About the Data Matrix Scanner
Data matrix scanner provides a wide range of barcode reading applications for the users. The device consists of a lens, a light source, and a light sensor that converts optical impulses into electrical impulses. All the barcode scanners are designed with decoder circuitry that analyzes the image data of barcode that are provided by the sensor and sends the content of the barcode to the output port of the scanner. By incorporating true contact reading and high resolution imaging technology, the data matrix scanner aid to the barcode reading application including poor printing and damaged barcodes or data matrix.
Types of Data Matrix Scanners
The scanning methods of data matrix scanners are differentiated by the amount of operation manipulation needed for the purpose. And, the types of scanners are distinguished by their technologies.
Pen Type Scanner: The pen type scanners are designed to swipe the pen over the code. The wave form generated by the dark bars and light bars are decoded by the scanner.
Laser Scanner: The laser scanners are developed with the same technology as the pen type scanners. However, they use a laser beam as the source of light and the back and forth of the laser beam across the bar code is scanned with either a rotating prism or a reciprocating mirror.
CCD Readers: This type of readers use array of tiny light sensors in the head of the reader. Unlike the Pen Type Scanners, CCD readers measure the emitted ambient light from the bar code.
Camera-Based Reader: This is another type of data matrix scanner that uses a small video camera to capture the images of a bar code.
Omni-Directional Barcode Scanners: Unlike the traditional barcode scanners, they produce a pattern of beams in changing operations that allow the device to read the barcodes at different angles.
The 2D barcode scanners are advanced barcode reading devices that are able to decode the smaller and high density 2D barcodes. The device also stores the data in two dimensions instead of creating a series of black and white bars. The 2D barcode scanners are developed with both imaging and CCD technology to identify the 2D barcodes. Of late, the type of scanners is the newest genre of barcode scanners available. They can provide an advanced solution to barcode reading applications. The high resolution image technology also enables reading of poorly printed and even the damaged 2D barcodes.
2Dbarcode scanners are developed with the latest technology for most demanding applications. The versatile device can automatically distinguish between barcode and all major 2D symbologies. The device also sports timestamp feature. Most of the 2D barcode canners support mobile computers.
The 2D barcode scanner has advantage over the one dimensional barcode reader as it can decode the 2D barcodes.As the 2D barcode contain more information than the traditional barcodes, they are being used more frequently these day and they have almost replaced the 1D barcodes. Hence, the 2D barcode scanners are more functional with their advanced features.
ID-integration.com provides complete solutions for Data Matrix Scanner and 2D-Barcode Scanner related needs. ID-integration.com also provides complete solutions to meet new DoD direct part marking requirements.
The Dolphin 7900 from Honeywell (Formally HHP and Hand Held Products) provides similar functionality and reliability of the 9500 and 9550 models in a PDA-style design. The device features WiFi and Bluetooth wireless and GPS (Global Positioning System), making it ideal for route accounting and delivery applications. Optional GSM radio allows you to utilize GPRS or EDGE networks when used in a WWAN environment. This device is IP-64 rated and can operate in areas with a temperature of -20C.
