AMT Datasouth 4000 - Manual (Page 14)

User's Guide 14
Standalone/Downtime Applications
PAL TM Print and Program capable printers may be programmed to operate independent of a
PC/host connection. This standalone ability may be used in cases where no PC/host connection
is needed or as a fail-safe backup when the PC/host or network is unavailable.
The Standalone Application program is stored in the printer memory and can accept input from a
PS/2 keyboard, bar code scanner, or other serial devices such as an electronic scale. These
programs may use the printer’s LCD to prompt for user input and may also include databases.
Unlike other bar code printers that allow basic static forms to be loaded in the printer, PAL
TM
Print and Program capable printers provide advanced abilities. Examples of these advanced
capabilities are:
# Ability to operate on line from host or off line in stand-alone mode
# Ability to range check user input
# Ability to combine data from multiple fields into a single bar code
# Ability to access database stored in printer
# Ability to perform math calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.)
# Ability to perform logical calculations (equal to, less than, greater than, etc.)
Shown below is an example where a stand-alone PAL TM application and database is stored in the
printer. Operator input combined with internal database information is used to create a label.
For example, this application could request a part number and physical dimensions of a particular
part by prompting for this information on the printer LCD. After the operator inputs the
requested information on the PS/2 keyboard, the printer could calculate the volume, and then
based on the part number lookup the part description in a database to produce a label.
Figure 4 – Stand Alone Operation
Keyboard
PAL Printer
Operator
Input
Keyboard Data
PAL
Interpreter
Printed
Document
PAL Standalone
Application
Printer
Flash Memory
Local
Database