Bar Code Implementation

Hardware bar codes are defined by entering information in the Define Bar Code dialog. The general procedure for defining a new hardware bar code is as follows:

Hardware Bar Code

1. Select New in the Application Module fields and grids area. The Output Field Entry dialog appears.
2. In the Output Field Entry dialog, enter a field Name, Type, and other Attributes and then Select OK.
3. Select the Bar Code Tool. The Define Bar Code dialog appears.
4. Enter Bar Code Length.
5. Select Hardware Bar Code and Add Bar Code. Creating bar code N appears.
6. Click Append in the Application Module fields and grids area.

Software bar codes are defined by entering information in the Define Bar Code dialog and by drawing bar codes in the grid definition area. Assuming you have already created your document and have a background form image displayed in the grid definition area, the general procedure for defining a new software bar code is as follows:

1. Select New in the Application Module fields and grids area. The Output Field Entry dialog appears.
2. In the Output Field Entry dialog, enter a field Name, Type, and other Attributes and then Select OK.
3. Select the Bar Code Tool. The Define Bar Code dialog appears.
4. Enter Bar Code Length; select software bar code, Orientation, Allowed skew, Bar code type, and Unit of Measurement.
5. If desired, you can select Clip Attributes to display the Clip Attributes dialog where you can specify image Grayscale, Compression, Rotation, and other attributes.
6. Use the mouse pointer to click+drag an evaluation region around the bar code in the grid definition area.
7. Click Append in the Application Module fields and grids area.

• We recommend horizontal bar code orientation for software bar codes. The physical size of the bar code is usually smaller than a vertical bar code for the same data.
• If your application is implemented on a variety of scanner models, we recommend you use a minimum bar/space width compatible with all scanners:
• Horizontal bar codes - .010 inches
• Vertical bar codes - .017 inches
• If your application is implemented with both hardware and software bar code read, we recommend you use a minimum bar/space width compatible with both read types:
• Horizontal bar codes - .010 inches
• Vertical bar codes - .017 inches

Type	Hardware Bar Code	Software Bar Code
Codabar	Yes	Yes
Code 128	Yes	Yes
Code 39 (Code 3 of 9)	Yes	Yes
EAN, versions 8 and 13	Yes	Yes
Interleaved 2 of 5 (Code 25)	Yes	Yes
PDF417	No	Yes
UPC, Versions A and E	Yes	Yes

Characteristics	Hardware Bar Code	Software Bar Code
Bar codes per sheet, maximum	6	No limit
OMR scanner compatible	Yes, optional	No
Imaging scanner compatible	Yes, optional	Yes
Orientation of bar code on sheet	Vertical only	Horizontal (recommended) or  Vertical
2D bar code support	No	Yes, PDF417
Side of sheet for bar code placement	Top only	Top or Bottom
Placement on sheet of multiple bar codes	In a single column on the sheet, aligned with the reader on the scanner. We recommend all documents within an application have bar codes placed the same so that the bar reader does not have to be repositioned for each document.	Any
Character set support	Asterisk (*) indicates a failed read/no label condition Some characters are not allowed. See your scanner Operator's Manual for requirements	Asterisk (*) indicates a failed read/no label condition
Minimum bar/space width	.007 inches TIP: .017 inches recommended if compatibility with all scanner types and bar code read techniques is required	.017 inches for vertical orientation bar codes on 5000i and OpScan iNSIGHT 70 and 150 scanners at high speed resolution (120 dpi) NOTE: If the greater minimum bar/space width in this scenario results in bar codes that are too large to be practical, we suggest you use the hardware bar code reader, if your scanner is equipped with one. .010 inches for bar codes on iNSIGHT 20, iNSIGHT 30 and OpScan iNSIGHT 2 and 4 (with Imaging) scanners .009 inches for vertical orientation bar codes on 5000i and OpScan iNSIGHT 70 and 150 scanners at low speed resolution (240 dpi) .009 inches for horizontal orientation bar codes on 5000i and OpScan iNSIGHT 70 and 150 scanners TIP:.017 inches vertical and .010 inches horizontal recommended if compatibility with all scanner types and bar code read techniques is required
Quiet zone	Minimum 1/4 inch blank space before and after a bar code is required Minimum 1/2 inch blank space between bar codes is recommended	1/4 inch blank space all around the bar code recommended

Type	Hardware Bar Code Length	Software Bar Code Length
Codabar	1 - 60 characters	1 - 999 characters*
Code 128	0 - 128 characters	1 - 999 characters*
Code 25 (Interleaved 2 of 5)	4 - 80 characters	4 - 998 characters*
Code 39 (Code 3 of 9)	2 - 40 characters	1 - 999 characters*
EAN 8	8 characters exactly	8 characters exactly
EAN 13	13 characters exactly	13 characters exactly
PDF417	N/A	1 - 999 characters
UPC Version A	10 characters exactly	10 characters exactly
UPC Version E	6 characters exactly	6 characters exactly
* Realistically, software bar code length is limited by the size of the bar code that can be placed on the form.

