This page contains extended information about the KANESCAN and answers some of the questions we get asked most often. Note; the KANESCAN works only in Windows 95 or later. They do not work with Windows 3.1.

General Questions

• Question I'm not sure what connector I need. How can I tell?
• Answer Usually you need to count the number of "pins". This ranges from 4 (for Macs), 5-6 (for PC's) to 9 (RS-232). If you don't have any open ports and do not wish to add any, check your keyboard connector. We can supply the keyboard wedge cable that has a "Y" connection for your new scanner to share the same port as your keyboard. Here are some pictures to help. Click on the one that applies to be taken to our shopping cart for that item;
  
  Important note about the RS-232 model;
  RS232 is mainly used for special equipment and special applications programs. It is rarely the best choice for general scanning applications. It requires specially written software and drivers. RS-232 communicates only with tab delineated text files and will not communcate with applications (like Word, Excel etc.) without additional software. Check the bottom of this page for RS-232 set up procedures.

• Question Why is the KANESCAN such a good choice for Laptops and Notebooks?
• Answer One of the primary considerations will be for a scanner which draws minimal power in order not to drain the computer and thus extend the battery life to its maximum.

  All scanners draw the most current when the LED's are illuminated so it is important to limit this period. The KANESCAN switches the LEDs off immediately after the code is read, even if the user continues to press the trigger.

  Many scanners continue to run their internal microprocessor at full speed when connected to a power source even if the trigger is not pressed and the LEDs are off. Such scanners may only reduce their maximum power consumption by about one half in standby mode. Notice that the standby time is always much longer than the accumulated 'scan' time. Even in high throughput applications the ratio of standby to scanning is unlikely to be less than 50:1. In a typical application this will be more probably 500:1. The standby current is therefore much more important than the maximum scanning current.

  Based on our own measurements (rather than published figures) it is clear that the KANESCAN is the best choice for portable computing.
  

  Connection Facts

  The keyboard 'y' cable connection is designed for desktop computers, not laptops. Most laptop keyboard ports are hybrid keyboard/mouse ports and will not recognize data from the bar code reader without a keyboard plugged into the loose end of the 'y'. In most cases going to page 10 of the manual and scanning "Start", "AT Notebook" and "End" will correct this situation.

  If your laptop is running Windows 98, 2000 or the Mac O/S, you should consider using a USB connection rather than a connection for a desktop PC. It will assure trouble free scanning in all conditions

  The PS2, ADB and RS-232 readers draw their power via the 'y' cable from the computer's 5-volt keyboard line. Check your 'y' cable connection. Make sure you have the male end of the 'y' cable connected to the keyboard port on the back of your PC, and the female end plugged into the line to your keyboard.

  Loose connections are the most common reason why a new reader won't power up. Also make sure you do not have any keyboard cable adaptors or extension cables in series with your keyboard.

  Note that RS-232 scanners do not directly communicate with applications like Excel or Word as supplied. Additional communication software is required like BC Wedge for these type of applications. RS-232 only communicates with tab delineated text files as supplied. The KANESCAN is pre-programmed for USB, ADB and PS2 communications. If you purchase an RS-232 connection scanner you must go to page 13 of the Manual and scan the "START" barcode, scan the "ON" barcode and then scan the "END" barcode at the bottom of the page.

Capabilities: What can it do...

• Question I work in a library. Can the KANESCAN read ISBN and/or Bookland numbers.
• Answer Yes. These numbers are encoded using the EAN 13 symbology. The scanner can easily be configured to scan these number and convert automatically to ISBN (Sometimes called 'Bookland' in the USA).

• Question Can the KANESCAN be used with Access/Excel/Word/123/Heritage/Limes/Alice/Sims/Sage software?
• Answer Yes. The KANESCAN can be used with all these applications along with virtually any other application.

• Question I work in a quiet area can I mute the KANESCAN beep?
• Answer Yes. The KANESCAN beeper can be set to any of 4 levels. High, Medium, Low and Off. The default is High.

• Question I am based in Europe. I want to scan UPC A barcodes and have them converted to the EAN 13. Can the KANESCAN do this?
• Answer Yes. UPC A can be thought of as a subset of EAN 13. The KANESCAN can be configured to read UPC A barcodes but treat them as EAN 13 by prefixing the 12 digit UPC A number with a '0' character.

• Question Can the scanner read 'Full ASCII' code 39.
• Answer Yes.

• Question I am a computer engineer/design engineer/consultant and have a complicated and detailed technical question. Who do I contact?
• Answer Call or email or call our support desk at either care@kanecal.net or 877-KANECAL (US only) or 909-681-9495. We have been involved with the engineering of this product and understand it in detail. We will help whenever we can. However be aware we will not be able to disclose confidential proprietorial information regarding the design.

