™ SelfCheck System C-Series User Guide 3M Library Systems 3M Center, Building 225-4N-14 St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 1-800-328-0067 www.3M.
3M™ SelfCheck™ System C-Series User Guide 78-8129-2093-8 Rev. B2 Software Version 1.5 11/22/2006 © 2006 3M. All rights reserved. 3M, SelfCheck, and Tattle-Tape are trademarks of 3M. Ithaca is a registered trademark and iTherm a trademark of TransAct Technologies, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Contents Safety information .......................................................................................... 1 Regulatory compliance ............................................................................... 3 EMC compliance USA and Canada ............................................................................. 3 FCC intentional radiator certification ............................................................................ 3 Industry Canada radio frequency rules and regulations......
Printing hold slips ................................................................................................. 18 Downloading DLA data ........................................................................................ 19 3M™ SelfCheck™ System Manager.......................................................................... 20 Common elements ............................................................................................... 21 Home page .............................................
Forwarding stored items ............................................................................................. 51 Store and Forward ............................................................................................... 51 Using Store and Forward ..................................................................................... 51 When the circulation system is unavailable ......................................................... 51 Setting Offline mode.....................................
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Safety information Read, understand, and follow all safety information contained in these instructions prior to installation and use of the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System C-Series C1 Model 877. Retain these instructions for future reference. Intended use The 3M SelfCheck System C-Series C1 Model 877 is intended for use by library patrons in checking RFID-tagged books back into a library with minimal assistance by library staff.
WARNING To reduce the risk associated with fire due to insertion of non-authorized items into chute: Install security procedures and equipment appropriate to conditions; comply with applicable building codes and insurance concerns.
Regulatory compliance EMC compliance USA and Canada FCC Radio Frequency Rules and Regulations This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Overview Welcome to the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System C-Series. The SelfCheck System C-Series is a “smart chute” system. It automates check-ins by reading RFID tags as books and other library items slide down the return chute. Then it checks them in, generates item and exceptions reports, and prints hold slips for the exceptions. Please take the time to read this guide. It will help you understand how your SelfCheck system works. Keep it accessible when the system is in use.
Software installation If the SelfCheck system computer is supplied by 3M, the SelfCheck system software should already be installed. If you should need to install or reinstall the SelfCheck system software yourself, please follow these instructions. Step 1 – Install the Windows XP System Configuration Update The system configuration update makes the following changes to the SelfCheck system’s computer: Turns off services that are not being used. Installs additional drivers.
Several command windows appear while the update process is running. Command window When the update is finished, a completion message appears. 7 Remove the CD from the CD drive and place it back into its case. 8 Click Yes to restart the computer. 9 Go to “Step 2 – Install the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System software.” Completion message Step 2 – Install the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System software 1 Start the computer if it is not running. 2 Insert the SelfCheck System C-Series CD. It should start automatically.
4 Click Install from a list or specific location 5 Click Include this location in the search, browse to the PRINTER\Ithaca\iTherm280\USBport folder on the CD, and then click Next. 6 Click Finish. This only causes a USB port to be installed on your machine. The printer is not installed yet! 5 Browse to PRINTER\Ithaca\iTherm280\USBport 7 When the Found New Hardware Wizard reappears, again click Install from a list or specific location, and then click Next.
7 In the Install from Disk dialog box, browse to the PRINTER\Ithaca\iTherm280\Drivers folder on the CD, and then click OK. 8 Select Ithaca from the Manufacturers list and Series 280 from the Printers list, and then click Next. 9 In the Name Your Printer dialog box, name the printer Series 280 and select it as the default printer. The printer must be named Series 280 for the SelfCheck system diagnostics to work properly. 7 Browse to PRINTER\Ithaca\iTherm280\Drivers 10 Click Next, and then click Next a
7 To determine which COM port has been assigned to this printer, click Start, click Run, type usbman, and then click OK. Note the COM port number, and then close the Ithaca USB Manager. 8 Click Start, and then click Run. 9 In the Open box, type d:\printer\setup comx, where d is the drive letter of the CD drive and x is the COM port assigned to the printer, and then press ENTER. For example, if the CD drive is drive E and the printer is assigned to COM3, type e:\printer\setup com3.
