow anyone regardless of technical expertise to design a COMPSEE BASIC program using the program generator Programs that have been written using the program generator can be easily modified with it The Apex II Program Generator contains built in communications capability See Section 12 for product part numbers Compsee 21 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 e An application program to actually perform the data collection The pre loaded Apex Trak programs have been provided for immediate usage See PART 2 for details on how to use these programs Once you know how to operate the Apex II terminal you can write a customized program for your application Consult Section 4 Building Your Application for details on how to do this 2 OPERATING SYSTEMS MODES To accommodate the various functions and operations that the Apex II is capable of performing three system modes are provided IMMEDIATE RUN and DIAGNOSTIC Each of these modes represent a different state of functionality Consequently it is required that the operator know which commands and which functions can be performed in each of these modes The following is an extensive explanation of the modes and the operations which can be performed while in those modes IMMEDIATE MODE In IMMEDIATE mode the operating system is looking at the RS 232 C port for direction This is the mode the Apex II terminal should be in if you plan
47. e bar code symbol Move the wand across the entire bar code at an even speed A good read is indicated by an audible tone If a no read condition occurs scan the symbol again Make sure the wand intersects all the symbol elements Please observe 1 4 Quiet Zone on each side If the symbol still does not read review the troubleshooting procedures in Section 5 or call your Compsee dealer for assistance The wand powers down when the trigger of the input device or the Apex II lt SCAN gt key is released unless it is programmed to perform differently programmer designates that when a certain key is pressed the wand is activated until the key is pressed again e Apex II with Integrated Laser Depress lt Scan gt Make sure to orient the laser scanning unit so that the red aiming beam intersects all bar code elements A good read is indicated by an audible tone accompanied by a steady green LED indication If a no read occurs scan the symbol again Make sure to orient the laser scanning unit so that the red aiming beam intersects all bar code elements If the scanner still does not read the bar code review the troubleshooting procedures in Section 5 or call your Compsee dealer for assistance Note DO NOT aim the unit s laser perpendicular at the bar code symbol When reading symbols printed on a glossy surface this causes a reflection that interferes with the scanning action Point the scanner so that the laser is angled and NOT pointing
48. e corrective action necessary to resolve the problem e Apex II terminal s serial and model numbers e Identify the cable you are using a Compsee cable or made by you or someone else at your company e Identify what personal computer you are using if any e Identify what bar codes are being used If your VAR cannot resolve the problem he or she will contact the Compsee Technical Support service for assistance Although Compsee will not deny service to an end user who directly contacts the Technical Support group we will request the name of your VAR and the steps he or she has taken to resolve the problem We will ask the end user if attempts have been made to correct the problem by e using the troubleshooting procedures shown in this manual and e contacting your VAR for assistance if your troubleshooting efforts did not help At this point we will attempt to resolve your problem and then re route you to your VAR Note If you don t know who your VAR is Compsee will attempt to make that determination If you are a VAR contacting Compsee Technical Support service ensure that e you have the problem Apex II terminal in your possession e you have attempted to resolve the problem by using the troubleshooting procedures contained in this manual e you have first worked with a knowledgeable party from your Technical Support group before contacting the Compsee Technical Support service e you have in your possession the bar c
49. e it since it is now considered data by the BASIC program You must be in RUN mode to e Execute the instructions of a BASIC program You can get into RUN mode by e Sending the RUN command to the Apex II via the RS 232 C port or e Pressing lt ALT gt lt R gt or e Typing G and the program line number will return you to the RUN mode You can determine if the terminal is in the RUN mode by e Pressing lt ALT gt lt C gt will produce a PRESS ENTER message on the Apex II This key sequence accesses the DIAGNOSTIC mode and only produces this message in the RUN mode DIAGNOSTIC MODE In DIAGNOSTIC mode the operating system is looking at the Apex II s keyboard for direction This mode is used for debugging a BASIC application program single stepping through a program input values for variables printing the values of variables setting break points etc A programmer would use this mode to aid in debugging a BASIC program running within the Apex II Once a unit is placed in DIAGNOSTIC mode the operating system is once again in control of the Apex II terminal Diagnostic mode supports a number of options that allow the user to directly manipulate limited functions of the operating system This includes checking the contents of variables changing the value of variables changing the flow of the program and tracing the flow of the program You must be in Diagnostic mode to e use diagnostic functions as defined in this COMPSEE BASIC Interpre
50. e message folder Folder Z for easy reference Join Conference This option is used to select one of the various conferences which are used to provide information on various topics of interest to Compsee customers Your Settings This option is used to display and change a variety of system settings to include your password computer type phone number birth date screen length color menus erase prompt hot keys calling from location folders open and default protocol System Stats This option is used to display a variety of statistical information about the system The information shown ranges from a simple summary of the number of callers and the date the system began to percentage of callers at each baud rate and graph charts of system time usage Help Level Allows you to view and change the currently defined level of help Available choices include N ovice complete menus full help R egular option line only little help E xpert no help Newsletter This option is used to display our on line Newsletter Goodbye Terminates and disconnects you from the current BBS session Bulletins This option presents you with one or more bulletins If any bulletins have been updated since your last log on you will be presented with a listing of those bulletins by number The Bulletin Menu may contain information about new product releases information about files which reside on the BBS and highlights on the Apex II utility programs such a
51. educe the baud rate This will reduce the throughput but will usually help if you have a noisy line Or If you have call waiting another call has broken your BBS connection Disable call waiting on your phone by pressing 7 0 push button or by dialing 1170 rotary phone Re connect to the BBS Reduce the baud rate This will reduce the throughput but will usually help if you have a noisy line Or Log off and then log on again 55 Part 1 7 ERROR CODES Located within this quick reference appendix are the COMPSEE BASIC error codes that may appear on the data terminal during use Also supplied are examples of some error conditions and the procedures for correcting them Error codes are listed in numerical order along with a description In most cases the corrective action is self explanatory and is contained within the description of the error code Note The error codes listed below may be produced as a result of an error in your application program In some cases you will need to consult with the person who wrote your application program for assistance Error messages appearing on the Apex II generally fall into one of two categories e Errors where the user can recover without intervention from the applications programmer This category of errors is grouped as follows E The developer may have accounted for them in the program and programmed the application to automatically resume at another point e Errors where the