Programming: How do I....

General Questions

• Question How do I get a Programming Manual?
• Answer We provide at least one Programming Manual with each scanner shipment. You can download a .pdf version HERE.

• Question I got confused over the programming. How do I set the scanner back to a known state?
• Answer Scan the 'Default' barcode from the Programming Manual. The scanner emits a distinctive 4 tone sound. (In some cases is might be necessary to first power down the scanner.) The scanner is now at its factory default setting.

• Question How do I know what are the factory default settings?
• Answer The factory default setings are shown in the Programming Manual with a asterisk (*) character against them.

• Question I do not understand what I need to do to program the scanner. How do I proceed?
• Answer In most cases the scanner will not need programming because it will already be pre configured for you. However if you need to change the configuration it is simply a matter of scanning the appropriate barcode(s) from the programming manual.

Specific Programming Examples

• Question How do I program the scanner to send a dot '.' after each barcode?
• Answer From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Start
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Suffix
  38	Appendix A	2
  38	Appendix A	E
  38	Appendix A	SET

• Question I scan books and only want the book number to be scanned. How do I do this?
• Answer Always start programming by making sure that your scanner is set to factory default settings. This is done by simply scanning the "Default" barcode at the top of page 9 in the Users Manual. Now, to turn ON the ISBN numbers go to page 29, scan the "Start" barcode, Scan the ISBN "On" barcode then scan the "End" barcode near the bottom of the page.

  Page	Section	barcode name
  29	UPC/EAN CONVERSION	Start
  29	UPC/EAN CONVERSION- ISBN	On
  29	UPC/EAN CONVERSION	End

• Question I have a laptop and want to use a PS2 keyboard wedge cable but it does not recognize the scanner. How do I do this?
• Answer 1. Before you power on your Laptop, you first have to plug in the CCD scanner PS2 keywedge to the Laptops external PS2 port. Then 'Power On' the Laptop. Then open the CCD Manual to page 10 (interface option) and scan Start--> AT notebook-->End.
  
  

  Page	Section	barcode name
  10	INTERFACE OPTIONS	Start
  10	INTERFACE OPTIONS	AT Notebook
  10	INTERFACE OPTIONS	End

  2. Power OFF and Power ON the Laptop computer again.
  
  The above step will fix the Laptop PS2 watchdog handshake signal issue.
  
  NOTE: Most Laptops will detect the external PS2 wedge status at very beginning if you plug in the CCD scanner before you cold start the Laptop. PS2 is not a Plug and Play type port by warm start or standby mode operation. Doing so may damage the wedge.
  
  

• Question I have a Mac and it does not recognise the default Carriage Return (CR) setting for PC. It requires a numeric keypad 'Enter' key. How do I do this?
• Answer Always start programming by making sure that your scanner is set to factory default settings. This is done by simply scanning the "Default" barcode at the top of page 9 in the Users Manual. Now, to turn OFF the CR function go to page 32, End of text message. Start-->None-->End. Then Add-on the Set suffix code, refer p.34 and p.43 for Numeric Keypad Enter (8D)- (P.34) Start-->Suffix-->(p.38)8-->D-->(P.34) End.
  
  Turn OFF the CR function then add-on the Set suffix code for Numeric Keypad Enter (8D)

  Page	Section	barcode name
  32	End of text message	Start
  32	End of text message	None
  32	End of text message	End
  43	Find the Numeric Keypad Enter code	8D
  34	Set suffix code	Start
  34	Set suffix code	Suffix
  38	Set suffix code	8
  38	Set suffix code	D
  34	Set suffix code	End

• Question How do I "remove" the first 3 digits from the barcode?
• Answer First you should determine whether your ISBN codes are in UPC or EAN format. You will need the 2 digit "Code ID Number" from the table at the top of page 35 (Section 30. Data Format) in the manual.
  For this example we will use the 2 digit code (00) for EAN 13. The first two steps below tell the scanner that we wish to delete data. The next two steps tell it that we are formatting EAN 13 barcodes. (Code ID number "00" from the table) The next two steps tell the scanner to "delete" the data from position "0" to position "3" in the barcode, thereby removing the first three digits scanned. The final step "sets" the programming in motion. From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  35	30 DATA FORMAT	Start
  35	30 DATA FORMAT	Delete
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	3
  38	Appendix A	SET

