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Techniques Avancees CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack User Manual

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CODESOFT
S e n t i n e l
P r i n t P a c k
T M
Welcome to the printing module for CODESOFT Sentinel Print
Pack, the No. 1 Windows
. Dis-
based computer program for label printing
™-
cover the simplest and most powerful way to meet your labeling
needs.
CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack combines the user friendliness of a
graphical interface with the high-powered features of a sophisticated
software program.
Copyright
1997 TECHNIQUES AVANCEES
©
®

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Summary of Contents for Techniques Avancees CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack

  • Page 1 ™- cover the simplest and most powerful way to meet your labeling needs. CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack combines the user friendliness of a graphical interface with the high-powered features of a sophisticated software program. Copyright 1997 TECHNIQUES AVANCEES © ®...
  • Page 2 The information in this documentation manual is not contractual in nature. It is subject to modification without notice. The software described in this manual is supplied under a user license. Its use, duplication, or reproduction on any media whatsoever, except as provided for under the terms of the license, is not authorized.
  • Page 3 Table of Contents Introduction ..........Chapter 1 Sentinel Print Mode........Chapter 2 Sentinel File Mode........Chapter 3 Error Files ............. Chapter 4 CODESOFT Sentinel Interface..... Chapter 5 Appendix 1 — Sentinel Print Mode ..... Chapter 6 Appendix 2 — Sentinel File Mode ....Chapter 7...
  • Page 4 Introduction Introduction Definition of Concepts How Sentinel Print Pack Works...
  • Page 5 Introduction CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack enables you to print labels created using CODESOFT on non-Windows platforms. The application runs under Windows 95 or NT. CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack consists of a data capture module (Sentinel) and a print module (CODESOFT Run Time). Sentinel Print Pack intercepts the print requests generated by your applications and re-routes them to CODESOFT Run Time, which does the final printing.
  • Page 6 Delimiters: a character or strings of characters that frame the data (name and value of variables) in a Print Document. How Sentinel Print Pack Works CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack operates as a background task under Windows Using the Sentinels, the program monitors either print queues or directories that contain print documents generated by your application.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Print Sentinel Print Sentinel Structure of the Print Document Syntax for Direct Assignment Syntax Assigned by Table Characteristics of the Print Document Header Label Referred To Delimiters Same Variables Combined Assignment Label Recognition Printing Via Network TCP/IP Protocol...

  • Page 8: Print Sentinel

    Print Sentinel The Print document printed out from your application is added to the print queue of a Sentinel printer. Figure 1 below illustrates how the Print sentinel works. Ap plic a tio ns Wind o w s Station Printe r server Unix, Printe r AS400,...

  • Page 9: Structure Of The Print Document

    Note 2: The print documents will be processed and then erased. Documents that do not conform to the analytical method will be destroyed automatically. Structure of the Print Document The Print document must feature a specific structure, which is detailed below.

  • Page 10: Syntax Assigned By Table

    variable, the assignment operator, and the value of the variable. It must end with an end-of assignment delimiter (see example below). Delimiters: a character or strings of characters whose purpose is to frame the data (variable name and values) in a Print document. Example : [File header] [start assignment)

  • Page 11: Characteristics Of The Print Document

    Each line corresponds to a label: [file header] [start header] [variable1] [separator] [variableN] [end header] [start table] [value1] [separator] [valueN] [end table] [start table] [value1] [separator] [valueN] [end table] [start table] [value1] [separator] [valueN] [end of table] The variables referred to will be either CODESOFT control variables or the label’s Import variables.

  • Page 12: Delimiters

    Delimiters The CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack interface gives you a simple and user-friendly way to define all the Delimiters needed to analyze print documents, as well as the name of the CODESOFT control variables that will make up your label (see Interface, Chapter 5). Note As soon as you assign a character (or string of characters) to a de- limiter, it becomes a control character and can be used only as such.

  • Page 13: Combined Assignment

    Combined Assignment If the Same Variables option is checked, direct assignment and table as- signment can be combined. Combined assignments set the value of one or more label variables. To do this, the values requiring setting are defined through direct assignment; the others are specified using table assignment (see example below): Example: >var1 = val1<...
  • Page 14 ASCII File Sentinel ASCII File Sentinel File Structure...
  • Page 15 ASCII File Sentinel The Print document is copied from your application into a directory. Fig- ure 2 below illustrates how the ASCII file sentinel works. Ap p lic a tio ns Wind o w s Station Unix, C :\ Printer AS400 , Se ntine l D a t a...

