Barcode Software Solutions

Barcode software is a complete solution for all advanced designing, labeling, and printing needs of barcodes. They print barcodes on any installed printer type, without any additional hardware.

Two factors need to be considered when choosing barcode software solutions. The software selected must be easily installed in the operating system. It must satisfy the computer proficiency level of the person using it. All the necessary barcode components, required for industrial and business applications, can be accessed with barcode software. Some barcode software solutions are multi-functional; they can automatically generate barcodes according to the requirement or download the barcode types to the relevant device.

Generally, barcode software solutions can be classified into three categories: out-of-the-box software solutions, pre-packaged software solutions, and customized software solutions. The out-of-the-box solutions are more flexible and require little customization; they enable printing of barcodes easily. Pre-packaged barcode software solutions are easy to implement and are affordable. However, pre-packaged solutions are designed typically for common application needs and cannot be customized. Customized barcode software solutions are the best choice. Though costly, these solutions can run for a longer time. Whatever the application is, customized barcode software solutions can be easily tailored to meet the requirements.

Any type of barcode can be processed with good barcode software. There are mainly three types of barcode software: barcode production software, barcode data collection software, and database and inventory control software. Barcode production software is intended to generate quality graphic barcode images, which can be easily imported into other applications. Barcode data collection software is designed to be used in handheld barcode scanners. To manage and control the inventories of business applications, barcode database and inventory control software is used.

Barcode software solutions are flexible in order to handle all labeling applications. They improve the efficiency of operations and reduce the cost of managing the inventory. Further, a barcode software solution is fully compliant to both desktop and enterprise labeling.

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.

With So Many Barcode Printing Technologies, Which One is Right for My Business?

First of all, it is not necessary to have a dedicated barcode printer. Any printer that can print labels will print barcode labels with the right software. But, in almost every serious business situation having a dedicated printer makes sense.

Dedicated barcode printers are designed to work with barcode software applications and with many types of barcode media. They do an excellent job of printing accurate labels which at first glance may not seem like much. But, consider that the barcode is an intricate pattern that must meet exacting specifications in order for barcode readers to understand the code. Most shared document printers are not designed to meet these specifications. Yes, you can make a document printer work, but the time and cost in all but the simplest business situations is prohibitive.

Barcode printers can be segmented into three main categories based on their intended environment. They include:

1. Small offices where cost effectiveness is important and speed is not an essential requirement. These are the least costly if you are not printing labels often.

2. Industrial applications such as hospitals and industry where reliability and durability are critical. These printers have the most flexibility when it comes to speed, label quantity, and type of media. They are constructed to work in harsher environments than the average office.

3. Portable barcode printers where your needs are to print receipts at a customer site, prescriptions, or other types of forms. These portable printers sometimes use wireless connectivity, especially when used for credit card processing applications. A few of the more popular models work with portable Palm devices.

Most barcode printers use thermal direct or thermal transfer. In most cases, you want to use thermal transfer because thermal direct paper is sensitive to light and will deteriorate in a few days. It is used mainly for mail labels. The thermal transfer process uses a ribbon that is poked with a hot pin to transfer the ink to the label, making a very reliable label.

Many dedicated barcode printers come with WYSIWYG label design and printing software. For some, this is the best way to start. But you need to do a full evaluation of your needs to make sure you are getting what you need.

If you have a bigger organization you will probably need a professional label design software solution that works with many types of printers and computers, and integrates well with your other applications.

You also need to consider if you want to print barcode fonts, or bitmaps. Which you decide upon will determine what kind of software you buy; the interfacing requirements would follow. The decision as to font or graphic is based on quality and flexibility. Good quality barcode fonts give you the best print quality, flexibility and control. They are easy to use, faster to print, and produce higher quality printed images. They also give you flexibility in heterogeneous computing environments. But, they may not be suitable for your situation if you are designing or printing barcode labels using a web application or browser. This is because the fonts have to be located on the local computer. However, solutions to this problem do exist.

In the end, putting together a bar coding system is relatively easy, but it does require careful planning. We recommend having a barcode coordinator and process in place to document all your barcode processes so others can step in. The coordinator will determine the requirements, analyze, design, and implement the barcode system. This is a fulltime effort that obviously requires a dedicated person or small team, depending on the complexity of the transition.

Vaughn Balchunas writes about technology in business, with emphasis on business processes, automation, and automated data collection. You can read more about the different types of bar codes and wireless barcode printers available for your business at http://barcodegeek.com

The Necessity of Barcode Printers in Modern Times

A barcode is a machine-readable representation of information in a visual format on a surface. Barcode is widely used to implement Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC) systems that improve the speed and accuracy of computer data entry.

A barcode printer is a computer peripheral for printing barcode labels or tags that can be attached to physical objects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment, or to label retail items with Universal Product Codes.

Desktop barcode printer has become a commonplace tool for entering product information at retail chains and shopping complexes. Industrial barcode printers are used in manufacturing facilities and large warehouses helping in inventory management and sales process automation.

The most common barcode standards are UPCs and EANs.

Universal Product Code Bar Code - The standard bar code printed on retail merchandise. It contains the vendor's identification number and the product number which is read by passing the bar code over a scanner.

European Article Numbering is the European standard for barcodes. There are two different versions of EAN bar codes, EAN-13 and EAN-8, which encode 13- and 8-digit numbers, respectively. A special EAN-13 bar code with a 5-digit supplemental code is used on books to encode the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and the price. This bar code is called ?Bookland?.

Traditional one-dimensional bar codes use the bar's width to encode a product or an account number. Two-dimensional bar codes, such as PDF417, MaxiCode and DataMatrix, are scanned horizontally and vertically and hold considerably more data. PDF417 is widely used for general purposes. MaxiCode is used for high-speed sorting, and DataMatrix is used for marking small parts.

Barcode Printers employ two major printing methods ? Direct Thermal (DT) and Thermal Transfer (TT).

Direct thermal printers use a print head to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paper black. Direct thermal printers are generally less expensive, but they produce labels that can become illegible if exposed to heat, direct sunlight, or chemical vapors. Barcode 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.

Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of acting directly on the paper, the heat melts a waxy or resin substance on a ribbon that runs over the label or tag material. The heat transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper. Thermal Transfer requires the use of a heated ribbon to produce long-lasting images of data onto a label and/or tag, whereas Direct Thermal process prints the image directly on the label/tag.

Direct thermal and thermal transfer barcode printers can print bar code labels on variety of media. The range of bar code printers vary from light duty printers to rugged and high speed industrial printers for meeting diverse requirements. In industrial printers, the range varies from medium to heavy duty to extra heavy duty printers. These printers can be integrated to existing applications / ERP for on demand label/tag printing.

Industrial barcode printers are used in large warehouses and manufacturing facilities. They have large paper capacities, operate faster and have a longer service life. For retail and office environments, desktop barcode printers are most common.

http://www.pointofsalecomponents.com provides the great collection of all your retail and inventory management needs. Whether you're looking for barcode printer and decoders, bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code labels or barcode scanners, we have it.

