Bar Code Scanners - Know the Features

Barcode Scanners are hand-held or stationary devices used for capturing information from barcodes. A barcode scanner consists of a code reader and a decoder. These devices are connected to a computer through compatible ports

The earliest, most basic and cheapest barcode scanners consisted of a fixed light and a single photosensor. Modern barcode scanners have polygonal mirrors and use laser scanning technology. Laser barcode printers have the advantage of reading barcodes from any angle.

Barcode scanners are available in different varieties like hand-held, hands-free, wearable, rugged, scan engines, laser and digital. Pen-wand scanners are the simplest and most portable type of such devices. They have to be kept in direct contact with the barcode and held at a precise angle to interpret the barcodes. Modern day digital cameras have enough resolution to capture both 1D and 2D barcodes.

Barcode scanners can be distinguished as follows:

 

• LED scanner: Also referred to as CCD scanners, even though the CCD is in fact the photo imaging sensor, not the light source.

   

   

• Laser scanner: More expensive than LED scanners but are generally capable of longer maximum scanning distances.

   

   

• Imager scanner: These scanners take an image of the linear barcode, generally more rugged as they have no moving parts.

   

   

• 2D Imaging scanner: These scanners take a 2D image of the barcode as in a camera and can be used to scan 2D barcode types such as Datamatrix as well as the more common linear barcode types.

   

   

• Handheld scanner: With a handle and typically a trigger button for switching on the light source.

   

   

• Pen scanner (or wand scanner): a pen-shaped scanner that is swiped.

   

   

• Stationary scanner: Wall- or table-mounted scanners that the barcode is passed under or beside. These are commonly found at the checkout counters of supermarkets and other retailers.

   

   

• Fixed position scanner: An industrial barcode reader used to identify products during manufacture or logistics. Most often used on conveyer tracks to identify cartons or pallets which need to be routed to another process or shipping location.

   

   

• PDA scanner: A PDA with a built-in barcode reader.

   

   

 

The latest in barcode scanner technology is mobile barcode scanners which use color code and mCode (new two-dimensional code format) to scan barcodes.

General purpose barcode scanners are used at checkout counters and hospitals. These are also used to process identification documents. Certain other kinds of scanners, like rugged scanners, are used in harsh or extreme conditions. Of the different barcode scanners, laser scanners and camera scanners are widely used these days. Camera scanners scan and capture the barcode images, which are then processed by sophisticated image techniques to decode the barcode.

Barcode scanners have increased the speed of data retrieval and data processing. They have become a mainstay in commercial establishments, libraries, counters, and virtually at any point-of-sale.

The benefits of barcode scanners are many. It greatly helps you organize your inventory, monitor the movement of goods, and ensure the security of your premises. Bar Code technology is helping enterprises worldwide streamline their business and control costs at the same time.

Choosing a right barcode scanner is an essential step for better inventory management and customer service.

Barcode readers come in different forms, sizes and prices. Their prices range from $50 to several thousands depending on the features, built, durability etc.

However, before purchasing a laser or CCD scanner, define your requirements:

 

• The type of environment where you are going to use the scanner

   

   

• Consider the portability factor

   

   

• The symbology you plan to follow

   

   

• The average scanning range

   

   

 

Choose a credible and reliable company. Go for a bar code scanner which has proved its usability. POS Components has made it its goal to provide the customers with the right equipment, from the right manufacturer, and at the right price!

Point of sale components provides the best collection of barcode scanners, barcode printers and decoders, bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code labels or, we have it. For more details please visit Point of sale components

Finding A Bar Code Printer For You

 

For years, I used handmade price tags in my small business. This was not only time consuming in terms of creating the price tags, it also made it difficult to keep track of my inventory. Bar code printing, in any business, can bar code printing reduce costs, improve data management and accessibility, and increase productivity. There are unlimited applications and advantages to using a bar code printer.

Bar codes are made through various combinations of spaces and bars to create an encoded character message. Both the differences in the ink level and the spacing between the bars can be encoded variables. The bar code reader measures the light that comes back from the symbols, and comparing that to a computer database, offers what the symbol means to a computerized inventory program. The type of bar code you and your small business decide to use depends entirely on how much information you need the bar code to store. You can encrypt anywhere from fourteen digits to thousands of characters.

Once you have decided to make use of bar code technology in your small business, you have to decide what type of bar code printer you need. To print any type of bar code, you will need software that supports bar coding. Once you've gotten that far, you will also need a printer that can handle printing bar codes. Because accuracy is essential in the business of bar coding, a good printer is essential. While some common laser printers and desk printers can handle bar code technology, they have to be configured to your software. Buying a dedicated bar code printer is a good idea, in any case.

