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Evaluation and licensing help please [[ RESOLVED SORT OF ]]
Posted: 01 Feb 12 11:07 PM
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My employee has a custom business application, using Access 2003, which I have done major rewrites to.
They want me to add barcode functionality.
We are considering the Motorola MT2000 scanner. There will only be one device, with possibility of adding more in future.
I am self taught but very capable in Visual Basic... But no vb.net experience... And no Visual Studio available.
The application has a back-end .mdb database running on a server and a front-end .mde (with all the vb code and forms) which gets distributed to the users. Mulitple users concurrently.
We are interested in Omni for two way via RF.
The Omni server would run on a computer in the warehouse. It will connect to the back end database, located on the server (another computer).
I have downloaded the demo of ITScriptNet, and seem to have a handle on the basics, including scripting, etc.
Questions:
1. I can build a test app, and the simulation works well. I am using Validation "files" generated from queries to the database. Once I have edited data using various prompts, I can press the "download" button on the simulated device and the data is transferred to a table in my testing database. I can call remote prompts, and they execute ok. I cannot use OmniSaveCollectedData function, so I cannot simulate "live" real time data downloading to the database. Is this normal?
2. If I cannot test this functionality, how do I evaluate how this would work in a real application? For example, I would like to process the data, and update more than one table in the db. I don't think this is possible for me right now.... It requires omni server... Correct?
3. How can I test full functionality of Omni server? I cannot even get it to start.
4. I imagine that the answer is: I need a license of some sort. Correct? I can't get my employer to pay for hardware and/or licenses until I give them a quote for my time to integrate barcode scanning into our biz application. I can't quote without knowing how the omni functionality will work. Is there something I am missing?
5. Finally can someone please explain simply which license(s) I will need now (while testing) and later (to deploy once we purchase the scanner etc)? I will develop on my laptop, the omni server will reside on one PC in the warehouse, and there will be one wifi barcode scanner.
Thanks in advance
DC |
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Bev Connor
Posts: 117
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Re: Evaluation and licensing help please
Posted: 02 Feb 12 11:33 AM
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1. Function names: The function to transfer data is 'OmniSENDCollectedData'. In your program design view's script window, the text of a function name will always turn blue in color. If your program design view is displaying this function in black text, then the function name is not valid. Also, please note the list in the upper-left pane of the script window. You can expand this list to see the functions by category and, when you click on a function in the list, the description and parameters will display in the upper-right pane.
Simulator: Because the Simulator in the program designer is running in Windows on your PC, there are a few differences than when running the program on a mobile device; some functions are designed to only run on a mobile device. The Simulator cannot see the Omni server. To test data transfer from your computer, you can run your program in the ITScriptNet PC Client; but your program's fields should NOT be set to scan-only (for this testing). To configure and run the PC Client on your computer, please download the PDF from our Knowledge Base, this link:
http://www.z-space.com/kb/Article.aspx?ID=10173&SearchID=6884
2. Updating to more than one table: This requires writing a post processing script in VBScript. To view the post processing script windows, from the design view, go to: Program > Configure Receive, then click the 'Edit Scripts' button in the lower left. If you are not familiar with writing VBScript, we can write this for you; please send your contact information to support@z-space.com.
3. The Omni sever must first be configured from the ITScriptNet System Console. The Omni server can be running on the same server/computer as the location of the database (which may be safer than running on a warehouse PC). The mobile device would then be configured to the host IP of that computer/server on your network which is running the Omni sever software.
See step 3 of the PDF, download from this link:
http://www.z-space.com/kb/Article.aspx?ID=10158&SearchID=6888
4. Testing: The Omni server will run for 30 minutes in demo mode, for testing purposes. If you need further testing, shutdown the Omni server and restart it to get another 30 minutes of testing time.
Licenses: For deployment, you can obtain pricing and purchase ITScriptNet licenses from the same source where you have purchased your scanner hardware. Because you are developing your data collection program, you will need 1 ITScriptNet Developer license, part number ITSNDEVELOPER. In addition, you will need communications licenses for your mobile devices; for which there are two options. Which option to choose depends on your hardware environment; your hardware distributor can give you more information.