Bluetooth Wireless Barcode Scanners

Bluetooth Wireless Barcode scanners are fast gathering popularity in the retail and service related industries. Many companies have adopted using Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners and found them to be an integrated part of their business operations

Wireless barcode scanners using Bluetooth technology provided wireless coverage and lower cost per barcode scanner compared with wireless 802.11b barcode scanners.

Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners are light and portable thus allowing the operator to move easily from place to place.

It also makes it easy to scan huge, bulky and immoveable items as the operator can scan easily without moving the large items.

They are two types of barcode scanners available. One used CCD based technology, the other is laser-based technology. CCD-based barcode scanners uses optical cameras to capture barcode images and then translate that to barcode information. One major disadvantage of CCD barcode scanners is that the scanning distance is shorter. CCD barcode scanners is used mostly in fixed or static barcode scanners where distance is not a problem.

Laser barcode scanners uses a laser to capture barcode information. As such, they have a longer scanning distance and also can scan curved surface. Most Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners are laser-based.

The price of Bluetooth wireless barcode scanners have rapidly dropped over the years and nowadays you can get a pretty good one for a few hundred dollars. Therefore it is a good investment to get these for your business.

Ricky Lim runs a barcode scanners reviews site. Visit his site for reviews of barcode label printers , barcode label software etc.

How POS Barcode Scanners Can Improve Your Business Efficiency

Are you a small retail business owner looking for a way to speed up the waiting time of your customers when they are at the cashiers? Then POS barcode scanners can help you with that.

POS barcode scanners or point of sale scanners will allow the cashier to scan the product and all the important information such as product category, product code, pricing etc will be digitally recorded. This process is very fast and easy to learn. The only difficult part comes when you need to tag all your store's items with a barcode in order for the POS barcode scanner to be able to read.

Another advantage of using POS barcode scanners is that all recorded information is easily retrievable. This makes it easy to generate accounting data, ledgers etc convenient. Also the inventory levels in your store can be easily identified as well.

POS barcode scanners are not just useful in retail outlets but also can be used in clinics, libraries and any other business or organization where a large quantity of items are being transferred/purchased each day.

There are 2 types of POS barcode scanners. They are CCD-based and laser-based. CCD-based POS barcode scanners are more common and cheaper, however they have a disadvantage in that they can't read rounded surfaces. So if you have products which have a smooth curved surface, it is better to use laser-based barcode scanners.

Laser-based barcode scanners can read from any surface and can do this at a greater distance than CCD-based barcode scanners. This is because CCD-based scanners uses cameras to capture the barcode information hence they need to be within close distance of the barcode in order to capture the barcoding information.

An important type of barcode scanner is one that uses CCD technology. This technology was widely used in many retail outlets and involves scanning by pressing the scanner on the barcode to feed information into the computer. But its inability to read from round surfaces has resulted in the development of laser-operated scanners, which pick up barcodes from the surface of products even from a distance. With the advent of omni-directional laser scanners, more and more dealers are opting for those barcode readers that send out laser beams in different directions and pick up the barcodes on the products in a matter of seconds.

There are a wide variety of POS barcode scanners available in many different configuration depending on your market sector. Some uses USB, others wireless and some are handheld.

I personally prefer handheld POS barcode scanners from Symbol and Datalogic. I found they have the best support and handheld POS barcode scanners are light and portable and can easily to transport to other location as I see fit. You can check out their websites for their range of POS barcode scanners.

Ricky Lim runs a barcode scanners reviews site. Visit his site for reviews of POS barcode scanners , wireless barcode scanners etc.

Using Barcode Fonts To Create And Print Barcodes

What are barcode fonts? Basically they are just that - plain fonts. But rather than depicting numbers and letters they contain the bars and spaces that make up a barcode symbology. They are installed to your fonts folder or directory and will show up in your application's font list just like "Courier" or "Arial".

"That sounds good! So basically I just enter a couple of digits in Word, add the start / stop characters, change the font to Code UPC and have a nice barcode.", you say.

Not quite. You see, this approach will only work for simple barcodes like Code 39 where every group of bars and spaces (also called a symbol) is directly mapped to the character encoded.

Some Conversion Required

However, more complex symbologies like UPC or EAN require one more step to perform before the code can actually be displayed. The number to be encoded has to be "converted" to be usable with a given font. This is usually done with a little software tool that comes with the fonts. Also a checksum or check digit has to be calculated.

The use of such a conversion tool is acceptable if you have to print only a handful of codes. But what if you have to print scores of UPC codes? Hopefully you are not supposed to manually convert all those numbers! Fortunately, most conversion tools provide a batch conversion of numbers. Many vendors will also supply macros, DLL's and sample code snippets to be used, say, in Visual Basic, that handle the conversion.

Now that we've learned the basics of barcode fonts, what are their pros and cons?

Advantages of Barcode Fonts

1. Barcode fonts will work in almost any application that works with text: Word processors, spreadsheets, databases, image editing, DTP software, most programming environments etc.

2. Depending on the barcode type involved it's sufficient to simply enter the number and change the font.

3. Barcode fonts will scale and print very well because, unlike images or bitmaps, they are not pixel based.

4. Barcode fonts are available for almost any platform: Linux, Mac, Windows.

5. Barcode fonts are usually the cheapest barcode software available. If you only need Code UPC, you only have to buy a Code UPC font (many vendors will actually provide a collection of fonts for the reasons detailed below). This will usually cost no more that USD 30 to USD 50.

Drawbacks of Barcode Fonts

1. Some symbologies require a conversion before formatting.

2. Scaling a font will scale it in all directions. E.g. it's usually not possible to make the barcode higher while keeping the width unchanged. Generally speaking, fonts are not very flexible. Most vendors therefore supply fonts with different ratios and sizes.

3. The same goes for the human readable text of the barcode. What if you need the Code UPC above without text? You could either cover the text with another object or hope that the vendor supplies a font with the bars only.

4. Barcode fonts are basically an "Add-On" to another software. This means you are stuck with the capabilities of the software in question when it comes, for example, to label printing.

Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

An Introduction To Barcodes

Barcodes encode numeric or textual information in a printable, machine-readable form. The use of barcodes can significantly reduce cost of warehouse management and inventory. Two main forms of barcodes exist today: Linear or normal barcodes encode data over a horizontal stretch of space or one dimension. This kind of barcode typically encodes between four and forty digits or characters. So called area codes encode data in two dimensions, resulting in much higher density which allows for up to three thousand characters to be encoded.

Most linear barcode types will only encode numbers or digits. Two notable exceptions are Code 39 and Code 128 which can also encode alphanumeric characters like letters. Two dimensional area codes usually encode numbers, letters and special characters.

The most common linear barcode type is Code EAN which is used to encode article numbers in retail. It's used throughout the world with the notable exception of the USA which uses a related code, Code UPC, for the same purpose. A special form of Code EAN carries a so called Addon, a smaller barcode next to the main barcode that can encode pricing information and the like. Code EAN with a five digit Addon is used to encode ISBN (International Standard Book Number), while Code EAN with a two digit Addon is used to encode ISSN (International Standard Serials Number).

