User-Defined Model Properties Dialog

The General tab includes general configuration information about the selected scale model, including the supported protocols. You can use the General tab to modify the following scale properties:

• Manufacturer: Specifies the manufacturer of the selected scale model.

• Model: Specifies a name that identifies the selected scale model throughout the BarTender interface.

Protocols Supported by this Scale

In this section, you can select the protocols that are supported by the user-defined scale model from the list of available protocols. This list of scale protocols includes all protocols that are installed with BarTender and any user-defined protocols that you configured by using the User-Defined Protocol Properties dialog.

• Default Protocol: Specifies the protocol that is used by default for the user-defined scale model.

• New: Opens the User-Defined Protocol Properties dialog, which you can use to define the scale commands for a scale that is not available in BarTender.

• Remove: Deletes the selected user-defined protocol from the list of available protocols. After it is deleted, the custom protocol is unavailable for use with any scale models or installed scales on your system.

• Edit: Opens the User-Defined Protocol Properties dialog, where you can modify the scale commands for the selected user-defined protocol.

The Connection tab specifies how BarTender initiates and maintains communication with the scale. The following options are available.

Default Connection: Specifies the default connection type. Select either Serial Port, where a scale is physically connected to your computer, or TCP/IP Network Port, where a remote or local scale communicates with BarTender via the network.

Default Serial Port Settings

• Baud: Also known as "bits per second," sets the speed at which data flows from the device to the port. Common values are 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, and 57600, with 9600 being the most common default setting.

• Data Bits: Specifies the number of bits that are used to encode each character that is sent via the serial port. The most common value is 8.

• Parity: Sends an extra bit after the data bits of a character for the purpose of error checking. Common settings are "odd," "even," and "none."

• Stop Bits: Sets the length of the pause at the end of a transmitted character. The most common value is 1.

• Flow Control: Controls the stopping and starting of data transmission. Options include "hardware" (also known as RTS/CTS) or "Xon/Xoff" (also known as "software" flow control).

Default TCP/IP Port Settings

• Port Number: Defines the TCP/IP port that BarTender monitors for a connection to the selected scale.