  • Page 16: File Structure

    Note 2: The print documents will be processed, then erased. Docu- ments that do not conform to the method of analysis will be de- stroyed automatically. We therefore recommend specifying a directory that will be dedicated en- tirely to the ASCII file sentinel for CODESOFT. File Structure ASCII files can consist either of direct and/or table assignments (see Chapter 2).
  • Page 17 Data Source Sentinel Data Source Sentinel Structure of the Print Document...
  • Page 18 Data Source Sentinel The print document is copied from your application into a directory. Figure 3 below illustrates how the Data source sentinel works. Ap p lic a tio ns Wind o w s Station Unix, C :\ Printer AS400 , Se ntine l D a t a D a t a...
  • Page 19 Attention: Certain kinds of data sources are not associated with a specific file- name, as they are reserved for paths and file name extensions. For those data sources, the Data source sentinel will analyze all exten- sion files specified in the directory. Note: Print documents will be processed and then erased.
  • Page 20 The variable separator is set when the data source is created. You will note that on line 4, the “FirstName” variable is not filled in. If the Same Variables option is on, the field will have the same value as the pre- vious label.
  • Page 21 Error Files Error Files Structure of Error Files Error Messages...
  • Page 22 Error Files When you start up the CODESOFT Sentinel application, an error file (ERROR.LOG) is automatically created in its installation directory. Error files monitor whether or not a copy of Sentinel (print or file mode) is working as it should. Error files cannot exceed 50 kb.
  • Page 23 Sample Error File: Error.log [Printer 1] 08/20/97 10:29:29=Error in the Print Document: 1 in line 2: End direct assignment not found 08/20/97 10:38:53=Label: identhp.lab Error in the Print Document: 2 in line 19: Line break character at start line not found 08/20/97 11:10:58=Label: ident0.lab Error in the Print Document: 3 in line 15: Unable to load the label in CODESOFT...

  • Page 24: Error Messages

    Error Messages Error messages inform users of the nature and location of errors so that they can correct them. They consist of one of the messages described below, preceded by the date and time. Unable to connect to CODESOFT CODESOFT RUNTIME has not been installed or has been shut down again after being started up by Sentinel.
  • Page 25 Unable to continue the analysis (no more delimiters) Sentinel cannot find any more Delimiters in the Print Document being analyzed. End direct assignment not found Sentinel could not find the end direct assignment delimiter. End array header not found Sentinel could not find the end array header delimiter. End array data not found Sentinel could not find the end array delimiter.
  • Page 26 Two identical delimiters specified Sentinel has detected at least two identical Delimiters. All Delimiters specified in Sentinel must be different. Communication error with CODESOFT Check to make sure that CODESOFT has been loaded into memory. Printing error The Print Document sent to the Sentinel printer is damaged.
  • Page 27 CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack Interface The CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack Interface Print Sentinel Mode The Direct Assignment Tab Section The Table Assignment Tab Section The Control Variables Tab Section The Designated Printers Tab Section Default Values Area The Other Tab Section Print Sentinel Area Print Documents Area ASCII File Sentinel Mode...
  • Page 28 The CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack In- terface The CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack interface enables you to create and configure sentinels of your own choice (Print sentinel, ASCII file sentinel, or Data source sentinel). One area of the two-part interface is set aside for program execution com- mands.

  • Page 29: Print Sentinel Mode

    Print Sentinel Mode If you use the Print sentinel, you will have to supply the name of a Sentinel Print Pack Printer to which print documents will be routed. The Sentinel Print Pack Printer can either be selected from a list of printers already created or added to the printer list.
  • Page 30 Ä The new Print sentinel appears in the main screen list. § To eliminate a Print sentinel from the Sentinels window, select it, then click Remove. An analysis method and print settings must then be associated with the Print sentinel. The following sections discuss the different tab sections used to configure your print jobs.

  • Page 31: The Direct Assignment Tab Section

    The Direct Assignment Tab Section This tab section specifies the Delimiters that will be used in the print documents to define direct assignments. Start of assignment: this field uses a character or character string to define the delimiter identifying each start of direct assignment. End of assignment: this field uses a character or character string to define the delimiter identifying each end of direct assignment.

  • Page 32: The Table Assignment Tab Section

    The Table Assignment Tab Section The table assignment tab section specifies the Delimiters that will be used in print documents to define table assignments. Start of header: this field uses a character or character string to define the delimiter for the start table header. End of header: this field uses a character or string of characters to define the delimiter for the end table header.
  • Page 33 The Control Variables Tab Section This tab section defines the name of the CODESOFT control variables (identifiers), which will appear in Print Documents. Label file name: this field specifies the name of the Label Filename control variable, which allows a new label to be loaded into CODESOFT while it is running.