Typical workflows Without DLA Use the following procedure if you do not use a 3M Digital Library Assistant (DLA). 1 Let the returns accumulate until the chute is full or a set time is reached. 2 Remove the returns, and then immediately click Items Removed on the Current Items tab of the local interface. 3 Place any item that arrives between the time you remove the returns and click Items Removed with the items you just removed.
Startup and shutdown Use the following procedures to start the SelfCheck system, to restart it, or to shut it down. Starting the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System To start the SelfCheck system Ensure power is applied to all components, and then start the computer. The SelfCheck system software and local user interface starts automatically after Windows loads. This may take a minute or two. To start the SelfCheck system software when the computer is already running 1 On the keyboard, press the Windows key.
To restart using the Start menu 1 On the SelfCheck system keyboard, press the Windows key. The Windows Start menu appears. 2 Click Restart 3M SelfCheckCSeries. Restarting from the Start menu To restart the local user interface 1 On the SelfCheck system keyboard, press the Windows key. The Windows Start menu appears. 2 Click SelfCheck C-Series Local. The local interface starts and automatically reconnects to the SelfCheck system service.
Installing system security updates From time to time new security updates become available for your SelfCheck system. Windows notifies you of the availability of these updates as they are released. To protect the SelfCheck system from hazards such as hackers and computer viruses, you should download and install updates as soon as possible. To learn when a security update is available Look for the Automatic Updates icon to appear in the notification area of the Windows taskbar.
Managing the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System The SelfCheck system is managed through two user interfaces. The local user interface is for daily management at the chute where the SelfCheck system is installed. The remote user interface, called the 3M SelfCheck System Manager, is a browser-based interface for management and configuration over the Internet or your intranet. Security The local interface has no security aside from that provided by Microsoft Windows.
Local interface The local interface is available only on the SelfCheck system computer. You can use it to monitor the operation of the SelfCheck system, reset the chute counter, and view reports. Common elements The local interface has the following common elements: (1) Close button. Closes the SelfCheck system window only. The SelfCheck system software continues to run in the background. (2) Tabs. Click to select different interface pages. (3) Status view.
System Watcher tab Use the System Watcher tab to monitor current and recent activities of the SelfCheck system. Item View Displays information about RFID tags detected by the SelfCheck system as they are detected. Check In Results Displays the results of attempts to check in the detected tags. System Watcher tab Item Reports tab Use the Item Reports tab to view current and archived reports. To view an item report 1 Click the archive you want to review. 2 Click View Item Report.
Item reports An item report lists all items detected in the chute and summarizes and sorts them by category. To view the current item report In the Current Items tab, click View Item Report. In the Item Reports tab, click Current, and then click View Item Report. To view an archived item report In the Item Reports tab, click the archive you want to view, and then click View Item Report. Item reports can also be viewed in SelfCheck System Manager.
Exception reports An exception report lists all items that were not checked in or that require special handling. It summarizes and sorts them by category. Essentially, the exception report is a subset of the item report, omitting only the items that were successfully checked in. To view the current exception report In the Current Items tab, click View Exception Report. In the Item Reports tab, click Current, and then click View Exception Report.
Downloading DLA data Items on the exception report arrive in no particular order. To locate them quickly, it helps to have a 3M™ Digital Library Assistant (DLA). If you have a DLA, you can download search lists to use with it. Each type of exception (except for Invalid Tags and Stored Items) will have a separate search list. The search lists are downloaded to the location specified in the Process Items tab of the SelfCheck System Manager. (See “Processing items” on page 27.
3M™ SelfCheck™ System Manager SelfCheck System Manager is the SelfCheck system’s Web-based management and configuration utility. Access to its features is passwordprotected. Only administrators with advanced passwords have complete access to its configuration options. Because SelfCheck System Manager is Web-based, you can open it from any computer equipped with a Web browser, including the SelfCheck system computer itself.
Common elements Most SelfCheck System Manager pages have the following elements: (1) Navigation bar (2) Status block (3) System name (4) Host name or IP address (5) Export Settings (6) Import Settings (7) Logout (8) Shutdown (9) Close (10) Save button (11) Tabs Common elements Navigation bar The navigation bar displays the current page in black and higherlevel pages in color. To return to a higher-level page, just click its name.
Export Settings Click Export Settings to save the current configuration for future use on the current unit or another unit. Import Settings Click Import Settings to import a previously saved configuration. Use this command to configure several SelfCheck systems alike or to restore a previous configuration. Manage Click Manage to open the advanced setup pages. This command is available only on the Home page and then only if an advanced password has been entered.
