6800 Remote Comms Suppl

Supplement to MP65415�2Remote Communications

January 2003 1 of 10 Supplement to MP65415�2

Remote CommunicationsIntroductionThis document has been produced as a supplement to the Linx 6800 Operating Manual (part numberMP65415�2). It describes how to set up the Linx 6800 printer in order to facilitate remotecommunications, using the Data Input Protocol or the Linx PC Communications Manager, and howto switch the printer to Quiet Mode. This document should be read in conjunction with the Linx 6800Operating Manual.

ContentsIntroduction..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Contents .......................................................................................................................................................... 1

Setting up a Remote Device............................................................................................................................ 1

To Connect a Remote Device ...................................................................................................................... 1

Changing the Communications Settings......................................................................................................... 2

Using the Data Input Protocol...................................................................................................................... 2

Configuring the Data Input Protocol............................................................................................................ 3

Creating a Remote Field ................................................................................................................................. 9

Using the Linx PC Communications Manager ............................................................................................. 10

Enabling Quiet Mode.................................................................................................................................... 10

Setting up a Remote DeviceRead this section in conjunction with the 6800 Operating Manual, Appendix A, �Installationand Setup�.

To Connect a Remote DeviceYou must connect the remote device to the Linx 6800 printer using an RS232 interface cable. To dothis:

1. Connect the RS232 interface cable between the remote device and the printer rear panel RS232connector.

CAUTION: EMC performance may be compromised by the use of unsuitable devices andcables. Use only Linx approved accessories.



Changing the Communications SettingsRead this section in conjunction with the 6800 Operating Manual, Chapter 8, �ChangingSystem Setup�.

This section describes how to change the communications settings in order to use the Data InputProtocol for remote communications. These settings include the current protocol and the Data InputProtocol set up.

If you are using the Linx PC Communications Manager for remote communications, refer to thesection �Using the Linx PC Communications Manager� for further information.

Using the Data Input ProtocolThe Linx 6800 printer uses the Data Input Protocol to facilitate the receipt of incoming data from aremote device. Remote devices must be RS232-compatible; device types such as bar code scanners,programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and PCs can be used.

The Data Input Protocol provides these two facilities:

● Selecting a Message

● Setting Remote Fields

Prerequisities● A Linx-supplied configuration code

● Software Version 1.05, or above

● User Level C, or above

● An RS232 interface cable

Setting Up the Data Input ProtocolTo set up the Data Input Protocol, do the following:

● Connect the remote device. See �Setting the Remote Device� for details

● Configure the communications settings. See �Configuring the Data Input Protocol� for details

● Create the remote field (s). See the Linx 6800 Operating Manual, �Creating a Remote Field� inChapter 4, �Creating and Editing Messages�. Refer also to the section in this document�Creating a Remote Field�

● Read the section �Guidelines and Recommendations�



Configuring the Data Input ProtocolTo enable remote communications to use the Data Input Protocol, you must configure thecommunications settings. To do this, use the Comms > Protocol function on the Setup menu:

Figure 1. Setup Menu (Protocol Menu Item)

To Set Up the Data Input ProtocolAt the Main Window, press the Menu [ ] key.

1. Select Setup > Comms > Protocol. The RS232 Port Protocol Setup dialog box is displayed.

2. At the Current Protocol setting, select the Data Input Protocol from the drop-down list. TheSetup button is now enabled:

Figure 2. RS232 Port Protocol Setup Dialog Box

NOTES:

1. In order to use the Linx Sync Downloading Software, the Linx PC CommunicationsManager, or any other Linx associated product, the Current Protocol setting must be set toRPC Protocol.

2. Following any system downloading procedure, the Current Protocol setting must bechanged back to Data Input Protocol in order to continue to use the Data Input Protocolfor remote communications.



3. Select the Setup button at the RS232 Port Protocol Setup dialog box (see Figure 2). The DataInput Protocol dialog box is displayed:

Figure 3. Data Input Protocol Dialog Box

4. Use the Data Input Protocol dialog box to specify which function you wish the incoming datato carry out:

Select this option… to…

Message Selection enable the printer to use the incoming data to select a message, forexample, if the incoming data is ‘ABC’, then the printer attempts toselect a message with the name ‘ABC’. Note that if there is not amatching message name stored in the printer then the data is ignored.

