Balluff BIS M-370-000-A02, Manual, Page: 72 / 198

CONFIGURATION METHODS
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4.2.2 Software Upgrades Using
Balluff Dashboard™
The
Balluff Dashboard™ Configuration Tool also allows for processor unit software
upgrades.
NOTE
For the BIS M-62_ Processor units, software upgrades/downgrades can only
be made within the same major release family (i.e. 2.xx <> 2.xy). Do not
attempt software upgrades/downgrades between major releases (i.e. 2.xx <>
3.xx).
See the Balluff Dashboard™ User's Manual for more details on software upgrades.
4.2.3 Creating and Using RFID Macros with C-
Macro Builder™
What are RFID Command Macros?
RFID Command Macros are a powerful feature of Balluff BIS M-62_ Processor units. Macros
are simple programs that direct a processor unit to execute multiple pre-programmed
instructions.
Because macros reside within the processor unit’s internal memory, they can be
programmed to instruct the processor unit to automatically read and/or write a specified set
of data to an RFID tag without the processor unit ever having to receive a command from the
host. In fact, the processor units do not even require a connection to a host in order to
execute macros.
Each macro can contain up to 255 bytes of data and each supported processor unit can
store up to eight macros at a time. Though they are stored locally on the processor unit,
macros are also backed up in the Gateway’s flash memory as well.
Why use macros?
The power of macros is in distributed intelligence, the reduction in network bus traffic and the
ability to accelerate routine decision making at the point of data collection.
What can macros do?
In addition to the automated reading and writing of data, macro capabilities include:

The ability to write time stamps to RFID tags

The ability to filter command responses to only those of interest to the host (such as
when an error occurs or when a tag has arrived in the RF field)

The ability to harness powerful logic and triggering capabilities such as; read, write,
start/stop continuous read, data compare, branch, transmit custom string, and set
outputs.