Barcode 101b OR Barcodes from 10,000’

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)

Common printing problems

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 or spaces in the print that should not be there 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 to140Xi3) 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 or worn printhead Darkness setting Could be too low or too high Speed setting Mismatch between media and ribbon

Not the right “size” (width of bars) Symptoms Not the right “size” (width of bars) Printer generated Use ^BY command to set width of narrow bar Use ^BY command to set ratio between narrow and wide Application/Driver 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 & Picket Fence samples Use a verifier to check grade 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 Detailed description of the parts will be covered in BC-102.

General parts of a barcode Slide 1 of 2 Quiet Zones before and after the barcode 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

1d or linier Types of barcodes Series of lines and spaces 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

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

Questions

OR Barcodes from 10,000’ & Basic ZPL Programming