BarTender

Walkthrough

Video walkthrough of workflow on youtube.

Overview of the Program

scanner and scale

Barcode Scanner

scanner and bottle

• Unitech MS340 USB 1D barcode scanner. Default setting, but set to "Continuous / Auto Power ON".

Serial Adapter

• May NOT be needed if using a newer model balance with a built-in USB port

• StarTech.com ICUSB232C : USB C to Serial Adapter Cable 16" (40cm) - USB Type C to RS232 (DB9) Converter Cable - USB-C Serial Cable for PLCs, Scanners, Printers - Male/Male - Windows/Mac/Linux
  

  StarTech USB-C Serial Adapter
  . Shows up as "/dev/cu.usbserial-1420", and listed under "System Information -> USB -> USB-Serial controller D"

!!!BE SURE TO CHECK StarTech.com FOR LATEST MACOS DRIVER!!!

Verify the adapter location by lookin gin /dev directory. Under Bartender "Settings" menu, enter full path to serial adaptor, e.g. "/dev/cu.usbserial-240"

• StarTech.com SCNM925FM : 10 ft Cross Wired DB9 to DB25 Serial Null Modem Cable - F/M - Null Modem Cable - DB-9 (F) to DB-25 (M) - 10 ft
  

  StarTech 9-25pin null modem cable

Setting up the Balance

Sartorius BP-3100S

This specific model has been discontinued, so recommend as a replacement Sartorius SECURA3102-1S Toploading Balance, 3100g x 0.01g

Connecting Balance to Mac

Macintosh->Serial port Mac->25 pin printer cable -> null modem adaptor-> balance

Balance menu setup (* = factory default):

1-1-2 stable conditions

5-1-7 = 9600 baud

5-2-3* = odd parity

5-3-1* = 1 stop bit

5-4-2* = hardware handshake with 2 char after CTS

6-1-5 autoprint at stability

6-2-2* autoprint not stoppable

If no weight is being reported (i.e. the balance is working, but the Mac doesn't appear to see it):

• Turn scale off
• unplug serial cable from back of scale
• Turn scale on
• When weight comes up, plug serial cable back in

Labels and Stickers

A helper app "BarLabeler" can print pdfs of the barcode stickers for bottles and QR codes for subject cages.

Labels should be printed using the barcode font "3 of 9". The designation of each bottle should be of the form "*EXC001F*", where "EXC" is the 2 or 3 letter experiment code, "001" is the subject number, and "F" is the item contained in that bottle (e.g., S for saccharin, W for water, F for food.). There should be no spaces between the elements of the label. The barcode reader expects the label to begin and end with an asterix (*). Place the human readable version of the label underneath the barcode. A label size of 2.0 inches by 0.8 inches seems best. See the website for premade Word and Pages templates.

Stickers should be printed onto Avery 22827 matte white water-resistant film rectangular labels 3.5" x 4.75", 24 per sheet, from which they can be cut into individual bottle labels. Because all the stickers are white, I recommend adding a color cue, such as a red marker line underneath the text on the saccharin labels, and a blue marker line on the water labels.

Formerly, we followed Jim Smith in using paper labels that were then secured to the bottles with waterproof "laminating stickers". The laminating stickers should be 3 inches by 1.5 inches, in order to completely seal the label. However, the Avery ware-resistant stickers work well (although they only come in white).