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i.d. mate OMNI Power Users

The following is a list of items for users who want to get the most out of their i.d. mate OMNI:

  1. Updating the Product Database

  2. Inventory Mode

  3. Creating Your Own Database

1. Updating the Product Database

1. Updating the Product Database

This procedure requires that you have a CompactFlash card reader connected to your PC, which should be available under My Computer as a Removable Disk. Please make yourself familiar with how to find and interact with this resource before attempting the following steps to update the product database on your CompactFlash card.

  1. As a precautionary measure, make a backup copy of all the data on your flash card to your computer.
     

  2. Place the database upgrade CD in your computer's CD or DVD Rom drive if it is not already there. On the CD, the barcodes.dat file is the new database. Copy the barcodes.dat file from the CD and paste it to your flash card in the removable disk drive. This will replace the old barcodes.dat with the new one. Your computer should ask you to confirm file replace, "Would you like to replace the existing file" and it will describe the files in question. Confirm with the Yes option. Once copying is complete, remove the flash card from the reader and insert it into your i.d. mate.
     

  3. i.d. mate OMNI users may skip this step since the OMNI automatically detects the database version when the flash card is inserted and you navigate to Memory Mode, which will first say the amount of record time left on the flash card, then the database version. For i.d. mate 2 users, the opening greeting will remain the same unless you change the volume label. IF you would like to change the recording that plays after the introduction when the unit is turned on, while the recording is playing, press the erase button (lower right button) once. You will be asked to push the erase button a second time to verify that you do, in fact, want to erase the message. Push the erase button the second time and the unit will confirm the erase. Turn off your unit, then turn the unit back on. It should say "Voice label does not exist, to record, press and hold the record button." Press and hold the record button while you speak the new message stating the card size and database version, or whatever else you would like. This procedure may be done as many times as needed until you are happy with your opening greeting.
     

  4. As an alternative to Step 5 for ID Mate 2 users, you can copy the file VOLNAME.WAV from your update CD to your flash card. However, this wave file will only say the database version and not the size of the flash card.
     

  5. Once copying is complete, wait a few moments to be sure that Windows is completely finished with the process. When you believe it is safe to do so, remove the flash card from the reader and insert it into your i.d. mate.
     

  6. Your i.d. mate should now be ready to go. Enjoy!

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2. Inventory Mode

2. Inventory Mode

Note: This process requires the use of a CompactFlash card reader attached to a computer. Also, the Inventory Mode functionality is only available on i.d. mate OMNI's with firmware version 2.20 or later. Directions on how to find out your unit's firmware version can be found in the section on this page titled "Determine Firmware and Dictionary Versions". The instructions below are in regards to version 2.30 or later of the firmware, and may not fully apply to earlier versions.

To enable Inventory Mode, follow these steps:

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  1. Remove the CompactFlash card from your i.d. mate and insert it into the flash card reader.
     

  2. In the reader's root folder, open the SETTINGS.INI file.
     

  3. Find the "Inventory" parameter, and change its value to 1. The line should read Inventory=1. To disable the feature, the line should read Inventory=0.
     

  4. Save the changes to the file, safely remove the flash card from the reader, and insert it back into your i.d. mate.

This will enable two new modes, "Inventory" and "Browse Inventory", that will follow "ID Mode" (or if "Barcode ID" is enabled [see above], they will follow this mode). There is no Inventory Mode firmware available for i.d. mate I or II.

Inventory Mode Instructions

To Add an Item and Quantity:
 

  1. Scan the item's barcode.

  2. Use the Next and Previous (triangle) buttons to choose the quantity.

  3. Press the Record (round) button to save the quantity.

  4. Listen for two chimes to verify the quantity has been saved.
     

To Edit the Quantity for an Item Already Entered:
 

  1. Scan the item's barcode.

  2. Press the Next and Previous buttons to modify the quantity.

  3. Press the Record button to save the change.

  4. Listen for two chimes indicating the change has been saved.

You cannot erase a record from Inventory Mode. Items without descriptions in the En-Vision America database on your CompactFlash Card will be given a description of "Item not Found" in the Inventory.txt file (see below). Descriptions can be added directly to the Inventory.txt file at a later time if desired.