Go to Step 6.

Remote Fields enable the printer to use the incoming data to set one or more remotefields. Incoming data fills the remote field(s) by splitting the data overthe remote fields, according to the field name(s) and the number ofcharacters specified.

When you select this option, the Remote Field settings are enabled:

Figure 4. Remote Field OptionGo to Step 5.



5. When you select the Remote Field option at the Data Input Protocol dialog box (see Step 4),you use the following settings to set up the names of the fields to which the incoming data is tobe downloaded, together with the relevant number of characters:

NOTE: The names of the fields specified here must match the names of the fields createdusing the Insert > Remote Field function in the Message Editor.

Use this… to…

Field Name view and select the field names that you are setting up. To select (highlight) a

field name, press the Up [ ] and Down [ ] arrow keys.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The order in which the field names are listed heredictates the order that the incoming data is distributed.

Chars view the number of characters set for the field name.

NOTES:

1. If the number of incoming characters exceeds the number specified,the additional characters are ignored.

2. If there are insufficient incoming characters, extra spaces are added tofill the field.

Add open the Add/Edit Field dialog box:

Figure 5. Adding a Field NameAt Field Name, type in the name of the field.IMPORTANT NOTE: The Field Name specified here must match the fieldname (Source Name) specified when you create the remote fields in theMessage Editor (Insert > Remote Field).

At No. Chars, specify the number of characters from the incoming data to bedownloaded into that field.

Press the OK [ ] key to save the settings and close the dialog box.

Up move the highlighted field name up one entry.

Down move the highlighted field name down one entry.

Edit open the Add/Edit Field dialog where you can amend an existing (highlighted)field name and number of characters.

Delete delete the highlighted field name.



6. Select the Advanced button at the Data Input Protocol dialog box (see Figures 3 & 4). TheAdvanced Settings dialog box is displayed:

Figure 6. Advanced Settings Dialog Box

Note that the example above shows the default setting values.

7. Use the Advanced Settings dialog box to view and to change the format of the incoming dataand the baud rate.

For further information about the format of the incoming data, see the section below �ProtocolReference Information�.

8. At the Advanced Settings dialog box, use the following settings to configure the format of theincoming data to suit your requirements:

Use this… to…

Preamble 1/2 specify the preamble byte character/s. At Preamble 1 and/or Preamble 2, select acharacter from the drop-down list, or, for any other character, you can type in thedecimal value. Default values are blank. See the section ‘Protocol ReferenceInformation’ below for further details.

Note: If you are using Unicode transmission, ensure that the Preamble value doesnot conflict with any of the Unicode character set values. If necessary, change thevalue to avoid any conflict.

Postamble 1/2 specify the postamble byte character/s. At Postamble 1 and/or Postamble 2,select a character from the drop-down list, or, for any other character, you cantype in the decimal value. Default values are CR and LF. See the section ‘ProtocolReference Information’ below for further details.

Note: If you are using Unicode transmission, ensure that the Postamble valuedoes not conflict with any of the Unicode character set values. If necessary,change the value to avoid any conflict.

Baud Rate drop down the list and select a baud rate. Default is 9600. Maximum speed is115200.

Ack enable an ACK response after receiving incoming data (whether successful ornot). Default is disabled—no responses are sent to any messages received.

Unicode Input enable receipt of data in Unicode (two-byte character) format. This is the datasegment of the incoming data packet only, excluding preamble, postamble andACK bytes. Default is disabled—ASCII format. See also Notes below.



Use this… to…

Notes:

1. Unicode characters must be transmitted in Big Endian Format.

2. Make sure that the Unicode character values are not the same as either thePreamble value or the Postamble value.

Debug Information assist in the diagnosis of any connection problems.Last field indicates the last communication error encountered by the protocol.Last Data field shows the last 64 bytes received by the protocol; the most recentitem is shown first.

Defaults reset all the Advanced Settings dialog box settings to their default values (asshown in Figure 6).

9. Press the OK [ ] key to accept the changes and exit the Advanced Settings dialog box, OR,press the Cancel [ ] key to discard the changes and exit the Advanced Settings dialog box. TheData Input Protocol dialog box is redisplayed.

