PDA Barcode Software

PDA barcode software is a data collection software package that controls and enhances the performance of a PDA?type barcode scanner/reader. It allows you to scan and count all the items that have barcodes - a series of black and white bars and stripes.

PDAs (personal digital assistant), a sort of handheld barcode reader, can do more than just the normal reading and decoding of barcodes. Today, the PDA maintains its place as an indispensable tool of many businesses the world over. It is ideal for use in workflow automation, route accounting, healthcare, retail, or any industry where professionals need convenient data access at the point of activity.

PDA software programs for barcodes are fast, accurate, and efficient means to collect, process, transmit, record, and handle data in organizations. With these programs, one can create customized data collection applications in minutes. They provide truly straightforward configuration, database, and reporting abilities. No programming knowledge is needed. Just load PDA software for barcodes on your handheld barcode terminal (PDA) and start collecting the data that you need.

Currently, many PDA barcode software programs are available for inventory, fixed assets, document tracking, and computer asset tracking. Some features include patch-page detection for document separation, multiple job streams, and user and job level security. Many software programs available on the market offer tool tips. These are basically quick hints that help in handling the software.

PDA software programs for barcodes offering powerful and flexible capabilities in high-volume scanning environments are now out on the market. Selecting the right program depends on how comprehensive you want to get. Many websites provide PDA barcode software downloads, which help you to try a trial version before choosing your PDA code software solution.

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.

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.

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.

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

3 Super Advantages Of Barcoding And Barcode Scanners

The use of barcoding and barcode scanners has transformed operational efficiencies of a phenomenal number of businesses both large and small. Simple yet effective, the barcode as an invention has made itself indispensable purely by the multi-faceted advantages that its offers to the user across the entire barcoding spectrum – from generating barcodes through customizable barcode generating software right up to sophisticated barcode scanners and barcode readers. Here we present to you the killer advantages of these marvelous devices.

Super Advantage 1: Speed and Accuracy – A really good data entry operator would be able to enter a 12 digit number (like product code for example) on his keypad in approximately 4-5 seconds, but the average would be more like 7 seconds. The same operation if performed with a barcode scanner would take just one flick of the wrist, less than a second. The speed difference is evident – the use of the barcodes is unmatched in its ability to plough through large volumes of these operations effortlessly. While a data entry operator might make keyboard errors when he types in data, the chances of a barcode reader giving wrong output is practically nonexistent tending almost to zero. For all practical purposes, accuracy is exact, every time the barcode reader makes its flowing motion over the barcode.

Super Advantage 2: Implementation Ease – You decide you want to start using barcodes for your products but are worried that you have never done it before? Fear not, for in 10-20 minutes of your time that scenario will get reversed. The use of barcode readers is almost childishly simple with no prerequisite for usage. Not only can anybody do it, but they can do it quickly as well for the learning curve of using barcodes is extremely steep and short.

Super Advantage 3: Bang for the buck – If you could capture information quickly and accurately, it could only mean a tighter supply chain and well-knit business processes based on this information. With superior information, you can take superior business decisions that increase shareholder value. Imagine what disastrous consequences incorrect information could have on your business! A vast collection of barcodes and barcode scanner usage data has revealed that the investment made in this technology pays back in as short a period as 6 to 10 months – way faster than most modern technologies that attempt to improve the way we conduct our business. Thus the barcode genre is one where the customer truly gets good value for money and high return on investment.

One can never get enough of the importance and advantages of barcodes and barcode scanners. It now only remains for you to start scouring the market for various barcoding solutions to unlock the immense savings and gains that are lying in wait for your business! Go ahead and barcode your business growth in to the future!

Discover how to get the most bang for your buck! Visit our site at Best Barcode Scanners for more such practical advice, tips and information.

