Technical FAQ

How do I interface my Gedge GS1650 scale with EzyWine?

Question

(Please note that the Gedge GS1650 scale is being used as an example only. EzyWine accepts almost any weighbridge scale or serial device.)

Answer

You must have the correct communications settings for the scale device in order to successfully interface with the PC. These settings in most instances are listed in the scale's manual.

You will require the following communications settings:
Baud or Bits per second, Data bits, Parity, Stop bits, Flow Control

Confirm the connection from the scale to the PC workstation.

To do this use the 'Hyper Terminal' application which is supplied with all MS Windows versions. Configure Hyper Terminal with the manufacturer supplied communications settings.

Once the settings have been entered you should be receiving output from the scale.

Note: It is good to have some weight on the scale at this point to confirm the weight from the scale read out is being output to Hyper Terminal.

 

Configure WinWedge

WinWedge is a third party add on software product supplied by 'TAL Tech Instrumental Software Solutions' used to acquire and manipulate data from ethernet enabled PLC devices.

Its function is to act as a DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) server that EzyWine reads input from. It allows the data to be manipulated so that it is readable by EzyWine.

Install this application to a folder called 'WinWedge' on the weighbridge workstation, create a desktop shortcut to winwedge.exe and start the application.

Select 'Mode / DDE Server' and configure as displayed.

Select 'Port / Settings' and configure using the scale manufacturer supplied communications settings.

 

 

Defining Input Record Data

Next, manipulate the incoming data.

Select 'Define / Input Data Record Structure'

For this example we are using a record with a fixed number of bytes and a record length of 32.

 

 

Make sure the 'Record Preamble DDE Command' reads; [GRABDATA].

Input record definitions may not be the same for all weighbridge scale models. In most cases this input record definition will require additional manipulation in order to obtain reliable input into EzyWine.

Tip1:
Try increasing/decreasing the input record size by 8 bytes until you can see a constant string in the WinWedge output field.

Tip2:
Select menu option 'Port / Analyse' to have WinWedge attempt to obtain the correct input record structure for you.

 

Start Accepting Data

Select 'Activate / Test Mode'

This will start WinWedge accepting data from the scale. The field containing the weight should contain constant data.

 

Example data input to WinWedge, weight reading is 9.36 tonne.

 

EzyWine System Parameters

The final stage of configuration is to configure the necessary EzyWine system parameters to accept data from the scale.

These systems parameters are located in the 'Production & Packaging' parameter group.

Listed below are the system parameters and their definitions. Note, not all system parameters are mandatory. Parameters that are mandatory are displayed as RED.

Prod: W/bridge, Use WinWedge DDE I/face = Yes / No
Activates the shortcut keys [ALT+Z] to enter weight into weighbridge dockets.

Prod: W/bridge, Serial Interface KG = Yes / No
Switches weight value between kilograms or tonnes.
This is determined by your scale. In most instances weights will be in kilograms.
Check the weight value being read into the weighbridge docket corresponds to the scale readout.

Prod: W/bridge, WinWedge DDE COM Port = COM<n>
Specifies the workstation COM port that the scale is connected to.

Prod: W/bridge, WinWedge DDE Field No = <n>
The WinWedge output field that contains the weight value.

Prod: W/bridge, Use Weight File I/face = Yes / No
Indicates that weight should be read from an input file, rather than from the DDE Server.
This parameter is only required when not using the DDE server method of input.

Prod: W/bridge, Weight File Path/Name = <path to file>
Specifies the full path and file name to the file containing weight values.
This parameter is only required when the parameter above is set to 'Yes'.

Prod: W/bridge,WINWEDGE Marker Character = <n>
Decimal value of ASCII character that precedes that weight value.
Used when WinWedge weight field contains multiple pieces of data.

Prod: W/bridge,WINWEDGE Weight Position = <n>
Decimal value indicating the number of characters after the marker character where the weight value begins.

Prod: W/bridge, Scale DDE Server Name = WinWedge
Used to specify the DDE Server application where weights are accepted from.

 

 


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