52. eee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeseeeaes 13 Systematically Through the Communications Pott 0 0 eee 14 INFORMATION PROCESSING cc ceeseesseeecneeeeceeeeeceaeeeeeseeneeseens 14 UNPACKING AND INSPECTING FOR DAMAGE ose 14 Warranty and Safety Notes ee ceesecsesecesecneesecneeeeceseeeessecaeeeeens 14 Inspecting the Terminal ecccesecesecsceeeeeeceeeeeeeceeeeneeeeseeeeeneees 14 IDENTIFYING THE Apex II s COMPONENTS 15 CHECKOUT PROCEDURE aiie iita aorar ereet e Ea EEE 17 Apex II STANDARD PARTS AND ACCESSORIES oosa 20 Apex I KEYPAD DEFINITIONS eeeeeeeerereerererrsrrrrriereererssreee 20 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ce ccesesesecseeeeceseeeesseeeteseeneeeeen 21 2 OPERATING SYSTEMS MODES 28 22 IMMEDIATE MODE sieners an e ae e aE E Ea E s 22 RUN MODE yenan n ihe eee eee ania EAL 23 DIAGNOSTIC MODE 3 hran ean a e ara eE 23 KEYBOARD COMMANDS 0 cei eccesescssteceeteceeeeeneeeecaeeatenecneeseens 24 Keyboard Command CONTRAST LEVEL UP DOWN 25 Keyboard Command RUN 00 eee ceeecseecseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseenseenaes 25 Keyboard Command VERSION 2 0 00 eee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeneenaes 25 Keyboard Command MODE cece cee eeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeseenseenaes 26 Keyboard Command CLEAR BUFFERS eee ee eeeeeeee 27 3 COMPSEE BASIC INTERPRETER OPERATING SYSTEM 28 Apex II BASIC INTERPRETER OPERATING SYSTEM 28 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS oseere 28 Fundamental Operating Tas
53. er being stored in a cold Section 9 for information on storage and operating temperatures If area the temperatures specified are not used performance will be degraded If the problems identified in this chapter do not address the difficulties you are experiencing please contact your VAR Compsee has developed a 24 hour electronic information service for your use The Bulletin Board Service BBS contains a variety of useful information and instructions for using and maintaining your Apex II terminal and applications The BBS support services may be helpful to you when searching for solutions to hardware and software issues Section 6 Compsee Support describes features of the BBS and provides instructions for effectively using the service 6 COMPSEE SUPPORT This chapter introduces you to the Compsee Bulletin Board Service BBS and provides information on how to use the options available from the service Troubleshooting procedures for the BBS are located at the end of this chapter Before you can access the BBS you will need to have a modem and some type of communications software such as PROCOMM or CrossTalk The manual supplied with your communications software is the resource for set up and technical information that will facilitate access to the BBS In addition your BBS access method will depend entirely on the communications software you are using BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE The Compsee Technical Support Group operates a 24 ho
54. ge use another PC try another cable the communications hardware PC cable etc may be defective the Apex II may be defective If the Apex II beeps the Apex II receive line is working the cable transmit wire is correct the PC serial port transmit line is working your problem is most likely in the application program You may also try rebooting the PC and the Apex II terminal Note If the Apex II is rebooted existing programs and data files stored in the terminal s memory will be erased If you have tried all of the above and are continuing to experience problems follow the Equipment Return Procedure at the front of this chapter OTHER PROBLEMS PROBLEM ACTION Ten 10 audible tones are emitted from The Apex II does not contain an application program and the buffer the Apex II and scanning is prohibited has become full Reboot the terminal refer to Chapter 1 for instructions At boot up time the Compsee copyright An application program is present Therefore the copyright screen screen does not appear will not be shown Compsee 45 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 PROBLEM ACTION While in the middle of a work session All models of the Apex II have an automatic power down feature If the LCD goes blank the terminal is left inactive for a period of 90 seconds it will power itself down The Apex II appears to operate When the terminal warms up it will operate normally Consult sluggishly aft
55. have been downloaded from the BBS Additional BBS Feature A number of Compsee programs and utilities are also available through the BBS The following topics provide descriptions for some of these programs Also provided are instructions for using the program The files included with the programs have been compressed to conserve space on the BBS You will need to use the PKUNZIP program to un compress the files prior to using them It should be installed on your PC s hard disk Compsee 52 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note PKUNZIP may be purchased from PKWARE Inc 7545 N Port Washington Road Glendale Wisconsin 53217 If you do not own PKUNZIP it can be downloaded to your PC from the BBS Prior to the download of a Apexware program you should download PKUNZIP The process is the same as that described in Step 1 below except that the name is PKUNZIP EXE DO NOT use the ZIP extension Step 1 Downloading the Program Before any of the Apex II support programs are used they must first be downloaded to your PC Refer to the Using the Download Option described earlier in this chapter for instructions Step 2 Un compressing the Program To conserve space the Apex II support programs are stored on the BBS in a compressed format The next step requires that each program be un compressed before they can be used on your PC Do the following to un compress each program 1 Type PKUNZIP PROGRAM NAME ZIP and press lt Ente
56. he following steps If the unit does not contain an application program it should perform as described below For the checkout procedure when an application program is in place contact your company s application programmer Compsee 17 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Action Result Either Insert the alkaline batteries in the battery compartment or Charge and then insert the Battery Pack Before operating the Apex II terminal the battery pack should be charged for a full 24 hours see Section 11 for instructions 2 Power up the terminal by pressing the red lt POWER gt key Observe Boot Up Message At boot up ROM is copied into RAM and the Compsee Inc copyright message appears on the LCD as shown below COPYRIGHT 1995 COMPSEE Note The message DOES NOT appear when an application program is present Activate the Scanner e Apex II with tethered Scanner Put slight pressure on the trigger of the input device or the press the lt Scan gt key This action activates the tethered scanner e Apex II with Integrated Laser Depress lt Scan gt to activate the Apex II s scanning function A good read is indicated by a long audible tone accompanied by a green steady LED indication Compsee 18 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Action Result Testing the Scanner e Apex II with tethered Wand To test using a bar code wand depress lt Scan gt Place the tip of the wand either before or after th
57. he DIR command to the RS 232 C port and the desired information will be returned via the RS 232 C port OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS The operating system has two main functions fundamental operating tasks and program loading These functions are described below Fundamental Operating Tasks The operating system performs the following operating functions as background tasks e Provides the interface to activate the Scan Key or Laser Scanner e Bar code analysis discrimination and decoding e Interface to input output port RS 232 C e Manages the command interpreter for syntax and data file definition rules for E Loading programs E Loading data files E Dumping data files e Memory storage for successive bar code reads application programs and data files e Manages the LCD display e Low power monitoring of battery pack Compsee 28 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 e Generation of audible and visual alarms e Power control e Keypad operation Program Loading The operating system is also responsible for administering the tasks required for loading application programs 80196 Assembly routines and data files One of these tasks includes maintaining a record of the memory addresses of the application program and data files The terminal s memory is divided into five major areas The bottom portion of memory is reserved for the operating system parameters and its buffers approximately 24k The top portion of memory is reserved fo
58. ific problem described under the PROBLEM column Follow the instructions provided in the ACTION column If you have a problem with your Apex II equipment Compsee offers several support services Read the information provided in the following paragraphs to understand and obtain the help you may need In addition take the time now to complete and mail the Warranty and Software Users Group Registration card located at the front of this manual DOCUMENTATION The information provided in this chapter may help you solve the problem on your own In general hardware related answers can be found in the technical manual for your piece of equipment Software related answers can be found in Part 3 of this Manual BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual CUSTOMER SUPPORT If you are unable to find what you need in the manuals contact your Value Added Reseller VAR This is the person who sold you the Apex II product Your VAR may also be referred to as your Compsee dealer The VAR is a member of the Compsee VAR Network is familiar with your equipment and should understand your particular needs Before you call make sure you ve checked the manual and have a list of the equipment you are using Understanding your specific situation will help identify your problem Take the time now to record the name and address of your VAR in the space below for quick reference at a later time VAR Contact Name Phone Number Address BULLETIN BOARD SERVIC
