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A keyboard wedge is used when you are trying to get data from some type of measuring device into applications that cannot accept data from a serial port. A software keyboard wedge reads data from a serial port and passes this data to a PC application in such a manner that the application thinks the data is entered via the keyboard.Â
Software and hardware keyboard wedges are used extensively in data acquisition applications that include statistical programs, spreadsheets, barcode, LIMS, etc. MicroRidge keyboard wedges can accept input data from any RS-232 serial device. The data is then passed to a Windows application in such a manner that the application thinks the data is actually coming from the keyboard.
Whether you’re comparing a hardware keyboard wedge to a software keyboard wedge, sizing up the WedgeLink AT against the WedgeLink SP, or troubleshooting an existing setup, the questions below cover the most common WedgeLink questions we hear from customers.
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WedgeLink Lite ($99) is direct pass-through with optional date/time stamping and delimiter conversion, for instruments whose output is already in the format your application needs. WedgeLink Standard ($199) adds a full seven-stage parsing pipeline (match, mask, remove, replace, math, prefix, suffix), up to 5 independent parsing groups, and up to 50 configurable serial commands, for instruments that transmit compound packets requiring reformatting. Both editions support two simultaneous RS-232 input ports. See the WedgeLink Lite & Standard product page for the full feature comparison.
Yes. Both editions support two simultaneous RS-232 input ports. In WedgeLink Standard, each port can run its own independent parsing group, so a caliper on Port A and a scale on Port B can each be parsed differently and land in separate fields in the same target application.
Yes, in both Lite and Standard. Date, time, or both can be added as a prefix or suffix to each data packet, typically combined with a Tab character so the timestamp lands in its own Excel column ahead of the measurement value.
Yes, with WedgeLink Standard. Up to 50 commands can be configured, each assignable to Port A, Port B, or both, with repeat counts and cycle intervals for automated or high-volume data collection. This is used for instruments that require a trigger command before they transmit a reading, or that accept control strings for zeroing or unit switching.
Yes. WedgeLink opens in Preview Mode with no time limit, so you can configure serial ports and test your complete parsing scheme before starting the clock. A 3-day full evaluation with live data transfer can be activated when you’re ready to test. Download the free trial.
Yes, with WedgeLink Standard. The Math tab supports a configurable minimum and maximum acceptable value. Packets outside that range can be withheld entirely or replaced with a defined string, which keeps instrument errors or out-of-tolerance mistakes from reaching your SPC dataset.