OPL9714

The OPL9714 is a wireless 1D terminal scanner, and is one of Opticon's most popular products. It runs a low-level firmware, typically called the "OS", and on top of that runs an application, which essentially drives the behavior of the device and exposes a simple user interface on the OPL9714's LCD screen. The application can be customized in order to change the behavior of the OPL9714, using Opticon's C-Library Kit and the Toshiba C Compiler. This allows end-users to create custom applications modeled around their barcode-driven processes, making the OPL9714 a simple and flexible solution for many business needs.

The OPL9714 is uniquely different from the other members of the OPL97xx family because it is a three button GPS capable terminal with a backlit display and a cabled lithium ion battery. It is most closley related to the OPL9715.

The OPL9714 is used in combination with a cradle (typically CRD9723) in order to charge the OPL9714's removable battery, transfer data serially to a host (using plain ASCII, XModem, or Opticon's NetO), and load new OS revisions and applications (using Opticon's Appload). Other types of cradles exist, including a dialup modem cradle and a GSM cradle, which OPL9714 applications can utilize with Opticon's TCP/IP Library.

1 Setup 1.1 Setting up the Host 1.1.1 Collect Materials 1.1.2 Assembly 1.2 Software Installation 1.2.1 Installing USB Drivers 1.2.2 Installing NetO32 1.3 Configuring NetO32 1.4 Starting the Upload from your OPL9714 2 FAQ 3 Loading Firmware 3.1 Software Installation 3.1.1 Installing Appload 3.2 Configuring Appload 3.2.1 Select COM Port 3.2.2 Set IrDA type 3.3 Download Firmware 3.4 Loading the Firmware 3.4.1 OPL9714 Firmware Setup 3.4.2 Load the Firmware 4 Diagnostics 4.1 Accessing the Diagnostics 4.2 Running the Diagnostics 4.3 GPS Diagnostics 5 Downloads 5.1 Documents 5.2 Software 5.3 Drivers

Setup

Follow these directions for first time setup, software installation, and configuration for transferring data from the OPL9714.

Setting up the Host

Collect Materials

• You will need the following items.
• A windows computer
• An OPL9714
• A CRD9723 cradle
• A 32-00601-00 power adapter for the CRD9723
• Either a USB-A to USB-B cable or an Opticon RS232 cable

Assembly

1. Connect the 32-00606-00 power adapter to a power outlet.
2. Connect the 32-00606-00 power adapter to the CRD9723.
3. Connect the communication cable to the CRD9723.
4. Connect the communication cable to the computer.

• If using USB then you can plug the USB cable in to any active USB port on the computer.
• If using RS232 your computer must have a DB9 (nine pin RS232) connector on the back.

Software Installation

In this section we step through installing both Opticon's USB drivers and NetO32.

Installing USB Drivers

If you are using RS232 please skip to Installing NetO32. Opticon's USB drivers need to be installed for the cradle to be properly via USB.

1. Download the USB drivers from the Driver Downloads section.
2. Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
3. Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
4. Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Installing NetO32

The OPL9714 uses a piece of windows software called NetO32 to save the data file to the computer. To install NetO32 follow the steps below.

1. Download NetO32 from the Software Downloads section.
2. Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
3. Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
4. Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Configuring NetO32

• Select 'Tools' > 'Options'
  • Choose RS232 from the menu at left
    • Choose the COM port for your cradle (COM 1 if using RS232, check Device Manager for USB ['Start' > 'Run' > 'devmgmt.msc' > click 'OK' and look under the 'Ports' section])
    • Change Baudrate to 115200
    • Change IrDA Device to 'None'
  • Choose 'Download' from the menu at left
    • Click the 'browse' folder icon at right to change the destination folder of the file once you have downloaded it.
    • Choose between 'Append', 'Overwrite', and 'Unique' to determine what happens when you download a data file but a file by that same name is already present.
  • Click 'OK'
• Select 'File' > 'Save As'
  • Choose a file name appropriate for you (such as your name or your company's name) to save the settings you just changed.
  • Now every time after this that you open NetO32 you must select 'File' > 'Open' and choose this file to load your settings.
• Select 'Protocol' > 'Start'

NetO32 is now in 'Polling' mode. Note that you should see the yellow light on the cradle blinking steadily. This means it will sit here indefinitely sending queries to the cradle and waiting for the right response to start a download. Multiple downloads can all be done without ever closing NetO32. When you are done using NetO32 simply select 'Protocol' > 'Stop' and NetO32 will discontinue polling mode. The application can then be closed.