To change a quantity rapidly, press and hold the Next or Previous button. The OMNI will change the count by 1 for the first ten, then will change by 10 for the next ten, then will change by 100 for the next ten, then by 1,000 for the next 10, then by 10,000 for the next 10.

Browse Inventory Instructions
 

Use the Next and Previous buttons to browse through inventory items. The recorded quantity will be spoken before the item description. To change a quantity rapidly, press and hold the Next or Previous button. The OMNI will change the count by 1 for the first ten, then will change by 10 for the next ten, then will change by 100 for the next ten, then by 1000 for the next 10, then by 10000 for the next 10.

To Edit the Quantity for an Item in Browse Inventory Mode:

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  1. Use the Next and Previous buttons to find the item you wish to edit the quantity for.
     

  2. Press the Record button once.
     

  3. Use the Next and Previous buttons to modify the quantity.
     

  4. Press the Record button once more to save the change.
     

  5. Listen for two chimes indicating the change has been saved.

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To Delete an Item from Inventory:
 

  1. Use the Next and Previous buttons to find the item you wish to delete.
     

  2. Press the Erase (square) button twice.

Working with the Inventory.txt File

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Caution: It is best not to work directly with the original Inventory.txt file on your CompactFlash Card unless absolutely necessary. Even a seemingly innocuous change to the file's syntax or structure may disrupt the ability of the OMNI to properly access and manipulate it. It is best to work with a copy of the file on your computer. You may wish to edit the name of this copy to include the date (and possibly time) of the save.

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It may be best to work with the Inventory.txt file's data by importing it with either a database program, such as Microsoft Access or OpenOffice Base, or a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice Calc.

 

When doing so:
 

  • The data is semi-colon delimited with no text qualifiers.

  • The first column is the barcode number and should be formatted as "text" not "general". Neglecting this will eliminate any leading zeros and may turn it into scientific notation.
     

One of the big differences between the Inventory.txt file and a BARCODES.DAT file that has been run through the Bar Encode Lite program is that the BARCODES.DAT file MUST be in numerical sorted order, otherwise, it will not work. Inventory Mode does not require this as the items are saved and worked with in the order they are scanned.

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Also in Inventory Mode, there are only three fields: the barcode number, the item description, and a five digit number for the quantity (i.e., if you only have one item, it must be entered as 00001). However, the description can include a price as part of the description if you type it yourself in the Inventory.txt file.

 

It is vitally important not to use commas if you will be importing into a spreadsheet like Excel.


For example:
041196805499; Progresso Soup $1.45; 00002;
094000183566; A-von Moisturizer 24 $4.45; 00002;
036000282009; Kleenex $1.24; 00005;

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3. Creating Your Own Database

3. Creating Your Own Database

This procedure requires that Summit users have an SD card reader, and Omni users have a compact flash card reader. The reader should be available in Windows XP under My Computer, and in Windows Vista and Windows 7 under Computer, as a Removable Disk. Please make yourself familiar with how to find and interact with this resource before attempting the following steps.

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The following describes the process for creating a custom data file for the i.d. mate Summit and Omni. These instructions assume that you have a working knowledge of either Microsoft Access or Excel. Omni users may have only one *.DAT file exist on their card at a given time, and it must be named BARCODES.DAT. Summit may accommodate more than one. See final instructions below for more details.

Barcodes are subject to these criteria:

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  • Barcodes must be comprised of numbers only - no alpha (letter), punctuation, or symbol characters; no "white space" (e.g., spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.).
     

  • The actual printed barcodes may have leading zeroes, but the barcode values must have any leading zeroes removed before they are sorted. Formatting the column (or field) as a Number with no decimals should accomplish this. This process has a (small) chance of creating duplicates, which will need to be rectified before processing the .txt file with BE Lite. There can be no duplicate barcodes in a BARCODES.DAT file.
     

  • Barcodes may have a maximum length of 20 characters.

Creating the Custom Database

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  1. Prepare Data:
     

    • Note: For all options below, there must be at least one description field in addition to the barcode field, and multiple description fields will be navigable when scanning the barcode. See the criteria above for valid barcodes.
       

    • Option 1: Enter data manually - The first field should always be the record's barcode.
       

