The typical steps that are required to set up the Wedge successfully: For a standard ASCII output device, such as a scale, bar code scanner or gage, this should take between 5 and 15 minutes. For more complex data it may take longer.

Step 1. Select how the Wedge will transfer incoming serial data to your other Windows programs by choosing one of the options in the Mode menu. The Wedge can transfer incoming serial data to other applications by either converting the data to "keystroke messages" and "typing" the data into another application's window or it can pass the data using Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).
Sending data as keystrokes is generally much simpler than using DDE. For this example we will use the Send Keystrokes Method.

Step 2. Select the Settings option in the Port menu (below) and choose the communications parameters that match the settings for the serial device that you will be using. After you select your communications parameters, you should select the Analyze option from the Port menu and transmit some sample data from your serial device. This Analyze feature tests that you are using the correct serial communications parameters and also lets you gain an understanding of how the data from your serial device is structured.

Refer to the sections: Diagnosing Serial Communications Problems if you do not receive any data, or if you receive incorrect data, in the Analyze window after this step.

Step 3. Select "Input Data Record Structure..." from the Define menu (see below). This will present you with a series of simple dialog boxes that allow you to first describe the structure of your incoming serial data and finally describe how you want to parse, filter and format the data as well as add additional data, keystrokes, or DDE commands to the data before passing it on to the target application program.

In the Pro versions this step offers you many options, especially if you have many fields of complex data coming from your device. To better understand your data and how you can parse, filter, format and translate it you may want to read the section: Understanding The Data From Your Serial Device

Step 4. If the device that you are using requires data or commands to be sent to it from your PC, please read the sections: Defining Serial Output Strings and Defining Hot Keys and Hot Key Actions (Hot Keys are available in the Pro versions only).

Step 5. The final step is to Activate the Wedge to start it working. You may want to save your configuration first by selecting "Save" from the File menu. To activate the Wedge simply select "Test Mode" from the Activate menu.

Note: The Wedge will not work until you activate it by selecting one of the options in the Activate menu. We recommend selecting "Test Mode" until you have everything working the way you desire

Related Links

Interpreting Serial Data
Troubleshooting
Sending Keystrokes vs. DDE
Understanding Dynamic Data Exchange