59. ing visible light which scans the bar code symbol with a sweeping motion e Diode wavelength is 680 NM Decode Zone Ve 5V Ambient light 150 ft candles fluorescent Typical performance at 25 C on photographic quality symbols 6 3 16 0 No exit window 4 10 2 A 2 5 1 N E F 0in 0cm N a 2 5 1 N E 4 10 2 seml 6 3 16 0 10 mil skmm osje oao TU 3 40 mil Jas 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 inches 0 5 1 102 152 203 254 30 5 35 5 40 6 45 7 50 8 55 9 61 cm DISTANCE FROM FRONT OF SCAN ENGINE Zonelst Figure 9 1 Decode Zone Apex II With Standard Integrated Laser Reader Compsee 62 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Apex II with Integrated Laser Reader Long Range e Reads bar codes using a non contact moving beam 680 NM visible laser diode scanner e A laser diode emitting visible light which scans the bar code symbol with a sweeping motion e Diode wavelength is 680 NM Long Range Decode Zone Ve 5V Ambient light lt 150 ft candles fluorescent Typical performance at 25 C on photographic quality symbols No exit window 11 5 29 2 C A 5 12 7 E Oin 0cm G 5 12 7 N I E 15 mil a 11 5 29 2 20 mil 6 40 mil 55 mil e 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 _ inches 0 12 7 254 381 508 63 5 76 2 88 9 101 6 114 3 127 139 7 152 4 165 1 cm DISTANCE FROM FRONT OF SCAN ENGINE Zone2Ir Figure 9 2 Decode Zone Apex II With Long Range Integrated Laser Reader TERMINAL SPECI
60. is selected you will be prompted to enter the desired file name This option is used to edit the list of file s marked for download You can add delete and clear the entire list of selected files This option is used to view a listing of files available for download from the BBS A prompt is displayed requesting the file areas to be listed File areas may be selected alone or in groups For example selecting B C E will list only files in areas B C and E Multiple letters may be delimited with the semicolon or comma They may also be entered without a delimiter i e BCE When this option is selected you will be prompted to enter a begin date range This option should be used to search for files which have been added updated since the last time you used the New Files since option Along with the file s a brief explanation will be provided This option can be used to search for files uploaded by a particular user You will be prompted to enter a character string for the search criteria You are further prompted for specific file areas subject to the search File areas may be entered without spaces the plus key may be used to indicate a search of all areas to which you have access This option presents you with statistical information to include the number and size of uploads and downloads for today and since your first call as well as the limits for your established security level This option is used to select one of the
61. ithin the application program A Z Used for keypad entry of data or responses within a program Some are used in conjunction with the lt ALT gt key to perform other functions Refer to Section 8 for a listing of these functions 0 9 Used for keypad entry of numeric data lt SPC gt Functions like the Spacebar on a typewriter or PC lt BKSP gt Functions like the Backspace key on a typewriter or PC lt gt The period key can be defined to be used as a decimal point lt ENTER gt Used to accept keypad entry as input into the program and is defined as such at boot up time ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS The following equipment and software not supplied with your Apex II terminal is required for a complete data collection system e Intelligent source host PC VAX etc to load COMPSEE BASIC programs and data files into the scanner and to extract data collected from the scanner Details and instructions for these procedures are provided in Section 10 e Communications software to enable a two way communication between the Apex II terminal and an intelligent source or host The demonstration software that we have supplied with the manual has built in communications capabilities The user can write and modify their own program s or use a third party package such as PROCOMM or CrossTalk for communication purposes Compsee sells the Apex II Program Generator software tool which can interface an Apex II terminal to an IBM or compatibl
62. ks 20 00 eee eeeeeceeeceseceseceseeseeeseenaes 28 Program Loading ensor getter aie ete r TEA cents 29 OPERATING SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS 29 DETERMINING THE OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION 29 A NEW OPERATING SYSTEM cc cccssesssesecseeeeceeeeeeeseeeeeseeneeeeens 30 TROUBLESHOOTING THE LINKMSTR PROGRAM 00 32 4 BUILDING YOUR APPLICATION 33 BUILDING THE APPLICATION oe eeeeeceeecneeeeceeeeeceseeeeeseeneeeeens 33 Create the Program sciscessessisccescbscasvided netaees G schovecetndes Rae 34 Prepare the Apex II for the Program Load n 34 Upload the Program to the Apex II Using the Apex II Program Loader 34 Collect the Data re sorire aere lepacsay sedans iae eeaeee rN rE 37 Download the Data to the PC oo eee eeceeeceseeesecesecnaeeaeenes 37 PREPARE THE Apex II FOR A PROGRAM LOAD eee 37 Deleting a BASIC Program eee eeesesseeseeeecneeeeceeeeeceseeeeeseeneeees 38 Deleting an Assembly Routine ccc eeceseeseeseceeeeeecneeeeeneeeeeens 38 Deleting Data Piles s 0 s54 mesne anaes qankons 38 Apex IIT PROGRAM GENERATOR ceecesesecseeeecneeeeceseeeeeseeneeseens 38 Compsee 9 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 5 TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES 26 39 DOCUMENTATION n aren ea e IEEE EE E ra E E s 39 CUSTOMER SUPPORT e nee preii a EEE ER i ek 39 BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE scssseeseesesssrereseseerressssesrsesreresreseseess 39 ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OWN ORGAN
63. l assist in loading the new operating system Linkmaster exe is also used to load programs and data files to the Apex II as well as retrieve data files from the Apex II Apexos x Apex II terminal operating system for Apex II terminals X identifies the hardware revision currently at A V102FTX 001 Text file document describing enhancements and operational changes to the operating system READTHIS DOC Text file document describing installation of the new operating system Compsee 31 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note Different control boards may contain different hardware The differences may be due to design improvement cost reduction etc Depending on the Apex II s control board the operating system will load the appropriate file To begin the operating system upgrade do the following 1 Type CD Apexware and press lt Enter gt 2 Type LINKMSTR and press lt Enter gt 3 Select Setup and set the Correct Communications Port Note Rebooting erases all program and data files If this is not a first time operating system install make sure that you offload any data before rebooting the Apex II 4 Connect your Apex II terminal into your PC s serial port using the appropriate Compsee cable consult Section 12 If the cable you are using was not manufactured by Compsee ensure that the pin assignments match those shown in Section 10 5 Use the arrow keys to select the File option and press lt Enter gt
64. line numbers do not correspond to the new programs will be combined with these in the new program new data files could potentially contain data that was previously contained in the old file with the same name Instructions for prepping the Apex II prior to a program load are located at the end of this chapter 4 The Apex II uses an interpreter not a compiler As a program is being loaded the interpreter will verify the program s syntax and display messages for any detected errors 5 All commands and program lines must be sent to the Apex II in ASCII format Each command or program line must be terminated by the carriage return and line feed character Create the Program Write your data collection program on the host computer using COMPSEE BASIC programming language in a text editor In writing your program you should understand and adhere to the syntax rules outlined in the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual Prepare the Apex II for the Program Load Prior to a new program load you will need to delete any existing programs files or Assembly routines Refer to the Prepare the Apex II for a Program Load topic located at the end of this section for instructions Upload the Program to the Apex II Using the Apex II Program Loader After your application program has been written and the Apex II prepared for a program load the application program must be uploaded from the host system to the Apex II terminal Uploading is the proce
