Barcode Programming allows you to program the reader by decoding Data Matrix symbols encoded with configuration commands. You can open Barcode Programming by clicking the Data Matrix icon between the flash icon and help icon.
A barcode group is a collection of two or more compound Data Matrix symbols, like those shown below, in the Barcode Programming interface.
The names of barcode groups can be edited.
All Data Matrix symbols in a compound symbol (with the exception of Restore Default) should end with a <A> or <Z> command in the data. Barcode programming will choose <A> when Save Settings to Flash is unchecked, meaning the reader will keep its original settings when power is cycled. Barcode programming will choose <Z> when Save Settings to Flash is checked, meaning the reader will have the settings from the programming code when power is cycled.
When a programming barcode is read successfully, WebLink will show a green good read border around the image and around the code. The output data will say Programming Barcode, and WebLink’s parameters will update to the command setting encoded in the programming barcode.
The settings groups are Configuration Database, Match String Database, Replace Character, and Format Output. Format Output has separate programming codes. The other settings groups can be found with the barcode group captions Differences from Default or Favorites.
Differences from Default encodes all the settings necessary to configure the reader after it has been defaulted. Differences from Default provides a list of active settings groups. Advanced Settings also provides a list of commands that can be edited. Not all commands found in Advanced Settings can be found in this list. The settings that are excluded are the ones associated with the settings groups Configuration Database, Replace Character, and Format Output. For example, the Sort Database command can be found in Advanced Settings, but it doesn't appear in the Advanced Settings list in this window because it’s a part of the settings group Configuration Database. When Configuration Database is enabled, you don't see current settings commands like Exposure, Gain, or Focus in the Advanced Settings list or in the programming code itself because they are already stored in the Configuration Database command. Changing a value in Advanced Settings to a default value will make the field disappear from view, because it’s no longer different from default. Encoded data in the programming code always skips default values, so it’s best to start with a Restore Defaults code before reading the Differences from Default code.
Favorites takes all settings that have been marked as favorites in Advanced Settings, as well as all active settings groups, and encodes them in the programming code. Commands related to a settings group such as Sort Database (Configuration Database) will not appear in Advanced Settings even if marked as favorites. Checkboxes next to the names of the settings groups allow you to control whether or not that settings group is encoded in programming codes. Favorites does not skip commands that are included. Favorites skips commands that are not marked as favorites unless they’re in the settings group that is enabled. For example, if Configuration Database is enabled, then all commands associated with Configuration Database (Active Indexes and Sort Database) will be included. If Configuration Database is disabled, then only the commands marked as favorites will be included. If Configuration Database is enabled, current settings commands such as Exposure, Gain, and Focus in Advanced Settings are not shown in the Advanced Settings list or the programming code itself, even when marked as a favorite. This is because they’re already stored in the Configuration Database <K255> command. If you have un-marked Configuration Database as a favorite, those commands will reappear.
Restore Defaults is a single programming code with the <Ard> or <Zrd> command. This command will make the reader's default the current settings. The code will be programmed with <Ard> when Save Settings to Flash is unchecked. The code will be programmed with <Zrd> when Save Settings to Flash is checked. If you read this programming code, it saves the default settings to flash. If you don't want Restore Defaults to be printed when you click the printer icon, you can uncheck Add Default Settings Barcode to remove it.
Save Settings to Flash is a checkbox that determines whether an <A> or a <Z> appears at the end of the encoded data. An <A> is encoded when it’s unchecked, and a <Z> is encoded when it's checked. Save Settings to Flash also determines whether Restore Defaults uses <Ard> or <Zrd>. <Ard> is encoded when it's unchecked, and <Zrd> is encoded when it's checked.
Check Ignore Network Settings to avoid accidentally changing the reader's IP address or name by reading a programming code containing a different IP address.
Important: If reader settings are not saved, do not change the reader's IP address. The IP address can be changed after reader settings are saved.
When you click the print button, all the barcode groups are shown together. A window is opened that prompts you to print. The tab closes when you print. Restore Defaults and Differences from Default appear first, followed by other barcode groups. When there’s more than one programming code in a barcode group, arrows are added to the barcode group to indicate the correct decode direction.