Testing CUTE Scanners

Owned by Jeremy Byron (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 09, 2016
3 min read

In some cases it can be useful to test the CUTE scanners with a variety of document and barcode types.  This document will show how to test the CUTE scanners in ameliaRES using a variety of document formats, even those not produced from ameliaRES or InteliSys clients.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Log into ameliaRES and ensure your devices are all mapped (See the following article for these steps: Logging in to ameliaRES from a CUTE Workstation)
  2. Ensure you have selected a CUTE-enabled airport when prompted in the User Preferences screen after login:
  3. Click on the Utilities menu, then CUTE Tools.  This will open the CUTE Tools and Settings screen.  If you do not see this menu item available the it is likely that CUTE is not configured for your system.  Contact InteliSys Support for assistance.
    1. The CUTE Tools and Settings screen provides some basic information on your current CUTE configuration.  It will also show any errors and events related to the CUTE system.
    2. For now, click on the Tools button, then Diagnostics in the menu that appears.  This will open the CUTE Diagnostics screen.
      1. Leave all options at their default values.  Now scan any document.  For example a barcode on a boarding pass or an ameliaRES Itinerary barcode or a baggage tag.  If your workstation is configured with a passport reader you can scan that.  The scanned data should appear in a diagnostic format on the screen
      2. Even barcodes and document types not supported by ameliaRES can be scanned and their data viewed via this screen
    3. If the data is showing on this screen then the scanning devices and systems are working

Simulating a Scan

In some cases it is useful to simulate scanning a barcode (or MSR or OCR/Passport) without actually using a scanner device.  This can be accomplished using the diagnostic screens as follows:

  • Get a barcode/MSR/OCR-Passport value somehow.  In most cases this will be done by using a barcode scanner app on your phone to capture the data.  For example, the following values are from a CUTE-printed ATB card from NewLeaf:
M1CIMOLAI/MAUREEN E198337 YHZYXXF8 0001 344 020F0010 600

M1MIJNHEER/ARNOUD E177473 YHZYXXF8 0001 344 014B0048 600

M1DIJS/KEVIN E177473 YHZYXXF8 0001 344 014C0049 600

M1DE MOISSAC/DANIEL E197910 YHZYWGF8 0001 344 023F0002 600
  • Back in ameliaRES
    • Open ameliaCheckin and load the flight in question
    • Now click on the Utilities menu, then Cute Tools menu (near the bottom)
    • Click the Tools button then Diagnostics
    • Near the bottom of the screen you will see a Simulate Scan button, click it
    • Leave the Scan Type field as Custom and then copy one of the scan data strings from above into the Raw Scan Data field. Make sure any extra spaces and or blank lines are removed around the scan string
    • Click Convert and in the Raw Scan Data field you should see XML that looks something like the following:
    <ScanResults>
	<ScanStatus>
		<ScanType>BoardingPass2D</ScanType>
		<IsValid>True</IsValid>
		<StatusMessage>OK</StatusMessage>
		<RawData>M1MIJNHEER/ARNOUD E177473 YHZYXXF8 0001 344 014B0048 600</RawData>
	</ScanStatus>
	<ScanData>
		<General>
			<FormatCode>M</FormatCode>
			<NumberOfLegs>1</NumberOfLegs>
			<LastName>MIJNHEER</LastName>
			<GivenNames>ARNOUD</GivenNames>
			<ETicketIndicator>E</ETicketIndicator>
			<VersionNumber/>
			<PassengerDescription/>
			<SourceOfCheckIn/>
			<SourceOfBoardingPassIssuance/>
			<DateOfBoardingPassIssuance/>
			<DocumentType/>
			<BoardingPassIssuerAirlineCode/>
			<BagTagLicensePlateNumbers/>
			<BagTagLicensePlateNonConsecFirst/>
			<BagTagLicensePlateNonConsecSecond/>
		</General>
		<Legs>
			<Leg Number="1">
				<PNRCode>177473</PNRCode>
				<FromAirport>YHZ</FromAirport>
				<ToAirport>YXX</ToAirport>
				<AirlineCode>F8</AirlineCode>
				<FlightNumber>0001</FlightNumber>
				<DateOfFlight>344</DateOfFlight>
				<CompartmentCode/>
				<SeatNumber>014B</SeatNumber>
				<CheckInSequenceNumber>0048</CheckInSequenceNumber>
				<PassengerStatus>6</PassengerStatus>
				<AirlineNumericCode/>
				<DocumentOrFormSerialNumber/>
				<SelecteeIndicator/>
				<InternationalDocumentVerification/>
				<MarketingCarrierCode/>
				<FrequentFlyerAirlineCode/>
				<FrequentFlyerNumber/>
				<IdOrAdIndicator/>
				<FreeBaggageAllowance/>
				<ExtraData/>
			</Leg>
		</Legs>
		<SecurityData>
			<DataType/>
			<DataLength>0</DataLength>
			<Data/>
		</SecurityData>
	</ScanData>
</ScanResults>

     

    • The key is that it has a ScanType of BoardingPass2D and IsValid is True. That tells you that the CUTE Scanning subsystem recognized the barcode.
    • Now, if you click Scan It!, the checkin screen should be brought up and the passenger highlighted/checked-in/boarded (per airline's business rules)
      • NOTE: The checkin screen must already be open when you click Scan It.
      • NOTE: If the res search screen is already open when you click Scan It then it will also be displayed as if you were doing a passenger search with the barcode scan
      • NOTE: You do not need to click the Convert button before clicking the Scan It button.