65. mware which has been programmed by Compsee to enable the terminal to perform the functions described in the published specifications Your purchase of the terminal includes a perpetual non exclusive and transferable license to use the firmware operating system built into the Data Collection Terminal The operating system in firmware can be modified or supplemented with application programs devised by others such as the Value Added Reseller VAR from whom you may have purchased the terminal All applications software programs are the sole responsibility of their creators The limited warranty applicable to the terminal does not include servicing for defects or performance problems caused by any such third party implementation of programs originally manufactured by Compsee Warranty Disclaimers These warranties apply only to a data collection terminal purchased directly from Compsee or from an authorized value added reseller of Compsee products The warranties are void if apparent defects were caused by accident neglect misuse alteration or unauthorized attempts at adjustment or repair Warranty service as described herein is the exclusive remedy of purchaser against Compsee for product defects or any other claim or liability in connection with the purchase or use of Compsee s product Warranty Note THESE WARRANTIES ARE IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY
66. n data communications and pin assignments for this port Battery Case Located on the back of the Apex II Accepts either four Alkaline batteries or a Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Cell It provides power for approximately 15 hours of operation af an average of 30 scans per minute Good Read Integrated Laser Units Only LED Indicator Will flash a steady green light when a bar code is successfully scanned Apex II KEYPAD DEFINITIONS The following is a description of the various keys on the terminal and their functions and values at as they exist when the terminal is shipped to you prior to loading of your applications program Compsee 20 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note Some of the keys on the Apex II have specific values at boot up time starting values are set at the Compsee factory but all of them can be redefined by the programmer Consult the Keypad Table topic in the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for instructions Function POWER Used to turn the Apex II on and off Red Key lt ALT gt Considered a control key and is used in conjunction with other keys to perform certain functions See Section 8 Arrow keys The arrow keys do not have a specific function They re defined by the programmer as a way of paging up or down to display information on the Apex II s display F1 F2 F3 F4 These keys do not have a designated function at boot up but can be defined by the programmer to be used w
67. ned by the host system s application program Send a CRLF carriage return line feed out of If the Apex II is in the IMMEDIATE mode it will Compsee 35 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 PC Phase Apex II Phase PC acknowledges the Apex II s response If the Apex II does not respond then your host program can be set up to attempt other mode setting s If this is the case repeat steps 2 through 4 If the Apex II does not respond after attempts to use the other settings go to an error trapping routine which will display a message indicating a communications error has been detected The user must secure the cable and ensure that the Apex II is powered on At this point the PC program will return to the Main Menu Start the procedure again from Step la after following directions printed out in error message The Apex II returns the gt then displays a message that communications have been established The PC program having received the gt is set up to detect that the Apex II is in the IMMEDIATE mode The Apex II has responded to the CRLF the PC can send the NEW command to clear out any program in the terminal The PC application program is designed to wait a few seconds for the Apex II to respond to the NEW command The PC can begin sending the program to the Apex II line by line It will pause briefly after each line and check its COMM port to ensure that the Apex II has received the line gt will be
68. ng the 10 pin RS 232 C port Additional Parameters Data bits Tors Parity Odd Even None Stop bits lor 2 11 CARE MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY LIMITATIONS This section provides information on the required maintenance procedures for the Apex II data collection terminals Instructions are provided for e Routine maintenance e Removing a battery pack e Charging a battery pack e Inserting a battery pack e Rotating battery packs WARRANTY LIMITATION DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE ENCLOSURE CASE THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS DO NOT LEAVE THE UNIT IN RAIN OR DIRECT SUN OR IMMERSE IN WATER MAINTENANCE The only routine maintenance required is periodic cleaning of the e laser exit window e LCD display e keypad e housing Compsee 66 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Cleaning the Laser Exit Window Keep the laser exit window clean at all times Dirt or foreign material including fingerprints can adversely affect the scanning process Clean the exit window by wiping it with a soft dry cloth WARRANTY LIMITATION DO NOT CLEAN THE LASER EXIT WINDOW WITH SOAP OR ABRASIVES Cleaning the LCD Display Smears or dirt on the LCD display can hamper viewing Wipe the display clean with a soft dry cloth Cleaning the Keypad Housing Clean the keypad and unit housing with a soft cloth moistened with a mild non abrasive cleaner WARRANTY LIMITATION DO NOT USE SPRAY CLEANERS ON THE KEYPAD OR USE A SATUR
69. nnect problems A message is shown stating Obtain a new copy of Linkmaster exe from your reseller or from the Compsee BBS that file s are missing see Section 6 for BBS information Compsee 32 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 4 BUILDING YOUR APPLICATION This chapter discusses the process of writing the applications that are used to program the Apex II terminal for your specific data collection purposes After your application is developed it must be uploaded to the Apex II Also provided are the steps necessary for performing the upload operation The information provided in this chapter is directed to the applications programmer Now that you have completed Chapters 2 and 3 you are ready to develop your own application This chapter provides guidelines that explain how to e Create data collection programs on the PC e Upload the programs and data files to the Apex II terminal e Collect data with the terminal e Download the collected data to a PC e Process data Note All commands and program lines are sent to the Apex II and PC in ASCII format When processing data ASCII format may be used on the PC Prior to processing on a mainframe you may need to convert the data to another format such as EBCDIC Problems may be encountered if old programs and data files are not deleted prior to loading a new program This chapter also provides the instructions required to delete these items BUILDING THE APPLICATION
70. nstructions are provided in Section 6 Deleting a BASIC Program One of two methods can be used to delete a BASIC program The first method involves re booting the scanner once you have extracted all necessary data This method will erase all data files and the BASIC program You are now ready to load your program and data files since re booting places the scanner into the IMMEDIATE mode The second method involves erasing the program and or data files To delete an application program all variables and arrays simply type NEW on the PC running your communications package with the Apex IT in IMMEDIATE mode This can be done either within or outside of your program A NEW command issued from within a program forces Apex II BASIC back into the IMMEDIATE mode Issuing a NEW command either inside or outside of the program closes all files and turns off all DIAGNOSTICS modes Consult the Apex II BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for more information on the NEW command See Section 2 for more information on the DIAGNOSTIC and IMMEDIATE modes of operations Deleting an Assembly Routine Note Assembly Routines are not supported at this time Deleting Data Files One of two methods can be used to delete data files The first method is to re boot the terminal the second method uses the KILL command In order to use the KILL command the file must exist in the Apex II s directory Perform the DIR command while the scanner is in the IMMEDIATE mode