Bar code printers can work well with many different computer interfaces, and can be hooked up in a number of different ways including ethernet cables, USB cables, parallel cables, serial cables, twinax cables, and coax cables. More recently, it is possible to use a bar code printer with wireless technology like Bluetooth or 802.11b. Most companies who sell bar code printers also offer technical support like remote monitoring and trouble shooting.

You can decide on the right bar code printer to meet your needs by first thinking about size. The size of your bar code labels is very important to figuring out which printer you need. You should consider the kinds of environments the label will be expected to perform in. This can help you decide upon the print method. There are two types of print methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Direct thermal creates an image on the material that is to be labeled. Thermal transfer uses a heated ribbon to create the image of your bar code on a wide selection of materials.

I am quite happy with my new bar coding system. Finding a bar code printer that fits your needs can make all the difference in your business.

Christopher M. Luck has an extensive background with over 18 years experience in dealing with bar code printersand is now offering his free professional bar code printer advice to the public. If you are at all interested in Christopher's bar code printer advice, tips, or secrets, you can visit his technology blog

A Guide To Bar Code Reader Downloads

 

Bar code readers have proven themselves to be essential tools in modern day business. Establishments, both big and small, have started to rely on bar code readers to make their operations quicker, more convenient, and more efficient. Yet, thousands are still interested to hop aboard the bar code bandwagon, but they don’t know much about the said technology. This article will discuss a variety of barcode reader downloads for every need.

Bar Code Reader Downloads For Beginners

If you’re itching to find out more about bar code readers and bar code technology in general, the World Wide Web is a good place to start. Cyberspace is home to thousands upon thousands of bar code reader downloads that could teach you the basics of this truly advantageous technology.

Almost every manufacturer offers a bar code reader download of a tutorial that would serve as an engaging introduction to bar codes and bar code readers. One such manufacturer, and one such website, is www.microscan.com where a bar code reader download entitled Bar Codes 101 can be acquired. The file is in .pdf format, which means that you could read it online. This bar code reader download would serve as a magnificent foreword to what should be a rewarding experience with bar codes and bar code readers.

Bar Code Reader Downloads For Updates

Bar code readers, of course, operate through a program that allows them to decode the encoded data. But bar code inscriptions change with the changing times. New needs emerge that necessitate new encoding procedures for bar codes. With new encodings, new decoding processes are required. This shouldn’t be taken to mean that you should throw away the bar code readers which you have previously purchased. You could always update their decoding software through the appropriate bar code reader download.

By updating your bar code reader software with the corresponding bar code reader download, you would be able to decrypt the latest inscriptions in bar codes. This would allow your bar code reader to keep up with the changing times.

Bar code readers seldom become obsolete, even with the influx of new models and technologies. With excellent support from the manufacturers, bar code reader downloads are always available to ensure that your bar code reader would serve you and your business for a long, long time.

Simply refer to your bar code reader’s manufacturer’s homepage for the corresponding update via bar code reader download.

Bar Code Reader Downloads For Extra Features

There are some bar code readers that can do more than just the usual expectations. PDA-type bar code readers, for example, are the rave these days, as a variety of applications can be obtained aside from the usual reading and decoding of bar codes. For them, support in the form of bar code reader downloads is essential to maximize the potentials of the said devices. Bar code reader downloads for these types include a plethora of amazing programs that range from entertainment to office applications.

Aside from their respective manufacturers, bar code reader downloads for this group of bar code readers can also be obtained from countless third parties that have tinkered with such technology to give you the most value for your reader.

Ewen Chia is the owner of BarCodeReader.info providing excellent bar code reader information, news plus completely

 http://www.BarCodeReader.info

Warehouse Bar Code Labels

 

Warehouses use a special kind of highly durable bar code labels to maintain a list of their inventories. The basic types of warehouse bar code labels are reflective, location, floor and pallet.

Reflective bar code labels are large in size, about 8” by 16,” and they contain both bar codes and a number that can be read by human eyes. They are durable and can be scanned from distances as much as 30 feet. These labels can be printed or blank and are able to be used both indoors and outdoors. In order to provide more durability, they can be laminated.

Location labels are used for pinpointing the position of items. They are stuck on racks or shelves where inventories are placed. These labels have alphanumeric codes, by which they are registered. Since location labels are mostly stuck on metal surfaces, they need to have strong adhesives. Once adhered, they cannot be peeled off. Location labels may be matte finish or polished. They are mostly made of metals.

Floor bar code labels are also large in size and they are stuck on the floor with special adhesives. They are used if there is no other place for the bar code to be stuck. Floor labels require high quality materials because they have to endurance heavy pressure all the time. They are made of metals in order to withstand warehouse traffic, footfalls, chemicals, abrasives, etc.