Barcode Scanners are hand-held or stationary devices used for capturing information from barcodes. A barcode scanner consists of a code reader and a decoder. These devices are connected to a computer through compatible ports The earliest, most basic and cheapest barcode scanners consisted of a fixed light and a single photosensor. Modern barcode scanners have polygonal mirrors and use laser-scanning technology. Laser barcode printers have the advantage of reading barcodes from any angle. Barcode scanners are available in different varieties like hand-held, hands-free, wearable, rugged, scan engines, laser and digital. Pen-wand scanners are the simplest and most portable type of such devices. They have to be kept in direct contact with the barcode and held at a precise angle to interpret the barcodes. Modern day digital cameras have enough resolution to capture both 1D and 2D barcodes. Barcode scanners can be distinguished as follows: • LED scanner: Also referred to as CCD scanners, even though the CCD is in fact the photo imaging sensor, not the light source. • Laser scanner: More expensive than LED scanners but are generally capable of longer maximum scanning distances. • Imager scanner: These scanners take an image of the linear barcode, generally more rugged as they have no moving parts. • 2D Imaging scanner: These scanners take a 2D image of the barcode as in a camera and can be used to scan 2D barcode types such as Datamatrix as well as the more common linear barcode types. • Handheld scanner: With a handle and typically a trigger button for switching on the light source. • Pen scanner (or wand scanner): a pen-shaped scanner that is swiped. • Stationary scanner: Wall- or table-mounted scanners that the barcode is passed under or beside. These are commonly found at the checkout counters of supermarkets and other retailers. • Fixed position scanner: An industrial barcode reader used to identify products during manufacture or logistics. Most often used on conveyer tracks to identify cartons or pallets, which need to be routed to another process, or shipping location. • PDA scanner: A PDA with a built-in barcode reader. The latest in barcode scanner technology is mobile barcode scanners which use color code and mCode (new two-dimensional code format) to scan barcodes. General-purpose barcode scanners are used at checkout counters and hospitals. These are also used to process identification documents. Certain other kinds of scanners, like rugged scanners, are used in harsh or extreme conditions. Of the different barcode scanners, laser scanners and camera scanners are widely used these days. Camera scanners scan and capture the barcode images, which are then processed by sophisticated image techniques to decode the barcode. Barcode scanners have increased the speed of data retrieval and data processing. They have become a mainstay in commercial establishments, libraries, counters, and virtually at anypoint-of-sale. The benefits of barcode scanners are many. It greatly helps you organize your inventory, monitor the movement of goods, and ensure the security of your premises. Bar Code technology is helping enterprises worldwide streamline their business and control costs at the same time. Choosing a right barcode scanner is an essential step for better inventory management and customer service. Barcode readers come in different forms, sizes and prices. Their prices range from to several thousands depending on the features, built, durability etc. However, before purchasing a laser or CCD scanner, define your requirements: – The type of environment where you are going to use the scanner – Consider the portability factor – The symbology you plan to follow – The average scanning range Choose a credible and reliable company. Go for a bar code scanner, which has proved its usability. POS Components has made it its goal to provide the customers with the right equipment, from the right manufacturer, and at the right price!
Barcode Scanners are hand-held or stationary devices used for capturing information from barcodes. A barcode scanner consists of a code reader and a decoder. These devices are connected to a computer through compatible ports
The earliest, most basic and cheapest barcode scanners consisted of a fixed light and a single photosensor. Modern barcode scanners have polygonal mirrors and use laser-scanning technology. Laser barcode printers have the advantage of reading barcodes from any angle.
Barcode scanners are available in different varieties like hand-held, hands-free, wearable, rugged, scan engines, laser and digital. Pen-wand scanners are the simplest and most portable type of such devices. They have to be kept in direct contact with the barcode and held at a precise angle to interpret the barcodes. Modern day digital cameras have enough resolution to capture both 1D and 2D barcodes.
Barcode scanners can be distinguished as follows:
• LED scanner: Also referred to as CCD scanners, even though the CCD is in fact the photo imaging sensor, not the light source.
• Laser scanner: More expensive than LED scanners but are generally capable of longer maximum scanning distances.
• Imager scanner: These scanners take an image of the linear barcode, generally more rugged as they have no moving parts.
• 2D Imaging scanner: These scanners take a 2D image of the barcode as in a camera and can be used to scan 2D barcode types such as Datamatrix as well as the more common linear barcode types.
• Handheld scanner: With a handle and typically a trigger button for switching on the light source.
• Pen scanner (or wand scanner): a pen-shaped scanner that is swiped.
• Stationary scanner: Wall- or table-mounted scanners that the barcode is passed under or beside. These are commonly found at the checkout counters of supermarkets and other retailers.
