When ezCart 2001 is run for the very first time, you will need to set a number of preferences that control how the program appears on-screen and what kinds of features are enabled.

To modify your preferences, either select the menu item Edit | Configuration or click on the button labeled "Configure" on the main display.  A dialog similar to the following will appear.  The ezCart 2001 preference settings (configuration) are divided into pages (or tabs), organized according to preference category.

General

The General page provides for setting the default play channel, whether or not to enable remote starts in ezCart 2001, and setting up your cart preview intro/outro lengths and preferred play back channel.

Default Play Channel

The play channel that will be used as a default when a button is set up as a play cart button.  When you drag an inventory item from the inventory display to a button and drop it, the play channel for the button is set to the "Default" play channel. You can change a button's designated play channel from the button configuration dialog to set a specific play channel for a button.

Remote Start

You can set ezCart 2001 to respond to remote starts so that when you press an external "start button" for say, channel 1, the cart at the top of the channel 1 queue (if there is one) will be played.  Each play back channel has a separate remote start.  The remote sensitivity item should be left at the default value unless you are having difficulties getting the remote starts to work properly.

Enable Remote Starts.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will attempt to use remote start functionality.  At startup, the application will check to see if there's a valid remote start port available and if the buttons are functional.  If not, an error message will be displayed.

Remote Sensitivity.  The default value is 100.  Unless you are having trouble with remote starts, this value should be left at the default.  The value corresponds to the number of milliseconds between polling of the game port to detect button pushes (remote starts fired).  The minimum allowed value is 50, the maximum value is 250.  A smaller number means that the game port will be polled more frequently, meaning more responsive to button pushes.

You will need to construct the needed remote start buttons and cable to connect to the ezCart 2001 PC.  See the section on Setting Up Remote Starts in Appendix D.

Preview Options

Intro Preview Length. Sets the length of time (in seconds) that a cart will be played from the beginning when previewing a cart.

Outro Preview Length.  Sets the length of time (in seconds) that a cart will be played from the end when previewing a cart.

Preview Channel.  Selects the playback channel that will be used for previewing a cart.  Typically, this will be channel 2 or channel 3, depending on many discreet outputs the host DCS or Maestro machine has available.  Cart preview is available on the Button Configuration dialog.

User Interface

The User Interface page provides the ability to set items that affect how ezCart 2001 displays information and how it acts or reacts to user actions.

General

Save Screen Settings.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will remember the size and location of the main dialog and other display items from session to session.

Display Toolbar at Startup.  If checked, the ezCart 2001 toolbar will be displayed at startup.

Hide Main Dialog Status Bar.  If checked, the ezCart 2001 status bar, located at the bottom of the main display, will not be visible at startup.  Items that will be hidden include the connection status (TCP/IP or serial), button hinting, and error status (if applicable).

Set Default Button Colors

Background Color.  This color is the default color used for the button (button face color) whenever a new button file is created. To select the color of your choosing, click on the drop down icon and select the color from the displayed list.

Text Color.  This is the default text color used for buttons whenever a new button file is created.  To select the color of your choosing, click on the drop down icon and select the color from the displayed list.

Touch Screen Features

Enable Touch Screen Mode at Startup.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will operate in "touch screen mode" at startup.  Clicking on a button will not cause the cart assigned to the button to be played.  Instead, dragging of the button will be enabled, so you can "touch" (or click) on a button, then "touch" (or click) on a queue or cart deck.  If a queue is the target, the cart item will be added to that queue. If a cart deck is the target, ezCart 2001 will play the cart immediately.

Show HotSpot Borders.  If checked, buttons that are normally flat and blended in with the rest of the main dialog will have borders painted around them to make it easier to see where to "touch" (or click) for an action.

Use Buttons for Color Selection.  If checked, the button configuration dialog will display button background and text color selections as a pop-up dialog rather than a drop-down list.  the pop-up dialog is much easier to use if you are using a touch screen - the colors are displayed in a large color box style rather than slim color bars.

File Locations

The File Locations page provides settings for the location of button files , the default button file name, and settings that relate to use of the host DCS or Maestro inventory file.  The inventory file is used for two things:  1) setting up buttons; and 2) validating button contents for availability of a cart and/or whether or not the cart is valid for a given date.

Button Files

Button File Path.  The default location (folder) for ezCart 2001 button files.  Each button configuration is stored as a file.  This option sets the default location for these files.  You can use the folder button to select the directory (recommended) or you can type the location directly in this field.

Default Button File.  The name of the button configuration file that will be loaded by ezCart 2001 at startup.  This field contains the file name only and it is assumed that the default button file will be located in the default Button File Path.  You can use the file selection button in this field (the ellipse button) to select the filename (recommended) or you can type the filename.

Inventory File

Use DCS Inventory File.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will attempt to load an inventory file at startup.  The inventory file is the host unit's inventory list - carts that are available to the host unit.  The inventory file is used in ezCart 2001 to aid in selecting carts for buttons (configuring buttons) and may also be used to validate that carts associated with buttons exist in the host inventory and/or are valid for today's date.