• Question I scan DVD’s and only want the “middle” numbers to be read. How do I "remove" the first and last digit from the 12 digit barcode?
• Answer Since DVD’s use the EAN format. You will need the 2 digit "Code ID Number" from the table at the top of page 36 (Section 28. Data Format) in the manual. For this example we will use the 2 digit code (00) for EAN 13. The first two steps below tell the scanner that we wish to delete data. The next two steps tell it that we are formatting EAN 13 barcodes. (Code ID number "00" from the table) The next two steps tell the scanner to "delete" the data from position "1 in the barcode, thereby removing the first digit scanned. The next two steps tells the scanner to “reserve” the 10 middle numbers. The next two steps remove the last number. The final step "sets" the programming in motion. From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  36	28 DATA FORMAT	Start
  36	28 DATA FORMAT	Delete
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	1
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	A
  38	Appendix A	0
  38	Appendix A	1
  38	Appendix A	SET

• Question I do not want a RETURN character at the end of each barcode. How do I remove it?
• Answer From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	Start
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	None
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	End

• Question How can you insert a "TAB" before the barcode?
• Answer From the programming manual scan these barcodes...(*Note the "TAB" key is hex code "89" from the table on page 43)

  Page	Section	barcode name
  35	TOP	Start
  35	TOP	Prefix
  38	Appendix A	8*
  38	Appendix A	9*

• Question I do not want a RETURN character at the end of each barcode. I want a TAB character instead?
• Answer From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	Start
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	Tab
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	End

• Question I can see from the Programming Manual (Section 24, End ot text Message) it is possible to program a number of different termination characters to be sent after the barcode data. However my application requires something special not listed in the table.
• Answer There are two ways to append data to the barcode. See sections '27 Set Suffix' and '24 End of Text Message'. The 'Suffix' is transmitted immediately before the 'End of text message'. By using these two features together or singly it is possible to program any termination sequence up to about 16 characters. Here are a couple of examples.

  This programs a 'dot' plus a 'return' character needed by some applications. It is assumed the scanner already appends a 'return'.

  From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Start
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Suffix
  38	Appendix A	2
  38	Appendix A	E
  38	Appendix A	SET

  Here is a more complicated example. In this case the user requires only a 'Control S' character.

  'Control S' can be programmed in two different ways depending on the interface method used by the scanner. If the scanner is operating in Keyboard Wedge mode it is programmed as a key sequence...

  First stage is to remove the default 'return' character...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	Start
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	None
  32	24 END OF TEXT MESSAGE	End

  Second stage add the 'Control S' as a 'Suffix' sequence. We shall program the following sequence...

  1. Left Control key pressed (From page 43)
  2. 'S' key pressed and released (From page 40)
  3. Left Control key released (From page 43)

  From the programming manual scan these barcodes...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Start
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Suffix
  38	Appendix A	A
  38	Appendix A	D
  38	Appendix A	7
  38	Appendix A	3
  38	Appendix A	A
  38	Appendix A	E
  38	Appendix A	SET

  If the scanner were being used in RS232 mode the 'Control S' can be programmed directly as an ASCII Control Character (Character value &H13) like this...

  Page	Section	barcode name
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Start
  35	27 SET SUFFIX	Suffix
  38	Appendix A	1
  38	Appendix A	3
  38	Appendix A	SET

Troubleshooting

• Symptom A No data or the wrong data comes up on the computer!
• Possible Causes
  1. Make sure you are scanning into an application that accepts keyboard import. If you aren't sure, try typing on your PC keyboard, and make sure those characters come up properly on the monitor.
  
  2. If everything appears to be OK, adjust the speed that the reader is sending data to the computer. Often, if data is being sent too quickly, it will come up with missing or garbled characters. Use the Manual (page 37) to change the Data Transmission Timing setting in the "Keystroke/Character" section. For some computers, the bar code information may be transmitted to the computer with missing characters. This happens because the computer is too slow to catch all the data.
  
  3. For some keyboard wedge installation, even if you put a delay between characters, you still get missing or extra characters; then you need to put a delay between bits. You may need to try several different combinations of inter-character and inter-bit delays to come out with the best result.
  
  4. Reboot your PC, and try your scan again.
  
  

• Symptom B Computer keyboard does not work.
• Possible Causes
  For keyboard wedge installation
  
  1. Check if the KANESCAN is powered on.
  
  2. Check the connections between the Y-cable and computer, Y-cable and keyboard, Y-cable and KANESCAN . Make sure they are secure.
  
  For RS-232 installation
  
  1. Check if the connections from the host port on the KANESCAN to the host computer and the terminal are secure.
  
  2. Check the pin out of the cable and serial port if they match to each other.
  
  

• Symptom C Reader beeps after a bar code label has been scanned, but nothing appears on your computer screen.
• Possible Causes
  For keyboard wedge installation
  
  1. Check the connection between the Y-cable and the KANESCAN .
  
  2. Make sure the computer type you selected is correct. (Page 11 of Manual)
  
  3. Reset the KANESCAN to default setup (page 9 of Manual) and configure the reader again. Then try reading the bar code label again.
  