If the inventories are on the move, then pallet labels work best for them. These labels are made very tough to withstand severe conditions. Their bodies are made of hardened plastic or metal and have special adhesives.

Reflection, location and floor bar code labels are generally available in preprinted conditions. They have bar codes along with alphanumerical codes in a sequential order. The warehouse owners themselves can design pallet labels using printing equipment. Warehouses use thermal or thermal transfer printers to print their own bar code labels to obtain greater accuracy and clarity.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

Free Bar Code Software

 

All products are bar-coded in the present market. Even the smallest retail items like chocolates or pencils have a unique bar code to identify them accurately. Bar codes have specific symbology that is defined in the height and width of the bars, as well as the spacing between the bars. Each of these bars might represent numeric data, alphanumeric data or character data, depending on the type of symbology being used by the user. Each bar code has a start bar and an end bar to allow the scanner to read the data precisely. Some bar codes have another bar before the end bar, known as the checksum bar. After the scanner calculates the sum, the same is verified with the value of the checksum bar code for accuracy. This ensures exact calculation with minimal errors.

Bar code software is used to design and print bar codes on labels. The user needs to specify the design, and the software takes care of the whole printing process at a much faster rate. These software suites are accurate and print the labels with minimal wastage in the process.

With all the facilities and extra utilities provided by the bar code software suites, they are expensive. Not everyone can afford to buy this software. Small-scale manufacturers and retailers would have a tough time investing in the bar code printing software if their budget is limited.

Available online are free bar code software programs that can either be downloaded or used online to design a bar code. This design can later be saved onto the computer and printed as required. The user needs to log in to the website and provide basic details relating to the bar code, such as the bar code symbology, height of the bar code, resolution, density of the bar code, and output format. Most of the websites are user-friendly, and the application for the bar code is extremely simple to understand.

Some websites allow the customer to provide details in depth, such as if they would like the checksum facility. This is for customers who have in-depth knowledge of they need. Otherwise the customers can just ask the website to generate a bar code that can be saved onto their computer and used at a later stage. Since the websites are free, customers can log in at any time and request a bar code generation. The whole process would take not more than five minutes, and is very simple and easy to understand and use.

Bar Code Software provides detailed information on Bar Code Software, Bar Code Scanner Software, Bar Code Printing Software, Free Bar Code Software and more. Bar Code Software is affiliated with Retail POS Software.

Preprinted Bar Code Labels

 

Bar code labels that are manufactured by companies and are retailed to other establishments are called preprinted bar code labels. Preprinted bar code labels are bought and used by establishments that do not have infrastructure to make their own.

Preprinted bar code labels are encoded using computers and sequentially numbered by the companies that manufacture them. These labels are designed on special vinyl stickers with adhesives that make them durable for a longer time. They can be designed in both line and dot formats.

Sellers of preprinted bar code labels use three main techniques to manufacture labels – film master/printing plate, ion deposition and photocomposition. The first method is like normal printing techniques, where a template of the bar code is prepared and then printed in bulk amounts. Ion deposition technique uses electrolytic deposition of particles on a moving insulating drum to give the impression of the bar code. Photocomposition uses computers to design original bar codes. Out of all the techniques used to manufacture bar code labels, photocomposition is the best and is preferred if the bar code is needed to be exceedingly sharp and easy to scan. In fact, preprinted bar code label manufacturers only use photocomposition.

Establishments who do not have the equipment or expertise to make their own bar code labels buy preprinted bar code labels. Making bar code labels requires money and a technically skilled staff. Hence, companies may evaluate their cost constraints and purchase preprinted bar code labels instead of investing in their own equipment. Buying preprinted bar code labels also makes more sense for companies that are running their businesses temporarily or for promotion.

One more reason for choosing preprinted bar code labels is the rapid dynamism of this technology. Bar codes are fast evolving as makers are trying to pack in more and more information in less amount of space. Already several bar code equipments used in the markets are outdated.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Printing Software

All products in the market are bar coded these days. Even the smallest retail items, like chocolates or pencils, have a unique bar code to identify them accurately. Bar codes have specific symbology that is defined in the height and width of the bars as well as the spacing between them. Each of these bars might represent only numeric data, alphanumeric data or character data, depending on the type of symbology being used.

Bar code printing software is used to print bar codes on labels. They are small, convenient to use and can design labels as necessary. Although there are manually operated printers, present trends show a change in this kind of printing. Many are using software suites that guide the printer to print the labels with minimal human help. The user needs to specify the design and the software takes care of the whole printing process at a much faster rate. These software suites are accurate, and print the labels with minimal wastage in the process.

Software suites usually give additional software linking facilities so that it can link to a document or database containing the design for the label. The software would then recognize it and print it as per user instructions. All bar code printing software is compatible with popular operating systems such as Windows, Macintosh, and DOS. Also available are variations that work on operating systems such as Unix, ASP and Linux.