Other notable linear barcode symbologies and their applications include Code 39 (used for pharmaceuticals), Code 128 (warehouse management and retail) and Code Two-Of-Five (warehouse management and inventory).

The most common two dimensional area codes are PDF417 and Datamatrix, both of which are used in manufacturing, package tracking and similar applications which require large data amounts to be encoded.

Barcode Checksums

To ensure safe and error free reading and scanning of barcodes, all common barcode symbologies support so called checksum or check digit schemes. A checksum or check digit is an additional character or number that is calculated from the encoded data and appended to the barcode. While reading the barcode the scanner or reader can verify the checksum and determine if the barcode was scanned correctly. This is especially important if the barcode can easily be damaged or be tampered with. Simple check digit systems like the sort that is used with most linear barcodes will only detect simple errors, like a missing character. More sophisticated systems, especially those used with area barcodes can not only detect but also repair any damage that may have occurred to the code.

Barcode Applications

Today barcodes enjoy wide spread use through all types of businesses. The first major application of barcodes was in the retail sector where the codes would encode article numbers, manufacturer data and pricing. Another prominent use of barcodes is in the transport industry where the codes carry address and tracking information. Finally, two dimensional area codes have recently gained much popularity for use in personal identity cards, drivers licenses and so forth. They are also used for the tagging of electronic parts like computer or memory chipsPro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

An Introduction To Label And Barcode Printing

Using a dedicated label printer

The majority of label printers work either in thermal (sometimes called thermal direct) or thermal transfer mode.

A thermal direct printer has a printhead that applies heat to specially coated, thermal paper. This paper changes its color to black when it is heated. The same principle applies to a fax machine with thermal paper. If you ever used such a fax you may have noticed that the paper gets yellowish or even brown after laying around for some time. That's because exposure to sunlight or any other source of bright light has the same effect on the paper as heating it during the print process.

Obviously, you will only want to use a thermal direct printer if you need labels that must at most be legitable for a few days or weeks. A typical application would be an address label. Also, grocery stores use this type of printing for labeling of vegetables or other short lived goods. Thermal direct printers have the big advantage that only one type of consumable is needed, the above mentioned thermal paper.

Thermal transfer printers on the other hand print on labels made of plain or normal paper. The printhead is the same as above but a thermal transfer ribbon or sheet sits between the head and the paper. Heating the ribbon causes ink to transfer from the ribbon to the paper, hence the name. Thermal transfer printing will lead to labels that can last for years. If you had to put labels on shelves that are supposed to last for some time you would use a thermal transfer printer.

It's noteworthy that any thermal transfer printer can also print thermal direct (simply leave out the ribbon and use thermal direct paper) but usually not the other way round because the cheaper thermal direct printers often lack the gear to attach a thermal transfer ribbon. Thermal transfer printers with about 200-300 dpi (which is enough for most purposes) start at about USD 500 and, depending on the volume and speed they deliver, can get very expensive.

Generally speaking, buying a dedicated label printer makes sense if you regularly have to print more than, say, 100-200 labels a day. It really depends on your application. Some advice: Always make sure that the printer comes with appropriate Windows (or Mac) drivers. This will allow you to use any Windows (or Mac) software for label printing, the alternative being that you have to use the printer's manufacturers proprietary (and usually expensive) software.

Using an every day ink jet or laser printer

With regards to print quality or durability, any modern ink jet or laser printer will easily print even the most demanding 2D barcodes in good quality. Therefore, if, for example, your application is to print lists of barcodes on plain paper there's no point in buying a dedicated printer for barcode printing.

However, if you have to print labels on a regular basis, the story is different. For once, these printers won't be able to deliver a single label like a dedicated label printer, instead they consume at least a full sheet of paper, no matter how many labels you need. Of course you could put the sheet back into the printer after peeling the label off but next time you would have to tell the label printing software to skip the used labels. Also after two or three trips through the paper feeding mechanism labels tend to get loose and block the paper path.

Bear also in mind that (on a per label basis) ink jet or laser labels are far more expensive then labels for thermal or thermal transfer printers. It's my experience that people try to cope with this for some time but finally give in and buy a dedicated label printer.
Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

Choosing The Right Barcode Scanner

Barcode Wands

Barcode wands were the first broadly used types of barcode readers. How does such a barcode wand work? In the tip of the wand you'll find a small LED (light emitting diode) and a photo receptor. The light is reflected from the code into the receiver. From the signal pattern of the reflection the wand can determine the type and content of the barcode. Reading a barcode with a wand is simple but requires some practice. There is no trigger button, basically the wand is "always on" when connected to a PC. Then user holds it like a pen and moves it quickly from left to right to left over the barcode.

Barcode CCD Scanner

It's almost certain that most scanners today are of the Charge Coupled Device (CCD) scanning type. A good CCD Barcode Scanner for less than USD 100 will easily outperform a wand and at times even a laser scanner that costs two or three times as much. A CCD scanner is like an "expanded wand". Where wands have just one light emitting diode and one receiver, CCD scanners have a complete row of those elements. By triggering the scanner the whole code is illuminated and exposed to the receiving elements. Scanning barcodes with a CCD scanner is faster and more reliable than with a barcode wand.

Barcode Laser Scanner

Laser scanners have their name from a laser diode in the scanning head or "scan engine" as it is sometimes called. The beam is projected through a system of lenses and mirrors onto the barcode, resulting in a visible single red line or pattern of lines. Laser scanners have two modes of operation: They can be used in a stand and will trigger automatically if a barcode is held in front of the scanner. This can be very useful because it keeps the personnel's hands free and is one of the real pros of laser scanners. Out of the stand these devices use a trigger button much like a CCD scanner to trigger the scanning process.

Barcode Imager

Two dimensional or area barcodes have gained much popularity in recent years. With a 2D barcode it's possible to encode up to 3,000 bytes of information in a single barcode symbol the size of a stamp. However, this progress comes with a notable drawback: Ordinary barcode scanners will not read this type of barcodes. To scan area barcodes, so called barcode imagers are required. These scanners basically work like a digital camera, that is they take an image of the barcode, decode and process the encoded data and transmit the data to the host computer.

Connecting a Barcode Scanner to a Computer

PCs still outnumber Macs by far so it comes as no surprise that most scanners use an interface that will only connect to PC's: A keyboard wedge. Basically a keyboard wedge is a "Y" shaped cable that connects the scanner, the keyboard and the PC. Everything the scanner sends looks to the computer as if the user have typed it into the keyboard. Drivers are not required, the installation is child's play.

For Macintosh computers or laptops without keyboard ports, a connection via USB is the only viable alternative.

Pro Barcode is your source for Barcode Software. Barcode newbies visit our section Barcode Know How and FAQ.