    • Option 2: Use Inventory Mode - See the instructions for using Inventory Mode to generate an Inventory.txt file on the i.d. mate's flash card. Import this file into your Access or Excel file, leave out or remove the quantity field/column, and modify the descriptions, as necessary.
       

    • Option 3: Acquire manufacturer data - Treatment of barcode data received from a manufacturer may need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. Be sure to import the barcode column into the first field and formatted as Number with no decimals. Import the descriptive information as Text.
       

  2. Sort data ascending numerically by barcode values. Be sure the barcode column is formatted as "Number" with no decimals. For Excel users, if some values appear to be in scientific notation, double check that the column is actually set to "Number" with no decimals.
     

  3. Remove any duplicate barcodes.
     

  4. Replace all commas (,) and semi-colons (;) in descriptions either with spaces or with periods. A period will create a pause in the speech like a comma or semi-colon.
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  5. Recommended steps for "cleaning" your descriptions:
     

    • Remove all double quote characters (").
       

    • Replace all double spaces with single spaces. Repeat until no replacements are reported.
       

  6. Make sure each record ends in a semicolon. Place a semicolon at the very end of each record before the line break/return.
     

  7. Add your database announcement for the system menu using barcode number "0" (i.e., 0;Database Version My Database 1.0;)
     

  8. Sample file. Download this Excel file to see an example of a properly prepared master data set in Excel or download this comma delimited file to see an example in Notepad.
     

  9. Make your file into a semi-colon delimited file and save as text. Download this text file to see an example of the final format in Notepad.
     

    • Option 1: Export from Access. When exporting from Access, choose to export as "text files." On the first screen, choose "delimited". On the second screen, choose "semicolon". Also make sure to indicate {none} where it asks if you want Text Qualifiers.
       

    • Option 2: Convert Excel file to semi-colon delimited file using Notepad:
       

      • Select File > Save As.

      • Change "Save as type" to CSV (comma delimited) *.csv.

      • Save the file using File > Save (or Ctrl + S).

      • If prompted that the selected file type does not support workbooks that contain multiple sheets, click OK. Then if prompted that the file may contain features that are not compatible with CSV (comma delimited) - "Do you want to keep the workbook in this format?" - choose Yes. Select File > Close. When prompted to save changes, choose No.

      • Open the file in Notepad (For Windows, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad).

      • Using Edit > Replace, replace all commas (,) with semi-colons (;).

      • Save the file using File > Save (or Ctrl + S) with a .txt extension instead of a .csv extension.
         

    • Option 3: Change Regional Options and use Notepad. If your file is very large, the replacement function above may take too long. Here is another way of doing it: Before saving your .csv file, change your computer's regional settings: Go to Start > Control Panel > Regional and Language Options > Customize (from the numbers tab), then under the List Separator, choose the semi-colon (;). This will make any .csv files semi-colon delimited instead of comma delimited. Return to the Excel file and save as a .csv file format. Leave Excel and open the file using Notepad (right click and choose "Open With", then Notepad). Now save the file as a .txt file.
       

  10. BE_Lite. Download the BE_Lite_220.zip file. This file is a stand-alone program and does not require installation on your computer to work. It processes your sorted, normalized text database file into one useable by the i.d. mate.
     

    • Run the BE_Lite executable. The executable file must be run from the same directory as the included Enc32.dll file.

    • For databases to be used with i.d. mate Omni V3's and Summits, be sure that "Version 3 DB" is checked.

    • Click [Process Database…]

    • Navigate to the .txt file.

    • Click [Open]. A BARCODES.DAT file will be generated in the same folder as the .txt file.

    • If any processing errors are reported, click [View Log] for details.
       

  11. Copy the BARCODES.DAT file to the root directory of the unit's card:
     

    • Summit users may have multiple databases co-exist on their SD card. The "official" En-Vision America BARCODES.DAT file should remain named as it is. Your custom barcodes files should be renamed with a sequencing number with the following pattern: BARCODES01.DAT, BARCODES02.DAT, etc. Enumerated DAT files are queried in numerical order before BARCODES.DAT.
       

    • Omni users may have only one *.DAT file exist on their flash card at a given time, and it must be named BARCODES.DAT.

For further technical assistance, contact En-Vision America at 1-800-890-1180 and ask for help creating a custom barcode database.

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