As is the case with all designing software suites, bar code printing software comes with some excellent sample designs. Colors, designs and fonts can be designed as per the user’s requirements. They would be compatible with spreadsheets, databases such as Microsoft Access, etc., and can print directly from these files or reports.

Printers normally store these fonts, which can be used as and when needed. Even newer fonts can be downloaded and stored for specific uses. One command would be sufficient for the printer to start printing the bar codes on the documents. Individuals having proficiency in software development and programming can also take help of the libraries, ActiveX controls, and other linkable procedures to create unique bar codes using graphic characters and fonts.

Bar code printing must be accurate, as an individual cannot understand the output unless the same is scanned. Before printing the bar code, the user must ensure that the font, size and other details are correct, to get an error-free set of labels.

Bar Code Software provides detailed information on Bar Code Software, Bar Code Scanner Software, Bar Code Printing Software, Free Bar Code Software and more. Bar Code Software is affiliated with Retail POS Software.

Custom Bar Code Labels

An establishment that does not have its own bar coding equipment, but still wishes to have its own design for a bar code, can think of customizing bar code labels. Many companies specialize in designing custom bar code labels that depend on the requirements of their clients. They can produce bar codes in any number, big or small.

Manufacturers of custom bar codes use bar code software to design unique labels based on specifications from the ordering company. The ordering company decides the size of the bar code label. The bar code manufacturer can give some color options that will be finalized by the ordering company. The same is done with the material of the bar code label. Plastic, paper, laminates and aluminum are some of the options given by bar code label manufacturers.

After this, bar code software is used to make the actual format of the bar code label, which is also called a template. This template will have all the details given by the ordering company. Some companies insist their company names be printed on each bar code label. Other information that can be filled in is the name of the item that will be affixed.

Many security measures can be provided by companies to their bar code labels. The material of the bar code can be metal or vinyl, both resistant to chemicals and heavy pressure. Some labels are also made tamper-proof.

Customized bar code labels are sold in bulk amounts to ordering companies. It becomes relatively cheaper to order a larger number of labels. The price of the labels depends on each specification that needs to be printed on the bar code label. Bar code manufacturers may also deliver customized bar code labels within 24 hours in express deliveries.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Label Printers

Bar codes improve data management significantly, and almost every business is using very advanced versions of this technology today. Bar codes speed up data collection considerably by storing significant amounts of data digitally in small black lines that can be easily machine-read. Better printing technology, label materials, scanning systems and wireless communication systems have made bar codes even more indispensable.

Bar code label printers are generally the most common dot matrix, laser, and ink jet and thermal printers. Dot matrix printers are one of the oldest printers used for printing bar codes. In these printers, the lines are built dot-by-dot as a solenoid-driven needle strikes an ink ribbon, transferring the ink to the paper. These printers are inexpensive, can print any form and are easily accessible. However, the quality dot matrix printer is unacceptable today. Ink jet printers are one of the most commonly used printers, especially for high-speed applications. They can also be used to print directly onto a carton where a label has already been affixed.

However, they are suitable for only high-speed printing and may not be very cost-effective for small-scale bar code printing operations. Ink jet clogging, limited barcode resolution, “bleeding” ink, and poor contrasts are some of the disadvantages. Laser printers are quite good as far as the quality of the print is concerned. They have very good resolutions and can scan quite well. However, they cannot effectively print smaller labels. The adhesive on the labels has to be good enough to take the heat and pressure from the printer as most label adhesive tend to melt. Thermal printers for bar coding are of two types: direct printing and thermal transfer.

Bar code printers have to be analyzed on the basis of: quality of the print, readability, initial installation cost, speed, long-term maintenance cost, materials waste. Each of these printers has different results. Thermal label printers score well on all aspects except for material waste. They are most suitable for applications that have variable data fields, point-of application systems, varying label sizes, graphical and scalable text fonts, and high-definition bar codes. They are also compact, quiet, and have lower operating costs.

Today, there are special bar code label printers available with various options like different print modes, label cutter, liner take-up, peel, rewind, tear, real-time clock (for printing time and expiration dates); alerts for maintenance; portability, compatibility with parallel; serial, USB, wired or wireless Ethernet, twinax or coax cables; memory for storing frequently used data; font options like styles and colors; multi-lingual options; sensors and many more. These printers are also compatible with different sizes and materials of labels, including water-resistant, fabric or acrylic.

Prices of bar code label printers start at $300 for a basic printer and may go beyond $3000 for one with all the works. Most of them come with all the required software and tools.

Label Printers provides detailed information on Label Printers, Bar Code Label Printers, Color Label Prints, CD Label Printers and more. Label Printers is affiliated with Record Labels.