  • Page 34: The Designated Printers Tab Section

    Printer initialization: this field specifies the name of the Initialization Sequence control variable. The Designated Printers Tab Section This tab section can be used to specify the printer default settings (number of copies, etc.) and to select the output printer by default on which you want to print your labels.
  • Page 35 Default Values Area Copies of Each Label: If the label contains a counter, the counter’s value will be constant on each copy (except for counters featuring the ISO option). § Indicate here the number of identical copies you want made for each la- bel.

  • Page 36: The Other Tab Section

    The Other Tab Section The Other tab section establishes the general settings that are shared by all sentinels (Print sentinel, ASCII file sentinel or Data source sentinel). Print Sentinel Area File Header: this field defines the file header that appears at the beginning of all Print Documents for the Print sentinel.
  • Page 37 Print Documents Area Kind of conversion: this option allows you to select the type of conversion you want to apply to the data transmitted. Continue after error: If an error occurs during the analysis or routing of data to CODESOFT, the file being analyzed will be eliminated, while Sentinel Print Pack remains active and ready for other analyses.

  • Page 38: Ascii File Sentinel Mode

    ASCII File Sentinel Mode In ASCII file sentinel mode, you must define an ASCII file sentinel name and specify the directory to be analyzed. § Click on the ASCII file button of the Add area. Ä A window with two print areas displays. Name: input the name of the ASCII file sentinel of your choice.
  • Page 39 The options for direct assignment tab section and table assignment tab section are not available in ASCII file sentinel mode. The Control Variables Tab Section This tab section is where you specify the name of the CODESOFT control variables (see Print Sentinel Chapter p. 33), which can be used in the print document. The Re-routed Printers Tab Section This tab section specifies printing variables and selects the printer on which you want to print out your labels (see Print Sentinel Chapter p.
  • Page 40 Ä A window opens listing the data sources entered under Print Server. From the Data Sources dialog box, you can: w Select an already created data source (Confirm button), or w Add or modify a data source (Add/Modify button) Ä This will bring up the 32-bit ODBC management dialog box.

  • Page 41: Managing Print Documents

    Once the data source is created or changed, Sentinel Print Pack again dis- plays the Data Sources window. § Select the data source of your choice, and confirm. To delete a File sentinel from the Sentinels window, select the latter, then click Delete.
  • Page 42 § To eliminate print files, select them, then strike the “Delete” key on your keyboard. Note: Your files can be eliminated both while they are in the queue and while they are being processed..
  • Page 43 Appendices APPENDIX 1 Print Sentinel Table Assignments Combined Assignment APPENDIX 2 ASCII File Sentinel...
  • Page 44 APPENDIX 1 Print Sentinel This appendix presents and discusses a sample print file that includes both direct and table assignments. Direct assignment labels are defined one after another. Header 1 SENTINEL Name of the label to be printed/Specify at the beginning of 2>:LAB_NAME = identity.lab:<...

  • Page 45: Table Assignments

    40>:City=Auch:< 41>:STOP:< If the Same Variables option is active, the label will retain the values of the previous label fields, except for “City,” which assume the value Auch. Table Assignments Table separators set from the interface: Start header = [: End header = :] Start table = {: End table = :}...
  • Page 46 Combined Assignment The “Address,” ”City,” ”State,” and ”Zip Code” fields are assigned by table. The “Code,” “Name,” and ”FirstName” fields are assigned directly. If the Same Variables option is ac- tive, the “Code,” “Name” and 50 >:Code=1909:< “FirstName” fields of the labels 51 >:Name=Mason:<...
  • Page 47 73 %%Code = 7777** 74 %%Name = DACLIN** 75 %%FirstName = paul** 76 %%Address = Madison Avenue** 77 %%City = New York** 78 %%State = NY** 79 %%Zip = 55230** 80 %%STOP** Note Numbering the lines is strictly optional. The use of numbers simply makes it easier to organize your document.
  • Page 48 This type of direct assignment reserved for the control variables of CODESOFT Sentinel Print Pack must employ the following syntax: [name of the system variable associated with the delimiter] [assignment] [value] The period at the end of the assignment is necessary to indicate that it has ended.
  • Page 49 APPENDIX 2 ASCII File Sentinel This appendix presents and discusses a sample ASCII file featuring both direct and table assignments. LAB_NAME = i3240.lab¶ Note that there is no header; the label to be loaded is specified by direct assignment. This first label is described entirely by direct assignments. The “END”...
  • Page 50 Direct assignment Code=7658¶ Name=debie¶ FirstName=LAURA¶ Address=3434 Washington Blvd¶ City=Indianapolis¶ State=IN¶ Zip=46241¶ END¶ Table assignment: the printer variable ”THT_NAME“ is incorporated into the header of the table, making it possible to change printers with each new label . THT_NAME , Code , Name , FirstName , Address , City , State , Zip¶ Tec B572,,\\PC 9719\PRINTER , 1969 , O'Hare , Ned , 4950 Pullman Ave.

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