ScanTools and the Download Utility

Download software is a separate executable program, not a part of ScanTools software.

For information about installing ScanTools software, see the ScanTools Plus User’s Guide.

Download software is installed in the ScanTools directory (C:\Program Files\Scantron\ScanTools Plus\). ScanTools software and Download use the same directories.

Download software uses components of ScanTools software to access existing applications and edit profiles, and to communicate with the scanner. Download software sees the same applications and edit profiles as the ScanTools program.

ScanTools software does not need to be running for Download software to use these components.

When an application is selected in Download software for the first time, Download gets the current ScanTools settings for the application, the edit profile, and scanner Runtime Parameters. After that, if you change the parameters or edit profile, or if you select a different edit profile, Download saves the settings in its own configuration file and does not refer back to ScanTools software again. For a given application, Download can have an edit profile selected that is not the same as the one selected in ScanTools, or it can have different settings for the other parameters.

The scanner configuration can be set in Download just like in ScanTools software. However, Download does not save a "private" configuration.

When you change something like scanner type or baud rate from the Download software Scanner Configuration dialog box, it is changed for ScanTools software as well.

You can run the ScanTools program and Download software at the same time. Every time Download software generates a command file (the Generate action), it re-loads the application file and the selected edit profile. You can use ScanTools software to make corrections to the application, then hit the Generate button in the Download program to get a new syntax file.

You must save the application in the ScanTools program before Download software can "see" the changes. This is true for the edit profile as well.

Download software only controls the COM port when you Download a Command File, Download the Runtime Parameters, or do a Test Run. Unless one of these actions is in progress, you can use ScanTools to scan. Conversely, while ScanTools is scanning, Download software cannot perform any actions except Generate a Command File.

Download software creates two types of files:

• Command files have the extension .DLF if they are packed, and .TXT if they are not packed.
• Scanner output files have the extension .DDA to distinguish them from ScanTools data files. All of these files are created in ScanTools Data Files directory (The default directory is C:\Program Files\Scantron\ScanTools Plus\Data Files. Your directory may be different).