Bar Code Label Printers

Bar code label printers are special, small sized printers that are capable of
printing bar code labels. They are used in businesses wherever inventories are required
to be recorded such as in retail and departmental stores, ID card offices, warehouses,
etc. General purpose printers can be used to print bar code printers. There are
also thermal bar code printers specially for printing bar code labels.

General purpose printers are in fact normal printers. They are capable of printing
bar codes on white sticker papers. Laser printers are much better than inkjet printers,
as they give more clarity and a faster printing rate. General purpose printers are
very slow at printing – they may print as much as 3 to 7 inches per second. They
are suitable if the number of bar code labels to be printed is less per day, or
if it is a temporary business.

Thermal printers and thermal transfer printers are much more efficient and faster
at printing bar code labels. These printers have a thermal head that selectively
apply heat on a specially coated paper that darkens the area. The thermal head may
be heated directly or indirectly. Such printers can produce better quality images.
They are ideal for fast printing, such as in departmental stores, where several
goods are sold over the counter every minute. However, one problem with thermal
printers is that their thermal heads wear out from time to time and need replacement.

Bar code label printers require regular cleaning of the ribbon and the print
head. Specks of dust may cause distortion of the bar codes. The outputs of these
printers using ANSI software need to be continuously checked in order to check for
system malfunctions.

Most printers are compatible with Windows drivers. They can be connected to computers
to check the type of printout they would produce. Software is available to design
labels that are exactly printed by the printers. However, many printers are standalone
and do not hookup to another computer. Simply feeding the numerical code can generate
the requisite bar code label.

Bar Code Labels provides
detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label
software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of
Bar Code Software.

Investing On A 1D Bar Code Reader

Whereas 2D bar codes offer more security and safety for their subjects, 1D bar codes, as read by 1D bar code readers, are more practical for wide scale operations. The reason? Bar codes with single layers are more affordable to produce than the double layered inscriptions of 2D bar codes. Hence, there is a large demand for 1D bad codes and 1D bar code readers in today’s busy times.

A 1D bar code reader is an essential, and preferred, tool for retail establishments where items pass through a counter several times a minute. A 1D bar code reader is also the device of choice for establishments that seek to monitor the ingress and regress of people, when such establishments are not considered as high security areas.

Why Are There 1D And 2D Bar Code Readers?

Though a universal type of bar code would greatly help a variety of industries, the various types of bar codes today, which are not limited to 1D and 2D bar codes alone, have provided a wider selection for different enterprises with distinct needs.

The creation of 1D and 2D varieties of barcodes stemmed from the attempts of bar code manufacturers to improve on the existing formula. But each improvement served a specific purpose distinct to its kind, hence, such was retained. Today, there are a lot of 2D bar code readers for 2D bar codes and 1D bar code readers for 1D bar codes. This is a sign of a very healthy industry!

Kinds Of 1D Bar Code Readers

A 1D bar code reader can come in many forms. Portable 1D bar code readers are the most commonly used in many establishments. Since a 1D bar code reader is generally manufactured for a market that experiences brisk operations, it is easy to assume that the sheer transportability of these portable 1D bar code readers make them more appealing to their target audience.

A 1D bar code reader can also come in the form of scanner-type 1D bar code readers. These are seldom used, however, as their more mobile counterparts are more appropriate for the market that 1D bar code readers seek to cater to.

The Road Ahead For 1D Bar Code Readers

It is understandable that people would feel hesitant about investing on a 1D bar code reader, mainly because of fear that the 1D bar code design would soon become obsolete. These fears are quite unfounded.

There will always be a need for a 1D barcode reader because there will always be a market for 1D bar codes. As we have mentioned earlier, a good number of establishments actually prefer 1D bar codes and 1D bar code readers because they are more resilient and responsive to businesses with busier processes. This accommodative nature of 1D bar code readers should assure everyone that they are here to stay and investing on them would be a prudent choice.

This, of course, is aside from the fact that 1D bar code readers are cheaper than other types of this device.

Ewen Chia is the owner of BarCodeReader.info providing excellent bar code reader information, news plus completely *free* barcode fonts! ==> http://www.BarCodeReader.info

Bar Code Label Printers

The best way to print bar codes is to use laser, ink jet or dot matrix printers. Bar code printers are of two major types.

A bar code direct thermal printer uses heat to print the images. This printer burns dots on heat-responsive paper. The images printed using this technology are susceptible to heat, industrial ultraviolet light, sunlight, and pressure. These labels are best suited for short-life purposes, and they are quite liable to worsen over time. It is best not to use direct thermal printing for long-life applications.

