Created Date: August 17,2012

Created by: Steve Bailey

HMI stands for Human-Machine Interface. The C-More is an HMI.

The problem with trying to feed data from a barcode scanner directly to the C-More is the nature of the signal from the barcode scanner.

The C-More is in charge of the data transfer between itself and the PLC. For each object displayed on any particular screen, the C-More sends a request to the PLC, asking the PLC to transmit the data needed to keep the display current. It does this over and over as fast as possible. The PLC only sends the data the C-More asks for.

A barcode scanner doesn't work the same as a PLC. Whenever an operator scans a barcode, the scanner transmits the barcode data. The C-More doesn't have a way to handle unsolicited data like that.

It is possible to set up a port on a PLC that can handle unsolicited data. The port will constantly watch for any incoming data and deal with it when it comes in. Whatever it receives it will store in a memory location and the C_More can send a request to the PLC for the contents of that memory location.

Created Date: August 17,2012

Created by: Tinker

Is there any way to connect c-more program to bar code reader?

There are ways, but how you do it may depend on what you are trying to acomplish.

If you have a USB barcode reader than emulates a keyboard (quite common and relativly inexpensive) you can just plug it into the USB device port on the C-more. However, an "entry object " (either text or numeric) must have the focus for the C-more to pay attention to what the barcode reader sends. For an application like a supermarket cheackout scanner that might not work too well, but for occasional entry of a batch number or something where one can touch the entry object on the C-more before scanning it should be fine.

There is also an "object focus option " for an entry object that lets one set the focus with a tag, which, if applied apropriatly might eliminate having to touch the object before scanning, but I havne't tused that feature myself.

You might want to setup the barcode scanner to append an Enter "key stroke " to the bar code, or perhaps add a "key button " to your screen for "Enter " (and perhaps one for "Clear " to allow corrections)

The C-More doesn't have a way to handle unsolicited data like that.

For clarification in case what Steve said seems to contradict what I said; Giving focus to an entry object in effect "solicits " the data so the C-more can handle it.