•Fixed position scanner: An industrial barcode reader used to identify products during manufacture or logistics. Most often used on conveyer tracks to identify cartons or pallets, which need to be routed to another process, or shipping location.
• PDA scanner: A PDA with a built-in barcode reader.
The latest in barcode scanner technology is mobile barcode scanners which use color code and mCode (new two-dimensional code format) to scan barcodes.
General-purpose barcode scanners are used at checkout counters and hospitals. These are also used to process identification documents. Certain other kinds of scanners, like rugged scanners, are used in harsh or extreme conditions. Of the different barcode scanners, laser scanners and camera scanners are widely used these days. Camera scanners scan and capture the barcode images, which are then processed by sophisticated image techniques to decode the barcode.
Barcode scanners have increased the speed of data retrieval and data processing. They have become a mainstay in commercial establishments, libraries, counters, and virtually at any point-of-sale.
The benefits of barcode scanners are many. It greatly helps you organize your inventory, monitor the movement of goods, and ensure the security of your premises. Bar Code technology is helping enterprises worldwide streamline their business and control costs at the same time.
Choosing a right barcode scanner is an essential step for better inventory management and customer service.
Barcode readers come in different forms, sizes and prices. Their prices range from to several thousands depending on the features, built, durability etc.
However, before purchasing a laser or CCD scanner, define your requirements:
- The type of environment where you are going to use the scanner
- Consider the portability factor
- The symbology you plan to follow
- The average scanning range
Choose a credible and reliable company. Go for a bar code scanner, which has proved its usability. POS Components has made it its goal to provide the customers with the right equipment
, from the right manufacturer, and at the right price!
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Internet Business, do please browse for more information at our websites. allhottips.com bookstoretoday.com
Pass and Fail Labels Offer Fast and Accurate Safety Awareness
In the United Kingdom, there is a specific test that is required to be performed on various types of electrical appliances to gauge how safe it is to use them. The Portable Appliance Test, or PAT test as its known, is used in a variety of different settings, such as residential, and more so in commercial and industrial. When a technician tests the safety of these pieces of equipment, usually they look at several key factors and then from there judge how safe it is to use them.
Once a technician tests out three main features of most electrical appliances, which include components such as the inner electrical workings, any exterior cords, and the environment that the appliance is used in, they can make an accurate decision on what sort of safety designation they can give them, and thus affix a sort of label to communicate these possible designations. The pass and fail labels are one such specific type of label, and can hold quite valuable information regarding the safety of a machine.
Pass and fail labels are a very important means (and usually required by the British health and safety regulations) of communicating the safety of a tested appliance. Coming in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and specific applications, these PAT test labels simply state whether the appliance that underwent a PAT test has passed or failed. There are specific easy-to-use devices that are usually much cheaper than the typical PAT test and can give an accurate reading as to if an appliance is safe or not, and will simply read “pass” or “fail”.
Without the use of pass and fail labels, unnecessary and quite preventable harm could be inflicted to both the general public that may work around or operate these appliances, or even the technicians or workers whose job it is to test the safety of these devices. And besides the most important information, which is whether or not an appliance passed the safety test, they hold much more information that proves critical in the prevention of possible bodily harm.
Pass and fail labels have designated places on their surfaces for the input of such information as who performed the portable appliance test, at what date the initial test was performed, and when the next test should be performed. There is also information on these labels regarding the I.D number of the appliance, and even sometimes have a barcode so the entire test history of an appliance can be accessed at a simple scan with a barcode reader. There are even specific kinds of portable appliance testing labels that are used for specialized forms of appliances, such as microwaves, as their microwave emissions must be checked in order to ensure that the safety of the users of that microwave and the safety of the people whose job it is to test the appliance is ensured. Its easy to see how such a seemingly simple label can have such an impact on the prevention of possible harm wherever appliances are used.
