Display barcode data as string

[kckku]

I have a Keyence XG-X vision system and part of its function is to read a 2D matrix code on a label to verify the content. The vision system communicates to the PLC using EtherCAT and I noticed that I can't assign an array to any of the EtherCAT variables.

Previously when I was using EtherNet/IP, I would just use an array for the result data. Then I would convert the result to string using the AryToString instruction. Now it seems I have to write code to populate each array element independently from the EtherCAT variables before using the AryToString instruction. Is there a better way to do this?

It's not so bad if the code content is short but some codes have 68 digits and it will be a problem.

Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions.

[photovoltaic]

After installing the ESI file it seems that the Result data is all in DINT form. Not much we can do about this. There isn't a smooth way to do this but what I would do is make a string and a DINT array.

Manually map the DINTs from your IO map to the DINT array. It will be a lot of moves but an inline structured text box ill make it fairly clean. In your global variables assign a starting address to both of them. This will constantly convert the DINTs from the camera into a string and you can decide whether or not to use it in your program based on other vision tool results.

[kckku]

 

17 hours ago, photovoltaic said:

After installing the ESI file it seems that the Result data is all in DINT form. Not much we can do about this. There isn't a smooth way to do this but what I would do is make a string and a DINT array.

Manually map the DINTs from your IO map to the DINT array. It will be a lot of moves but an inline structured text box ill make it fairly clean. In your global variables assign a starting address to both of them. This will constantly convert the DINTs from the camera into a string and you can decide whether or not to use it in your program based on other vision tool results.

Thanks for the feedback. I have resorted to converting each DINT to a byte and then populating an element in an array. After this I use the AryToString instruction to make the array into a string.

Fortunately the 2D matrix data can be broken up in to smaller segments like part number, serial number, date code, etc. I will have individual sections for each of these strings and then check the content separately.

Edited August 18, 2021 by kckku