Multimode image capturing and decoding optical reader

An imaging device configured to capture a frame of image data corresponding to a present field of view of said device in response to an image capture command, said device comprising:

• an imaging assembly;
• and
• a control circuit having an associated memory in communication with said imaging assembly, wherein said control circuit is configured to operate said device in at least “message only”, “image only”, and “two step message and image” modes of operation so that
• when said “message only” mode is selected, said control circuit captures a frame of image data into said memory, decodes decodable indicia represented in said frame, and stores into a designated message memory location of said memory a decoded-out message corresponding to said decodable indicia in response to an image capture command,
• when said “image only” mode is selected, said control circuit stores a frame of image data into a designated frame storage location of said memory without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in said frame in response to receipt of an image capture command, and
• when said “two step message and image” mode is selected, said control circuit captures a first frame of image data, generates a decoded-out message from said first captured frame of image data in response to receipt of a first image capture command, stores a second frame of image data into a designated frame storage memory location in response to receipt of a second image capture command, and associates said decoded-out message with said second frame of image data stored in said designated frame storage memory location.