How To Choose A Barcode Printer

Barcode Printers nowadays comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes with varying price range. It can also either be hand-held or desk bound. Technically, general purpose laserjet and inkjet printers cannot print barcodes by default. Usually, they require a add-on component or module. An example is Capella Technologies which provides barcode printing functionality to standard HP laserjet printers through an add-on flash card. Such barcode printers are usually limited in the number of symbologies that can be used.

Thermal Barcode printers, on the other hand supports multiple symbologies right out of the box. The more common barcode printer manufacturers include zebra and symbol.

There are two ways barcode printers print barcode, the first method is Thermal Transfer and the second method is Direct Thermal. Direct Thermal prints the barcode directly on the label while Thermal Transfer make use of a ribbon and a printhead. The ribbon is heated and the image is etched on by the printhead on a pre-defined area.

Thermal transfer allows you to print barcodes on a wider variety of materials than direct thermal. As such, the type of material you are going to print barcodes on is a crucial factor in determining which barcode printer to purchase.

Larger barcode printers usually have the ability to switch between direct thermal and thermal transfer. One disadvantage of thermal transfer is that the ribbon needs to be changed quite frequently. If you are using the barcode printer in a manufacturing environment, there could be a lot of downtime. A direct thermal printer is faster and is useful particularly where speed is required and you are not printing a lot of barcodes all the time. An example would be in a hospital where each patient warded is given a barcode to identify them.

If you need to print thousand of barcode labels at a time. Look at purchasing one of the thermal printers from symbol or zebra. I found them to be pretty good in terms of speed and functionality. I would advise to get a barcode printer that has a larger print width and a larger print label capacity.

Barcode Printing technology has evolved tremendously over the last few years. Lately, barcode manufacturers have implemented several security features to ensure there is no counterfeit coding. The latest models of barcode printers are capable of printing labels with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices) tags in them. Such security features are mandatory in some highly sensitive industries and help to provide a guarantee of authentication.

KB Lim is the owner of http://all-barcode-scanners.info Visit his site for more barcoding equipment reviews and barcode scanners recommendations

Selecting The Best Barcode Scanner For Your Business

A barcode is compiled of machine-readable information, which is commonly used on retail merchandise and other tangible products. Standard barcodes feature a series of printed parallel lines with numbers located just below. Barcodes are read by barcode scanners, which are also known as barcode readers.

A barcode scanner is a computer device used for reading printed barcodes. This type of product is commonly found in retail stores. A small handheld unit that reads, translates and provides information from a product is one type of popular scanners. As you pass through the checkout line, if you notice the checker searching for a tag, he or she is likely looking for the barcode. Among other things, a barcode scanner can interpret an item description and price from just one quick swipe.

Similar to a flatbed scanner, barcode scanners consist of a light source, lens and photo conductor. These come together to translate optical impulses into electrical impulses. The vast majority of all barcode scanners feature decoder circuits, which analyzes the barcode?s image date.

There are a variety of barcode scanners on the market, including the handheld model as previously mentioned. Pen scanners are small and look exactly like a writing pen. In order for them to work, you must point the tip at the beginning of the barcode and slide it across until the entire code has been scanned. Stationary scanners are similar to those found strategically placed throughout retail stores. These are usually posted for customers who wish to find out the price of an item without standing in the checkout line, which they can quickly accomplish by holding the barcode underneath the scanner window and, within a few seconds, the product name and price is displayed on a small screen.

Barcode scanners have helped to make the retail world, along with other businesses, work more efficiently and accurately. With computerized data being stored in one main location, a barcode automatically reads the product data and allows customers to get through the checkout line much faster. In addition, barcode scanners are beneficial in helping to keep track of sales, measure accurate sales records and provide an efficient way for stores to reorder a product.

Barcode scanners are available at most office supply stores, specialty business centers and at business liquidation sales. Prices vary depending on the model, performance and warranty that you select. Barcode scanners are a good investment if you need to have an efficient way to distribute, manage or keep track of sales, revenue and reorders. Before choosing a barcode scanner, be sure to realistically assess your business needs, size requirements, a reasonable budget and performance guidelines. For example, will you be using the scanner in a retail setting? Will it be used by cashiers, stationed throughout the store or both? As with any business equipment, always select a reputable dealer and inquire about product warranties. Retain all warranty information, along with the owner?s manual, in case of future technical problems. All paperwork should be tucked away in a safe location, which is easily accessible incase it is later needed.

Peter Bishop

Entrepreneur and Barcode Scanner Online-Business owner from Colorado. Visit also his Fulfillment Service Directory

Barcode Printer Technology & Designs

A barcode is compiled of machine-readable information, which is commonly used on retail merchandise and other tangible products. Standard barcodes feature a series of printed parallel lines with numbers located just below. Barcodes are read by barcode scanners, which are also known as barcode readers.

A barcode printer is a computer device that is used for printing barcode labels or tags. Once a barcode label is printed, it can be affixed to physical objects, such as retail or shipping products. When browsing through a retail store, everything that you see will have a barcode. This set of numbers is used to identify the product, along with it?s price. A cashier will generally scan the barcode, which automatically rings up the price of the item and allows them to quickly move on to the next item.

Generally lightweight and portable in their design, barcode printers are a convenient office tool for any business needing barcode labels. Direct thermal printers, which is one of the technologies used among the barcode printing industry, require special thermal paper for printing. The thermal printing process begins when a printhead generates heat and causes a reaction in the thermal paper. From this reaction, the paper turns black in special areas to create a barcode.

Thermal transfer printers, which is another commonly used barcode printing product, uses heat differently. Instead of causing a reaction on the paper, the heat melts a special substance onto a ribbon, which glides over the label. The heat, in thermal transfer printers, transfers the ink onto paper.

Barcode printers are designed differently depending upon the market they are intended for. Large, industrial barcode printers are used in manufacturing and/or warehouse facilities. These printers are capable of producing a large quantity of barcodes in a short amount of time, which is why they are so prominently used in large businesses. They have a large paper capacity, which provides for more labels, operate much quicker than standard barcode printers and perform better over a longer period of time. For smaller environments, such as offices or retail centers, desktop barcode printers are commonly used to save space.

Barcode printers are available at most office supply stores, specialty business centers and at business liquidation sales. Prices vary depending on the model, performance and warranty that you select. Barcode printers are a good investment if you need to have an efficient way to distribute, manage or keep track of sales, revenue and reorders. Larger units are much more expensive, but work best in large warehouse settings. If you are in need of volume, a desktop barcode printer may not work well for you. On the other hand, if you need a solid and dependable, yet portable and lightweight unit, a desktop printer will work fine. Before choosing a printer, be sure to realistically assess your business needs, a reasonable budget and performance requirements. As with all business equipment, always select a reputable dealer and inquire about product warranties. Retain all warranty information, along with the owner?s manual, in case of future technical problems.

