OR Barcodes from 10,000’ & Basic ZLP and EPL programming

Label creation lab’s for you to work through Agenda Intro to barcodes Label creation lab’s for you to work through

You will be able to; Objectives Indentify who is responsible for setting barcode standards ID some symptom fixes for common issues ID where spec’s come from for a project Identify if a barcode is 1D or 2D Create a label to specifications set forth in a lab using ZPL2 Create a label to specification set forth in a lab using EPL2 (page mode)

Label Creation Cycle Needs a Label Prints A Label Needs Specifications Programming With ZPL Needs a Barcode? OR Programming With EPL Text? Graphics? Fonts?

Barcode Standards

Who controls the barcode standards Controlling organizations Each barcode has a governing body that administers it’s standard Use web search engines to find standards http://www.barcodeisland.com/symbolgy.phtml AIM (Association for Automation and Mobility) http://www.aimglobal.org/ good starting point for getting information Zebra does not control or set the standards for any barcode symbologies

Zebra printers are supplied with a base number of barcode symbologies What do we support? Zebra printers are supplied with a base number of barcode symbologies If the customer needs one not in the firmware They need to use an application that will create a bitmap graphic for that image Maybe able to get CAG to add symbology as a custom or in future releases of firmware. This will most likely be considered as an enhancement request.

Printer generated barcode vs. application generated When printer generates barcodes the ^BY commands controls Ratio of the width between narrow and wide bars (some barcodes only) Module width Height is controlled by ^BY or the barcode command When the application/driver produces the image it is sent as a bit map and may not be as accurate a representation. If printer does not support the symbology then a software application will be the only solution.

Reading Barcodes

Barcodes % R “Space” areas reflect light -- high reflectance “Bar” areas absorb light -- low reflectivity % R

Barcodes % R Scanner Creates data Stream 12345

Picket Fence Barcode Printing Lines run vertical or in direction of printing when label is still attached to the printer. Advantages Highest quality Most dense packing of data Not as affected by print speed Disadvantages Affect by dirty printhead or bad elements

Ladder Barcode Printing Lines of bar code run left to right as rungs on a ladder when label is still attached to the printer. Advantages Not affected by dirty printhead or bad elements May fit on label face better Not as impacted by ribbon wrinkle Disadvantages Less dense data encoding Needs slower printing speed to get better quality

Verify printer operation Customers complains of lines in the barcode Ask if Extra gray or black lines Clean the media and ribbon paths Check condition of Strip Plate Ribbon wrinkle Voids Dirty printhead Bad elements Cut in platen roller Use Pause Test to check quality

No image for barcode Symptoms Printer may not support barcode symbology Check current list of barcodes supported by firmware may need to upgrade firmware Not supported printer (Z140 to140Xi2) Bitmap from application not correct or incomplete

Symptoms Sometimes not scanning or not a high enough “Grade” for the quality of the barcode Driver/application bitmap or printer generated Picket fence vs. ladder Dirty printhead Worn printhead Darkness setting Could be too low or too high Speed setting Mismatch between media and ribbon

Not the right “size” Symptoms Printer generated Application generated Use ^BY command to set width of narrow bar Use ^BY command to set ratio between narrow and wide Application generated Change size in application

Barcodes should be readable by scanner Symptoms Not Scanning Try printing Feed Key test with a large enough label Checks darkness settings at different speeds Ladder vs. Picket Fence Barcodes should be readable by scanner If this is a new format - try a different, known, working format, or create a simple label See slide “Sometimes not scanning” for more items to check

Parts and Types of Barcodes

General parts of a barcode Slide 1 of 2 Start and end characters Define the beginning & end of bar code Allows the barcode to be read left to right or right to left and the application/scanner to decode the barcode correctly Check digit Provides a means to ensure the data is correctly read Many forms based on the symbology

General parts of a barcode Slide 2 of 2 Data Information that is to be encoded Just numbers UPC code Weight Quantity Numbers and letters Address Special control characters that identify the type of barcode or the encoding as with the 128 Quiet Zones before and after the barcode

1d or linier Types of barcodes Series of line and voids May be read by a linier laser Code 128 Code 39 or 3 of 9 USPS Zip + 4 Uses height

2d barcodes Types of barcodes Code 49 AZTEC PDF417 Maxi Code (UPS) Aztec code Maxi Code PDF417

Barcodes and ZPL

ZPL Programmers guide ^BY command Use soft copy on PC to open ^BY command Parameters Discuss actual width

Widely used because of ability to; ^BC Code 128 Bar Code http://www.aimglobal.org/standards/symbinfo/code_128_overview.asp Widely used because of ability to; Encode alpha & numeric data Pack numeric data tightly Easy to define multiple data formats UCC EAN – 128 http://www.uc-council.org/ UPC or Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) GS1 Company prefix Item Reference Check digit

Code sets for formatting data layout ^BC Code 128 Bar Code Code sets for formatting data layout 3 code sets Code128 A Full ASCII character set except for the 26 lower case letters Code128 B Full ASCII Character set Except 26 “control” characters Code128 C Double density numeric only. Each character represents 2 numbers. In Zebra printers we have an Auto Mode that automatically changes to Code128 C if more than 4 numeric characters are encountered.

Detailed information in ZPL Programmers Guide ^ BC Code 128 Bar Code Detailed information in ZPL Programmers Guide In the latest rev of the guide, there are 13 pages of information Match programmers guide you use to firmware level on the printer

Word document with label requirements Use the ZPL Programmers Guide LAB Exercises Word document with label requirements Use the ZPL Programmers Guide Sales Driver See the ZPL section in the Tech. Support Cert. section for more data. Please email questions and comments to Bruce