WinWedge FAQs

WinWedge is essentially a user configurable serial device driver. It allows you to input data from a device connected to a serial port on your PC directly into any other Windows program. You can think of it as "wedging" instrument data into your application programs! WinWedge (the SoftwareWedge for Windows) easily adds RS232 serial data acquisition capabilities to EXCEL… ACCESS… statistical programs... MMIs... LIMS... etc. With WinWedge Pro sophisticated instrument interfaces are created in minutes.

WinWedge eliminates the need for custom programming or hardware "add-ons". And, because it is a software-only solution, you can easily use it on a lap-top or portable computers. Collect real-time data from multiple devices on many serial ports simultaneously. At no extra cost!

ANY instrument that you can plug into the serial port (RS232, RS422 or RS485) of your PC - Typical devices include gages, scales, sensors, meters, bar code readers, micrometers, densitometers, pH meters, CMMs, PLCs, communication systems, laboratory instruments, etc...

You will never need a specialized serial "device driver" again... WinWedge Pro is a universal serial device driver! If you have questions about your specific application please call 800-722-6004 or email: sales@taltech.com. Our technical sales staff will be happy to assist you.

"We find the SoftwareWedge very useful for our many laboratory instruments. It is versatile and supports data collection into any application."
- John Manwaring Eco Physiology Lab., Utah State University

WinWedge transfers data received through a serial port to other applications by either converting the data to keystrokes or by passing the data using DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange). The keystroke method is extremely simple. Serial data just "pops" into your application as if it were being typed in! This method is the most popular as it is so easy to use. The DDE method enables you to create extremely sophisticated data acquisition and device control interfaces.

WinWedge even lets you add additional keystrokes or DDE commands to your incoming data so that the data plots automatically into spreadsheets, databases, MMIs, LIMS, statistical and control software. You can even automate real-time data charting and analysis.

Install the Wedge and watch data "pop" into your applications today! Easily eliminate slow, error-prone, manual data entry forever.

"Excellent package, easy-to-use, a great time-saver" - John Ambrose, Inco Ltd., J.Roy Gordon Research Lab.

WinWedge fully buffers all input so your data will never be "lost" or inaccurate. It is in use in thousands of mission critical applications worldwide. In the 13 years since the first SoftwareWedge (for DOS) was released, it has proven itself completely reliable.

As well as collecting incoming data, WinWedge can also send commands or data strings to your serial devices. Hence you can automatically re-set your device or prompt it to take more readings. WinWedge Pro has many advanced features to let you easily create sophisticated 2-way serial I/O interfaces.

With complete support for bi-directional serial I/O, you can even transmit prompts or commands out the serial port to control your instruments directly from within any PC application. Or you can define button-activated, hot key activated or timer-activated output strings to control your instruments directly from WinWedge.

Two levels of the SoftwareWedge are available for both DOS and Windows. The "Standard Editions" of the Wedge are designed to work with most simple instruments including electronic balances, bar code readers, gages or other devices that generate very simple text data (i.e. data that only needs minimal parsing and filtering, such as single field data).

The "Professional Editions" of the Wedge are more advanced software products with many additional benefits including the ability to parse and filter more complex data structures, such as reports of data. They are designed to interface a wider range of instruments including PLCs, pH meters, titrators, CMMs, telephone systems, and other instruments that generate more complex data. They support Binary, Hex and Octal data as well as ASCII. The Pro versions also provide numerous advanced benefits to help simplify data collection. Visit our list of compatible devices if you have questions.

The Pro version has many powerful benefits, including:

• Advanced parsing, filtering and formatting capabilities...
• Advanced instrument control and output options...
• Extended DDE support for powerful data collection and device control interfaces...
• An optional Disk File Logging Mode...
• Support for multiple serial ports...
• Support for up to 56,000 baud...
• 30 powerful Math Functions… etc…

WinWedge Pro now includes five powerful applications to solve even more data collection and communication problems. These are:

1. TCP-Wedge. This software collects data from, and sends data to, TCP/IP ports from any Windows application, Excel, Access, etc. It has the same advanced data parsing, filtering and formatting features as WinWedge except communication is over TCP/IP networks instead of serial ports.
2. FILE-Wedge. This feeds data directly from any ASCII file into any Windows application. It also has advanced features to parse, filter and format the file data before inputting it into your application.
3. TCP-Com*. This useful software converts RS232 to TCP/IP and TCP/IP to RS232. Use it on up to 16 RS232 ports simultaneously.
4. TCP-File*. This application logs TCP/IP data to file.
5. COM-File*. This logs serial (RS232) data to file.

Absolutely! It is extremely easy to use! The configuration process is fully menu driven and has complete, context sensitive, on-line help. You can easily customize all input to your exact specifications. Once you see how easy it is to use WinWedge, you will never again take data readings by hand!

"Loved it! Easy setup." - Bob Neves, Microtek Labs

Not only is the software extremely easy to use it also comes with unlimited FREE technical support by phone, fax and email, a clearly written manual and on-line help. To ensure your satisfaction all TAL software products are covered by a 90-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

"If you can’t figure it out, they will help you... and they don’t charge! I’ve been pleased as punch!" - Philip Cox, Engineer, Memphis Light, Gas and Water.