71. o copy the files to the PC COMPSEE Apex II HAND HELD COMPUTER Version 1 00 Data File Recovery Utility C 1995 Recover File 70ND Y N Y FILES RECOVERED Enter first letter of file name EMPL COND AISLE BIN Compsee 54 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 COMPSEE Apex II HAND HELD COMPUTER Version 1 00 Data File Recovery Utility C 1995 Enter Comm Port 1 to 4 1 Recover File ARRIER Y N Y Enter first letter of file name FILES RECOVERED EMPL AISLE BIN COND Other programs will become available to you on the BBS as they are developed by Compsee All of the programs discussed above have been included on the LinkMaster diskette If you have installed this diskette you will find all of them on your PC s hard disk in a directory called C Apexware BBS TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES Note You may have a potential problem if your modem is not Hayes compatible PROBLEM ACTION Constant ringing Busy signal Cannot connect to the BBS Total disconnect while using the service Unrecognizable characters are shown on the PC s screen Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual The BBS is down or the wrong number was dialed Someone else is using the BBS Reduce the baud rate This will reduce the throughput but will usually help if you have a noisy line Or Ensure that the modem is plugged in powered on and securely connected to the PC The modem may be improperly set up R
72. odes program s and error message associated with the error condition EQUIPMENT RETURN PROCEDURE After you have exhausted the procedures described in this chapter have contacted your VAR for assistance and the problem still cannot be resolved it may be necessary in some cases to return the terminal to Compsee Compsee 40 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 COMPSEE provides service for its bar code products via a Service Center located at its manufacturing facilities in Mt Gilead North Carolina USA Several service plans are available for the products First all products carry a one year warranty from date of purchase A warranty extension program is available for the Apex II at a nominal annual fee Factory service is also available for out of warranty products on a time and material basis If you use this mode of service you will be advised of a not to exceed price for repair when you request a Return Material Authorization RMA for the product Contact your Compsee Representative for further information on these programs Products may be returned for repair by requesting a Return Material Authorization RMA from Compsee Customer Service 1 407 724 4321 When calling Compsee Customer Service you should be prepared with the following information e Model Number amp Serial Number e Complete Description of the Problem e Company Name Being Sent From e When and How it is being Sent e Return to Address e Contac
73. of data collection system e Read the chapters identified above for the Level 1 User e Additionally Part 1 Section 5 Building Your Application can be used to give you a basic understanding of how an application program is developed and used e Additional reference information is contained in Section 11 Data Communications Level 3 User If you will be designing and implementing application programs for use with the terminals your responsibilities require that you understand and use all of the information and procedures contained in this manual Parts 1 2 3 and 4 The manual s format is a modular one which allows it to be used as a reference tool if desired Depending on the task at hand it may not be necessary to read the contents from cover to cover Part 1 Section 5 Compsee Support contains instructions for using the Compsee Bulletin Board Service BBS The BBS is a very important tool provided for your use It will help to keep you updated on information that could affect the applications you will be developing and information important to the Apex II terminals We encourage you to use this free service as often as possible Compsee 8 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Table Of Contents PART 1 1 GENERAL INFORMATION 22222200 00 12 INFORMATION ENTRY oee denser eaeoe eepe i eneee s 13 Automatically by Scanning essseeeseseeeeeresesrstsrrrereresrsesrerrereesrere 13 Manually Through the Keypad
74. ogram the units upload and download data to and from the units and print the bar codes that you would like to scan The following is a list of these items e Communications Software the software necessary to interface the Apex II to a PC This software gives you the ability to upload and download data to and from the Apex II terminal add change delete or view data or a program in the scanner Any software communications package such as PROCOMM or CrossTalk will work The LinkMaster Utility Disk provided with each unit contains a simple upload download software program for your use e Apex II Program Generator software specifically designed for the Apex II Data Collection Terminals It is used to generate well structured modular and fully commented COMPSEE BASIC source code The Program Generator s remote data collection program contains a communications module which handles data transfers to and from the host and the Apex II terminal The Compsee part number for the Apex II Program Generator is located in Part 1 Section 12 Parts List It can be ordered directly through your Value Added Reseller VAR or you can obtain additional information and product brochures by dialing 407 724 4321 USING THIS MANUAL Within this manual the following typographic conventions will be followed e Bold type is used for headings throughout the manual In Part 1 and Part 3 bold type is also used for text that you are instructed to enter e lt
75. on program and all data files In addition loading a new operating system version will cause the Apex II to reboot Apex II STANDARD PARTS AND ACCESSORIES After unpacking the Apex II inspecting for damage and performing the Checkout procedure take time now to learn the functions of the various Apex II terminal component parts and accessories shown in Figure 1 2 CA 1 Power Key Turns unit on off Scan Key Activates the scanner on the Apex II LCD Display 4 lines by 16 characters per line The liquid crystal display provides the operator with visual feedback prompts and warning messages Scanner Port Standard DB 9 Connector Industry Standard scanner connection for wands lasers CCD s etc Accepts wand or laser digital emulation signals Integrated Laser Located on top of the Apex II Emits the light which scans the bar code Keypad This rubber like keypad enables the operator to respond to prompts and or to enter data manually Specific keys are color coded to provide quick key recognition RS 232 C Port A 10 pin communications port which allows the Apex II terminal to communicate with any computer host serial printer modem point of sale terminal and many other devices that support RS 232 C connections and ASCII data formats This port is used primarily for loading COMPSEE BASIC programs and data files into the terminal memory and for unloading any data collected by the Apex II See Section 10 for additional information o
76. ories The optional accessories listed below are available for your Apex II data collection terminal Modeld e RS 232 C interface Cable to DB 9 pin connector 1 included with the Apex II e RS 232 C interface Cable to DB 25 pin connector e RS 232 C interface Cable to QuickReader Keyboard Wedge e RS 232 C interface Cable to QuickLink Keyboard Wedge e Nickel Metal Hydride NIMH Battery pack e Battery Charger NIMH Wall Charger to Apex II For Internal Charging of Battery Compsee 61 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 e Adapter Cable for External Charging of the NIMH Battery Pack Requires Battery Charger e Apex II Manual 1 included with the Apex II See Section 12 for a complete list of all Apex II part numbers APEX II SCANNING VARIABLES Apex II with Detached Bar Code Scanner e Depression of lt SCAN gt powers the terminal and the scanner When the unit is powered the red light can be seen on the reader If desired the application program can be modified through the SYSPARMS statement to leave the wand turned on Refer to the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for details e The port for connecting the scanning unit is a DB 9 male connector see Section 10 for pin assignments e A 6 1 8 meter coiled cable is normally attached to the reader Apex II with Integrated Laser Reader Standard e Reads bar codes using a non contact moving beam 680 NM visible laser diode scanner e A laser diode emitt
77. r gt The files will be shown as they are being un compressed exploding message appears 2 Repeat step 1 for each program that has been downloaded 3 Use the following Apex II support programs as required LinkMaster e Apexprog exe e Apexdata exe e Apexfile exe Apex II Support Programs At this point the downloaded and un compressed files are available for use on your PC Instructions for using each of the Apex II Support Programs are located below e 6Apexfile exe Allows you to load data files to the Apex II from DOS You will first need to create your files with a text editor then use the Apexfile command to send the files to your Apex II Refer to Part 3 of this manual BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for file syntax information An example of parameter usage is provided in the following Apexfile instructions To use the Apexfile command 1 Connect the Apex II to the PC s serial port COM1 or COM2 2 Change to the directory where the Apexfile exe program resides 3 Type the Apexfile command in the following format Apexfile 2 EMPL DAT EMPL Load Data File and the ApexName will appear on the Apex II s LCD as the file is being loaded The format includes three optional parameters that must follow the Apexfile command in the order shown above The following table describes the parameters that can be used with Apexfile Commas or spaces may be used as delimiters Parameter Description 1 Comm