Auto-refresh Inventory.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will monitor the host inventory file for changes and refresh the inventory list as needed.  ezCart 2001 will check for changes at one-minute intervals.

Validate Button Cart Exists.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will check each button's programmed cart number against the host unit inventory to see if the cart exists.  If the cart does not exist, a red "X" will be placed on the button, indicating that the cart is missing from the host machine. The button will be disabled.  This action occurs each time a button file is loaded.  The validation of button existence also occurs when the inventory list is refreshed.

Check Button Cart Dates.  If checked, ezCart 2001 will check each button's programmed cart number to see if that cart is valid for today's date.  In other words, does today fall between the begin and end dates of the cart?  If the cart dates are invalid, a blue "X" is placed on the button, indicating the cart of out-of-date.  The affected button will be disabled.  Checking for valid dates occurs each time a button file is loaded and each time the inventory is refreshed.

Inventory File Location.  Select the correct location of the inventory file.  Local means you will be loading an inventory file of your choosing somewhere within your LAN (local area network).  Local is the option you must use if you are communicating with the host DCS or Maestro unit via a serial connection.  Remote means that you are getting inventory information from an rcServer, which may be located within your building or may be somewhere else entirely.  If the remote option is selected, you need not select an inventory file name - the rcServer application will handle getting you the correct inventory information.  The actual inventory file, when downloaded from rcServer, will be placed in your local transfer file directory.  See the section on Port Setup for more information.

Inventory File Name.  This option is enabled only if you select an inventory file location of Local.  If you choose to use a local inventory file, you must provide a complete host unit inventory filename. You can use the file selection dialog by clicking on the ellipse button in the field (recommended) or by typing the fully-qualified filename in the field.

Port Setup

The Port Setup page is where you tell ezCart 2001 how to communicate with the host unit. The two available methods are Serial and TCP/IP.  Depending on the communications method selected, portions of this dialog will be disabled as they are not needed for the option you selected.

Connection Method

Select the radio button that matches the type of connection you will be using with ezCart 2001.  Depending on your selection, other portions of this dialog will be disabled as they are unneeded for your selection.  Choose the Serial radio button if you are connecting directly to the host DCS or Maestro unit via a serial cable.  Choose the TCP/IP radio button if you will be connecting to an rcServer or XStudio.

TCP/IP Connection Info

IP Address.  Sets the TCP/IP address of the host rcServer or XStudio application.  If rcServer or XStudio is running on the same machine as ezCart 2001, an address of 127.000.000.001 will work as well as the address assigned in Windows Networking | TCP/IP Properties.

Listen Port.  Selects the TCP/IP port that will be used for text & commands (Listen Port). The default port is 5390 and can be in the range 5300-6999.

File Transfer Port.  Selects the TCP/IP port that will be used for file transfer. The default port is 6000 and can be in the range 5300-6999.

User Name.  Enter a username by which you will be identified to other users and rcServer.

Enable Event Logging.  If the communications method is TCP/IP, checking this option enables logging of TCP/IP events - connection to rcServer or XStudio, disconnection, file transfer, etc.  The events are logged to a file in the ezCart 2001 application directory (install folder).  You can view the log files from the main dialog.  See the section on Using ezCart 2001 for details.

Local File Transfer Directory.  The location (folder) where files transferred from the host rcServer will be placed.  Available only if TCP/IP communications is enabled. You can use the ellipse button in this field (...) to select a folder rather than typing in the name.

COM Port Selection

COM Port Number.  The COM port that will be used on the ezCart 2001 PC to communicate with a DCS or Maestro unit (if serial communications are enabled).  You can use the [Select COM Port] button to select the port from a list of those available on your ezCart 2001 machine.

Auto-Open COM Port.  If this item is checked, ezCart 2001 will always attempt to establish serial communications (if serial communications is enabled) with a DCS or Maestro unit immediately on startup.  If not selected, the user will have to open the COM port manually by selecting the File | Open COM Port menu item.  If a serial connection is always present, you should check this item as a matter of convenience.

Miscellaneous

The Miscellaneous page includes items to set up fonts for printed reports (future use) and to enable or disable basic configuration security.

Set Printer Font for Reports

This section is for future enhancements to ezCart 2001 and is not currently used.

Selected Font.  Selects the base font for printed reports.  Mono space fonts are preferred.  Courier New is the default value.

Font Size.  Selects the font size (in points) for printed reports.  10 is the default value.

Security Preference

Enable Configuration Security.  If checked,  you will be prompted to enter and then confirm a password.  After saving your changes, each time users try to launch the preferences dialog, they will be prompted for the password and must enter it correctly in order to access the preferences dialog and change settings.  The password is stored in an encrypted format in the preferences file (ezCart.ini).

 

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