2. Good Morning
and
Welcome

3. Ten Commandments of
Bar Coding
Richard B. Meyers
Delta Services

5. Ten Commandments Low Density (CPI) Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR)
Carbon Ink
Media Substrate & Adhesives
Verification
Scanner Resolution & Media Density
Bar Code Height & Quiet Zones
Numbering Schemes
User Friendliness
Support Source

6. Primary Focus
Code 39
Code 128
UPC/EAN

7. Not A Single Label

8. But Many Types and ………

9. Many Scanner and Terminal Choices!

10. Plus Multiple Printer Decisions !

11. Endless Opportunities !

12. Bottom Line: Many Ingredients !

13. Low Density Characters Per Inch (95% of All Applications) SYMBOL
“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
.020"
.013"
.010"
.0075"

14. “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
Low Density
Characters Per Inch
SYMBOL
“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
.020"
.013"
.010"
.0075"
Code 39
3-4
5-6
6-7
8-10

15. “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
Low Density
Characters Per Inch
SYMBOL
“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
.020"
.013"
.010"
.0075"
Code 39
3-4
5-6
6-7
8-10
Code 128 (A/N)
4.6
7.0
9.1
12.1

16. “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
Low Density
Characters Per Inch
SYMBOL
“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
.020"
.013"
.010"
.0075"
Code 39
3-4
5-6
6-7
8-10
Code 128 (A/N)
4.6
7.0
9.1
12.1
Code 128 (N)
14.0
18.2
24.2

17. “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
Low Density
Characters Per Inch
SYMBOL
“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size)
.020"
.013"
.010"
.0075"
Code 39
3-4
5-6
6-7
8-10
Code 128 (A/N)
4.6
7.0
9.1
12.1
Code 128 (N)
14.0
18.2
24.2
UPC/EAN 5 10 12 -

19. Low Density BIGGER is Better ! Implement with the Key Point:
Lowest Practical Density
Key Point:
BIGGER is Better !

20. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio
(WNBR)
Elements:
Code 128
= 1:1 and 2:1 and 3:1 and 4:1
= 1:1 and 2:1 and 3:1 and 4:1
UPC/EAN

21. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR)
Elements:
Narrow
Wide (2 to 1)
Wide (3 to 1)
Code 39
Range

22. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio
(WNBR for Code 39)
Narrow
.010 inch
Wide (2 to 1)
.020 inch
Wide (3 to 1)
.030 inch

23. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio
(WNBR for Code 39)
Hypothetical Case ...
NARROW Bars/Spaces GROW 30%
WIDE Bars/Spaces SHRINK 30%

24. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio
(WNBR for Code 39)
Narrow
.010 inch
.013 inch (+ 30%)
Wide (2 to 1)
.020 inch
.014 inch (- 30%)

25. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio
(WNBR for Code 39)
Narrow
.010 inch
.013 inch (+ 30%)
Wide (2 to 1)
.020 inch
.014 inch (- 30%)
Wide (3 to 1)
.030 inch
.021 inch (- 30%)

26. Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio
(WNBR)
For Code 39,
Implement WNBR = 3:1
(If Practical)
Key Point:

27. Must Know the Difference Between
Carbon Inks
Print Contrast Signal (PCS)
Dark
Light
Must Know the Difference Between

28. Carbon Inks
Carbon vs. Alcohol/Dyed-Based Inks

29. Carbon Inks Carbon vs. Alcohol/Dyed-Based Inks
All Scanners Scan with Carbon Inks

30. Carbon Inks Carbon vs. Alcohol/Dyed-Based Inks
All Scanners Scan with Carbon Inks
Not All Scanners Scan with
Alcohol/Dye-Based Inks

31. Carbon Inks Hostile Environments (IR Scanner) - Ultra Violet
- Contaminents

32. Carbon Inks Scanning Performance Key Point: Often Better with

33. Carbon Inks
Major Exception: UPC/EAN in the
Food Industry

34. Media Substrate
&
Adhesive Backing
a Stepchild

35. Opacity

36. Media Substrate Adhesive Backing & Opacity Thermal Printers - Direct
- Transfer

37. Media Substrate Adhesive Backing & Opacity Thermal Printers
Adhesive Backing (Labels)
- Many Types (Permanent vs. Temporary)