78. r the application program variable storage area and the storage area necessary for the data files The amount of available memory depends on the memory size of your terminal 128 KB 512 KB or 1 Meg OPERATING SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS The characteristics and functions of the operating system are common to all applications and operate independently of the customized application program This is due to the fact that these characteristics and functions are resident in the non alterable firmware known as the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Operating System To help make it easier for you to take advantage of enhancements to this operating system the Apex II terminal has been designed to support an upgrade method which allows a new operating system to be loaded into the terminal via the RS 232 C port The Apex II terminal is manufactured with the COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Operating System stored in FLASH Note Loading a new operating system into an Apex II terminal will cause the Apex II to reboot Rebooting erases your program and all of your data files Make sure that you have saved your data and have another copy of your program before rebooting the Apex II or loading a new operating system DETERMINING THE OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION It is important to know which operating system is resident in the Apex II terminal since Compsee is constantly improving its features Because the Apex II has been designed to have a FLASH based operating system our users
79. rammer s Manual for detailed information on the IMMEDIATE mode commands DIAGNOSTIC MODE COMMANDS The following commands can be used to debug a program while in the DIAGNOSTIC mode With the exception of the QUIT command these commands will always be used exclusively by an applications programmer Note You must press lt ENTER gt after each command is typed iable Goto line number xx and continue running program if line number is omitted will start at the next line G I variable Used to input a value to the user named variable It s purpose is to troubleshoot a value of a variable during parts of a program B line number Break stop execution of a running program on line xx Compsee 60 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Trace on off allows programmer to trace line numbers as they are executed in a program oo co OOo SO QUIT Quit out of DIAGNOSTIC mode into IMMEDIATE mode Single step through a program Executes next program line and returns to DIAGNOSTIC mode Note See Part 3 of this manual BASIC Interpreter Programmer s Manual for detailed information on the DIAGNOSTIC mode commands 9 MODEL DIFFERENCES AND TERMINAL SPECIFICATIONS This section explains the specific differences among the various models of the Apex II Terminals MODEL DESIGNATIONS Model designations for the Apex II data collection terminals are defined as follows co APII XX XX XX eae eed Optional Access
80. returned After all program lines are sent the PC program will send the SAVE command The PC program will then send the RUN command to the Apex II Compsee Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual If the Apex II is in the IMMEDIATE mode it will execute the NEW command The Apex II is receiving and storing the information being sent because it is preceded by a line number The Apex II will send the gt character from its COMM port because of the CRLF which follows each program line In Apex Trak we take advantage of this gt character by using it as an acknowledgment of receipt for each program line being sent The Apex II receives the SAVE command and moves the program from Ram to Flash The gt is then sent back to the PC The Apex II executes the program which it has just received The user can begin the process of collecting data 36 Part 1 Collect the Data You are now ready to use the Apex II terminal to collect data by scanning bar codes and or entering data via the Apex II s keypad Information and guidelines are provided in Part 2 Apex II Operations and Instruction Manual Download the Data to the PC The next step involves downloading the data collected in the Apex II terminal to your PC The Apexdata exe program allows you to download a data file from the Apex II to the PC To use the Apexdata command 1 Connect the Apex II to the PC s serial port COM1 or COM2 2 Change to the directory where the Ape
81. ry Pack The battery pack may be 1 Charged while installed in a POWERED OFF terminal preferred method or e Connect the battery charger to the RS 232 C Communications Port on the base of the Apex II e Plug the charger into an AC outlet and charge the battery pack for approximately 14 hours The pack should be charged at room temperature 2 Removed for charging purposes e Remove the battery pack from the Apex II e Connect the adapter cable to the end of the battery charger e Connect the battery pack to the adapter cable e Plug the charger into an AC outlet and charge the battery pack for approximately 14 hours The pack should be charged at room temperature Compsee 68 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Inserting a Battery Pack or AA Batteries To insert a new or recharged battery pack 1 Press the battery connector into the socket at the base of the battery compartment 2 Place the battery into the compartment 3 Replace the back cover and tighten the captive screw To insert AA batteries 1 Place the 4 AA batteries into the battery compartment following the diagram at the bottom of the compartment 2 Replace the back cover and tighten the captive screw Rotating Battery Packs Avoid interruptions in usage by keeping a spare fully charged battery pack on hand Alternate spare battery packs so that all receive uniform use On the shelf a battery pack loses approximately 1 1 of its charge per day Therefore
82. s Apexprog exe User List This option will present you with a complete listing of all BBS system users as opposed to one user s name Verify a User option Information is displayed in alphabetical order and includes user s name computer type last date called and location Files Menu When this option is selected you are presented with a menu of options This menu includes options for uploading and downloading programs The File Menu and the very important upload and download topics are discussed in detail later in this chapter Page Sysop This selection may be used to page the BBS SYSOP for assistance The response may vary depending on whether the current time is within the SYSOP s paging hours the page override toggle is on and whether the page bell is turned on or off Pages are effected if the time falls within the SYSOP s defined paging hours Verify User This option is used to locate a user s name for the purpose of sending a mail message Questionnaires This option will present you with a menu screen containing listings of questionnaires made available by the BBS SYSOP Simply select the desired questionnaire and respond to the questions Initial Welcome This option is used to re display the screens that were presented to the user during the log on process Command Help This option is used to activate the on line help feature Compsee 49 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 The File Menu option is listed on the B
83. saved and the following message is displayed on the first line MODE X Y where X denotes the baud rate and Y is the status The data mode is always set to binary Change the communications parameters on the Apex II s RS 232 port as follows 1 Press lt ALT gt lt X gt to view the current parameters A message similar to the one below will appear A table of mode settings and their characteristics is provided at the end of this MODE Command topic MODE 5 3 2 Ensure that the cursor is flat the cursor is shown next to the second number which means it must appear as an underscore not a rectangle Press lt ALT gt until the flat cursor appears 3 Change the first number by pressing lt X gt until the correct baud rate value appears on the screen The following is a chart of all the possible X values and the baud rate that they represent 0 300 baud 600 baud 1 200 baud 2 400 baud 4 800 baud 9 600 baud 19 200 baud 4 Change the second number by pressing lt Y gt until the desired number is reached Compsee 26 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 The following is a chart of all the possible Y values and what they represent 5 NOT hie 2i oe Status Byte Flow Data Parity Stop Bits Y Value Control Bits 8 OMAAINDNBHWNF CO RTS CTS XON XOFF RTS CTS XON XOFF RTS XON XOFF RTS CTS XON XOFF RTS CTS XON XOFF RTS CTS XON XOFF RTS CTS XON XOFF RTS CTS XON XOFF COCOMMAZACOCOCOOMMZAZ