<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”patlabel.co.uk/1000-pass-500-failed-pat-test-labels-new-p-90.html”>Pass and Fail Labels</a>, Tel. 0131 468 1597 . Order by 3.00 pm for NEXT DAY DELIVERY of the best Quality PAT Test Labels available. Friendly help & advice. For more details visit patlabel.co.uk
ePathChina Introduce The Professional LaserBar Code Scanner to Dealers
A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode’s image data provided by the sensor and sending the barcode’s content to the scanner’s output port.
From the six months businees at ePathChina,the consumers of ePathChina had came across the embarras situation.Most of them thoes buy consumer electronics are small dealers or distributers, their need consists of the home applies, computers ,laptops and notebooks, and the accessories… besides of these ,they put the high premium on the appliance at businness appliance.
Quote the PR manager of ePathChina.com – Mr. Huang said, ePathChina always consider the consumers’ needs in today consumer electronics marketing first. So next step, a Professional Laser Bar Code Scanner with USB Cable show itself at ePathChina last Friday. Not for all the hobbyists of electronics, bur for the dealers to run the super market. it’s Suitable for Business .
This is a wired bar code scanner, which can connect to your PC USB port using the USB cable provided. This bar code Scanner with USB for Businesses helps you better organize and maintain your inventory stock. This special bar code scanner can decode EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, UPC-E Codabar, Industrial 2 of 5, Interleave 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5 and many others codes, allowing you to read all the industry standard bar codes off of all your products and packages.
Simply connect the bar code scanner to your PC using the USB cable provided, then scan the appropriate UPC code within the instruction manual provided to set your new bar code scanner. This process takes mere minutes and you’ll be able to start using you new barcode scanner. Right away.
Methods of connection – USB
Later barcode readers began to use USB connectors rather than the keyboard port, as this became a more convenient hardware option. To retain the easy integration with existing programs, a device driver called a “software wedge” could be used, to emulate the keyboard-impersonating behaviour of the old “keyboard wedge” hardware.
In many cases a choice of USB interface types (HID, CDC) are provided. Some have Powered USB.And this Professional Laser Bar Code Scanner with USB Cable will make the connection simply from now on!
A handheld Barcode Scanner is, of course, any scanner that is held in the hand of the user. The opposite of the handheld scanner would be a fixed mount Barcode Scanner, ones that are attached to a wall, counter, or assembly lineand are not operated directly by the user.
Most handheld Barcode Scanner are designed like a handgun, with a grip and a trigger to activate the scanning operation. Some scanners are more of a phaser, also with a grip, but with a button on top instead of a trigger below.
However, the handheld Barcode Scanner also includes scanners that are better referred to as Portable Data Collectors (PDTs). These typically can have either their own inherent data collection software running that attaches important information (e.g. time, quantity stamps) to the barcodes scanned, or else can be fully mobile computers, with Pocket PC or other operating systems.
Computers can not read bar codes. For a computer to make use of the information contained in the bar code, the bar code data must be captured and decoded into a data format that the computer can process. The device that reads or captures the bar code information and sends it to the decoder is known as the bar code reader, generally called bar code scanner.