Home page The Home page is the first page you see when you browse to the SelfCheck system. Because no password is required to view the Home page, any staff member can use it to check the operational status of the SelfCheck system and view the item and chute statistics. The Item Statistics table contains current and archived statistics. The current item statistics is the number of items processed since the last time the chute was emptied and the previous item count was archived.
Basic administration This section describes operations that can be performed after logging in with the basic password. With the basic password you can: View system and support information. Change the mode of operation to normal, offline, or out-of-service. View chute statistics and reports. Unload the current chute. Export settings. Shut down or restart the system. View system status information.
Your system This section contains basic information about the system. If you call technical support, the technician will ask you for information from this section. Detailed system status Click to view the current status of the SIP connection, mail server connection, RFID reader, and printer. Library name The name of the library where the SelfCheck system is located. System name A unique name that distinguishes the SelfCheck system from other SelfCheck systems in the library. For example: “West Wall Chute.
Statistics The Statistics tab contains the same statistics information as the Home page except for the View Archive link. To view a statistics report Click the appropriate link in the Item Statistics table. Reports in the Items Detected column show detailed information about all items in the archive. Reports in the Exceptions column show detailed information about items that may require special handling. See also “Home page” on page 23, “Item reports” on page 17, and “Exception reports” on page 18.
Processing items Unloading the chute Staff can confirm item removal through either the local interface or the browser interface. When you confirm item removal, you archive the current statistics and reset the counters to zero. To unload using the browser 1 Open the browser and log in. 2 Click the Process Items tab, and then click Items Removed. To unload using the local user interface 1 Under the Current Items tab, click Items Removed.
To manually download a DLA search list 1 Automatically download DLA Database when items are removed should be cleared. 2 Open the exception report you want to download from. 3 Click Download DLA data. 4 On the Download DLA Database page, click Download DLA Data. Advanced administration The advanced administration pages can be opened only by typing the advanced password. With the advanced password you can: Edit contact, system and email notification information. Set the operation mode.
Support You can use the advanced Support tab to: Edit contact, system and email notification information. Set the operation mode. Set the logging level. View and save the log. Send the current configuration and logs to 3M technical support. Contact information The Contact Us section is used to edit the contact information found on the basic Support page. Only a 3M technician should edit this section. To change the contact information 1 Select the information you want to change.
Hardware serial number The serial number of the SelfCheck system as defined by the license key. It cannot be changed. Product version The version number of the SelfCheck system software. It changes automatically when the software is updated. License agreements Displays the software license agreement. To change the system information 1 Select the information you want to change. 2 Type the new information. 3 Click Save System Settings.
Operation mode You can set the SelfCheck system to three modes of operation: Normal In Normal mode the system is communicating with the circulation system and checking in library items. Offline Offline mode enables the SelfCheck system to operate when the library's circulation system is not functioning. Offline transaction data are stored in the SelfCheck system for forwarding to the circulation system when the two systems are communicating again.
Statistics and report management The SelfCheck system stores usage data in a database on the SelfCheck system computer. In the Statistics tab, you can view this data in the form of reports. You can also delete this data from the database. Deleting data permanently removes it from the system. You should unload the current chute and archive the current chute statistics before you delete data.
Processing items The Process Items tab is the same as in the basic administration interface. See “Processing items” on page 27. Notifications The SelfCheck system can automatically send email notifications to the email addresses selected on the Notifications tab. There are five categories of notifycation. Each can be enabled or disabled individually. The email addresses set up on this page are independent of the email addresses set up in the Notifications section of the Support tab.
Self Check C-Series Error Sends an email notification any time a critical error or failure condition occurs: for example, RFID reader failure, printer out of paper, etc. An additional notification is sent when the failure condition clears. Printing hold slips Selecting hold slips for printing Each type of hold listed in the Exceptions tab can be selected for printing in the Printouts tab.
Editing hold slip text You can edit the header and footer text of a hold slip in the Header, Footer and Font Configuration area. To edit the text, simply type in the header and footer boxes. To change the font and font size of the slips, select them in the Font Name and Font Size boxes. You can edit the hold slip header and footer through either the Printouts tab or the Messages tab. Messages Use the Messages tab to edit the text of email notifications and hold slips.