Peter Bishop

Entrepreneur and Barcode Printer Online-Business owner from Colorado. Visit also his Fulfillment Service Directory

Signum Digital Kanban Integrates Inventory Barcode Scanners

Signum is Datacraft Solutions, Inc. (www.datacraftsolutions.com) flagship digital kanban automation solution, which streamlines replenishment and enables collaborative communication throughout the supply chain. Signum integrates inventory barcode scanners with an easy-to-use desktop interface. Manufacturers can automatically issue replenishment signals to suppliers at the point of use. Built-in monitoring, customizable alerts and control features ensure that inventory levels are properly maintained. According to Matthew Marotta, founder of Datacraft Solutions, "The result is a dramatic increase in visibility and control, adding up to a significant reduction in the number of required replenishment transactions."

According to Marotta, "As digital kanban solutions continue to spread throughout the manufacturing industry we are able to draw on the insights and experiences of our clients to enhance the functionality of offerings. We are, in effect, applying the lessons of continuous improvement to our own platform, optimizing Signum and Curator to make Digital Kanban implementation more efficient and effective."

Digital kanban aligns inventory levels with actual consumption; a signal is sent to produce and deliver a new shipment when material is consumed. These signals are tracked through the replenishment cycle and bring extraordinary visibility to suppliers and buyers. Working seamlessly with existing visual board systems, Datacraft Solutions' Digital Kanban solution allows individual cells or entire supply chains to realize an immediate and dramatic return from an extremely small process automation investment, by vastly reducing the management time and information gathering required to monitor, update and transmit card-based replenishment needs.

Datacraft Solutions www.datacraftsolutions.com Kelly Pryor media@datacraftsolutions.com 800-819-5326

Barcodes for Microsoft Dynamics GP-Great Plains - overview for Consultant

As we see ERP system are implemented in the companies, where it must be tightly integrated with existing or legacy system, automate warehousing, shipping & receiving operations, bar code scanners (Symbol wireless and stand alone) inventory order fulfillment

One of the directions is so-called supply chain management implementation (Radio Beacon, for example), integrated with Microsoft Great Plains.  Another solution, which should be cheaper and fit for mid-size warehousing operations ? use third party custom modules for Microsoft Dynamics GP as well as have customization partner to tune custom piece for your unique warehousing operations.  In this small article we will give you an overview of light barcoding functionality, available for Great Plains.

• Sales Order Processing (SOP) custom logic.  Barcode scanning is in general similar to entering characters from the keyboard itself, and it is natural to improve SOP logic to automate such processes as order fulfillment or shipping.  In this case you should be able to invoice more than it was ordered, for instance.  Simple Great Plains prompt screen should just let you decide if you would like to overship or not.
• Barcode ? Item number.  You should probably be able to have these two coexist in parallel ? we suggest the association to be stored in custom table.
• Serial/Lot Number.  We often see the need to associate lot number with the specific large unit of measure, like roll (of cloth/fabric), having slightly variable number of yards or meters each new time (having new lot number or serial number).  The variable length must be associated with the lot number in parallel with standard unit of measure logic
• Technology.  The customization technology for Microsoft Dynamics GP is still the same as it was 5-10 years ago ? Microsoft Dexterity or former Great Plains Dexterity.  Customization exists in the form of chunk (file with .CNK extension), which is integrated with Great Plains workstation the first time you launch the application and then becomes custom dictionary file (DYNAMICS.DIC is core functionality, CUSTOM.DIC is your customization dictionary for example).  Dexterity uses scanscript coding and has Microsoft Dexterity IDE.  In some cases you can extend Dexterity customization with SQL stored procedures, VBA scripting with Microsoft Great Plains Modifier (DYNAMICS.VBA), but the Dexterity is still preferable, if we are talking about standard Great Plains client application.  If you plan to deploy web interface, you should consider newer technologies, such as eConnect.
• SQL Tables.  In the case of SOP you deal with SOP10100 ? Sales Document Header, SOP10200 ? Sales Document Lines, plus you need to read IV00101 ? Inventory Item Master and IV00102 ? Item QTY Master tables
• Microsoft RMS Integration.  If you sell on the retail level and would like the transactions to be consolidated into Great Plains ? you need Microsoft Dynamics GP ? MS RMS Integration module.  In our case we have it for AR/SOP/POP level, then you post transactions in Great Plains and have them come through the whole way up to GL

Give us a call 1-866-528-0577 or help@albaspectrum.com if you need additional information or directions.

Andrew Karasev is technical consultant at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.greatplains.com.mx http://www.enterlogix.com.br ), serving clients in Illinois, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, New Jersey, Washington, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, and having locations in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Germany, Mexico

 

The Right Barcode Label Material

So, you just bought your first thermal transfer printer and now you have to find the perfect label for your printing application.

Thermal printers are great for printing shipping labels, warehouse rack labels, <a target="_New" href="http://www.eversio.com">barcode labels, asset labels and product identification labels. Choosing the right label material can be one of the most important decisions you make. If you are printing shipping labels or barcode identification labels for retail, the label does not have that long of a shelf life. A simple thermal transfer label and wax ribbon combo will work just fine or even a direct thermal. Keep in mind that direct thermal labels are heat sensitive and can fade and blacken over time. Direct thermal tends to be more expensive than thermal transfer labels, but you don't have to change out a ribbon or factor in that cost.

Perhaps you will need to print location or rack labels for your warehouse or maybe a shipping label that will be on a product outside. Now you are faced with a dilemna of finding a low cost label material that will give you barcode smudge resistance and resistance to water. Polyester labels can be very expensive and overkill for this application. Consider using a poly blend material like a polyetholene, polyolephin or a Kimdura label stock. These materials are more expensive than paper but will not break the bank for your application. Polyester labels are ideal for exposure to chemicals and high temperatures. They are also great for holding up to the elements. Many asset labels are printed in polyester because you want them to be around for the life of the product. If you still need more durability, consider anodized aluminum labels or tags for your application. These have the image preprinted on them and baked into the material. You will pay a bundle for these, but if it's going to last forever, it's worth the investment.

Brad Hole is President of Eversio Technologies <a target="_new" href="http://www.eversio.com">http://www.eversio.com; a Seattle based business specializing in barcode hardware, software and labels

Choosing the Right Barcode Scanner; CCD or Laser

Barcode scanners have been on the market for a number of years. You can pay as little as $50 for a scanner up to several thousand depending on durability, scan engine and whether it's laser or CCD. How do you choose what barcode scanner is right for you?

Laser scanners have typically always been more expensive than CCD scanners. Both have advantages and disadvantages. CCD scanners have no moving parts internal like laser scanners. A CCD can take a drop or resist shock more so than a laser scanner. Laser scanners have oscillating mirrors that are subject to wear and mechanical failure. CCD scanners use LED's for illumination and can last ten times as long as laser scanners. CCD scanners have come a long way. They used to only be able to cast a fixed width wide beam and the operator would have to hold the scanner within touching distance to the label to get the barcode to scan properly. Today, CCD's can scan up to 45 scans per second or faster (depending on the model) which is equiviltent to laser scanners.