Starting the Upload from your OPL9714

After NetO32 is in Polling mode (see above) follow these steps. Note that you should see the yellow light on the cradle blinking steadily. This means it will sit here indefinitely sending queries to the cradle and waiting for the right response to start a download. Multiple downloads can all be done without ever closing NetO32. When you are done using NetO32 simply select 'Protocol' > 'Stop' and NetO32 will discontinue polling mode. The application can then be closed.

• For the purposes of the inital test, please scan some barcodes if you have not yet done so.
• Select 'Send Data' from the main menu (use the arrow keys to move up and down and trigger (center key) to select an option.
• The screen that appears should say 'Transmit Data via Cradle NETO Protocol -PRESS ANY KEY-'. Press any key.
• The unit will change to say 'Sending File Waiting NetO Connection ...'. At this point simply place the unit on the cradle.
• The OPL9714 will emit a series of short beeps and display 'File Was Sent. Delete Data File?'. Choose either YES or NO by pressing the appropriate arrow button below the display.
• The NetO32 status log will indicate that the data was downloaded.
• Your Data File is now on the PC in the folder specified previously.

FAQ

What are the differences between the GPS Demo application and the regular demo application?

• Add latitude and longitude to records.
• GPS bread crumbs added to file with adjustable periodicity. Breadcrumbs are only added when application is waiting for a key press and not during the real-time test. Breadcrumb periodicity is elapsed time and time when powered off is not included.
• Add GPS menu items under System menu
  • GPS test shows real time latitude and longitude
  • GPS bread crumb period setting, including off
• The data scrolling display to toggles between showing the date/time or the GPS coordinates. The BS key is used to toggle the display. Breadcrumbs are also displayed with an “Index” rather than a “Total”.
• The records are saved sequentially in time when GPS is present, rather than sorted alphabetically by bar code label data.
• One other less obvious change actually relates to how the barcode scanner treats quantities. If you navigate to System->Quantity and then select "No QTY", it will not only cease prompting you for a quantity but it will also stop incrementing the quantity if you scan two of the same barcode. This is an important change if you want to be able to scan the same barcode at two different locations and keep the location data for both locations rather than overwriting the old location data and incrementing the quantity.

What programming languages can I use to develop embedded applications for the OPL9714?

The C programming language only.

What functions are available to me when developing my embedded application?

If you've installed the C-Library Kit, you should see a directory for OPL's. This contains various libraries, sample code, and demonstration applications to assist you in your development. The lib.h file in this directory contains all of the functions available to you when developing your embedded OPL9714 application. Also, if you go to the Start menu, under Program Files -> Opticon C-Library Kit, you'll see a programming help file (.chm). This contains descriptions of all the functions, return values, code demonstrating the use of the functions, and many other things. Beyond that, the standard ANSI C functions are available to you, so long as you include the proper header files in your source code.

How do I compile my application?

You have to use the Toshiba C Compiler, which you can purchase from Opticon. Versions 1.10 and later run on all Windows OS flavors. After that has been installed (preferably before installing the C-Library Kit, as the installer for the C-Library Kit prompts you for the root path of your Toshiba C Compiler installation in order to generate correct path information for build scripts) check out some of the example applications in the OPL folder where you installed the C-Library Kit. There you'll find build scripts (m.bat or mdemo.bat) that you can use and edit for your application, which you then run from the command prompt to build your application.

How do I load my application onto the OPL9714?