Network settings The settings in the Network tab enable the SelfCheck system to communicate properly with your library’s circulation system. The settings should not be changed unless there is a change in the circulation system. Information about the circulation system should be available from the library’s circulation system administrator. Circulation system communications Error detection Adds check digits to ensure that communications are correctly sent and received.
Keep alive interval The time between messages periodically sent from the SelfCheck system to the circulation system to maintain communications. Character set The character set that the SIP communication parameters are coded in by the circulation system. Set new terminal password Enables a change in the terminal password. Select before typing a new terminal password. Terminal password The appropriate ID for your socket connection.
Mail server The following information is required for email notifications. See also “Notifications” on page 30. Server host name The domain name or IP address of the library’s mail server. Sender email The email address of the SelfCheck system. This will appear in the headers of email notifications. Network Mail Server section Send/expect scripts If the SelfCheck system uses telnet communications, a send/expect login script is required to ensure security and limit access to the library’s host computer.
To edit a line of script ) for the line On the Send/Expect Scripts page, click the Edit icon ( you want to edit, and then follow steps 2 through 8 in the preceding procedure. To delete a line from the script On the Send/Expect Scripts page, click the Delete icon ( you want to delete, and then click Save Changes. ) for the line Developing a script All characters in the send/expects entries are case-sensitive and punctuation-sensitive and must have the correct number of spaces.
Retries Retries are used only for the first exchange to establish the initial connection to the host computer. Enter the number of times you want the SelfCheck system to attempt to connect to the host if it does not succeed on the first attempt. Devices Use the Devices tab to set up the SelfCheck system’s hardware devices, but only under the direction of 3M support personnel. After making any changes, click Save Device Settings.
ID filters and validators Filtering item IDs Some item identification formats may not be compatible with those used by your circulation system, especially if the format has changed recently. For incompatible formats, the SelfCheck system can use filters to modify IDs before they are sent to the circulation system. The filtering process works as follows: 1 The system reads the ID from the item tag. 2 The filter modifies the ID to meet the requirements of the circulation system.
Working with filters Filters are created and managed on three page levels: The ID Settings page lists all filters and validators and contains a link to the Item Filters page. The Item Filters page lists all item filters and enables you to test the filters as a group. Here you can also delete filters and access the Add and Edit Item Filter pages. The Add and Edit Item Filter pages are where you create and edit filters and test them individually.
To test a single filter 1 On the Add Item Filter or Edit Item Filter page, in the Test ID box, type an ID in the format you want to change. 2 Click Test the Barcode. The filtered ID appears in the Result box. 3 Compare the filtered format to the format you want. 4 To test the filter against other ID formats, repeat the preceding steps. The filter in the illustration will add zeroes to any seven-character ID. To restrict the action to IDs used by the library, you should also use the CONTAINS command.
Validating item IDs The purpose of a validator is to minimize network traffic by rejecting invalid ID formats before the ID is sent to the circulation system. It can also be useful for screening out invalid IDs when the SelfCheck system is in Offline mode. A validator is similar to a filter, except that it can only accept or reject an ID. Therefore, it does not include action commands. If the ID matches one of the validators in the validator list, it is accepted for further processing.
8 If the list test shows the results you want, click Save Changes. The validators are added to the ID Settings page. To return to the ID Settings page, click ID Settings in the navigation bar. To test a single validator 1 On the Add Validator or Edit Validator page, in the Test ID box, type an ID in the format you want to pass. 2 Click Test the Barcode. The pass or fail result appears in the Result box. 3 To test the validator against other ID formats, repeat the preceding steps.
ID filter language This section describes the commands used to create ID filters. Command description conventions KEYWORD Words that are bold and all caps have special meanings, and should be typed literally. However, they may be typed in either upper or lower case. < > Angle brackets enclose a variable parameter. By variable parameter, we mean a value that you can select or invent. The brackets are not typed. [ ] Square brackets enclose an optional part of a command. The brackets are not typed.
ID filter command descriptions CONTAINS command Syntax: CONTAINS [AT ] The CONTAINS constraint searches the ID code for the specified string. If the string is not found, then the ID filter does not alter the ID code. If a string is specified without a number, then the string can appear anywhere in the ID code. If both a string and a number are specified, then the string must appear at the character in the ID code. The first character in the ID code is number 1.