39. Media Substrate & Adhesive Backing
Key Point:
Media Requirements
Depend on:
- Label Shelf Life
Scanning Frequency
Temperature & Humidity
Type of Surface

40. Verification
Source Document to IT System
Which is Better ?

41. “3 Yards and a Cloud of Dust”

42. Verification Poor Quality Media 1. Scanner Doesn’t Scan
2. Scanner Scans Bad Data
3. Bad Data from Scanning

43. Verification Definition - Scannable - Internal Application vs.
External Application

44. Manual Verification
(Internal)
plus or

45. Verify to Standard
(external)
Hand Held or
On-Line Verifiers

46. Verification
Quality Compliance (QC) can be achieved with Manual and Sophisticated Techniques
Key Point:

47. Scanner Resolution
&
Media Density

48. Scanner Resolution & Media Density

49. Scanner Resolution & Media Density

50. Scanner Resolution & Media Density
Spot
Void

51. Scanner Resolution & Media Density
Key Point:
Spot Size = 80% “X”
For Most Applications:
Lasers = 1 Model
Wands = 3 Models (Lo, Med, Hi)

52. Headache Time !

53. Bar Code Height
( Arching Motion )

54. Bar Code Quiet Zones

55. No Quiet Zones !

56. Code Height & Quiet Zones
Key Point:
Symbol
Height
Quiet Zones
Codes 39 & 128
Greater of:
.25” or 15% Length
.25” or 10 “X”
UPC/EAN
1.02” (Nominal)
.117”

57. Numbering Schemes
UPC/EAN is All Numeric
(License Plate Approach)

58. Numbering Schemes Codes 39 & 128 are Alpha-Numeric
(Code 128 can be Numeric Only)

59. Numbering Schemes UPC/EAN is All Numeric (License Plate Approach)
Codes 39 & 128 are Alpha-Numeric
Excessive Data Costs:
- Money
- Time
- Accuracy

61. Numbering Schemes Amend Current Schemes Key Point:
When Practical. Two Ways:
Computer Input
Human Recognition
Key Point:

62. User Friendliness
First Pass Read Rate (80+%)

63. User Friendliness First Pass Read Rate (80+%)
Second Pass Read Rate (95+%)

65. Going Home !!!

66. User Friendliness
Training & Confidence

67. Four-Step Training Program
- A Confidence Builder
Review Current Transaction Procedures

68. Four-Step Training Program
- A Confidence Builder
Review Current Transaction Procedures
Provide Benefits of Bar Coding - SELL!

69. Four-Step Training Program
- A Confidence Builder
Review Current Transaction Procedures
Provide Benefits of Bar Coding - SELL!
Simulate New Transaction Procedures

70. Four-Step Training Program
- A Confidence Builder
Review Current Transaction Procedures
Provide Benefits of Bar Coding - SELL!
Simulate New Transaction Procedures
Introduce Contaminated Media

71. User Friendliness
Use “Data or Application Identifiers”

72. ? ?
Data or
Application
Identifiers ? ?

73. Data Identifiers

74. Application Identifiers
SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)

75. Data Identifiers (DI’s) Application Identifiers (AI’s)
DI’s = 1 alpha and up to 3 numeric characters
AI’s = 1 to 4 numeric characters

76. Data Identifiers (DI’s) Application Identifiers (AI’s)
DI Source: ANSI Document MH
ANSI: or
AI Source: Uniform Code Council Document UCC 4
UCC: or

77. User Friendliness Best Test of Implementation is Key Point:
Measured at
Point-of-Scanning
Key Point:

78. Support Source
Quality Suppliers are Available
- Hardware
- Software

79. Support Source Quality Suppliers are Available - Hardware - Software
Total Systems Expertise is Required
- Planning
- Training
- Implementation

80. Support Source Data Capturing Techniques Key Point:
Should be Fully Integrated Into
Information Technology Systems!
Key Point:

82. Danke
Gracias
Merci
Grazi
Mange tak
Obrigado
Kiitos
Thank You