Windows Mobile Device Scanning

About Scanning Barcodes and RFID Tags on a Windows Mobile Device

When you scan a barcode or RFID tag, the checkpoint that is associated with the barcode or RFID tag appears. More specifically, the application will search for a checkpoint whose corresponding Measurement Location record's Scan ID field contains a value that matches the barcode or RFID tag ID. The first checkpoint that the GE Digital APM system finds that meets this criteria will be displayed on the Windows Mobile Device.

This topic provides tips and notes for scanning barcodes and RFID tags using a scanner on a Windows Mobile Device in conjunction with Rounds. We recommend that you read this topic in its entirety before you begin scanning barcodes or RFID tags.

Tips for Scanning Barcodes

  • We recommend that you hold the Windows Mobile Device at a 90 degree angle and scan the barcode starting at the top.
  • If the Barcode scanner is enabled but after you scan a barcode the screen does not change, you should adjust the angle of the scanner and try scanning again.

Tips for scanning RFID Tags

Point the Windows Mobile Device in the direction of the RFID tag that you want to scan, and scan the tag. If more than one RFID tag is scanned, the Scan Results screen will be displayed, where you can select the checkpoint for which you want to record readings.

Notes about Scanning Barcodes and RFID Tags

  • If you scan a barcode or an RFID tag and a message appears indicating that the scan ID does not exist, it means that the scan ID has not been properly configured or assigned. If you receive this message, you should check the Routes or Download screen to ensure that the correct Route records and Measurement Location records have been downloaded to the Windows Mobile Device.
  • If you scan a barcode or RFID tag that is stored in the Route record (and not in any Measurement Location records), the Windows Mobile Device will display the checkpoint on that Route with the sequence value 01.
  • If you scan a barcode or RFID tag that is part of a scan group, the Windows Mobile Device will display the first checkpoint that is defined in that scan group. You can navigate through a scan group without scanning the barcode or RFID tag again. When you reach the end of the scan group (i.e., you have recorded readings for all the checkpoints in that group), a message will appear, indicating that you have completed the scan group and prompts you to scan a different barcode or RFID tag.
  • If you see a message on the Readings - Detail screen that indicates the checkpoint is locked, you will need to scan the barcode or RFID tag assigned to that checkpoint before you can record a reading. The text boxes on the screen will be disabled until after you scan the associated barcode or RFID tag.
  • When using a Windows Mobile Device, scanning is disabled on the Synchronizer screen.

Assign Scan IDs to Routes

The datasheet for the Route family contains the Route Scan ID field, allowing you to assign Scan IDs to Routes. When you scan a barcode from the Rounds Data Collection Overview that matches the Scan ID that you assigned to a Route, the Windows Mobile Device will display the Data Collection page, showing the first checkpoint defined on the Route. You can also add Scan IDs to Measurement Locations.

About this task

Important: The Scan ID for a Route must be unique.

Procedure

  1. Access the Route to which you want to assign a Scan ID.
    The datasheet for the Route appears.
  2. On the datasheet, enter the Scan ID in the Route Scan ID box.
  3. In the upper-right corner of the datasheet, select .
    The Scan ID is saved with the Route.

Assign a Scan ID to an Equipment or a Functional Location

When you link Equipment or Functional Location to a Measurement Location, the Scan ID field for the Measurement Location will be populated with the value from a field in the datasheet for the relevant Equipment or Functional Location, as specified in the family code item. You can, however, modify the value in the scan ID field in the Measurement Location. When you scan a barcode that matches the scan ID that you assigned to the Equipment or Functional Location, the Windows Mobile Device will display the Route or the Measurement Location that contains the same scan ID.

Procedure

  1. In Record Manager, access the Equipment or the Functional Location to which you want to assign a scan ID.
  2. On the datasheet, enter the scan ID in the field that is specified as the source for the scan ID in the Has Checkpoint family code item.
  3. In the upper-right corner of the workspace, select .
    The scan ID is created for the Equipment or Functional Location.

Results

When you link the Equipment or Functional Location to a Measurement Location, the scan ID is populated in the Scan ID field of the Measurement Location.

Lock a Measurement Location on a Windows Mobile Device

In some cases, you will want to require the Windows Mobile Device user to be standing in front of the piece of equipment or location when the reading is taken. In these cases, you can lock the checkpoint until the Windows Mobile Device user scans the barcode or RFID tag that is assigned to the corresponding Measurement Location record. When a checkpoint is locked, a user will be unable to enter any reading values for the checkpoint until after the associated barcode or RFID tag is scanned. The following instructions provide details for specifying a checkpoint as locked via the Measurement Location datasheet. Additionally, a checkpoint will be specified as locked if the Measurement Location record was created from a Measurement Location Template record whose Scan to Unlock? field is set to True.

About this task

Note: Locking the Measurement Locations is applicable when you are collecting data on a Windows Mobile Device.

Procedure

  1. Access the Route that contains the Measurement Location record representing the checkpoint that you want to specify as locked on the Windows Mobile Device.
  2. In the left pane, select the Measurement Location node representing the checkpoint that you want to specify as locked on the Windows Mobile Device.
    The Measurement Location record appears in the workspace.
  3. On the datasheet, select the Scan to Unlock? check box.
  4. On the datasheet toolbar, select .
    The record is saved.

Paste a Scan ID into a Reading or Recommendation on a Windows Mobile Device

About this task

When you scan a barcode or RFID tag, you will be navigated automatically to the checkpoint associated with that barcode or RFID tag. You can, however, temporarily disable this navigation and enable the Copy Scan feature instead. On a Windows Mobile Device, you can use the Copy Scan feature to paste a scan ID value into a reading or recommendation when you scan the barcode or RFID tag.

For example, assume you are creating a recommendation for an piece of equipment, and you want to include the scan ID for the piece of equipment in the recommendation. Instead of manually typing the ID value, you can use the Copy Scan feature to populate the recommendation automatically with the scan ID.

Procedure

  1. Access the reading or recommendation into which you want to paste the Scan ID.
  2. Select the text box into which you want to paste the Scan ID (for example, the Description box).
  3. On the Options menu or at the bottom of the screen, select Copy Scan.
  4. Scan the barcode or RFID tag whose ID you want to paste into the reading or recommendation.
    The Scan ID value appears in the active text box. At this point, the Copy Scan button is automatically deselected, and the next time you scan a barcode or RFID tag, the associated checkpoint appears.

Record Readings by Selecting a Checkpoint Returned by Scan on a Windows Mobile Device

The Scan Results screen appears when more than one RFID tag is picked up by a single scan. You can use this screen to select the checkpoint for which you want to record readings. The following instructions assume that you are viewing the Scan Results screen.

Procedure

  1. On the Scan Results screen, select the information for the checkpoint for which you want to record readings.
    The Readings - Detail screen appears for the checkpoint.
  2. Enter the readings for the checkpoint.