Laser scanners are traditional better for long range scanning which isn't always a requirement for people scanning barcodes. I have used both CCD scanners and laser scanners over the years. I would much rather purchase a good CCD scanner knowing that it's going to last me longer and be less resistance to having to repair it from dropping it on my warehouse floor.

There are many manufacturers of barcode scanners on today's market. Some questions to ask yourself are: What type of environment will I be using this scanner (warehouse, office)? What size/symbology of barcode that I will be scanning? Is long range scanning a requirement in your application?

These questions will help determine what barcode scanner is right for you.Brad Hole is President of Eversio Technologies http://www.eversio.com ; a distributor of barcode scanners, printers and media for automated data collection.

Barcode Reader Manufacturers - The Future For Barcode Readers

Theyre not really the greatest invention of the recent century. To claim such would be an unbelievable hyperbole. But barcode readers have attained, and kept, their place as indispensable tools for many businesses the world over.

Though the world in general may not have been evolutionized by their introduction to several industries, barcode readers have made quite a fortune for benefiting enterprises and barcode reader manufacturers alike.

Indeed, barcode reader manufacturers have enjoyed tremendous and sustained profit by reason of their main products. Barcode readers have become a must in certain fields that demand for the said products has never waned, instead, has experience a steady increase throughout the years. As a result, barcode reader manufacturers are always aiming to discover new applications and improvements for their cash cow.

The Driving Force Behind Barcode Reader Manufacturers

Like most industry giants, barcode reader manufacturers discovered a need, and they provided for such a need through their worthy invention: barcode readers.

Before barcode reader manufacturers started to distribute their products, businesses involved with the identification and verification of items, especially those in minor or major transits, have been fraught with errors and delays.

The reason? Everything was being carried out manually, hence the processes are susceptible to human fallibilities.

Barcode reader manufacturers offered barcode readers to solve these problems. The bread and butter of these barcode reader manufacturers was able to make things more accurate and convenient, resulting in a more efficient and speedy execution of the said processes.

Barcode Reader Manufacturers And The Developments In The Industry

Since the time they have started to offer barcode readers for the usage of relevant businesses, barcode reader manufacturers have likewise introduced improvements over the original models. Today, barcode readers come in a variety of forms, care of the many barcode reader manufacturers in the industry.

Fixed readers, portable batches and portable RF readers are just some of major types of barcode readers that barcode reader manufacturers are currently selling in the market. They come in further variations, of course.

Barcode reader manufacturers have also developed scanner-based barcode readers, camera-based barcode readers, and CDD barcode readers for businesses with equally varied needs.

Barcode reader manufacturers also change the products to conform to current demands. For example, barcode reader manufacturers today offer barcode readers that could decode numeric barcodes. These barcode reader manufacturers also offer barcode readers that could translate barcodes using alphabetic characters. They also offer barcode readers that could identify and verify barcodes with lines of fixed or varying lengths.

Barcode Reader Manufacturers And The Future

Judging from history, only good things can be expected from barcode reader manufacturers in the coming years. The leading barcode reader manufacturers of today such as Symbol Technologies, Intermec, Opticon, Argox and American Microsystems, Ltd. Are already positioning themselves for their continued success in the future.

They are heavily investing on their research and development departments to come up with better applications and features for the barcode readers they will manufacture for tomorrow.

It is an exciting time for both interested businesses and barcode reader manufacturers. Fueled by unceasing success, the future does look bright for those tools that have helped boost the efficiency of countless businesses throughout the years.

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


The Small Business Success Summit (October 10, 2003 to October 12, 2003)Maxine ThompsonCopyright 2005 Black Butterfly Press

By Maxine Thompson (http://www.maxinethompson.com)

While at the Pacific Ocean the other day, penning this article, I watched a homeless man dig inside a garbage can and ferret out a thrown away bag of fast food. Of course, I felt moved to give him a small token, but it made me reflect. What if he had attended The Small Business Success Summit? Perhaps his life would have been different. He could have learned from Ted Nicholas, known as the 4 billion dollar man, (www.TedNicholas.com) and Joel Christopher, (www.JoelChristopher.com) called The Master List Builder (www.masterlistbuilder.com), how to start a business from scratch. Instead of giving him a fish, he could have been given a fishing rod.

No doubt about it, this conference, held on 10-10-03 to 10-12-03 at the Airport Marriot in the sparkling San Francisco Bay area, headed by Superstar Speakers, Ted Nicholas and Joel Christopher, delivered what the two men promised. Not only was the Conference taped on video, it was broadcasted live to the world on the Internet.

The Summit was considered a success by all the attendees, as well as by the people who watched the event globally. Promoted as The impossible-to-fail small business success system that will build the Million Dollar Empire you have always dreamed of, it met the intended objectives and more. The three-day conference provided life-transforming information, and hands on, experiential exercises. This groundbreaking, history-making event of the new millennium was the best seminar we ever attended.

In addition to many technical and inside secrets as to how to make your words sell, one of the main themes Ted Nicholas emphasized was this: integrity always remains in style. In light of the many big business scandals, Nicholass philosophies were truly refreshing. To give you an insight into this great mans longstanding success, here are just a few of the business principles of which he spoke.

1. Make all your dealings win/win. Do not take advantage of other businesses when their chips are down.
2. If you unwittingly under charge for a job, in the name of keeping a good business ethic, eat the loss. Dont try to mark up the price after agreeing on a lower price.
3. Keep your word, at all costs, to build trust with your customers.
4. You can build a great business without being a workaholic. He addressed the need for balance in the areas of health, spirituality, and relationships.
5. Finally, use magic words when it comes to getting people to buy your products or do business with you.

From Joel Christopher, who proudly tells you of his Filipino heritage and, in spite of the language barrier, the success he has had in the United States, we saw up close:

1. How you can make $31,000 Swiss dollars in 24 hours on the Internet.
2. How to build your online business with offline marketing.
3. The secret method he used that has helped him to create joint ventures with many of the top leaders in the internet marketing field.
4. The secrets of how he tripled his opt-in list in 99 days.
5. The autohumanization factor that makes a difference in all relationship capital.

In the end, we left the seminar exhausted, but exhilarated about the possibilities we now face and the tools we had been given to grow our small businesses into million dollar empires. With this in mind, I want to be one of the caring people with an abundance who will be able to help with the worlds homeless and hunger problem.
Bio: Dr. Maxine E. Thompson is the owner of Black Butterfly Press, Maxine Thompsons Literary Services, Thompson Literary Agency and http://www.maxineshow.comShe is a ghostwriter, story editor, literary agent, Internet radio show host on http://www.voiceamerica.comand http://www.artistfirst.com

Advantages Of Barcode Scanners

 

A barcode reader (barcode scanner), also called a price scanner or point-of-sale (POS) scanner, is a hand-held or stationary input device used to capture and read information contained in a bar code. A barcode reader consists of a scanner, a decoder (either built-in or external), and a cable used to connect the reader with a computer.

There are five basic kinds of barcode readers each with its own unique advantage. Those are Pen wands, Slot Scanners, Charge-Couple Device (CCD) Scanners, Image Scanners, and Laser Scanners.

