New Mobile Data Acquisition Software from TEC-IT

Press Release

TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH (www.tec-it.com) released the new version of its data acquisition software for mobile devices.

The new release of TWedgeCE simplifies mobile data acquisition significantly. This software wedge provides application-independent data collection and data logging features for mobile devices. Once installed and configured, TWedgeCE captures data from arbitrary devices like bar code scanners, readers, RF-ID transponders and ID tags, electronic meters and sensors, balances, scales, weights, gauges and many more.

TWedgeCE forwards the captured device data automatically to target applications by simulating keystrokes. This mobile software wedge extends standard applications like Office Mobile, browser based front-ends and any other system with flexible and affordable data acquisition functionality. There is no need to modify the target applications.

Guenter Kriegl, the CEO of TEC-IT, emphasizes the strengths of TWedgeCE: „The new release of the mobile software wedge offers better interface support. The integration of native Bluetooth and the TCP/UDP server capabilities ensure reliable device connectivity. Besides simple configuration and easy deployment that is exactly what our customers are looking for.“

The new version of TWedgeCE offers unmatched communication capabilities. It collects data from serial (RS232, RS485), USB, TCP/IP, UDP and Bluetooth devices. Network connections may be operated in server- or in client mode. In addition, virtual COM port drivers are no longer required for Bluetooth devices.

On demand, TWedgeCE can be configured to restore lost connections automatically, to send I-am-alive packets, to suppress duplicate data packets and to modify the captured data by applying transformation rules. Numerous automation functions are available: TWedgeCE selects the required input field in the target application automatically, activates or starts applications on demand or simulate function keys based on the captured data.

Programming knowledge is not required for using this software tool. TWedgeCE is installed and configured easily. The complete configuration of TWedgeCE is stored in plain text files; this makes deployment to a large number of mobile devices extremely simple.

The current version of this keyboard software wedge can be downloaded from TEC-IT's Website. TWedgeCE is available for Microsoft Windows CE, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile and Symbol PPT 8800. Other platforms are available on request.

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New: Videos For Data Acquisition Software

TEC-IT announces the availability of the first product videos for the data acquisition software TWedge.

What is TWedge?
TWedge extends arbitrary databases and applications with flexible real-time data collection. Modifications of the target systems are not required! Use this software wedge with RS232, serial, Bluetooth, USB and TCP/IP interfaces. Captured data is forwarded immediately to databases, applications and ERP systems like SAP R/3. Choose between direct ODBC database access, file access or keystroke simulation (keyboard wedge).

In the first video the usage of the software wedge TWedge is explained.

The second video shows how to use the scripting features of TWedge. The scripting features enable you to modify the device data, to communicate with devices in a bi-directional way, to configure hot-key and timer-based functions and to perform basic user-interactions.

More information about TEC-IT products you will find on our youtube channel TECITSoftware.

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Serial (RS232), TCP/IP, USB and Bluetooth Software Wedge

The service release V2.4 of TWedge (software wedge, keyboard wedge, Bluetooth wedge, TCP wedge) is now available for download. In version 2.4 an issue with failed TCP/IP and Bluetooth connections was fixed.

Check it out! Download Software Wedge.

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Software for Mobile Data Acquisition

TEC-IT released the new version of TWedgeCE - a software wedge for mobile devices.

What is TWedgeCE?

TWedgeCE captures data from external devices and translates them into virtual keystrokes. It acts as middleware between arbitrary data acquisition devices (like scales, gauges, barcode scanners, RFID controllers, etc.) and software applications like Pocket Excel or Mobile Internet Explorer. TWedgeCE operates in the background of the mobile device and can be configured easily via simple configuration files.

Highlights:

Version 2.0 is able to work with devices via the following interfaces:

• Serial / RS232
• Bluetooth (native Bluetooth, no virtual COM ports required!)
• TCP/IP (client mode)
• TCP(IP (server mode)
• UDP (client mode)

TWedgeCE is able to check device connectivity (I-Am-Alive), it recovers lost connections automatically (this is especially of interest for WLAN or Bluetooth connections) and finally introduces an anti-jitter feature.

Availability:

The mobile software wedge is available for the following platforms:

• Pocket PC 2003 SE (Second Edition)
• Windows CE 5 / Embedded CE 6 (ARMV4I)
• Windows Mobile 5
• Windows Mobile 6

Related Software:

Also check out the universal data acquisition software TWedge for Windows operating systems. TWedge offers device connectivity, keystroke simulation, direct database access, direct file access and complete scripting features!

Free Download:

Mobile Software Wedge TWedgeCE, Universal Software Wedge TWedge (for Microsoft Windows)

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TWedge V2.3 Release Candidate

We are announcing the new version of the data acquisition software / software wedge TWedge.
TWedge is smart middleware which connects to arbitrary devices via RS232 (COM port), Bluetooth (native!) and TCP/IP. The received data is either simulated as keystrokes, stored in a file or saved directly into an ODBC database.

Improvements

• 0-byte awareness
  Previous versions clipped received or transmitted data after an 0x00 in the data stream.
• HEX data display
  Incoming data can be displayed as HEX string for better debugging
• Silent mode
  Device data display can now be turned off

Release Candidate Download

Download data acquisition software TWedge (MSI setup file for Windows). 

Technorati Tags: Database Wedge,software wedge,keyboard wedge,daq,aidc,barcode wedge,BlueTooth Wedge,Data Collection Software,Data Capture Software,TWedge,TEC-IT

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How to Suppress Duplicate Barcodes or RFID Tags with the Software Wedge?

