Keyboard wedges accept input data from a serial port, network, or gauge and pass it to a Windows application in such a manner that the application thinks the data is actually coming from the keyboard
With the addition of two new hardware wedges, WedgeLink SM for Mitutoyo gauge input, and WedgeLink HW for direct RS232 input, MicroRidge says it offers a complete range of hardware and software keyboard wedge solutions in the WedgeLink product line.
WedgeLink Standard and Lite software keyboard wedges from MicroRidge were upgraded to include DDE and expanded data parsing features.
The new WedgeLink hardware wedges are simple to use because they are more like a plug-and-play device, says the company.
The firmware in the hardware wedges can be easily upgraded by users in the field to allow for software enhancement and customisation.
The WedgeLink SM supports Mitutoyo or Mitutoyo compatible gauges, and with its so-called dual personality can also be used as a gauge interface with an RS232 output.
The WedgeLink HW accepts input from any RS232 device such as gauge interfaces, flow meters, scales, balances, laboratory instruments, densitometers, GPS receivers, barcode scanners, magnetic stripe readers, etc.
Some of the more common applications that are used with both hardware wedges include Microsoft Excel, Access, and Minitab.
Version 2 of the Lite/Standard WedgeLink software keyboard wedges represents a major upgrade making it easier to choose which software keyboard wedge solution is right for specific needs.
The advantage of a software keyboard wedge is that it provides greater flexibility in the formatting of data for presentation to the application and control of the target where the data is sent.
The new DDE capability is a much faster and more efficient way to pass large amounts of data to an application than through the keyboard input stream.
With the keyboard input stream method, the application must have the focus.
With DDE, users can run other applications while collecting data into Excel or other Windows applications that support DDE.
The expanded data parsing capabilities will allow users to handle more complex input data that is received from a device.
In addition to transferring the information to the application, the WedgeLink software keyboard wedge can also simultaneously send the information to a disk file.
Hardware and software keyboard wedges are used extensively in data acquisition applications that include statistical programs, spreadsheets, barcode, Lims, etc.
Keyboard wedges accept input data from an RS232 serial port, network connections, or Mitutoyo gauge and pass it to a Windows application in such a manner that the application thinks the data is actually coming from the keyboard.
Typical instruments used include scales, barcode scanners, gauges, balances, laboratory instruments, and many other devices.
Whether a hardware or software keyboard wedge is chosen will depend upon the requirements of the application.
Free ten-day evaluations of all the WedgeLink software keyboard wedge editions can be easily downloaded from the company's website.