Image Processing & Bar Codes - Selecting The Right Bar Code With Image Binarization

Documents that are scanned for image processing or storage are often captured at 8 bits per pixel. These are referred to as grayscale images in that 256 levels of gray are able to be represented in the image. The capability to represent shades of gray is required to faithfully capture photographs and graphics but is not normally needed for text. Consequently, scanned images are often binarized. This process involves the selection of a threshold value and then changing all pixel values below that threshold to black and all pixel values above the threshold to white. This compresses the image by only requiring 1 bit per pixel instead of 8 bits per pixel. For example, an 8.5 inch by 11 inch document scanned at 200 samples per inch, has its storage requirement drop from 3.6 megabytes to 450 kilobytes. Binarization also occurs when documents are transmitted by fax as images are created that are represented with 1 bit per pixel as well.

Given a proper threshold, binarized images that contain text can normally still be read by either human eye or OCR algorithms. Indeed, some OCR algorithms begin the OCR process by binarizing the image as the text is typically dark against a lighter background. However, if bar codes are present within the binarized image, they can by altered enough by the binarization process to cause difficulty for a decode algorithm. The image to the left (http://www.omniplanar.com/_upload/CodePics/Code39-GreyscaleWeb.gif) shows part of the start pattern of a Code 39 linear bar code. The top portion shows the image represented as 8 bits per pixel, while the lower portion shows a binarized version using a threshold of 100. Note that the smooth transitions from white to black in the grayscale image have been transformed into ragged edges that have plus or minus one pixel variability. As a result, the width of each bar or space can vary by plus or minus 2 pixels. Given that the information in linear bar codes is contained in the widths of the bars and spaces, decode problems can result depending on the size and type of the original bar code symbol. The remainder of this article will focus on two issues that should be considered to improve the read rate of binarized bar codes: sample density and symbology type.

Sample Density

Sample density is the number of samples per unit area that an image is captured. Typical sample densities used for document processing range from 200 to 300 samples per inch (dots per inch or DPI). Fax transmission can vary from 100 up to 400 DPI. In bar code decoding, a more important parameter to consider is the samples per module, where the module size is the size of the smallest feature of the bar code. This distance is also referred to as the X dimension. This parameter includes both the sample density of the image capture device along with the size of the bar code being scanned. If a bar code decoding software toolkit requires a minimum of 1.6 pixels per module for linear bar codes in a grayscale image. From above, if the width of a bar or space can vary by 2 pixels after binarization, one can see that problems can exist in the short widths at this low sample density. Consequently, it is recommended that a typical value of 4 pixels per module for bar codes that will be binarized. For a document scanned at 200 DPI, this requires a minimum module size in the printed bar code of .020 inchs or 20 mils. Increasing the samples per module beyond 4 is also recommended for images that will go through multiple binarization processes such as documents that will be faxed multiple times.

Symbology Type

The choice of symbology used to encode data should also be considered carefully. Linear (or 1D) bar codes can be broadly classified into two distinct groups: wide/narrow codes and multiple width codes. In a wide/narrow code, each bar or space can only be either narrow or wide. The wide to narrow ratio, which gives the size ratio between the two widths, typically ranges from 2 to 3. Popular symbologies that use only 2 widths include Code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5. Multiple width codes have more than 2 possible choices for the widths of bars and spaces. Popular symbologies that employ more than two possible widths include UPC and Code 128, both of which allow a bar or space to be either 1, 2, 3, or 4 modules. Given the same samples per module, wide/narrow symbologies typically survive the binarization process with higher read rate performance than their multiple width counterparts. This is simply due to the fact that in the presence of edge variation due to binarization, it is easier to determine if a run is X or 3X wide (where X is the length of a module and an assumed wide to narrow ratio of 3) or if it is 1X, 2X, 3X or 4X as is the case with multiple width symbologies. The table below classifies some popular linear symbologies into the two classes mentioned above.

Wide/Narrow

Codabar
Code 39
Interleaved 2 of 5
Patch Code

Multiple Width

Code 128
Code 93
RSS
UPC

While wide/narrow symbologies are preferred in applications where binarization will occur, they do not normally have as high a data density (data stored per unit width) compared to multiple width symbologies with the same X dimension. This can be an issue where limited space on the document is provided for the bar code symbol.

