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CommWatch allows label design software to monitor a serial port for input from devices like scales and scanners. It must be configured for the specific device, including settings like the port, baud rate, and data filtering. CommWatch uses a .cmw configuration file to store settings and can be added as a data field to print serial port input on labels. Fields can also be linked to CommWatch to use its input as a database key for lookups.

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Omar Perez
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31 views

hh99DD HTM

CommWatch allows label design software to monitor a serial port for input from devices like scales and scanners. It must be configured for the specific device, including settings like the port, baud rate, and data filtering. CommWatch uses a .cmw configuration file to store settings and can be added as a data field to print serial port input on labels. Fields can also be linked to CommWatch to use its input as a database key for lookups.

Uploaded by

Omar Perez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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About CommWatch

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About CommWatch
This is a GOLD edition feature.
CommWatch allows the label design software to monitor a serial port on your PC for input. Data can be
read from a scale or a scanner, and can then be included on printed labels using the CommWatch data
source.
You must configure CommWatch to receive data from the particular device you have connected to the
serial port. The configuration defines the communication settings (port, baud rate, etc.) as well as the
termination, flow control, filter and polling options specific to your device.
The configuration data for each device is stored in a CommWatch (.cmw) file that must be specified
when using the CommWatch data source in a label.
Tip: The label design software installation includes many preconfigured .cmw files for the makes and
models of devices in common use. These files can be edited to match your configuration.

CommWatch Settings
To access this dialog box: On the Options menu, click Configuration. Click the CommWatch tab and
then click New or select a file and click Edit.
This is a GOLD edition feature.
CommWatch allows the label design software to monitor a serial port on your PC for input. Set the
following CommWatch settings as appropriate for your device.
Device: The type of device being configured. If there is no device specific to your equipment, choose
the Generic Device. If you are connecting only a sensor to the port, select the Carrier Detect option.
Port: The port on your computer to which the device is connected.
Baud_Rate, Data_Bits, Parity, Stop Bits, Flow Control: Standard serial communication settings that
must match the settings for your external device exactly.
Filter: Allows the program to accept a long string from the device, which may contain extraneous
information specific to the device. The filter specifies the start and stop position of the meaningful data
for the program. For example, if your scale sends additional formatting commands that you do not want,
the filter allows you to select only the useful information from the string.
Terminator: A signal to CommWatch to start printing. CommWatch monitors a serial port for input until
it receives a Terminator; then it immediately prints the label. The Terminator may specify a length of
time after data has been received, or it may be a particular character included within the data itself.
Terminator options include:

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About CommWatch

Time Out: The length of time (in seconds) after data has been received.

CR or CR/LF: Carriage return, or a carriage return and line feed character.

Data Length: A required number of characters that must be received.

Character String: A value you specify.

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Polling: If your device requires a signal from the PC before it sends its data, select the polling check
box, and type the polling string to be sent to the device. Do not include plus signs or spaces unless they
are part of the actual string itself. Enter the string exactly as it should be sent to the device. Required
ASCII control codes (e.g., "CHR(29)") should appear directly in the string with no separation from the
other characters. For example: @#$chr(29)%&^.

Configuring CommWatch
This is a GOLD edition feature.
CommWatch allows the label design software to monitor a serial port on your PC for input. You must
configure CommWatch prior to using it as a data source in your label.
Tip: The label design software installation includes many preconfigured .cmw files for the makes and
models of devices in common use. These files can be edited to match your configuration.

To configure CommWatch for use with your PC and external device


1. On the Options menu, click Configuration, and then click the CommWatch tab.
A list of preconfigured CommWatch files appears.
2. Scroll through the list and select the device that matches what you have installed.
If there are no matches, select Generic Device.cmw.
3. Click Edit. The settings dialog box appears for the selected device.
4. Set the CommWatch settings as appropriate for your device.
5. If you have a device connected, adjust the settings appropriately.
6. Click OK to save your changes, and then click OK to return to the design window.
You can now proceed to add a CommWatch field to your label.

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Adding a CommWatch Field


This is a GOLD edition feature.
CommWatch allows the label design software to monitor a serial port on your PC for input.
Note: You must configure CommWatch prior to using it as a data source in your label.
1. Add a text or bar code field by clicking the appropriate button on the Drawtools Bar.
2. In the Data Source box, click CommWatch.
3. In the String Length box, type the maximum number of characters that may be entered for this
field. Additional characters will not be included.
4. In the CommWatch Files box, click the CommWatch file that you previously configured.
5. If you want to allow the user to change this data for each label printed (vs. allowing only the
CommWatch field to change), select the Repeat Prompts check box.
6. Click OK, and place the field in a blank area of the label.
Note: The CommWatch data source can be assigned to only one field on a label.

Linking Database Fields to CommWatch


This is a GOLD edition feature.
CommWatch allows the label design software to monitor a serial port on your PC for input.
You can link database fields in your label to CommWatch in order to use the input value as the key field
data for the database lookup. For example, you can scan part numbers for use as the key field data for
retrieving database records.

To use a CommWatch input value as your key field data


1. Configure CommWatch for your input device.
2. Add a text field to the label and select CommWatch as the data source.
3. On the Options tab, enter a Field Name for the text field.
4. Add another text field which is the key field from the database, and in the Key Field Data box,
click Linked.
5. In the Key Expression box, click the name of the CommWatch field.

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6. Click OK, and place the field in a blank area of the label.
7. Continue creating the rest of your label, adding other database fields as desired.
When you print the label, the label design software looks to the PC's serial port for its data. Data
received from the external device (e.g., scanner) serves as the key field data, and results in the
database field(s) being populated by the value from the appropriate record.

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