The related Laser Bar Code Scanner with Exquisite Appearance and 58 Times Per Second at ePathChina also attract you with it’s good appearence and function, So the dealer could take a minutes to have a glance at epathchina.com’s barcode scanners directory,Barcode Scanners Store: All Bar Code Scanners, Wireless Bar Code Scanner, Portable Barcode Reader, Digital Business Scanner Scanner Wholesale & Retail at ePathChina
More paremeters you could refer to epathchina.com/professional-laser-bar-code-scanner-with-usb-cable-suitable-for-business-p-5859.html
David cc - an autor from ePathChina.com – A biggest electronics wholesaler from China
Toronto, Canada – GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) has released a high frequency RFID reader/writer which is a dual RFID and barcode reading device featuring high performance data collection. It is integrated with a Unitech RH767 rugged mobile computer and offers a large color backlit LCD touch panel allowing for clear display of collected data. Working along with ISO15693 or ISO 14443A/B compliant RFID tags, the portable RFID reader/writer is an ideal solution for access control, asset tracking, warehouse management and livestock tagging. It is also well-suited for healthcare applications in hospitals and nursing homes. This 13.56MHz RFID handheld reader/writer, model 223003, is equipped with both SDRAM and Flash ROM, each with a memory capacity of 64MB, to allow massive information input and processing. The compact and lightweight design ensures mobility and agility to users. It offers reading distances of up to 13cm and has an estimated continuous working time of about twenty hours on a single charge. The advanced reader/writer supports software including Microsoft Biztalk Server R2, Oracle Sensor Edge Server and IBM WCTME. Visit GAORFID.com for more information. For any sales inquires please contact: 1-877 585-9555 ext. 601 – Toll Free (USA & Canada) 1-416 292-0038 ext. 601 – All Other Areas sales@gaorfid.com About GAO RFID Inc. GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) is a leading provider of RFID Readers, RFID Tags and RFID software providing cost saving solutions to end users worldwide. GAO offers all RFID technologies: Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF, Gen 2) as well as Active and Semi-Passive. GAO RFID’ products and services are easily customized for use in asset tracking,healthcare, supply chain & logistics, event management, access control, livestock tracking, inventory control & management, field service maintenance and document authentication.
About GAO RFID Inc.
GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) is a leading provider of RFID Readers, RFID Tags and RFID software providing cost saving solutions to end users worldwide. GAO offers all RFID technologies: Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF, Gen 2) as well as Active and Semi-Passive. GAO RFID’ products and services are easily customized for use in asset tracking,healthcare, supply chain & logistics, event management, access control, livestock tracking, inventory control & management, field service maintenance and document authentication.
Toronto, Canada - GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) recommends this 13.56MHz RFID UTE handheld reader/writer which is a dual RFID and barcode reading device featuring high performance data collection. It offers a large color backlit LCD screen with touch panel allowing for clear display of collected data and is integrated with a rugged Unitech RH767 mobile computer. This portable RFID reader/writer is well-suited for healthcare in hospitals or nursing homes. Working together with ISO15693 or ISO 14443A/B compliant RFID tags, the RFID reader/writer is an ideal solution for access control, asset tracking, warehouse management and livestock tagging.
This high frequency handheld UTE RFID reader/writer, model 223003, is equipped with both SDRAM and Flash ROM, each with a memory capacity of 64MB, to allow massive information input and processing. It provides reading distances of up to 13cm and supports software including Microsoft Biztalk Server R2, Oracle Sensor Edge Server and IBM WCTME. What’s more, this compact and lightweight RFID reader/writer has an estimated continuous working time of about twenty hours on a single charge.
GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) is a leading provider of RFID Readers, RFID Tags and RFID software providing cost saving solutions to end users worldwide. GAO offers all RFID technologies: Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF, Gen 2) as well as Active and Semi-Passive. GAO RFID’s products and services are easily customized for use in asset tracking,healthcare, supply chain & logistics, event management, access control, livestock tracking, inventory control & management, field service maintenance and document authentication.
About GAO RFID Inc. GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) is a leading provider of RFID Readers, RFID Tags and RFID software providing cost saving solutions to end users worldwide. GAO offers all RFID technologies: Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF, Gen 2) as well as Active and Semi-Passive. GAO RFID’s products and services are easily customized for use in asset tracking,healthcare, supply chain & logistics, event management, access control, livestock tracking, inventory control & management, field service maintenance and document authentication.