2D Symbologies

2D (or two-dimensional) matrix symbologies are typically presence/absence codes. They use a regular grid of possible cell positions, and the presence or absence of a cell in a grid location encodes the data. Two-dimensional symbols have much higher data density than 1D codes as information is stored in both dimensions of the symbol. In addition, they normally provide error correction to provide redundancy in case some cell data values can not be determined. When a 2D symbol is binarized with sufficient samples per module (the size of a grid position), they tend to do better than linear codes as the edge information is not as critical: it is the position of the center of the cell that is more important. Decoding software may require a minimum of 2.75 pixels per module in a grayscale image for reliable operation. If additional samples per module beyond 2.75 is provided, performance continues to improve and is a good choice for images that will undergo multiple binarizations. A sample density of 5 pixels or more for 2D matrix symbologies gives good read performance after binarization. Popular 2D Matrix codes include Data Matrix, QR Code, and Aztec Code.

PDF417 is often referred to as a 2D symbology. However, it is not a true matrix code. It is a stacked linear code, consisting of multiple rows of short linear codewords. It allows bars and spaces to have up to 6 different widths and as such it can be adversely affected by binarization at lower samples per module.

Summary

In applications where scanned documents containing bar codes are to be binarized, read rate performance can be improved by using linear symbologies that employ only wide/narrow choices for bars and spaces along with at least 4 or more pixels per module. Two-dimensional matrix codes are a good choice when binarization is used with a minimumof 5 pixels per module, and they provide the added benefit of increasing data density of the bar code symbol.

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

An Introduction To Barcode Equipment

 

A complete barcode system will consist of software, scanners, a printer or labeler and labels for thermo transfer or thermo direct printing. Also of interest are mobile terminals for mobile data acquisition with a built-in scanner or reader, a display and a keyboard. A POS (point of sale) solution will require laser barcode scanners with high throughput and automatic triggering for hands-free barcode scanning.

Barcode Software

Barcodes are created with special software. While barcode software for Microsoft Windows is available, best suited for barcode creation are Apple Macintosh computers. Macs are preferable due to their strong position in the DTP, prepress and graphics market segment. A typical barcode software will support the common symbologies, calculate checksums automatically and will provide a variety of output options with support for the most common images formats (like PNG, TIFF or JPG) and also for Post Script or EPS.

A cheap alternative to dedicated barcode generators are so called barcode fonts. However, the quality a barcode created with such a font will usually not conform to the respective standards.

Depending on the application the use of dedicated, barcode enabled, label printing software may be advised. For example, such software can be used to print sequential barcodes (for serial numbers) or print logos or product images next to the actual barcode.

Barcode Scanner

Barcode Scanners, also known as barcode readers exist in various forms: The most common type are laser scanners. Here a moving laser beam scans the code which results in fast and error free reading. A cheap alternative to laser scanners are CCD scanners that feature a row of light emitting diodes and photo detectors. The earliest type of barcode reader where so called barcode wands, also known a magic wands. Here a single light emitting diode (LED) and a single photo detector are used to detect the typical black and white pattern of a barcode. While laser and CCD barcode scanners scan a barcode as a whole the barcode wand has to be swiped across the code to read it.

Barcode Printers

Barcode printers are used to print the barcode on self adhesive labels. Today most barcode label printers work in either thermo direct or thermo transfer mode. Using the thermo direct principle the print head applies heat to selected parts of the label which then turn dark. This is the same principle as is used with older fax machines. Thermo direct labels are sensitive to light and should not be used if they have to last longer than a few days or weeks. Typical applications are address labels which only have to last a few days.

With thermo transfer printers a heat sensitive ribbon (thermo transfer ribbon) sits between the print head and the label. As heat is applied to the ribbon, ink transfers (hence the name) from the ribbon to the label. Labels that were printed with thermo transfer are very durable. However, besides the actual label the transfer ribbon is another consumable which will increase the printing cost. The Barcode Authority.