With Opticon's Appload program. You will need to enter the OS-level system menu on the device (press Up, Trigger, and Down buttons simultaneously), choose the menu option to download an application, and place the device into the cradle. Then connect the cradle to your PC, install the drivers for the cradle through Windows Driver Wizard (if the drivers are not already installed; optionally, you can find the cradle drivers on our FTP site) and launch Appload. Choose the appropriate COM port that your cradle is connected to, and then you can drag the application binary onto the Appload window to begin the install process.

How do I load a new OS (firmware) onto the OPL9714?

Same steps as loading an application; see the FAQ item directly above this one.

Is there a debugger to debug my application?

Unfortunately, no. Debugging is typically done through creating a log file within your application, printing information to the OPL9714's LCD screen, or some other method. Typically, applications are not of the size and complexity that this would be overly problematic.

How do I get the saved scan data off the OPL9714?

There are a variety of methods. You can either send the data as plain ASCII text over the cradle's COM port, which would require a program or RS232 Monitor on the PC to read the incoming data and somehow save it. You can use the XModem protocol over the cradle's COM port. You can use Opticon's NetO file-transfer protocol to transfer the scan data as a flat file (typically .txt, .csv, or .dat; however you create and format the file in your embedded application), which requires NetO32 to be run on the PC. You can also beam the data wirelessly with IrDA, or build the OPL9714's TCP/IP Library into your application to transfer the data as an email, over FTP, or some other Internet protocol. There are functions and libraries available for each of these options in the C-Library Kit.

Typically, the most popular and simple option is to use NetO.

How do I delete saved scan data (files) on the OPL9714?

See the remove() function.

How can I use Universal Menu Book commands to change the behavior of my OPL?

In code, you can use the systemsetting() function to set certain settings by default. For example, if you wanted to transmit UPC-E as UPC-A, you could put the following function call in your application:

systemsetting("6P");

Loading Firmware

Follow the directions above for Setting up the Host.

Software Installation

Follow the Directions above for Installing USB Drivers

Installing Appload

1. Appload is Opticon's multi-purpose utility for installing firmware onto devices such as the OPL9714. To install Appload follow the steps below.
2. Download Appload from the Downloads Software Section.
3. Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
4. Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
5. Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Configuring Appload

This section outlines how to configure Appload to communicate with the OPL9714. Appload is a PC application used to load firmware on most of Opticon's products.

Select COM Port

1. Select Settings
2. Select Port
3. Select the appropriate Port number so that it will match the COM port of either the USB or RS232 interface (whichever was used).
   1. If you are using an RS232 interface the physical serial port is usually assigned COM1 by Windows so if you are using an RS232 interface this is likely your COM port number.
   2. If you are using a USB interface then select the COM port will usually be a number between 2 and 250. The cradle should identify itself as an 'Opticon OPL/CRD USB Serial Port'.

Set IrDA type

1. Select Settings
2. Select IrDA Adapter/cradle type
3. Select Not Installed

Download Firmware

You will need to download and unzip the appropriate firmware file for the action you wish to perform from the Software Downloads section.

Loading the Firmware

OPL9714 Firmware Setup

• The OPL9714 must be placed into a download mode for firmware to install correctly. To do this follow the steps below.
• Enter the OS-level system menu on the device (press Up, Trigger, and Down buttons simultaneously)
• Choose the menu option to download an application
• Return the device to the cradle

Load the Firmware

• Drag the OS file onto Appload to program the OS or choose 'File' > 'Download' and navigate to the OS firmware file.
• After the OS is finished programming, you can immediately drag the Application file onto Appload or choose 'File' > 'Download' and navigate to the OS firmware file to load the application.
• After the application finishes, the unit will beep annoyingly.
• Scan the serial number label on the box your device came in to stop the beeping and program the id.

Diagnostics

The OPL-9714 has some simple diagnostic tools built into the OS. You can use these diagnostics to rule out the hardware of the OPL as a potential source of problems. The diagnostics include tests for the clock, the display, the scan laser, and the keys on the device.

Accessing the Diagnostics

To access the diagnostics on the OPL-9714, simultaneously press all three keys under the display. Doing this takes you to the "System Menu." You may have to try this a couple of times if it doesn't work the first time.