Toronto, Canada – GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) has announced the release of its high performance active handheld RFID reader, which uses a dual-frequency read method to ensure fast and highly reliable data communication. The light weight RFID reader allows users to scan and program individual tags manually, which enable users to identify a particular tag and change its information according to specific requirements. It is an ideal solution for tracking and localization of merchandise, inventory or other assets. This active handheld RFID reader, model 214031, has an optional barcode scanner for users to transit from old barcode systems to newer RFID systems. The well-designed RFID reader offers RS232 and USB Host or Client ports for data transmission with a host computer. The reader signals the tag at a frequency of 433MHz and receives data at optional frequencies of 916.5MHz, 927MHz and 868MHz thus can be used everywhere. All communication packets use parity bits and cyclic redundancy checks to ensure data integrity. Additionally, test indicates that the highly rugged active RFID reader works effectively even after being dropped from a height of 1.2m to a concrete floor. Visit GAORFID.com for more information. For any sales inquires please contact: 1-877 585-9555 ext. 601 – Toll Free (USA & Canada) 1-416 292-0038 ext. 601 – All Other Areas sales@gaorfid.com About GAO RFID Inc. GAO RFID Inc. (GAORFID.com) is a leading provider of RFID Readers, RFID Tags and RFID software providing cost saving solutions to end users worldwide. GAO offers all RFID technologies: Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF, Gen 2) as well as Active and Semi-Passive. GAO RFID’s products and services are easily customized for use in asset tracking,healthcare, supply chain & logistics, event management, access control, livestock tracking, inventory control & management, field service maintenance and document authentication.
GAO RFID Inc. is a leading provider of RFID Readers, RFID Tags and RFID software providing cost saving s
Scan to Windows mobile phone-Cheapest Bluetooth barcode scanner Contact method: info@sumlung.com sumlung.com SUMLUNG SL-BA10 is a new kind product called Bluetooth barcode adapter whichcan convert major handheld barcode scanner to Bluetooth barcode scanner. It can help save 30 to 50 per cent in costs in comparison to the traditional Bluetooth barcode scanner. The adapter could send the barcode data to PC or smart phone by Bluetooth. We could also use it as mobile barcode data collection terminal when it combined with mobile phone. With the adapter we can convert major common 1D or 2D barcode scanner to Bluetooth barcode scanner, like Symbol, HHP, Metrologic, Datalogic and so on. SUMLUNG SL-BA10 could be used in various solutions such as sales and inventory tracking, asset tracking, time and attendance systems, Point of Sale (POS) systems, Chemical Inventory Tracking. Keywords: bluetooth barcode scanner, wireless barcode scanner, barcode scanner, bluetooth barcode adapter, portable barcode scanner, handheld barcode scanner, data collection terminal, sumlung SL-BA10, mobile barcode reader, mobile barcode scanner, barcode read software, barcode solution, barcode system, symbol, metrologic, psc, datalogic, hhp, intermec, unitech, zba, socket, option
How Barcodes And Label Printers Changed The Face Of The Retail Industry
Ever wondered when the first barcode was put to use? Have you ever questioned how long we have been using the barcode as a security tool in the consumer/retail industry? Barcodes are an essential part of securing and identifying a product, since its first uses their appearance and functions have not changed a great deal. However, they have become furthermore secure, with retail industries clamping down on anti-theft crime.
Specialised label printers were built to print the barcodes out making it easier to attach them to the products. They were also used to print onto the packaging, which can be an expensive process. Barcodes made it easier for retail shop owners to monitor how much stock they had left and reduced the number hours spent on keeping track of how much was sold. This also provided a more accurate way of monitoring shoplifters.
History
Before the invention of label printers, barcodes and scanners, shopkeepers of the 1930s had no choice but to spend at least once a month counting up all bags, cans, packets of goods making a note of how much was sold and calculating the figures in correspondence to the stock numbers. This was a cumbersome job and often shopkeepers would estimate the number of stock available.