Database: How many users will be accessing the MSAccess database at the same time?
MT2000 series scanner: This scanner model does NOT have on-screen tap capability. You should pay particular attention when developing your data collection program, as your device users will need to use the device's keypad Enter and Tab keys in order to navigate and select. For information regarding this scanner hardware features, please contact your hardware distributor.
Please review the full User Guide for the software: open the ITScriptNet System Console from the shortcut on your Windows desktop, and click on the left pane tab for 'Documentation'. There will be several PDF documents, one of which is the Full User Guide. For information on communications, please refer to the section 'Understanding Omni Communications' starting on page 465.
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Re: Evaluation and licensing help please
Posted: 02 Feb 12 12:02 PM
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Thanks for the time it took to reply. I appreciate it.
1. Function: I have the function correct in my scripts, but went off the top of my head in my post. Sorry about that.
2. I've experimented with data processing scripts, and I think I have that part figured out. Thanks for the advice though
3/4. I set up the omni server. In fact I thought it was running, and it probably was... I wasn't aware of the 30 min timer. That sheds some light! Thanks! Yes, I plan to put omni server on the same server as db. I thought of that after I posted.
8 or 9 users at a time connect to db. At some point we will migrate the application to a more robust solution..
Licenses. I figured this out looking at the website... But was concerned I would need licenses prior to testing the omni. Thanks for your help!
Mt2000: wasn't aware it lacked touch screen. I may get them to reevaluate their hardware options.
Thanks again for all your help.
Dc |
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Re: Evaluation and licensing help please
Posted: 02 Feb 12 2:59 PM
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I've now tried to use the PC Client.
Its loads my program ok, and I get my menu prompt.
When I go to the next prompt, there is a combo box, which gets a list of 4 or 5 mock PO numbers.
I get a message that says, "Connection Failed. Demo limit reached".... I do get a list of purchase orders...but it is not up to date (ie I originally had 6 pos in my mock data... but I erase all but one from the table. On PC Client I still get a list of 6....so its obviously not getting data from the database.
I try to start Omni with the link on "Omni Server" under OMNI communications in the system console, and it says, "The ITScriptNet OMNI server is already running"
In Omni Server Configuration window, I can see that my .itb file is shown under Main/Programs
The Device "PC Client" is listed under Devices/Devices
In the Omni Server Status Utility, there are no configured programs listed, nor any active connections.
There is a button that says "CONNECT" beside the name of my computer/account, but it does nothing when I click.
the "Connection Failed. Demo limit reached" message pops up when the prompt appears to ask me to select a po number (from the combobox). This is before I have made an attempt to call the OMNISaveCollectedData function... which also fails and gives the same message.
In your reply, you said to Shut Down and Restart the Omni Server. How do I do that exactly? No matter what I try, it always says the Omni server is already running.
When I run my .itb program in the SIMULATOR.... I don't get the "Connection Failed" message, and the combo box correctly loads the list of po numbers. Of course the OMNISendCollectedData still fails, because I need to use PC CLient to test this.
What am I missing? Please help.... thanks much in advance.
DC
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Re: Evaluation and licensing help please
Posted: 02 Feb 12 3:24 PM
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Sort of solved this myself.
I had to use task manager to stop the server from running. I could find no way to stop it otherwise. (EDIT: JUST NOW NOTICED THAT IT APPEARS IN MY WINDOWS TASK BAR!!!! AH HA MOment!)
Once it had stopped... I could then start it again from the ITScript system console.
Seems to work.
If I may make a suggestion: I realize that in this day of software piracy etc, you must do everything possible to ensure people are using your products in accordance with your licensing rules, etc.
However I found this evaluation process difficult. Surely there is a way to package a demonstration version which is more or less "plug and play" and easier to start with. Perhaps just clearer instructions for demoíng the full functionality including OMNI.
Overall, I like this product, and am excited to use it in the "real world". Also, your support has been good so far.
Thanks again.
DC> |
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Bev Connor
Posts: 117
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Re: Evaluation and licensing help please
Posted: 02 Feb 12 4:09 PM
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To shutdown the Omni server, please see page 472 of the user guide.
Remember that in demo mode, the Omni server will run for only 30 minutes. |
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