84. seceeeecseeseeseeeeeens 67 BATTERY RECHARGING REPLACEMENT ccecessceseeseeeeeee 67 Proper Charging 4 1 fanecadosshanth Aric oa a E a tt 68 Removing the Battery Pack or AA Batteries eeeeeeeeeeeeneeees 68 Charging the Battery Pack eee ccesecseeeeceeeseceseceeesecneeseeneeneeaes 68 Inserting a Battery Pack or AA Batteries 69 Rotating Battery Packs 00 eeeeeeceseecceseceeeseceeeeceaeeeceaeceeeseeneeaes 69 12 PARTS LISTING iiss sss Rees Die be he Le ale E 70 ORDERING PROCEDURE ccccesssesecsseeeeesecneeeeeneeeeceaeeeeeaeeneeseens 70 Apex II Portable Data Collection Terminals 0 0 ce ceeeeeeeeeeeeee 70 Each Apex M Includes 0 0 aee a Eea 71 Apex II General ACCessories seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerereersrsrrrrererrersrereee 71 Apex II Battery Accessories seeeesseesessreeseesersersereessreersses 71 Apex II Communication Cables eseseeeeeeereeeeeeeerreerereerseereee 71 List Of Figures Figure 1 1 The Basic Steps ssesesesescesesesesceceseseevessseevesenersenenersees 13 Figure 1 2 Apex II Components cc esseesecsceesceeeeeceseeeeesecaeeseeneeeeeeaees 16 Figure 1 3 Apex II Label Locations 00 0 0 cei ceesesseeeecneeeeceseeeeeseeneeseenees 17 Figure 9 1 Decode Zone Apex II With Standard Integrated Laser Reader iiciin cutie inated cies aoe ascent 62 Figure 9 2 Decode Zone Apex II With Long Range Integrated Laser Reader 00 e eee eee csecesecseecseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
85. ss of sending information from a host PC in our example to the Apex II terminal The program loading guidelines provided in this topic use the Apexprog exe program and ApexTrak apx programs An explanation of the flow exchange between the PC and an Apex II terminal is provided below This explanation is only one of many methods of getting data programs to and from the Apex II It is not our intention to indicate that this method is the only correct way of performing this communication process In fact there are a number of ways of initiating communications with the Apex II and if written properly can be acceptable methods The Apexprog exe program allows you to load a program into an Apex II terminal from DOS QuickBASIC source code is provided with this program To use the Apexprog command 1 Connect the Apex II to the PC s serial port COM1 or COM2 2 Change to the directory where the Apexprog exe program resides 3 Type the Apexprog command in the following format Apexprog 1 K D O ApexTrak apx R S C L The format includes nine optional parameters that can follow the Apexprog command in any order Commas or spaces may be used as delimiters Compsee 34 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 The following list describes optional parameters that can be used with Apexprog Paramete Function r 1 Comm Port K Kill Apex II files D Set Apex II date time O Load new operating system file name Load Apex II
86. st end of file 71 Reserved 78 Reserved 79 Reserved 80 System Locked 81 Invalid Lock Unlock code 82 System Cannot be unlocked 83 Cannot edit program in FLASH 84 Program too big to save to FLASH 85 Program already in FLASH 86 No program to save The following are serious COMPSEE BASIC errors If any of these errors are encountered attempt to re run the program If that does not help reboot the Apex II reload the operating system and application program and re run the program Internal stack error Cursor in illegal location Internal load error Scan loop error Internal execution error Note If the error message persists it may be necessary to return the Apex II to Compsee for servicing See Chapter 5 for the equipment return procedure 8 KEYPAD COMMANDS The key combinations shown in this appendix are those most commonly used DIAGNOSTIC mode debug commands are also provided Compsee 59 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 IMMEDIATE MODE COMMANDS The following key combinations are used while in the IMMEDIATE mode Set communication parameters when lt X gt to change first number they are displayed lt Y gt to change second number Press lt ENTER gt to exit Clear buffers lt ALT gt lt Z gt Run the program lt ALT gt lt R gt Stop a running program puts terminal lt ALT gt lt C gt then lt ALT gt lt D gt in debug mode Note See Part 3 of this manual BASIC Interpreter Prog
87. stem or e Interact with the operating system via RS 232 C Terminals in the IMMEDIATE mode are those which e Are re booted e The word QUIT diagnostic command has been typed on an Apex II that was in DIAGNOSTIC mode This causes the Apex II to drop into this mode Compsee 22 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 To determine if the terminal is in this mode e Press lt ALT gt lt V gt This should produce a message on the Apex II s screen containing the operating system version or e Press lt ALT gt lt X gt This should produce the MODE setting control screen Either one of the above will indicate that a terminal is in the IMMEDIATE mode If the Apex II LCD doesn t display one of these messages then you may be in the RUN or DIAGNOSTIC modes RUN MODE The RUN mode is where the Apex II terminal is being controlled by the instructions of a BASIC program The operating system is ultimately controlling the terminal however all direction is coming from the user s program While in this mode keyboard inputs RS 232 C communications file manipulation and other functions are the responsibility of the BASIC program running within the terminal All input to the terminal keyboard scanner RS 232 C are accepted processed or ignored by the BASIC program For example if an inventory program is running on the Apex II terminal and the PC sends the DIR command through the RS 232 C port to the Apex II then the operating system will not receiv
88. t Name and Telephone Number e Purchase Order Number to be followed by a hard copy of the PO if not covered by warranty or a maintenance contract e If it has been determined that you are having scanning difficulties it is important that you also send copies of your bar codes and application programs If you are experiencing communications problems include information on the cable being used Also identify the communications software that is being used This information is necessary for us to complete an RMA for the product Note Compsee cannot accept materials that are returned without an RMA number This number will insure that the problem described is corrected and the unit is repaired and returned in a timely fashion Normal Repair time is 10 days from receipt of equipment The user pays for the shipping of the equipment to Compsee Compsee will pay for return shipping in the same manner that the equipment was shipped to Compsee SCANNING DIFFICULTIES The following information provides possible causes and remedies for common scanning problems Compsee 41 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 In general bar code symbol defects are often the cause of scanning difficulties or no reads Such defects can include smudged ink scratches or print defects in the bars or dirt or spills on the symbol If the symbol does not read after several attempts examine it If no visible defects are seen perform a test read on a known goo
89. tain the shipping container and all packaging materials These should be used when returning the unit for service or repairs If a new container is needed contact Compsee at 407 724 4321 Upon receipt immediately inspect the Apex II terminal for possible shipping damage In the unlikely event that anything is damaged or missing do the following Return the terminal to its original carton along with packing materials and put it aside Notify the delivering carrier of damages and request immediate inspection Contact the shipper Send a letter of intent to file a claim to the delivering carrier within 72 hours from the date of delivery Ng a ee Send a copy of the letter to the shipper Only the consignee the receiving party can file a claim against the carrier for concealed damages Unpack the Apex I terminal and all the accessories contained in the carton Assure that you have received all of the components listed on the following page Compsee 14 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 IDENTIFYING THE Apex II s COMPONENTS The main components of the units are l The Apex II terminal includes the following standard components e LCD Display 4 line by 16 characters per line e Alphanumeric Keypad RS 232 C interface cable to a 9 pin connector Four Alkaline Batteries One Diskette e LinkMaster Utility Disk containing Apex II Upload Download Software e Apex Trak Program Apex II Data Collection Terminal User s
90. ter Programmer s Manual or e to break into the IMMEDIATE mode from the keypad You can get into Diagnostic mode by e Pressing and holding lt ALT gt then pressing lt C gt When the gt ENTER prompt is displayed press and hold lt ALT gt then press lt D gt or e Having a STOP statement in the BASIC program or e Setting a BREAK point diagnostic mode in the program or e Running a BASIC program within the terminal that encounters an un trapped error This will cause the scanner to break into this mode Compsee 23 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 You can determine if the terminal is in this mode by e viewing the Apex II s display You should find the Apex II prompt gt on the second line Additionally when you press keys on the Apex II keypad the corresponding character will be displayed on the Apex II s screen The following diagram represents mode flow Each of these modes represent a different state of functionality Terminal rebooted Diagnostic Mode type Quit With a program loaded send RUN command via RS 232C or With a program loaded press lt ALT gt lt R gt lt ALT gt lt C gt and lt ALT gt lt D gt on keypad Encounter an error Encounter a STOP statement Encounter a Break Point DIAGNOSTIC lt 1 Enter QUIT from the keypad KEYBOARD COMMANDS While in IMMEDIATE mode COMPSEE BASIC recognizes certain ASCII characters received from the keyboard as speci