This was of course inaccurate crude judgement; therefore, a desperate need for a new system was in demand. Wallace Flint, a business student at Harvard University of 1932, wrote a master’s thesis, which described a new system whereby customers selected their products from a catalogue that had hole-punched cards beside them, which they could tear out to take to the till. They would then insert the card into a specially designed reader machine, which would then produce the products to the customer through a conveyer belt system.
However, this system was flawed, as the machinery itself was extremely expensive and difficult to build. In theory, the system would have worked, but the truth of the matter was that no retail business could afford this equipment. Therefore, the first steps towards barcodes finally came to action in 1948.
The head of the food industry had pleaded with the dean of Philadelphia’s Drexel Institute of Technology to undergo research in automatically reading product information through the checkout. Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph Woodland, graduate students at Drexel, began working various prototype codes and labelling.
The main problems of coming up with a solution was expense, materials and installation. During the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s several formats of the barcode was invented which included the numeral code and bulls-eye code. It would not be until 1973 that the industry standard codes were chosen, UPC. This was implemented in all retail stores, thus popularising the barcode system.
Today with the advancement of computer technology and the invention ofimproved label printers, the barcode is a prevalent source in almost all retail stores. These are also applied to military and industrial applications. Many companies have developed and generated software that can manipulate bar coding. With this in mind the bar coding system will one day be replaced as technology further advances, but for now they remain the primary use for the retail industry.
Anna Stenning is an expert on label printers and barcode, having worked in the retail industry before. For more information visit click4barcodes.co.uk/
Microsoft Dynamics GP or how it was known in earlier 2000th and 1990th Great Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise is mid-market Corporate ERP platform. Great Plains is mostly Financial, ERP, MRP and HR software, while such applications as Microsoft RMS, Counterpoint should be dealing with Barcoding hardware (such as Barcode scanners, Barcode servers, etc.). If you are looking for Add-ons to Dynamics GP, opening specific GP screens to barcoding, you may need to check with Dynamics GP ISV Partners community. If you need Warehouse Management operations to be integrated with GP, most of the WMS software publishers handle Barcoding. Let’s review the options and look at some examples:
1. Direct Barcode Scanner work with Dynamics GP user workstation. This is only possible if you need only limited number of low volume barcode scanning and transactions upload to Dynamics GP. In this scenario Barcode scanner is also very basic (in to 0 price range for new unit: Datalogic, Adesso, HP, Metrologic, Wasp, Unitech to give you few brands) . You install Dynamics GP workstation on Notebook or another tiny Windows computer and provide wireless internet for your warehouse floor. You attach scanner to the USB port and it becomes the same devise as your computer keyboard, but way more efficient due to barcoding technology. One of your Dynamics GP users walks down to the warehouse, comes through its aisles and scans items, having relevant Great Plains windows open and prior to scanning she or he should place cursor into the field, where Barcode scanning should enter characters. We expect to hear comments from the readers, that such process requires Dynamics GP user interface training and it probably requires computer mouse to be attached and this process is time consuming – we agree with you – you got what you paid for. There might be some improvements to this logic, where you may try to apply Macro to automate transaction entry, or even order small Great Plains Dexterity customization, where it will allow you to have all the tabbing and defaults entered behind the scenes and your barcode scanner operator (with cheap version of USB barcode scanner) should be able to scan through all the items without the need to tab
2. Warehouse Management System, often abbreviated to WMS. Here you typically expect such routines of the warehouse operations as Sales Order Fulfillment/Allocation (or sometimes Picking and Packing), Inventory Restocking (Merchandise Replenishment, Reordering) and Inventory transactions (Moving from one warehouse to another to fulfill the order, Cycle Count or Inventory Adjustments, usually associated with merchandise returns). If this is what you need, we have to discourage you in the sense that WMS doesn’t allow shortcuts, described in the first paragraph. You would either need Dynamics GP Warehouse Management extensions, feel free to call us for details: 1-866-528-0577, or pick one ofthe external standalone WMS with integration options to Dynamics GP. At this time of the human history Warehouse Management System software is not cheap and probably starts at k. If you are very small warehouse related operation – you may try to offload WMS logic to custom application coded in MS Access, Dynamics GP Dexterity or Microsoft Visual Studio C#, VB. WMS is typically needed in the businesses, engaged in Wholesale Trade