· A Pen Wand is a simple barcode reader which is known for its durability and low cost; does not contain any moving parts. It has to remain in direct contact with the bar code at a certain angle.

· A Slot Scanner remains stationary and the item with the bar code on it is pulled by hand through the slot. Slot scanners are typically used to scan bar codes on identification cards.

· A CCD Scanner often used in retail sales has a better read-range than the pen wand. A disadvantage of the CCD scanner is that it cannot read a bar code that is wider than its input face.

· An Image Scanner, also called as Camera reader, uses a small video camera to capture the image of the bar code and then uses sophisticated digital image processing techniques to decode the bar code.

· A Laser Scanner, either hand-held or stationary, does not have to be close to the bar code in order to do its job and can easily read a bar code up to 24 inches away. A laser scanning may perform up to 500 scans per second to reduce the possibility of errors.

Advantages of Barcodes: -

Barcode scanning systems provide an array of benefits, including operational efficiency, better customer service, and improved visibility of key business information to management.

A bar code label of twelve characters can be wanded in approximately the time it takes a keyboard operator to make two keystrokes.

Accuracy

For every 1,000 characters typed by a keyboard operator, there are an average of ten keying errors. For an Optical Character Reader (OCR), there is one error in every 10,000 reads. With wands, barcode systems approach one error in every 3,000,000 characters, and with laser technology, they approach one error in 70 million entries.

Data Integrity

When all the products or item data is Barcode scanned, it is free of human errors when data is entered. Barcode scanners works as a designed user interface that prevent the input of invalid data.

Probable number of substitution errors per 3,400,000 characters

Data Entry Method Errors

Keyboard Entry 10,000
OCR Scanning 300
Barcode scanning 1
(Code 39)

Ease of Implementation

Operators of bar code scanners can learn to use the equipment effectively in less than 15 minutes. System costs are lower than other means of data entry because of the existence of interfacing hardware and software.

Cost Effectiveness

Barcode systems have a demonstrated payback period of six to eighteen months, and they provide the highest level of reliability in a wide variety of data collection applications. Barcode systems create value not only by saving time, but also by preventing costly errors.

Information is the most valuable asset for any organization. Every organization should protect its operations data with reliable data management by ensuring data accuracy and availability. Barcode Scanners equipment helps firms in maintaining accurate supply chain and operations data management.

For over 20 years, System ID has provided automation solutions and barcoding equipment to a wide range of large and small companies in virtually every industry sector. System ID offers more than 10,000 brand name products and services such as Symbol Scanner and Symbol Barcode Scanners.

What Are Barcode Scanners?

Barcode Scanner (or barcode reader) is a computer peripheral for reading barcodes printed on various surfaces. A barcode reader consists of a scanner, a decoder (either built-in or external), and a cable used to connect the reader with a computer. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers currently produced contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode's image data provided by the photo conductor and sending the barcode's content to the scanner's output port.

Types of Barcode Scanners: -

By Technology: -

• Pen type readers: Pen type readers consist of a light source and a photodiode that are placed next to each other in the tip of a pen or wand. To read a bar code, tip of the pen moves across all the bars in a steady even motion.

• Laser scanners: Laser barcode scanners work the same way as pen type readers except that they use a laser beam as the light source and typically employ either a reciprocating mirror or a rotating prism to scan the laser beam back and forth across the bar code.

• CCD Readers: CCD (Charge Coupled Device) readers (also referred to as LED scanner) use an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in a row in the head of the reader. The important difference between a CCD reader and a pen or laser scanner is that the CCD reader is measuring emitted ambient light from the bar code whereas pen or laser scanners are measuring reflected light of a specific frequency originating from the scanner itself.

• Camera-Based Readers: 2D imaging scanners are the fourth and newest type of bar code reader currently available. They use a small video camera to capture an image of a bar code. The reader then uses sophisticated digital image processing techniques to decode the bar code.

By Housing: -

• 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 or attached barcode scanner e.g. Grabba.

Barcode Applications for Consumers: -

While barcode readers are typically used in retail, warehouses, and industry, inexpensive barcode readers open up a number of applications for individual consumers.

While cell phone cameras are not optimal for many traditional barcodes, there are 2D barcodes optimized for cell phones. These open up a number of potential applications for consumers:

· Movies: DVD/VHS movie catalogs

· Music: CD catalogs, play MP3 when scanned

· Book catalogs

· Groceries, Nutrition information, making shopping lists when you use the last of an item, etc.

· Personal Property inventory (for insurance and other purposes)

· Cataloging property stored in boxes in the garage, basement, attic, self-storage units, etc for easy retrieval, selling surplus on e-bay, etc

· Calling cards: 2D barcodes can store contact information for importing.

· Brick and mortar shopping: Portable scanners can be used to record items of interest for looking up online when you get home.

· Coupon management: weeding expired coupons.

For over 20 years, System ID has provided automation solutions and Barcoding Equipment to a wide range of large and small companies in virtually every industry sector. System ID offers more than 10,000 brand name products and services such as Symbol Barcode and Symbol Barcode Scanners.

Hassle-free Barcodes For Authors

When it comes to book publishing, there are many things to think about. The content, which is most important, is on the forefront of most writers minds. Next, the layout, front cover design and back cover synopsis will take precedent. For many writers, especially those new to the scene, finding a book publisher can be a daunting task. This is why self-publishing is the chosen route for many budding authors who are serious about getting their books into print.

Even with all of the determination in the world, the perfect layout and subject matter, one problem remains. How will potential readers learn about the book and ultimately choose to purchase it? In order to gain the appropriate amount of coverage and be taken serious as an author, you will need to have your book sold in major online and local bookstores. In order for this to occur, the author has to apply for an ISBN number and also a barcode, which is used to ring up the sale and determine the cost of any given book. Surprisingly to many, these numbers are not free and the paperwork is often more of a hassle than writing the actual book. In an effort to save writers from having to do all of the footwork and to help them concentrate on the actual business of writing, a number of POD (print on demand) publishers are offering the total package when it comes to getting your book into print.

One such publisher is iUniverse, who has been in business for a number of years and offers some of the most competitive publishing packages when compared to similar competitors. In exchange for a fee, iUniverse will design your book’s cover (both front and back), handle the process of obtaining barcodes and an ISBN number, print the books and fill orders. In addition, depending on the package that you choose, iUniverse will also submit your book to the major online bookstores. In a matter of months, your title will be available for purchase at any local or online bookstore because it will be properly cataloged with an ISBN number and the cost readable via the book’s barcode.

As a writer, your main concern is the content of your book. Although it is considered self-publishing because you are paying to have the book published, you will not have to deal with barcodes, ISBN numbers and the submission of your new title to online bookstores. Each of these takes time away from your career, which is why having a publisher can save you bundles of time. In addition, having your first few titles self-published will show future traditional publishing houses that you have what it takes to get the word out and generate success for yourself.

The author is a regular contributor to Barcode Control where more information about barcodes is available.