REMOVE command Syntax: REMOVE or REMOVE [AT ] The REMOVE action removes a string or a range of characters from the ID code. If a string is specified, the SelfCheck system searches the ID code and removes all occurrences of the string. If one number is specified, it is the number of characters to remove from the end of the ID code. If two numbers are specified, the first number is the number of characters to remove, and the second number is the first character position to remove.
ID filter example 2 This example demonstrates the use of the CONTAINS and REPLACE commands. Problem Item IDs in the library system have changed format. The meaning of character A has changed. If character A is found, it must be changed to a Z. Solution The CONTAINS command selects only those ID codes with the A character in position 5. The REPLACE command changes A to Z.
Passwords Use the Passwords tab to change the administrative passwords. The basic password is used to access the basic pages. The advanced password is used to access the advanced pages. Because the default basic and advanced passwords (basic and advanced) are published in this guide, 3M strongly recommends that you change them as soon as possible. If you lose or forget the password, you must call a 3M service technician to reset the passwords for you.
Forwarding stored items Store and Forward Use the Store & Forward tab to forward stored items to the circulation system after the SelfCheck system has been in Offline mode or disconnected from the circulation system. Store and Forward enables the SelfCheck system to process library materials when the circulation system is unavailable. While operating offline, the SelfCheck system stores transactions for later forwarding to the circulation system.
Setting Offline mode When you learn that the circulation system will be unavailable for an extended period of time, you should set the SelfCheck system to Offline mode. To set the SelfCheck system to Offline mode 1 Open SelfCheck System Manager, log in, and then click the Support tab. 2 Click the Operation Mode box, click Offline, and then click Set Mode. Setting Offline mode Forwarding stored transactions The SelfCheck system automatically detects when the circulation system is back online.
Check-in exceptions Use the Exceptions tab to enable holds that you want to see in exception reports and to enable the blocking of unsecured items or incomplete sets. Alert types are defined in the 3M SIP 2.0 Extensions.
General maintenance Replacing the printer paper When the printer runs out of paper, use the following procedure to install a new roll of paper: To replace the paper 1 Squeeze the open button and lift the printer cover. 2 Place the paper roll in the printer so the paper unwinds from the bottom. 3 Pull the front edge of the paper out until it is past the front edge of the printer. 4 Close the printer cover.
Solving problems Most problems with the SelfCheck system can be resolved by reading this guide. In the “FAQs” (frequently asked questions) section, we answer several of the most frequently asked questions. In the other sections we attempt to help you resolve problems that may be due to hardware, software, or configuration failures. FAQs Does the 3M™ SelfCheck™ System operate with SIP 1.0? No. The SelfCheck System C-Series operates only with SIP (Standard Interchange Protocol) 2.0.
Additional things to check The data cable should be properly connected to the network connector on the SelfCheck system. The host should be properly operating and capable of accepting a connection from the SelfCheck system. Make sure the SIP program is running on the host. If a terminal server is used, make sure it is running and is capable of accepting a connection from the SelfCheck system.
Hold slip problems Hold slip will not print See “Printer problems” on page 56. Hold slip does not print the desired information Verify that the hold slip configuration area on the Printouts tab has the correct information. Hold slip information does not fit properly Try changing the font or the font size in the hold slip configuration area on the Printouts tab. The font and font size selected in the Header and Footer Text area affect the entire receipt.
Obtaining service and supplies Printer paper and other supplies To order printer paper and other supplies in the U.S., call 1-800-328-0067, option 2. Outside the U.S., call your local 3M office. The following printer paper is recommended: Thermal Printer Paper Part number 78-8126-7827-0 (Part number for one roll. You must order paper in quantities of 8 rolls.) Width 3.15 inches [80 mm] Length 410 feet [125 m] Diameter 4.
Appendix A: Email notification messages The SelfCheck system automatically sends email alerts to the email addresses on the Notifications tab (page 33) and in the Notifications box of the Support tab (page 30). The following table lists the standard email notification messages. You can edit the text of these messages on the Messages tab. (See “Messages” on page 35.) Alert condition Subject line Message Chute full 3M SelfCheck System C-Series: {0}. Chute full. 3M SelfCheck System C-Series: {0}.
3M Library Systems 3M Center, Building 225-4N-14 St. Paul, Minnesota 55144-1000 www.3M.com/library © 2006 3M. All rights reserved.