A bar code thermal transfer printer is another label printer that prints images through the use of heat. It melts the ink in the ink ribbon on a wide range of synthetic material labels and paper. An extensive range of ribbon and media formulations is obtainable, giving the facility to print bar code labels for almost any application. Those may include extreme environment and long-life applications.

Direct thermal printers are characteristically more affordable than thermal transfer printers, as they do not require the mechanisms and electronics that are necessary to control and run an ink ribbon.

Direct thermal and thermal transfer printers typically require print software and "optional" bar code label designs. The most popular bar code printer is the archetypal HP compatible laser printer. Laser printer resolution is generally of higher quality than industrial bar code printers.

It is risky to print bar codes with colored ink or colored paper. Colored ink and colored paper have the propensity to diminish the contrast between the spaces and bars. It is vital to remember that most scanners use red light. Thus, if you print the bars with any shade of red, there is a likelihood of the light reflecting off the bars as white spaces. Also, avoid printing black bars on colored paper.

Labels provides detailed information on Labels, Address Labels, Record Labels, Bar Code Label Printers and more. Labels is affiliated with Color Label Prints.

Bar Code Label Makers

Bar code label makers are special computer programs that can design templates for bar code labels. These programs can perform tasks such as sizing the bar code, encoding the numerical information, database features and include other information such as name of company, product name, date of packaging and other customized details.

Programs to design bar code labels are similar to desktop publishing programs. Sizing, resizing and other tools decide label sizes, i.e. borders. Inputting a number will create the bar code. There are also tools to print bar codes in a sequential number format. The customized bar codes are then fitted into the border where required.

Bar code label makers have their own set of true type fonts. Sans-serif fonts like Unicode and Arial are popular in designing bar code labels. Required details such as the name of the company, name of the product, date, etc. are inserted. This text can be resized and properly aligned into the template.

Coloring the bar code label is also possible. Label makers have their own custom colors. Some of them even provide palettes to create any desired hue.

Once the label is done, it is sent to a printer for printing. A laser printer is preferred for its high quality and fast speed. The labels are usually printed in rows and columns on a special A4 sized paper that has a shielded adhesive surface beneath. Individual labels are cut and removing the shielding paper, the prepared bar code labels are stuck on the inventories.

Designing a bar code label using a program is a very easy process. It requires very little or no training at all. The interfaces of these programs are generally kept very simple and with a few clicks of the mouse, desired labels can be made.

Bar code label makers are available for download from many Programs to design bar code labels are similar to desktop publishing programs. Sizing, resizing and other tools decide label sizes, i.e. borders. Inputting a number will create the bar code. There are also tools to print bar codes in a sequential number format. The customized bar codes are then fitted into the border where required.

Bar code label makers have their own set of true type fonts. Sans-serif fonts like Unicode and Arial are popular in designing bar code labels. Required details such as the name of the company, name of the product, date, etc. are inserted. This text can be resized and properly aligned into the template.

Coloring the bar code label is also possible. Label makers have their own custom colors. Some of them even provide palettes to create any desired hue.

Once the label is done, it is sent to a printer for printing. A laser printer is preferred for its high quality and fast speed. The labels are usually printed in rows and columns on a special A4 sized paper that has a shielded adhesive surface beneath. Individual labels are cut and removing the shielding paper, the prepared bar code labels are stuck on the inventories.

Designing a bar code label using a program is a very easy process. It requires very little or no training at all. The interfaces of these programs are generally kept very simple and with a few clicks of the mouse, desired labels can be made.

Bar code label makers are available for download from many Internet sites. Most of these downloads are for a time-stipulated trial, after which it can be purchased. These programs are also sold in markets.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Tracking Software

All products are labeled with bar codes today. Even the smallest retail items, like chocolates or pencils, have a unique bar code to identify them accurately. Bar codes have specific symbology that is defined in the height and width of the bars as well as the spacing between them. Each of these bars might represent numeric data, alphanumeric data or character data, depending on the type of symbology being used by the user.

Each bar code has a start bar and an end bar to allow the scanner to read the data precisely. Some bar codes have another bar before the end bar, known as the checksum bar code. After the scanner calculates the sum, it is verified with the value of the checksum bar code for accuracy. This ensures exact calculation with minimal errors.

Bar codes help during data collection, inventory tracking, and other asset tracking. They keep accurate records of all the items scanned and so are a big help while taking care of the inventory.

Any company or manufacturer has fixed assets. These must be kept on record. All manufacturing equipment, tools, and various other assets come under the category of fixed assets. Earlier, keeping track of all these assets was done manually and workers had to put in long hours to have all the details on record.