Printing Bar Codes

 

There are two main considerations in bar code printing for small businesses, first the printers the software works with and secondly the print quality. Most software can send print commands to Windows based printers, including ink jet, laser and dot matrix. Of course they are also compatible with popular thermal printers. But what is the difference? And what works the best?

Inkjet
Inkjet printers are cheap and adequate for some uses, but not bar code printing. Scanners require a high level of quality and these types of printers cannot provide consistent quality.

Laser
Laser printers can work for bar code printing, however may not be suitable for mass production. Generally, laser printers print bar codes on common sticker types like Avery, which can be purchased anywhere. So this is a good choice for a small company that only needs a limited number of stickers or it is a good choice to use as a back up, like for printing replacement stickers.

Dot Matrix
Dot matrix printers are impact type printers and are still used for things like forms with multiple copies. But they can also be used for jobs that do not require color and do not require high quality. In some rare cases they are used to print receipts that have bar codes on them, but the quality is not dependable.

Thermal Printers
Thermal transfer or label specific printers, use a thermal printhead that applies to marked heat surfaces and they are fast. Thermal printers are the best choice for high-quality label printing. Thermal printers can produce exact bar widths, which bar code scanners require.

Keep in mind that it is much easier, in most cases, to replace a printer than an enterprise version of bar code and label software. So it is a good idea to choose your printer based on your software preference to ensure compatibility.

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes technology and entertainment reviews.

Bar Codes

 

Norman Woodland, a 27-year-old graduate student at Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia developed the first code system that automatically read product information during checkout. Woodland and his friend Silver were awarded a patent for their application titled Classifying Apparatus and Method on October 7, 1952. Many experts are of the view that the Woodland and Silver bar code was the basis of what would soon become a global phenomenon.

In the beginning, barcodes were developed to store data in the spacing of printed parallel lines. The idea was to help grocery stores speed up the checkout process and keep better track of the inventory. However, the system soon picked up and became a success story.

Barcodes form the basis of identification in almost all types of businesses in the modern world. Barcodes are variously called as Universal Product Codes or UPCs. These are machine-readable codes and come in strips, generally comprising of a series of short black lines of varied thickness. These codes are read by optical scanners called barcode readers or scanned from an image by special software. A laser reader or scanner can translate the barcodes into the corresponding alpha-numeric digits, which are used to uniquely identify a piece of property. Barcodes are used world over to implement Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC) systems that improve the speed and accuracy of computer data entry.

At present, we have codes in several patterns of dots, concentric circles and hidden in images. Barcodes are provided by a body called Uniform Code Council (UCC). A manufacturer has to apply to the UCC for permission to enter the UPC system. An annual fee is charged for the service. In return, the UCC issues the manufacturer a six-digit manufacturer identification number. The manufacturer identification number is part of a standard 12-digit bar code.

Bar coding standards have brought about great precision, technical refinement and uniformity in the way business is conducted in the world. Throughout the world, most of the data entry is done much more quickly. All data is collected in real time. Bar codes have also led to the elimination of manual data entry and retrieval system. The coding has completely streamlined products, making the most effective use of human and physical resources.

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 Labels Provide Greater Customer Service

 

Bar code labels provide greater customer service for many reasons. One of the primary reasons is that these labels can save you so much time in processing orders and assisting customers with checkout. You can use the handy product labels as adhesive labels, which make it easy to add bar code labels to your current inventory.

Did you know that you can save a great deal of time determining your inventory with bar code labels? Using these labels will enable you to quickly determine how much inventory that you have on the shelf. Each time that a product is purchased, it can be automatically deducted from the current inventory numbers. This saves you valuable time that you can then utilize for greater customer service.

Another advantage to these product labels is being able to determine what item variation was purchased and is now available. For example, if a customer purchases a bottle of vanilla scented shampoo and bottle of lavender scented shampoo from the same brand, you will know specifically which scents were sold instead of sorting the product strictly by the brand name.