From the System Menu, press the down key until the "Diagnostics" option is selected. Press the center key to enter the diagnostics.

Running the Diagnostics

1. The first diagnostic self-test can help pinpoint display issues. The screen will black out from top to bottom and then clear from left to right.
2. The second test just displays the amount of installed memory.
3. The third diagnostic test lets you check that the OPL-9714's internal clock is functioning properly. You can also set the time if it looks incorrect.
4. The Keyboard test lets you test each individual key on your keyboard to make sure that they are all functioning.
5. The Scanner test allows you to trigger the scanner and scan barcodes with the OPL-9714. You can use this test to determine whether there is a problem with the scan engine. To test the scan engine, press the trigger key and scan some barcodes. When the scanner has decoded the barcode you'll see the data on the screen. If there is no laser line when you press the center button on this screen, then there is likely to be a problem with the scan engine itself.

When you have run through all these diagnostics the device automatically returns to the System Menu.

GPS Diagnostics

The system menu for the OPL-9714 also contains some GPS testing tools. Use the down key to navigate to "GPS info." The GPS Info tool will allow you to look directly at the GPS data for the OPL-9714. If you have just powered the device on, it may take several minutes for the device to acquire a proper GPS fix.

To directly check the GPS coordinates, press the down key until you reach Page 13. When the OPL-9714 has a GPS fix you will see the two coordinates at the bottom become non-zero.

Downloads

Notice: The downloading and use of any Opticon software implies consent with Opticon's End User License Agreement.

Documents

Document	Description	Version	Download
Universal Menu Book	The Universal Menu Book is a document containing instructions and configuration options for the majority of Opticon's products. Support of the commands in this manual is product specific. A must read for System Integrators. In effect this is the User Manual for all of Opticon's products that do not have a User Manual of their own and a supplement to all others.	December 2009	Download

Software

Software	Description	Version	Download
Appload	Appload Is Opticon's multi-purpose firmware update utility. It is a Windows PC application that provides the capability to download firmware onto most Opticon products. It also contains a versatile terminal interface that allows serial communication to any serial port connected to the PC (be it RS232, USB-VCP or Bluetooth-SPP). Opticon products can be queried and configured in this manner.	EAGV0186 1.86	Download
NetO32	A PC application implementing the NetO protocol to transfer files from the PC to the terminal barcode reader.	EGF2001H (2.1.0.0)	Download
Firmware: OS	This is the latest Operating System firmware file for the OPL9714.		Download
Firmware: Application - USA Standard Demo	Our Standard Demo Application. This has been recently updated and is now full featured.		Download
Firmware: Application - Viewer	This small application simply allows the scanning of any supported barcode with the ability to view the encoded data on the screen. Changing options via Universal Menu Book commands is supported.		Download
Firmware: Application - Eraser	This tiny application serves simply as a utility to remove any data files that may exist on a unit.		Download
C-Library Kit	The C-Library Kit is Opticon's SDK for developing custom firmware for many of Opticon's product families (OPN, OPL97xx, OPL98xx, OPH, etc.). Included find sample code, full application samples, library files, documentation, compilers for certain products and more. This download is a zipped collection of the installer and associated files. The Toshiba C Compiler requires a separate download which is located here	2.38	Download
Toshiba C Compiler	The Toshiba C Compiler is used to develop firmware for some of our barcodes scanners including the OPL97xx family	Version 1.10	Download

Drivers

Drivers	Description	Version	Download
All-In-One PC Drivers	USB-to-serial drivers installer package for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows XP (32-bit only), Vista 7, 8, 8.1 and 10. This package contains four drivers. The first and fourth drivers are for the Opticon cradles. The second driver is for the OPN200x scanners along with many other Opticon products. The third driver is an ATEN driver for a popular RS232 <-> USB-VCP adapter. You can choose any of the drivers to install on the first screen of the installer program. *Note: Opticon USB Drivers may not install or operate correctly if FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) is enabled on your host computer*	1.615	Download

Categories: OPL  | GPS  | Data Collector