With the advent of bar codes, even the tracking system has been made easy. All fixed assets can be bar-coded and kept track of using bar-code fixed-assets tracking software. In schools and colleges where students are provided with laptops, these are noted in the database as loaned. This also holds true for companies that provide employees with laptops and other work-related paraphernalia. Even the smallest items are tracked using bar codes. Fixed assets tracking software is a big help in such areas where a company needs to have an idea of where assets are located.

Company-related files, documents and important notes could also be considered fixed assets and noted in the database of their whereabouts. This is especially important in medical and legal fields.

Fixed assets tracking software is essential in all major companies, schools, offices, hospitals and other big places where one person keeping track of all the assets is an impossibility. Bar code tracking software can be of immense help in such areas, and would ease problems related to records.

Bar Code Software provides detailed information on Bar Code Software, Bar Code Scanner Software, Bar Code Printing Software, Free Bar Code Software and more. Bar Code Software is affiliated with Retail POS Software.

Bar Code Inventory Software

All products are labeled with bar codes these days. Even the smallest retail items, like chocolates or pencils, have a unique bar code to identify them accurately. Bar codes have specific symbology that is defined in the height and width of the bars as well as the spacing between the bars. Each of these bars might represent numeric data, alphanumeric data or character data, depending on the type of symbology being used.

Each bar code has a start bar and an end bar to allow the scanner to read the data precisely. Some bar codes have another bar before the end bar, known as the checksum bar code. After the scanner calculates the sum, the same is verified with the value of the checksum bar code for accuracy. This ensures exact calculation with minimal errors.

Bar codes help during data collection, inventory tracking, and other asset tracking. They keep accurate records of all the items scanned, and so are a big help keeping track of inventory.

Specific bar code software called inventory software is the best option to keep track of inventory. This software is more complex than the data collection software that keeps records in databases. Inventory software can keep track of various items simultaneously, so that the software would be able to record the number of items in each category in a company. This software is particularly useful in warehouses and wholesale storage places wherein the company needs to have an idea of the number of items of each category owned at a specific time. The number of items being supplied to the retailers would get stored in the database by the software, to minimize the chance of errors.

Blood banks, pharmacies, and other manufacturers that mass-produce a variety of products would find this inventory software a boon. Inventory software, like the regular bar code data collection and tracking software, come with a number of utilities to make work easier. Report creation tools, databases, data entry tools, printing tools, and other functional software comes as part of the inventory software suite.

Bar code inventory software can be used with any scanner technology. It depends on the affordability and the customer’s preference.

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UPC Bar Code Software

UPC bar codes are used in the United States of America. Like many other kinds of bar codes, they are made up of numbers. The scanners interpret these symbols and the data is sent into the system. All American products get either UPC - A or UPC - E bar codes. The bar code generators are also capable of generating 2- to 5-digit supplemental codes.

A UPC-A bar code consists of 12 digits, and a UPC - E bar code consists of 8 digits. The UPC bar codes are numeric-only codes that may vary in height, width and spacing to represent various item codes. UPC bar codes include the checksum bar at the end of the code as the last digit. The checksum calculation used in the UPC bar codes is complex compared to other bar codes, but it is wise to include it in the bar code.

UPC bar code software suites are similar to other bar code software suites. They include the entire font, templates and other options that allow the user to generate a code and allow VBA functions for spreadsheets and database utility. Almost all of these software suites are equipped with the BARUP.exe that is essential to calculate checksum and formatting of the UPC bar codes, along with the checksum option.

UPC bar codes do not have the actual price of an item, similar to other codes. They are coded with the specific item code whose value would be picked by the software from the database consisting of all such related data.

Any manufacturer needing to get a bar code for a new product needs to get a manufacturer number from the Uniform Code Council. The manufacturer then assigns the product number. A combination of the manufacturer number and the product number makes the number for the bar code. It must be ensured that this number is equal to 11 digits, as the 12th digit would be the checksum code. Each product can thus be given an individual and unique UPC code as the manufacturer can decide the second half of the bar code even though the first half, which is the manufacturer number, is the same for all the items made by that manufacturer.

UPCTools is one option to make a UPC bar code. Also, their plug-ins can be used to make multiple UPC bar codes in no time. This software would help with the design of the bar code and also generates the checksum amount automatically. As with other bar code generators, this can be used to create a unique bar code complete with the start, stop and checksum bars within the bar code. The same can be used to define the height and size of the bar code, depending on the product that needs to be labeled.

Bar Code Software provides detailed information on Bar Code Software, Bar Code Scanner Software, Bar Code Printing Software, Free Bar Code Software and more. Bar Code Software is affiliated with Retail POS Software.

Bar Code Generating Software

Each bar code has a start bar and an end bar to allow the scanner to read the data precisely. Some bar codes have another bar known as the checksum bar code. After the scanner calculates the sum, it is verified with the value of the checksum bar code for accuracy. This ensures exact calculation with minimal errors.

