ASP Portable Barcode Reader
5
The Keypad
The keyboard of the Portable Barcode Reader contains two shift keys; a
GOLD
key and a
SILVER
key. These shift keys are used to access the gold and silver
characters shown on each key.
The shift keys operate differently to a computer keyboard or typewriter - they
are pressed once and released and then the required key is pressed, after which
the keyboard returns to the normal unshifted state.
If a shift key is mistakenly pressed, pressing it a second time will return the
keypad to the normal unshifted state. If the wrong shift key is pressed, pressing
the other one will fix the problem.
The
FUNC
function key has two uses - when pressed while a
?
prompt is shown
on the screen, it brings up the
Function:
prompt, where a two digit function
number can be entered, allowing access to the functions described starting on
page 10 of this manual.
If the
FUNC
key is pressed during normal keypad entry, or pressed again when
the
Function:
prompt is being displayed as above, an
ASCII code:
prompt is displayed. At this prompt, an ASCII character number can be entered
- a table on page 18 gives a list of ASCII character codes. This facility allows
any character to be entered from the keypad.
Data Handling
Barcode Scans
When a barcode is successfully scanned, it is both transmitted from the unit and
stored into memory. It is this unique characteristic that allows the unit to
function as a normal fixed barcode reader when connected to the Home Base.
Transmitted data is terminated as instructed by
Function 03
. Stored data is
terminated by an end-of-data marker in memory.
Keyboard Entries
When a keyboard entry is concluded by pressing the
ENTER
key, that data is
stored in memory, terminated by an end of data marker, but
NOT
normally
transmitted. This can be changed with the "Keypress Echo" option of
Function 03
.