An Evaluation Of 2d Barcodes In Document Processing Applications

Introduction

Many documents that are to be electronically processed contain barcodes to encode important information that is extracted via barcode decode software. There are a number of issues that should be considered when choosing a barcode symbology. The largest distinguishing characteristic to be considered is whether a linear (1D) or 2 Dimensional (2D) symbology is to be employed. 1D symbologies, as the name implies, typically consist of width modulated bars and spaces that encode the user information. There is no information contained in the vertical dimension of a 1D symbol. 2D symbologies encode information in both dimensions of the symbol and as a result, have much higher data density. 2D symbols typically use a regular grid of possible cell positions, where a cell is either black or white.

This article will focus on the use of 2D symbols in document processing applications because of the significant data density advantage of 2D symbols over 1D symbols. In particular, we will compare the relative merits of three popular public domain 2D symbologies: Data Matrix, QR Code and Micro QR Code. Following a brief overview of each symbology, we will compare them based on their data density, error correction, and relative processing speed.

Data Matrix

Data Matrix symbols use a regular array of square cells ranging in size from a 10 by 10 grid up to a 144 by 144 grid. A 1 cell quiet zone is required around the entire symbol. In addition, rectangular sizes are also available. Each symbol consists of a fixed “L” pattern that is used for finding along with a clock track along the opposite sides of the “L”. In addition, there are internal clock tracks for larger Data Matrix. These fixed locations do not encode any information. They are present to identify the symbol as a Data Matrix and to aid the decode software. The remaining grid locations contain either a black or white squares depending on the information to be encoded.

QR Code

QR Code symbols also employ a regular array of square cells ranging in size from a 21 by 21 grid up to a 177 by 177 grid. A 4 cell quiet zone is required around the entire symbol. To aid finding, QR Code symbols contain 3 finder patterns at 3 of the 4 corners. In addition, there are internal alignment patterns, clock patterns, as well as format information on larger symbols that gives the size of the code.

For data applications that require smaller amounts of data, there is a derivative version of QR Code called Micro QR Code which can encode up to 35 numeric digits in less space than a corresponding QR Code. It has 4 different square sizes: 11 by 11, 13 by 13, 15 by 15 and 17 x 17. Each size requires a 2 cell quiet zone around the entire symbol. It contains only 1 finder pattern, with limited clock pattern and format information.

Data Density and Error Correction

Data Matrix has a clear data density advantage over QR Code. This is especially true for smaller amounts of user data. This is due to the fact that it has fewer fixed cell locations. It does not devote as much space for finder patterns, and contains no format information. Micro QR Code was designed to address the data density issue and is comparable in size to the Data Matrix for this data content.

All 3 types of symbols use Reed Solomon error correction to detect and correct errors due to symbol damage or imaging issues. The number of detectable and correctable errors is determined by the number of extra error correction codewords included in the symbol that are above and beyond the codewords used to encode the data.

The data capacity of a given size symbol is a function of the amount of error correction overhead as well as the data itself. Data Matrix uses a fixed level of error correction that is not selectable by the user. The percentage of error correction codeword overhead ranges from 62.5% for the smallest symbol down to 28% for larger symbols. By contrast, QR Code has 4 different levels of error correction that allow an approximate recovery capacity of 7%, 15%, 25% or 30%. Micro QR Code varies the choices of the amount of error correction for each of the 4 allowable sizes. The smallest only allows error detection, while the largest allows up to 25% recovery capacity.

The amount and type of user data will dictate the size of the symbol that is necessary. In addition, for QR Code and Micro QR Code, the amount of error correction used will factor into the size as well. The table below summarizes the relative size and error correction capacities of the 3 symbols shown above.

Symbology -- Relative Size (with Quiet Zone) / Error Correction Overhead (%) / Maximum Correctable Errors

Data Matrix -- 1.00 / 58.3 / 3

QR Code -- 3.70 / 65.3 / 8

Micro QR Code -- 1.33 / 50.0 / 1

The choice of the amount of error correction used in QR Code and Micro QR Code is application dependent. In situations where size is an issue, one may be tempted to reduce the amount of error correction overhead. This may reduce the overall read rate of the symbol if the barcode may be damaged or if the imaging environment makes it more difficult to get “ideal” images. Barcodes on soft packages that curve the symbol, as well as shiny tape over the symbol that can cause specular reflection back to the camera are examples of how codes may be damaged. In general, if space permits, for optimum read rates, one should normally choose the maximum allowable error correction capacity.

Relative Processing Speed

In real time applications where the time to decode an image is important, one must also compare the symbologies on how quickly they can be decoded. The most time consuming part of decoding a barcode within a large and busy image is generally finding the symbol. The more unique the finder pattern within a barcode symbol, the easier it is to locate within a busy image. This reduces processing time. Conversely, if a barcode symbology does not provide a unique finder pattern, more time will be spent looking for it.

QR Code and Micro QR code have a significant advantage over Data Matrix because of the unique finder patterns within the symbols. QR Code is the best of the 3 choices because it includes 3 finder patterns, each being able to be used to find the symbol. Data Matrix has the “L” finder pattern and fixed clock lines. Unfortunately, these are not terribly unique patterns with forms where many areas of text are surrounded by boxes. In addition, both QR (Version 7 and above) and Micro QR Codes have format information within the symbol to let you know the size of the symbol and to confirm you are on a real symbol. Data Matrix does not contain explicit format data, providing only a clock track on the opposite sides of the symbol from the “L” corner.

A busy form was scanned at 200 DPI, and a single instance of the 3 barcode symbols was added to the image with each symbol using 25 mil cells. Then in 3 separate passes, Volo™, a barcode decode software toolkit from Omniplanar®, was used to decode each symbol. In each pass, only one symbology type was enabled. The table below summarizes how long it took Volo to issue the decode result and completely finish processing the image. Both QR Code and Micro QR decoding were 3 to 4 times faster than Data Matrix decoding. This is almost entirely due to the good finder pattern in the QR and Micro QR symbols.

Symbology -- Issue Time (msecs) / Total Time (msecs)
Data Matrix -- 30.8 / 74.5
QR Code -- 7.2 / 23.4
Micro QR Code -- 7.6 / 21.9

Summary

When deciding what 2D symbology type to use in document applications, one must consider data density, error correction and processing time. In applications where the size of the symbol must be kept to a minimum, both Data Matrix and Micro QR code are good choices. When processing speed is of primary importance, QR Code and Micro QR Code are both better choices than Data Matrix given their good finder patterns. In applications when both symbol size and processing speed are important, Micro QR Code is the best choice. However the largest possible Micro QR Code can only store 35 numeric digits with the minimum error correction (maximum of 3 errors). At the maximum error correction level, the data capacity drops to 21 numeric digits (maximum of 7 errors).

With over 17 years of experience in the bar code industry, Bob Dunphy has been Principal Engineer at Omniplanar, Inc since its inception. He has designed numerous CCD camera systems as well as high speed processing platforms.