A number of bar-code-generating software suites are currently available on the market. In order to generate a bar code, the software needs to be installed and certain specifications need to be entered into the software. The most common specifications are the width of the bar code, height of the bar code, spacing between the bars, and symbology. Also, the code word needs to be provided for it to be changed into a bar code format.

Bar code symbology specifies the kind of bar code to be generated. One-dimensional and two-dimensional are the common kinds. Among these there would be subdivisions as to the type of bar code that needs to be created by the software.

Bar code generating software allows the user to easily create a design. The bar code can consist of numbers or alphanumeric characters. Various fonts can be used to distinguish the code while providing a unique touch. A few manufacturers are also experimenting with the graphics within the code, but such experiments require the software to be highly sophisticated to be able to understand it.

Bar code generating software suites come as complete packages that help in the whole process. When the word “whole” is used in this context it includes everything from generating the software to printing labels. Many software suites include the printing software as part of the suite. Since this is included, so too are the printing fonts.

While most can afford to buy bar code generating software, those who cannot can download the software from the Internet. One can also do the work online. Your work can be stored as an image file and used with the printing software to get it onto the labels.

With the software, a minor mistake would be tough to rectify in the later stages due to the unreadability of a bar code. A manual with simple instructions would be provided, which the user needs to go through before starting on a design.

Bar code generating and printing software is available in many varieties. Shopping around would be a good option, as is getting to know all the features of a particular software suite you wish to buy.

Bar Code Software provides detailed information on Bar Code Software, Bar Code Scanner Software, Bar Code Printing Software, Free Bar Code Software and more. Bar Code Software is affiliated with Retail POS Software.

Bar Code Label Manufacturers

Some companies deal in designing bar code labels and selling them to other establishments. These bar code label manufacturers print both preprinted and custom designed labels according to the specifications provided by the ordering company.

Preprinted labels are ready to use labels that are sold in the market. They are available in bundles of 100, 250, 500, etc. Bar code label manufacturers create preprinted labels with technologies such as reflective printing or photocomposition. Photocomposition is an expensive process, but it produces almost authentic and high quality bar codes. Bar code labels made by photocomposition are sold at higher prices than reflective labels. Companies that do not have their own bar coding equipment buy bundles of them from the market for their use.

Manufacturers also customize bar code labels according to the requirements from the ordering company. They can change the size, color, numerical and alphabetical information, nature of the bar coding, etc. as the ordering company suggests. Information such as name of the company, date of shipment or loading, location, etc. is mentioned on customized bar code labels if needed. Manufacturers use specialized software to design the labels.

Naturally, bar code label manufacturers use high-end equipment to manufacture their labels in bulk. Several companies rely upon bar code manufacturers to buy their labels as it not only saves them money, but also time and manpower.

Computers, scanners and printers are all used in conjunction to design, test and print labels. Sequential numbers are provided on the labels so that they can be used to manage inventory. If desired, manufacturers will also place information in the form of alphabetical and numerical codes on the labels.

Bar code label manufacturers also sell other things such as nameplates, location tags, sealing tags and bar code scanners and printers.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

Bar Code Label Software

Bar code label software is used to print symbols on bar codes. This software can render a pattern of black stripes and dots, each unique from the other, which is used to print bar code stickers. The software prints intricate patterns for each product. The pattern may be several black lines of different thicknesses or it may be a crisscross arrangement of thick and thin black dots.

The software can also identify the product from the pattern. The pattern is fed into the bar code scanner, which transmits it to the computer. There the software can decode the pattern and identify the product.

Bar code label software is used to code and decode stickers on a wide array of products. Departmental store goods, warehouse products, photo IDs, driving licenses and more contain unique bar code labels produced by such software.

Bar code label software is virtually error-free. It can judge labels from the thickness of the lines and dots that by permutation can give several millions of different labels. The software can accurately identify the label from its wide database. The entire process of scanning the label and its decoding by the software takes just a couple of seconds. Hence, bar code label software is almost absolutely relied upon by institutes that retail a large number of goods every day. Such labels are generally foolproof and very difficult to duplicate.

Bar code label software is especially useful when keeping inventory in a large warehouse or a departmental store. This software can be linked with other database programs in order to get a proper census of all the goods or certificates that have been coded or decoded. Using bar code label software to keep inventory of items saves a lot of time and manpower. To maintain a huge inventory, a large workforce is required. Hence, using bar code software is a simpler solution employed by retailers and warehouse owners.

Another important aspect of the utilization of bar code label software is the standardization it creates. Each product gets its own bar code, which remains a standard in all shops and retail outlets throughout the country. Computers of retailers linked to the manufacturer’s computers can provide a minute-to-minute progress of items as they are being sold.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.