The Problem:

Maybe you are familiar with this scenario: You are connecting a barcode scanner, an electronic scale or an RFID reader to your computer. When capturing data it turns out that the device is sending identical values multiple times. This happens if the user scans a barcode repeatedly, a scale sends the weight of the item periodically or if a RFID reader reports the value of a RFID tag at regular intervals.

The Solution:

TWedge provides a very flexible and elegant solution to this problem. The software wedge can be customized to suppress multiple, identical values easily: Just save the last data value received from the device and compare it with the current one. Forward the device data to target application only if these values are not identical. Here is the script:

The Software Wedge Script:

OnStart() is the perfect place to initialize the last received data value (sLastData) with a null value. OnStart is executed when device communication is initialized (e.g. the serial port was opened):

// This script is executed whenever communication is started.
// Use it to perform one-time initializations like opening a file or a database connection.
// message informaing the user what this sample is good for
MessageBox("This script demonstrates how to suppress duplicate data packets from a device.\n\nSometimes devices like barcode scanners or RFID controllers are sending the same data packet multiple times. This very useful feature just forwards unique values to the target application.");
sLastData = null;   // initialize with a value which is never received from a device 
nDuplicates = 0;    // set the number of duplicates to 0

OnData() is executed whenever device data is received. Compare the current data value (stored in DATA) with the last one (sLastData). In this example keystrokes are only simulated if these two values are not identical:

// Check if the current device data is identical to the last one
if (DATA != sLastData) 
{
  SendKeyStrokes(DATA);   // not identical: simulate keystrokes
  sLastData = DATA;       // set the last value to the current one
  nDuplicates = 0;        // increment the duplicate counter (for info only)
}
else
{
  nDuplicates++;          // duplicate received, just display an info-message
  NotifyInfo ("Duplicate data received. The value " + DATA + " was suppressed " + nDuplicates + " times");
}

More information as well as the script explained in this post will be available soon on www.tec-it.com.

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TWedge Hotfix

This hotfix solves a problem when saving the settings of the software wedge into a TWI file.

The format of the TWI files was changed. This ensures that the settings can be saved even if special characters (like STX, ETX, EOT, DC1, DC2, ...) are part of the script. TWI files from previous version can be loaded without problems!

Download the hotfix here: Software Wedge for Windows

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Scan & Store: Scan Barcodes directly into any Database

Are you looking for a basic inventory solution or you are just interested in registering items based on their barcode?

The data acquisition software TWedge provides an elegant solution - TWedge captures data from arbitrary devices (like a serial or USB barcode scanner) and can be configured to store captured data directly into any ODBC database.

Additional database software is NOT required! 

Smart Software Wedge

Configuration of TWedge is extremely flexible: The data acquisition functionality can be configured to meet your exact requirements. TWedge is able to perform read/write access to files, databases and may also simulate keystrokes.

To implement the required functionality you need:

• A serial (or USB) barcode scanner. The used COM port as well as the interface parameters are important (most likely it will be 9600,N,8,1 - meaning 9600 bits per second, no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit)
• TWedge (download)

Determine Bluetooth COM Port

For this example I use a Bluetooth bar code scanner (Metrologic Voyager). The scanner provides scanned data via COM3. This serial interface was adjusted manually in the services dialog of the available Bluetooth Devices on Microsoft Windows:

Configure TWedge Interface

Now start TWedge and configure the interface parameters. Adjust COM3 as displayed in the Bluetooth dialog above:

Test Scanner Communication

The next step is to test the interface configuration: just start communication in TWedge. Whenever you scan a barcode the number should appear in the protocol window:

Provide a Database

Now its time to connect the barcode scanner with a database. For demonstration purposes we use an empty database which was pre-installed by the setup application of TWedge:  A so-called System DSN which is named TWedge_Sample.

On 32 bit Windows you can check out the installed DSN by opening the Data Sources (ODBC) administration (Windows Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Set up data sources (ODBC)). If you are running Vista x64 then execute the command c:\windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe to view this dialog:

On Vista systems the database is usually stored in the folder C:\ProgramData\TEC-IT\TWedge\2.1\Examples\Database. When you open this database with Microsoft Access you see two tables. The example below stores captured data in the initial empty table tbl_Scans:

Configure Software Wedge

In order to configure TWedge open the script editor and select the predefined template which is named Database - Write. Double click it and close the script editor. This script reads data from the configured interface, determines the current date and time and enters the scanned data in the database mentioned above.

Data Acquisition

Start device communication again and scan some barcodes:

Finished! Barcodes are stored in Database

That's all! TWedge connects to the barcode scanner via the configured COM3. It waits for scans - and whenever a barcode was scanned it enters the barcode number into the database. And this is the result– the scanned barcodes are stored with some additional information like date/time and hostname:

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Barcode and RFID Wedge / Software Wedge: TWedge V2.1

As of today TEC-IT released a new version of the data acquisition software TWedge.

TWedge is a smart data collection tool which is in use as barcode wedge, software wedge, keyboard wedge, serial wedge, scale wedge, etc. Just choose the name you prefer :-).
V2.1 introduces:

• User Input Functionality: The new function 'InputBox' allows a user to enter data in real-time (validation is optional).
• Clipboard Access Functions: The clipboard functions "CopyToClipboard" and "GetFromClipboard" were introduced. These functions are useful for larger amounts of data, where a simulation of keystrokes is not feasible or too slow.
• Multiple Control Strings: Now it is possible to send a combination of key constants and modifier keys using the '+' character' (e.g.: "{CTRL+f}" or "{CTRL+SHIFT+h}"). Multiple modifier keys can be now processed through multiple control string.
• Improved User Interface (GUI): Toolbar and application icons were redesigned.

Product descriptions and downloads are available here: Software Wedge TWedge V2.1.

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