If you are migrating from one bar code read technique to the other, you must account for differences between the two. Some bar codes will work with one system but not the other. You may need to change bar code type, size, orientation, or other attribute for a successful migration. A migration checklist is provided below:

Hardware to Software Bar Code Migration Checklist

Check	Consideration	See
Bar/space widths	Hardware bar code bar/space width may be too narrow for software bar code read.	Bar Code Differences Summary - Minimum bar/space width.
Scanner type	OMR scanners do not support software bar code.	Bar Code Differences Summary - OMR/Imaging scanner compatible.

Software to Hardware Bar Code Migration Checklist

Check	Consideration	See
Bar code type	PDF417 bar code type is not supported.	Bar Code Type Support.
Number of bar codes	Hardware bar code supports a maximum of 6 bar codes per sheet.	Bar Code Differences Summary - Bar codes per sheet maximum.
Bar code orientation	Hardware bar code does not support horizontal bar codes.	Bar Code Differences Summary - Orientation of bar code on sheet.
Bar code placement	Hardware bar codes must be arranged in a column, at the same distance from the form guide edge.	Bar Code Differences Summary - Placement on sheet of multiple bar codes
Sheet side	Hardware bar codes must be on the top sheet side.	Bar Code Differences Summary - Side of sheet for bar code placement
Illegal character use.	Hardware bar code does not support certain characters.	Bar code reader documentation for the scanner model you plan to use.
Too many characters.	Hardware bar code supports fewer characters per bar code.	Bar Code Length by Type

• Type - Any field Type can be selected. Alphanumeric and Numeric are typical.
• Fixed Length - Optional, depending on your application.
• Attributes - Optional, depending on your application. Some apply to bar codes:
• Display Field - Yes
• Domain Resolution - No
• Preslug Resolution - No
• Sticky Field - Yes
• Tally Field - No
• Print contents on form - Yes. The number of characters may exceed what will fit on your form.
• Evaluate Total Omits - No
• Evaluate Embedded Omits - No
• Mark All That Apply - No
• Mark All That Apply (Left Justify) - No
• Summation - No

This enables you to most easily key enter a correction during editing, if the bar code was misread for any reason. Bar code data is typically complete and correct. An * (asterisk) is output for any error.

• The Evaluate Region should include the entire bar code and its enclosing quiet area. It does not need to include additional information such as the bar code caption.
• The Clip Region can include the entire bar code plus additional information such as the bar code caption.
• The Evaluate Region and Clip Region for a bar code can be on the same sheet side or on different sheet sides:

• If the Clip Region is on the same sheet side as the Evaluate Region, you can define the position in the Grid Measurement dialog or you can draw the Clip Region in the grid definition area. You can use any Unit of Measurement.
• If the Clip Region is not on the same sheet side as the Evaluate Region, you must draw the Clip Region in the grid definition area and you must use Cell/TM or Hybrid Unit of Measurement.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. Edit the Allowed skew, Orientation, Type, or Unit of Measurement setting.
4. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Clip Attributes.
4. In the Clip Attributes dialog, edit image Grayscale, Compression, Rotation, or other attributes.
5. Select OK to close the Clip Attributes dialog.
6. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. Place the mouse pointer inside the bar code grid (the move pointer appears) and press the left mouse button. Hold the mouse button down, drag the grid to a new location, and release the mouse button. The grid is highlighted in green as you move it. Both the new and the old grid location are visible.
4. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. Place the mouse pointer over any side or corner of the grid (the resize pointer appears) and press the left mouse button. Hold the mouse button down, drag the side or corner to resize, and release the mouse button. Both the new and the old grid location are visible.   
4. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. Hold the CTRL key down and place the mouse pointer over the desired clip region location. Hold the mouse button down and drag to draw a new clip region. Both the new and the old grid location are visible.   
4. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. Hold the CTRL key down and place the mouse pointer over any side or corner of the existing grid clip region (the resize pointer appears) and press the left mouse button. Note that when initially drawn, the bar code clip region is the same size and shape as the evaluate region. Hold the mouse button down, drag the side or corner to resize, and release the mouse button. Both the new and the old clip region location are visible.   
4. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.

1. Select a bar code.
2. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Edit Selected Grid.
3. In the Define Bar Code dialog, select Grid Measurement.
4. In the Grid Measurement dialog, edit Unit of Measurement, Evaluate Region, or Clip Region.
5. Select Replace in the fields and grids area.