OmniLink software complex operation principles

OmniLink main operation principles

Before using OmniLink, operator determines the set of specific tasks, which are supposed to be performed using data terminal (goods inventory, registration of goods receipts and expenditures etc.) as well as contents and structure of the information to be gathered, stored and transferred from data terminal to the computer.

To perform specific tasks of data gathering, one needs to form a special terminal application, i.e. to generate a new project. Application design using the “OmniLink Project Generator” development tool is the process of creation of a project that implements execution of specific user’s tasks. The ultimate goal of the design is to obtain formalized description of the data terminal software regarding data gathering.  

Development tool has a number of benefits: 

No special developer skills are required.

• User-friendly interface: all settings are done through properties.
• Virtually any functionality regarding data gathering, storage, and transfer from data terminal to computer can be realized.
• Independent of data terminal model.

Project is a set of elements according to which data terminal application is functioning. Project can include dialogs and reference books.

Dialog is a project element describing scenario according to which interoperation of the operator with data terminal is performed. Dialog consists of input fields and a number of attributes, which define different order of entry and storage of information in data terminal. The number of dialogs simultaneously loaded on data terminal is limited by the size of the terminal operating memory. Operating mode is the sequential processing of input fields and displaying of the entered values on the data terminal screen.

Reference book is the set of data referred by the dialogs loaded to the data terminal.  

Having finished creation of a project, operator loads the project to data terminal. If a reference book (e.g. goods dictionary) is required for fulfillment of the tasks, then the operator determines format and contents of the reference book and downloads it to the data terminal as well. If the reference book is already loaded to the data terminal, there is an option to transfer modified reference data during the next session.

The project development, the reference book composing and downloading of both the project and reference book to the data terminal is performed on the computer running MS Windows operating system.

After finishing preparatory actions regarding project generation, the data terminal is ready for autonomous operation: the operator can open any loaded dialog on the terminal, perform data gathering according to the dialog’s properties and transfer the gathered data to the computer for further processing. Depending on the settings, all gathered data or just modified data can be transferred.