Bar code labels are terrific for using as product labels for products such as DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes and other electronic media. With the adhesive labels, it is easy to have product labels that will provide quality control and accurate inventory for your items. You can assign a specific bar code for each individual product type and a different code for specific brands, genres or collections.

Another great use for product labels and adhesive labels is for promotional purposes. You can order blank labels that can be converted to use as bumper stickers or even put on the sales receipts. The top quality vinyl material of these labels is great for promoting your business or your specific products.

Want to customize your product labels? There are large number of choices for sizes, material type and what you want type-set on your labels. You can even select your bar code label numbers and have them customized to a specific size to fit your product line and current inventory numbering system.

Switching over to the bar code labels has never been made simpler for you and your company. Bar code labels, product labels and adhesive labels can be customized by the type of printing that you want done. They are offered in thermal transfer, laser, and direct thermal and even dot matrix. This makes it possible for you to customize and tailor these labels to your specific needs and to your wallet.

With so many different products available today, it is imperative to have a handy system in place for keeping track of your inventory, labeling your products and making it easy for your customers to purchase items. Being able to properly label and to promote your business will enable you to spend more time focusing on the specific needs of your clients.

You can provide better customer service because you have more time to focus on your customers. Clear labels let them know what the product is, pricing and any additional information that you want to include. These specialized labels make inventory and check-out much easier.

For example, if a customer calls and wants to know if a particular product is available, you can simply put in the bar code number and tell them how many is available. You don't have to go to the shelf and see if you have that specific item available. If they want to know if you have DVDRs available in the 24 pack, you can just simply pull it up on the computer for the store inventory that was put together from the bar code labels instead of putting the customer on hold and making them wait while you go to the store aisle to find out if any are currently in stock.

Bar code labels can help streamline your business operations with a multitude of practical uses. To decide which bar code labels fit your needs best, visit A B B Labels online at http://www.abblabels.com to get a personalized quote. We are the single source for all your barcoding needs.

The Effects of Fax Transmission on Bar Code Decoding

 

When documents containing bar code symbols are faxed, the quality of the bar code symbol will degrade. Documents scanned by fax machines in Standard Resolution are sampled with 204 horizontal dots per inch and 98 vertical dots per inch. Each sample point is then converted to either a white or black value (a process known as binarization). The binarization process converts straight lines of the bar code symbols into ragged lines changing the width of the bars and spaces. If a faxed document is itself resent out as a fax, further deterioration occurs. Each additional fax cycle continues to degrade the bar code. At some point, the symbol may no longer be able to be decoded by bar code decoding software.

The remainder of this article will discuss the issues that should be considered when selecting bar code symbologies and sizes to increase the likelihood of successful decodes after multiple fax cycles.

Linear (1D) Symbologies

Two popular 1D symbologies were examined: Code 128 and Code 39. Code 128 uses four bar and space widths to encode information, while Code 39 only uses two. Thirteen module sizes (smallest element) ranging from 12.5 mil to 32.5 mil of each symbol type, encoding ten numeric digits, were printed on a sheet. The sheet was sent through a fax at Standard Resolution for a total of ten cycles. This corresponds to a horizontal sample per module ranging from 2.6 to 6.6. The resulting 11 pages were then scanned on a flatbed scanner at 300 samples per inch and were presented to a bar code decode software toolkit. At 2.6 samples per module both bar code symbologies were only able to be successfully decoded for 3 faxes while the same codes with 6.6 samples per module were still readable after 10 faxes.

The larger samples per module (6 samples and greater) were able to successfully decode after 10 fax cycles. At 5.6 samples per module, the decode performance was no better than 4.6 pixels per module. This demonstrates that each fax cycle alters the bar code in a subtle way. Every fax cycle produces a unique version of the original bar code, and each alteration can make a symbol that did not read after a certain number of fax cycles read on the next one. However, if high read rates are desired after many fax cycles, then printing the bar code symbols at a minimum of 6 samples per module is recommended.