10. Press the OK [ ] key to save the settings and close the dialog box. The RS232 Port ProtocolSetup dialog box is redisplayed.

11. Press the OK [ ] key to save the settings and close the dialog box. The Installation dialog boxis displayed:

Figure 7. Installation Dialog Box

12. Press the OK [ ] key to acknowledge the message. The Main Window is redisplayed.

13. Restart the printer. To do this, shut down and power off the printer, then switch the printer backon again.



Protocol Reference InformationIncoming Data FormatThe format of the incoming data that can be received by the 6800 printer is as follows:

Figure 8. Incoming Data Packet Format

Default Data FormatThe default format of the data received by the 6800 printer using the Data Input Protocol has nopreamble bytes, and the postamble bytes are a CR/LF pair:

Figure 9. Default 6800 Data Packet Format

Example Format

Where the remote device uses STX/ETX to define a packet boundary, the 6800 printer can be set upto accept data in the following format:

Figure 10. Example Data Packet Format

Guidelines and RecommendationsSystem PerformanceThe system performance varies in terms of the timing, according to the status of the printer, and thefunction being performed.

• When selecting a message, the complexity of the message being selected, and the number ofmessages stored on the printer must also be considered.

• When setting remote fields, the size and number of fields must also be considered.

Contact your Linx distributor if you require further details.

NOTE: To ensure optimum system performance during remote communication transmission,always switch the printer into Quiet Mode before starting to transmit data.



Remote Field Data

When printing remote field data, the device supplying the data must be synchronized with the printerto ensure that the data contained in a remote field is correct for the particular product on which itprints.

For time-critical applications, you need some form of triggering device that provides the remotedevice with a signal per print cycle. (Triggering requirements are determined by your production lineapplication). In addition, the remote device must be capable of handling external triggers. Note that itmay be necessary to use additional hardware, such as an I/O card. Contact your local Linx distributorif you need further assistance.

When using a trigger as a method of synchronization, it is important to consider the point at whichthe remote field data is transferred during the print cycle. If the data is transferred after the start ofprint, or between the end of the previous print and the start of the next print, then the data will beseen in the next print.

NOTE: If data is still being transferred at the point at which the print starts, then data will be lost,and an error �3.07 Over Speed (Asynchronous Data)� will occur.

Creating a Remote FieldRead the following notes in conjunction with the 6800 Operating Manual, �Creating a RemoteField� in Chapter 4, �Creating and Editing Messages�.

NOTES:

1. Data can only be received by the printer once it has been programmed with a Linx-suppliedconfiguration code, and either the Data Input Protocol, or the Linx PC CommunicationsManager has been set up:

● If you are using the Linx PC Communications Manager, install the Linx PCCommunications Manager onto a remote computer linked to the printer, and implementthe 6800 printer interface component. Refer to the supplied CD (FA75024) for set upinstructions and documentation

OR

● If you are using the Data Input Protocol, configure the printer to use the Data InputProtocol. Refer to the section in this document �Using the Data Input Protocol� for setup instructions

2. For optimum system performance during remote communication transmission, you shouldenable Quiet Mode before you start transmitting data. See the section in this document�Enabling Quiet Mode� for further details.



Using the Linx PC Communications ManagerIf you are using the Linx PC Communications Manager for remote communications, do thefollowing:

● Refer to the supplied Linx PC Communications Manager CD (FA75024), for installation, set upand usage instructions

● Ensure that the �Current Protocol� setting on the Linx 6800 printer is set to the default protocol,RPC Protocol. To check this setting, use the Setup > Comms > Protocol function

Enabling Quiet ModeTo ensure optimum download speed while the printer is receiving incoming remote data, the printermust be switched to Quiet Mode. Note that printing continues when the printer is in Quiet Mode,however, the user interface is disabled.

To enable Quiet Mode:

1. At the Main Window, press the Menu [ ] key.

2. Select Setup > Comms > Quiet Mode. The Quiet Mode Enabled dialog box is displayed:

Figure 11. Quiet Mode Enable Dialog Box

This dialog box remains displayed while the printer is in Quiet Mode.

3. To exit from Quiet Mode and enable the user interface, enter your password and press the OK[ ] key. Note that the password you enter must be the Level C password, or higher.

The Main Window is redisplayed.

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6800 Remote Comms Suppl