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*  Product: Symbol(R) Scanner COM Port Emulation Driver Installation Utility
*  Release: Production Version
*  Version: 1.8.5
*  Target Scanners: Symbol scanners supporting Simple COM emulation over USB
*  Date: October 18, 2005
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*  CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT
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This document contains the following sections:

1.  Overview
2.  Changes
3.  System Requirements
4.  Contents of the Distribution Package
5.  Install/Un-Install Scanner COM Port Emulation Driver
6.  Using the scanner in COM port Emulation Mode over USB
7.  Verifying Installation of the Software and identifying the Software Version
    Number
8.	Supported development environments
9.	Know issues and limitations
10. Troubleshooting


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* 1.  OVERVIEW
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The Symbol(R) Scanner COM port emulation driver Installation Utility installs to
the target PC the drivers necessary for providing COM port emulation support
for Symbol scanners. Using the emulated COM device, user mode application can
interact with the scanner. Current driver supports only reading data from
scanner device. Support for setting scanner specific features from application
is NOT supported.
This driver can be installed by running the accompanying installer.


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* 2.  CHANGES
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Changes from 1.8.4 to 1.8.5:

* WHQL certified driver.

* Read total timeouts monitoring issue fixed in the driver.

* Improvement in re-enumeration of device driver at the time of installation.

Changes from 1.8.3 to 1.8.4(Beta):

* Fix issue of missing data while doing event based read with Microsoft 
  Communication activeX control.

Changes from 1.7 to 1.8.3:
* WHQL certified drivers

* Option to change port number using 'Advanced Setting' of 'Port Properties' in
  system 'Device Manager' is supported in Windows 2000 and XP.

* Bug fixes in Windows 98 driver

Changes from 1.6 to 1.7:
* Fixed comatibilty issues with Windows XP SP2.

* Virtual COM port number assignment behavior has changed in v1.6: Device will be
  assigned the same virtual COM port the next time the device is plugged into the
  system or after a restart. Behavior in pervious versions was to assign a new port
  if the previous port used by the device is taken up by another scanner or some
  other resource in the PC.

* Option to change port number using 'Advanced Setting' of 'Port Properties' in
  system 'Device Manager' is not supported, and hence disabled in this version.

Changes from 1.5 to 1.6:

* Virtual COM port was not removed if device is removed with an application
  opening a handle to the device in v1.5. This behavior has changed in v1.6.
  Now, the virtual COM port will be created when device is plugged in and
  removed when the device is detached, irrespective of its usage by applcation.

* Virtual COM port will be created under HID Class instead of PORTS class. This
  does not affect the functionality of the device, and it will be visible as
  serial device from legacy applications. The device will be enumerated under HID
  devices instead of Port devices in Device Manager.

Changes from 1.4 to 1.5:

* Fixed issue in handling IOCTL_SERIAL_PURGE for RxQueue.

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* 3.  SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
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1.  The software included with this distribution package is designed to operate
with Symbol Synapse scanners.

2.  One of the following operating systems must be fully installed and running
on the system before installing this software:

    Windows* 98SE   4.10.2222  (Original Release)
    Windows* 2000   5.00.2195  (Original Release)
    Windows* XP     5.10.2600  (Original Release)

    To verify which operating system has been installed onto
    the target system, follow the steps below:

    a.  Click on Start.
    b.  Select Settings.
    c.  Select Control Panel.
    d.  Double-click on the System icon.
    e.  Click on the General system properties tab.
    f.  Verify, which OS has been installed by reading
        the System information.

3.  It is recommended that the software be installed on
    systems with at least 32MB of system memory when using
    Windows* 98SE and Windows* Me. Windows* 2000 and Windows* XP
    require at least 64MB of system memory.

4.  It is recommended that there be a minimum of 5MB of hard
    disk space on the system in order to install this software.

5.  Check the System Requirements.  The operating system
    must be fully installed with latest OS updates applied and
    running on the system before using this software.

6.  Close any running applications.  Otherwise, you may
    experience difficulties.


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* 4.  CONTENTS OF THE DISTRIBUTION PACKAGE
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The Symbol(R) Scanner COM Port Emulation Driver Installation Utility package
contains the following items:

    File(s)
    -------
    Symbol COM Emulation Driver v1.8.5.exe - Installation program
    ReadMe.txt - This file

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* 5.  INSTALL/UN-INSTALL SCANNER COM PORT EMULATION DRIVER
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a.  TO INSTALL DRIVER:

1.  Verify that all system requirements have been met as
    described in section 2.

2.  Run the installation program.

3.  You will be prompted to agree to the license agreement.
    If you do not agree, the Installer will exit before
    extracting any files.