91. to send information such as a program an operating system update or a file from the host to the Apex II or from the Apex II to the host When an Apex II terminal is in IMMEDIATE mode it is very much like a PC waiting at the C gt prompt The C gt indicates that the application program is not running and the operating system is waiting for instructions While in this mode you can use your PC to send commands such as DIR CLS and BEEP to the Apex II When COMPSEE BASIC is in IMMEDIATE mode a statement can be entered and executed immediately or it can be entered and stored away for later execution in RUN mode The statement must be terminated by a carriage return ASCII code 13 and a linefeed ASCII code 10 If the statement is to be stored for later execution it must be preceded by a line number If no line number precedes the statement executes immediately For example the following statement executes immediately since the statement PRINT 5 is not preceded by a line number PRINT 5 3 gt In this case PRINT 5 is preceded by a line number Before this statement executes COMPSEE BASIC must be placed in RUN mode using the RUN command When the Apex II terminal is in RUN mode the application program stored in memory is executed 10 PRINT 5 gt RUN 5 gt It is necessary to be in IMMEDIATE mode to e Receive a BASIC program or e Change edit a BASIC program in Apex II memory via a PC or e Receive a new operating sy
92. to validate the file s name The KILL command used in conjunction with a wild card of three asterisks deletes every RAM data file in the Apex II Consult the Apex II Basic Interpreter Programmer s Manual for additional details Apex II PROGRAM GENERATOR An alternative to creating your own program s is to use the Apex II Program Generator The easy to use graphical interfaces of the Apex II Program Generator are designed to allow a user with minimal or no programming experience to create programs experienced programmers can develop and update programs quickly Communications capability is included with the software Refer to Section 12 for ordering information Section 5 Troubleshooting Procedures is provided as a reference chapter to assist you in determining the cause and remedy for potential problems that you may encounter while using the Apex II terminal Compsee 38 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 5 TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES Troubleshooting is the process of detecting and eliminating problems This chapter covers the procedures you will perform when attempting to identify isolate and correct problems that may occur Should problems persist after you have identified and worked through a procedure refer to the When to Contact your VAR topic on the following page To use the troubleshooting procedures provided below first locate the main topic that best describes the problem you are experiencing Then locate the spec
93. ur electronic Bulletin Board Service BBS that can be accessed through your PC and a modem It is a courtesy service for both our Resellers and their end users It was set up to aid our users in their application development You are welcome to download any program or files from this service Compsee does not support any of the programs on this service and we reserve the right to remove any program or routine without notice A few of the services available through the BBS include e The ability to leave messages and participate in roundtable discussions e Upload and download programs files utilities and public domain programs including assembly routines written by Compsee as they become available e View statistical information relevant to your computer s BBS configuration In addition many other useful services and programs are available as you will see when you begin to use the BBS The BBS defaults to 8 data bits 1 stop bit and no parity The BBS supports 300 to 28 800 V 32 V 42 MNPS5 baud rates and will automatically adjust to your PC s communications parameters Compsee 46 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 The phone number for access to the BBS is 910 439 1332 Navigation Each menu option will be preceded by a number or letter To select an option simply type the number or letter and press lt Enter gt In addition several prompts and option selection lines are available These items are described in the
94. various conferences which are used to provide information on various topics of interest to Compsee customers When this option is selected a file will be displayed which contains extensive data on various file transfer protocols to include XMODEM YMODEM ZMODEM ASCII and others This option is used to transfer programs files and data from the BBS to your PC The instructions for this option are provided later in this chapter Used to view the contents of a compressed file saved in a format such as ZIP ARC PAK or ZOO Enter file name and press lt Enter gt to view the file Terminates and disconnects you from the current BBS session Allows you to view and change the currently defined level of help Available choices include Novice complete menus full help R egular option line only little help E xpert no help This option is used to activate the on line help feature 51 Part 1 Using the Upload Option The upload option is used to send programs files and data from your PC to the BBS The upload procedure follows 1 Log on to the BBS 2 Access the Files Menu as previously described 3 Select U upload You will be prompted to enter the transfer protocol that was specified by you during first time BBS access 4 The system then prompts you to enter the filename The format is FILENAME EXT 5 Then you will be prompted to specify the area to which the file should be saved If necessary type
95. xdata exe program resides 3 Type the Apexdata command in the following format Apexdata 1 K R EMPL I The format includes six optional parameters that can follow the Apexdata command in any order Commas or spaces may be used as delimiters The following list describes optional parameters that can be used with Apexdata Parameter Function 1 Comm Port K Kill Apex II Data file R Send Run Command to Apex II file name Data File Name Append to Existing File m Send IMMEDIATE MODE Command An example of parameter usage is provided in the following Apexdata instructions Apexdata K EMPL R This Apexdata command tells the system to K Kill the data file in the Apex H after download file name The file name is EMPL R Issue the RUN command to the Apex II terminal If a file exists on the PC append the downloaded data to it PREPARE THE Apex II FOR A PROGRAM LOAD As described earlier in this chapter problems will be encountered with your newly built programs if old programs and data files are not deleted prior to loading the new program Instructions are provided below Compsee 37 Apex 0698 Part 1 User s Manual Part 1 Note The procedures described below involve rebooting the scanner Rebooting will permanently delete your programs However all data files may be recovered in most cases via the ARECOVER program If your data files were not saved you can use ARECOVER to try to restore them I
96. y Of Terms WHAT TO READ This manual has been written to accommodate a number of purposes Not all users need read the document from cover to cover Note The following information has been provided as a quick reference to assist you in determining exactly what it is you need to understand and the procedures you must learn in order to effectively and efficiently use the Apex II terminal and this manual Level 1 User If you are a person who will be using the Apex II to collect bar coded data you should read the following chapters and topics in the order specified below You should NOT proceed to the next topic or chapter until you feel comfortable with the information being discussed e PART 1 User s Manual e Section 1 Introduction should be read carefully It introduces you to the Apex II s features and capabilities and provides the information you need to unpack and operate the terminals e Section 2 Operating Systems Modes is a very important one for you While using the terminals you will continually interact with the three modes of operation It is important that you know the commands and the functions that can be performed within each Thoroughly read and understand the concepts and procedures explained in this chapter e Section 3 COMPSEE BASIC Interpreter Operating System discusses the operating system program and provides instructions on loading a new operating system You will probably not be responsible for installing

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