From the testing conducted, Code 128 slightly outperformed Code 39 after multiple faxes. Given the higher data density of Code 128 and the built in checksum, Code 128 appears to be a better choice between the two symbologies. The images below show the size advantage of Code 128 over Code 39, with both symbols encoding 10 numeric digits with the same module size. If the data to be encoded is purely numeric, the numeric compaction mode of Code 128 can be used to further increase data density.

There is a trade off to consider: the larger the module size of a linear code, the more horizontal room will be required to encode the same amount of information, but the larger modules sizes can improve read rate. One additional factor to consider is the bar code height. For this test, all the codes were ½ inch in height. Given that all vertical information in 1D bar codes is by definition redundant, if space allows, increasing the height of a bar code will typically provide better read rates after multiple fax cycles.

Matrix (2D) Symbologies

Matrix symbologies provide dramatically better information density because information is encoded in both horizontal and vertical directions. Given their size advantage over their linear counterparts, 2D symbols can be printed with much larger module sizes and still be comparable to linear symbols encoding the same information. For the 2D test, we printed various sizes of Data Matrix and Micro QR Codes. The Data Matrix was a 12 x 12 module square symbol. The Micro QR is a more space efficient version of a QR code that employs only one finder pattern and is limited to a number of smaller sizes. The symbols were encoded at a comparable level of error correction. The module sizes varied from 39 mil to 79 mil. Like the 1D test, we subjected the image to 10 fax cycles and then scanned the images. The images were scanned at 150 samples per inch given the large feature sizes of the test bar codes. The scanned images were then processed by the same bar code decoding toolkit.

At 8.7 samples per module the 2D bar codes were able to be read after 5 fax cycles and once 15 samples per module were reached the codes were readable up to 10 cylces.

The results were not as consistent as the 1D symbols. This is due to the fact that the distortion of the symbol during the increasing number of fax cycles affects data in both the data dimensions. However, we can draw the conclusion that symbols with larger size modules will decode more reliably after multiple fax cycles.

Summary

If documents containing bar code symbols are to be faxed multiple times, the bar code symbols must be printed with larger module sizes to be successfully decoded.

For linear symbologies, if a large number of fax cycles (greater than 5) is required, the number of samples per module should be at least 6. Code 128 performed well in our tests and has a higher data density than Code 39. Linears are a good choice for encoding small amounts of data.

For larger data requirements, 2D symbologies such as Data Matrix, provide good decode performance after faxing if larger module sizes are used. They provide the added benefit of reducing the amount of real estate required in the application document due to their superior data density.

With over 17 years of experience in the bar code industry, Bob Dunphy has been Principal Engineer at Omniplanar, Inc (http://www.omniplanar.com) since its inception. He has designed numerous CCD camera systems as well as high speed processing platforms. He has also been a key contributor to the design and implementation of SwiftDecoder (http://www.omniplanar.com/swiftdecoder.php) bar code decode software.

Bar Code Scanners - Information for Retail Users

 

Corded scanning Simple scanning in a small shop could use a low cost bar code scanner possibly that requires near contact touch to the product. This would not be the best bar code scanner in the world but would read bar codes effectively and be cheap to buy (Under £50 ex VAT).

Alternatively if you required a bar code scanner that can read a greater distance away from the bar code you could spend slightly more on a mid range bar code scanner that can also scan bar codes at a faster rate, slightly more expensive but still will not break the bank (Under £99 ex VAT).

Cordless scanning For scanning without wires there are two main options - Bluetooth or Wireless LAN (WLAN 802.11b/g). In retail short range cordless scanning can enhance staff performance on the shop floor or help stock takes or checks in warehouses.

Bluetooth works over a short range, the highest distance working up to 100M without interruption from obstructions. Bluetooth bar code scanners tend to be lower cost due to a shorter range typically up to 15M dependent on obstructions although the range can extend up to 100M on more expensive scanners.

Wireless LAN works over a company’s wireless network, the scanners typically utilise 802.11b/g standards. WLAN bar code scanners have a longer range (from 30 - 100M).