  For RS-232 installation
  
  RS232 is mainly used for special equipment and special applications programs. It is rarely the best choice for general scanning applications. It requires specially written software and drivers. RS-232 communicates only with tab delineated text files and will not communcate with applications (like Word, Excel etc.) without additional software. We offer BC Wedge for $99.00 if interested. KANESCAN Scanners are factory set for PS2 and USB and must be set up upon receipt for RS-232 communications. Please follow these instructions;
  
  1. Always assure default settings by scanning the "Default" barcode at the top of page 9 of the manual.
  2. Scan the "Start" barcode at the top of page 10.
  3. Scan the "RS-232" barcode in the middle of page 10.
  4. Scan the "End" barcode at the bottom of page 10.
  5. Scan the "Start" barcode at the top of page 32.
  6. Scan the "LF (for RS-232 only)" barcode in the middle of page 32.
  8. Scan the "End" barcode at the bottom of page 32.
  9. Determine the baud rate, data bits and parity of your computer. Default settings for the scanner are;
  Baud Rate/Bits per second= 9600
  Data Bits= 8 bit
  Parity= N (disabled)
  Stop Bits= 1
  10. Adjust the scanner to match your computer using the barcodes found on page 13, be sure to scan the "Start" and "End" barcode before and after each change.
  
  You can also scan directly into Hyperterminal in Windows- Program Files/Accessories/Communication/Hyperterminal.
  A. Choose a name for your communication and click "OK".
  B. Using the dropdown list for "connect using", select "Direct to Com 1" (assuming that is the port you used) and click "OK".
  C. Change the data here to match the scanner default settings in 9 above leaving the "Flow control" set to "Hardware".
  
  Now you can scan directly into Hyperterminal.

• Symptom D Poor read rate.
• Possible Causes
  1. Examine your bar code labels to make sure they have clearly defined bars and spaces. If the quality of your bar code label is not good, you need to improve the printing technique of your bar code label.
  
  2. If you are using a wand try to scan at several different speeds -- a common error is scanning too slowly. Check for any dirt or debris on the tip of the wand, and if so, clean the tip and try again.
  
  

• Symptom E Scanner just does not read a bar code.
• Possible Causes
  Follow the steps below, to troubleshoot the bar code scanner:
  1. Examine the bar code. Is it printed clearly? Is it smudged, smeared, or speckled with ink spots? Poorly printed bar codes are one of the major reasons a scanner will not read.
  
  2. Check that there is power to the bar code scanner. When you pull the scanner's trigger, you should see red lights flash. If you do not see the red lights, check the connections and make sure the computer is powered on.
  
  3. Run the Bar Code Test - Download and run the hardware test program to determine if the Point of Sale hardware is functioning properly (you may want to print these instructions before you begin):
  Click here to download the hardware test program.
  Choose the option Save this program to disk.
  From the Save in drop-down list, choose Desktop, and then click Save.
  After the download completes, double-click the setup.exe icon on your desktop to run the InstallShield® wizard.
  Click Next to install the QBTest program.
  When the installation completes, click Finish.
  Important: You must now restart your computer to properly run the test.
  When your computer has restarted, double-click the QBTest icon on your desktop to start the test utility.
  Click Scanner Test to test the functionality of the barcode scanner.
  Scan various bar codes. If you do not use bar codes, you can use a UPC symbol from an item you bought from a grocery or department store.
  When you successfully scan one of these items, the scanned number will appear in the Scanned Data section. You will see a Scan was successful message in the Results section if the test was positive. If the barcode is read, but not interpreted, the Results section will again display a message.
  
  4. When scanning, try varied distances between the scanner and bar code to determine the optimal scanning distance.
  
  5. Is the bar code too long? The bar code width must fit into the scanners reading area. If it is too long, the scanner cannot see the entire bar code and cannot read it.
  
  6. Is there enough blank space before and after the code? If not, the scanner will not read it. This typically occurs on labels where the bar code takes up the entire label space, with no blank area left on either side.
  
  7. What is the distance between the bars on the bar code being scanned? They should be 4 mm apart. If they are less than 4 mm, the scanner will not read it.
  
  8. Is there good contrast between the spaces and the bars? If the bar code is printed colored paper or labels, the scanner will not read it.
  
  9. Shutdown and restart your computer. Test the bar code scanner again. Does the bar code scanner beep? If not, make sure all the connections are in good condition and none of the pins are bent.
  
  10. Repeat the Bar Code Test and the Scanner Test in Step 3. If it still fails continue.
  
  11. Reset the scanner factory default settings. (Top of page 9 in manual)
  
  12. Repeat the Bar Code Test and the Scanner Test in Step 3.
  
  13. Make sure the bar code symbology you are trying to read is available. (Page 3 of Manual)
  
  If all else fails call 877-KANECAL (526-3225) during normal business hours.

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