4.  Follow the on-screen instructions and use the default
    settings to complete the setup.
    Note:1.     In Windows 98 the Add New Hardware wizard will
        pop up after installation or restart. The device will be
        identified as a Human Interface Device. Click next to install
        a suitable driver for the device. In 'What do you want to do?'
        prompt, select 'Search the best driver for your device' option
        (which is the default), click next. In the search for
        location, do not select any specific location and allow
        Windows to search its default database for the driver, click
        next. If the Win98 CD-ROM is prompted, put the CD-ROM and give
        its location.Windows will select a default driver and finish
        installation.
5.  This completes the installation of the Symbol(R) Scanner COM Port Emulation
    Driver. See section on Using the scanner below for using the device.

b. TO UN-INSTALL DRIVER
   Installation creates an entry in 'Add/Remove Programs', which can be used to
   un-install the driver. Do the following for un-installation:
   Click 'Start' button, select 'Control Panel'. Double click 'Add/Remove
   Programs' control panel applet. Select 'Symbol USB COM Port emulation driver'
   and click 'Remove'.

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* 6.  USING THE SCANNER IN SIMPLE COM PORT EMULATION MODE OVER USB
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1.  Plug in the device to USB port.

2.  Scan the Simple COM Port Emulation bar code in USB Interface Section in
    Product Reference Guide. This needs to be done only once the deivce is
    connected to the PC.

3.  A virtual com port will come up once the device is plugged in.
    This can be verified by the presence of a new Communication Virtual Port
    (COM port) in Windows Device Manager under HID devices.
    To view device manager, go to Control Panel -> System, in Hardware tab,
    click Device Manager button.

4.  Use any application capable of communicating to COM port and connect to the
    emulated com port to interact with the scanner.

5.  To stop using the device, close the application so that it releases the use
    of the emulated com port. Then unplug the device.

Important:
    This mode supports one-way communication only i.e: transfer bar code
    data from the scanner to the PC host.

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* 7.  VERIFYING INSTALLATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND
       IDENTIFYING THE SOFTWARE VERSION NUMBER
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The version of the drivers provided can be obtained by viewing device property
in Device Manager. With the device plugged in, take device manager. To open
device manager, go to control panel -> System, select Hardware tab, click Device
Manager button. Expand Human Interface Devices node, right click Symbol COM port
emulation device select Properties. In the properties window Click Drivers tab
and click driver details button. File version number and provider details will
be displayed.

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* 8.  SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS
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Custom serial communication applications can be developed to work over the
virtual COM port, like the normal PC serial port. Driver supports Win32 serial 
communication APIs and applications that use these APIs will work over the 
virtual port subject to the limitations listed in Section 9.

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* 9.  KNOWN ISSUES AND LIMITATIONS
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1.Virtual COM port device will be read-only.
2.Serial baud rates, RS232 handshake lines, modem status and control register 
  settings are not supported. 
3.Inter-character delay and FIFO controls as in UART are NOT support.
4.Driver does not support changing read buffer size.
5.Windows 98 driver does not support changing of assigned COM port index. 
  This is supported only in Win2k/XP (accessible from 'Device Manager', 
  expand Human Interface Device, Right click 'Communication Virtual Port' 
  and select Properties. 'Communication Port' Properties page will be 
  displayed. Here select 'Port settings' tab, click 'Advanced', Select the 
  new COM port number desired from the 'COM Port Number' drop down list).

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* 10.  TROUBLESHOOTING
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It is assumed that the system requirements in Section 2
above have been satisfied.

Issue 1:  Virtual COM port doesnt come up after installation.

Solution: The driver to enumerate virtual com port will be loaded only if the
      scanner is in 'Simple COM port emulation mode'. This problem can occur
      if the installation was done with the scanner set to other modes such
      as HID Keyboard mode or Symbol Native USB mode. Switch the scanner
      to Simple COM port emulation mode by scanning bar code for 'Simple COM
      port emulation' device. Refer 'Synapse Smart Cable for USB Quick
      Reference Guide' for the bar code. Repeat the installation for
      COM port emulation driver after switching the device to
      'Simple COM port emualtion mode'.


Issue 2:  Device Manager shows scanner as Hid-Compliant device and not
      Symbol USB COM Port Emulation

Solution: This means installation for Symbol COM port emulation driver was not
      complete. Refer solution for Issue 1.


Issue 3:  Windows 98 doesnt enumerate the scanner with new driver after
      installation of COM emulation driver. The device was plugged
      in before installation and was using default Hid compliant driver
      supplied with windows. Restart option after installation was cancelled.

Solution: If the device is plugged in before installing Symbol COM port emulation
      driver in Windows 98, windows Plug-n-Play will detect the device and
      prompt for a driver. If default options are given, Windows will install
      Hid compliant driver that come with the OS. After this, if an attempt
      is made to install Symbol COM emulation driver, and restart option at
      the end of installation is cancelled, the device wont be properly
      installed. Always select option to restart system for the installation
      to succeed.

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* DISCLAIMER
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THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS IS PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
NON INFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SYMBOL
BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL,INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER,
RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF SYMBOL HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS PROHIBIT
THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL
DAMAGES; THEREFORE THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
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