Omni Directional Scanning Omni directional bar code scanners are most commonly used in retail applications especially in Epos systems in shops and supermarkets. The bar code scanners enable the cashier to scan the product from multiple angles to decrease time spent scanning and make the process more efficient.

2 dimensional (2D) Scanning 2D bar code scanners are used when a bar code is required to hold more than just a product number. For example to hold customers address details or to store more details about a product (name, weight, type...).

Bar code Verifiers For suppliers to retail businesses bar code verifiers are very important especially for supermarkets. Suppliers can be fined large amounts for printing bar codes that do not provide a good reading when scanned. Through the use of a bar code verifier either on the production line or in testing departments bar codes can be scanned and if necessary production can be stopped to correct the label printing to avoid a fine from the retailer.

Vanessa Raby, AM Labels Ltd, http://www.amlabels.co.uk Barcode Scanners: http://www.amlabels.co.uk/Barcode1.htm

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 Printers

Barcode Printers come in various types, including general-purpose laser and inkjet printers. Then there are printers that support multiple symbologies. They are called Thermal bar code label printers. General-purpose laser and inkjet printers cannot directly print barcodes. That is because these basic printers do not support bar code symbologies and are therefore upgraded to do so. They need to be programmed to support bar coding, which may entail addition of more features and fonts.

Barcode printers employ two major printing methods, namely Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer. Both methods basically involve the same technique to print bar codes with difference in the use of ribbon. They make use of a print-head that applies heat to a surface that is pre-marked. Heated ribbon is used to produce long-lasting images in Thermal Transfer printing, while Direct Thermal does not use ribbon and instead prints the image directly on the label. In Thermal Transfer printing, a large number of materials may be used. This generally helps in creating durable images over a long period of time. Direct Thermal, on the other hand, helps in making put-away labels, receipts and other such small variety.

Ideally, barcode printers can print on labels that are specifically designed for the purpose. However, the printers are also capable of printing on fabrics like polyester. We have printers etching away prints on headbands and even synthetic materials. Quite contrary to popular perception, barcodes are not only black. Barcode printers can print in various colors, but black is generally preferred because a light color may end up with insufficient contrast between the bars resulting in unreadable barcodes.

Nowadays, several security features are available to ensure that there is no counterfeit coding by the printers. The latest thermal printers are capable of printing smart labels that contain radio frequency identification chips within the label media. These smart features go a long way in plugging any loopholes in barcode printing and provide a guarantee of authentication.

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.

Track and Tracing – From Barcode to RFID

Search for "Tracking & Tracing" and you are overwhelmed by a response from producers, distributors, retailers and consumer organizations. Tracking and tracing is mentioned in one sentence. But there is a small difference between the two; one is focused on the process in which you need to intervene (tracing) the other is needed to manage the first (track).

Tracing is the main (process) requirement in which a product ought to be traced during the end-to-end food chain. A track is used to fulfill this process. For example, you might want to trace a product when there appears to be an “over” doses of chemicals found in a food sample. In that case you want to trace the origin of the product (and of the fertilizer) – the producer - and all the other retailers which are selling the same product to different customers.

One innovation in this area is the evolution of the barcode. We are all familiar with this code which looks like a little invisible burglar caught and send behind bars. And that was indeed the function; bar the product so it couldn’t escape.

This barcode although still sufficient a more intelligent token will speed up the process now that new tracking and tracing requirements have slowed down the same food chain.

For those of you who have a pet, for example a dog, will know that they have this little chip. You will not find it, but it is there. This chip will not only identify the dog, but will also identity the dog owner, which may change during the dog’s “life cycle.”

Now that these chips are reduced in price over time, the barcode has innovated to something called the RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification). This RFID uses a chip that you can read from a (long) distance, which is an advantage which speeds up the identification process in the food chain. But you can also add information to it on your way.

Now this technology is more widely available, new business developers are looking for a new application. There are many more to find…

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days.

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