3. Dynamics GP Barcoding in Retail scenarios. If you are in retail business, especially mid-size retail chain with presence in several states, you may consider to deploy tandem Microsoft RMS (for point of sale POS and Store Management and controlling the whole franchise from Microsoft RMS Headquarters), if you are Deli stores you may also consider another POS applications, such as Counterpoint. Microsoft RMS has out-of-the-box integration of daily sales to Great Plains General Ledger plus Purchases. Counterpoint has native integration of similar scope, where daily sales go to GP GL and Store replenishment or purchases to GP Vendor Invoices in AP module. If you pick POS application – barcoding is pretty much covered in most if not in all Retail packages (plus such cool features as POS displays). We also offer the integration between Dynamics GP and Microsoft RMS, where POS transactions are sent to SOP Invoice and customer payment is triggered as Customer deposit against SOP transaction (Credit Card, Check, Debit Card or Cash Payment, selling on account is also supported as in Clubs and Memberships). We also help with Barcode Labels printing for RMS automated stores directly from Great Plains
4. Requesting Info? Please, call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com We are serving you USA, Canada nationwide and Internationally via web sessions and skype phone conferences. Local service is available in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, California, Southwest Michigan (St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Holland, Saugatuck, Muskegon, South Haven, Grand Rapids), Chicago downtown and suburbs: Naperville, Downers Grove, Schaumburg, Glenn Ellyn, Aurora, as well in Houston area of Texas. We also provide second opinion in the case of failed Dynamics GP implementation and support for older versions of Great Plains such as Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows and Mac (9.5, 9.2, and earlier), Dynamics GP 9.0, 8.0 and 7.5, Great Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0, 3.2. We also integrate Dynamics GP with your custom built ecommerce, and we support such shopping carts as Magento, ASP .Net Storefront and others
Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, albaspectrum.com help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving GP customers USA and Canada Nationwide: California, Minnesota, New York, Quebec, Ontario, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Virginia, Florida, new Mexico, Iowa, Indiana, Alaska, Hawaii. Local service is available in Houston/Dallas: Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy, Galveston, Sugar Land; in Chicago: Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Romeoville, Batavia, Downers Grove, Schaumburg, Rockford, Elgin, Crystal Lake, Joliet, Hinsdale, Lisle, Montgomery, Oswego
Barcodes encode numeric or textual information in a printable, machine-readable form. The use of barcodes can significantly reduce cost of warehouse management and inventory. Two main forms of barcodes exist today: Linear or normal barcodes encode data over a horizontal stretch of space or one dimension. This kind of barcode typically encodes between four and forty digits or characters. So called area codes encode data in two dimensions, resulting in much higher density which allows for up to three thousand characters to be encoded.
Most linear barcode types will only encode numbers or digits. Two notable exceptions are Code 39 and Code 128 which can also encode alphanumeric characters like letters. Two dimensional area codes usually encode numbers, letters and special characters.
The most common linear barcode type is Code EAN which is used to encode article numbers in retail. It’s used throughout the world with the notable exception of the USA which uses a related code, Code UPC, for the same purpose. A special form of Code EAN carries a so called Addon, a smaller barcode next to the main barcode that can encode pricing information and the like. Code EAN with a five digit Addon is used to encode ISBN (International Standard Book Number), while Code EAN with a two digit Addon is used to encode ISSN (International Standard Serials Number).
Other notable linear barcode symbologies and their applications include Code 39 (used for pharmaceuticals), Code 128 (warehouse management and retail) and Code Two-Of-Five (warehouse management and inventory).
The most common two dimensional area codes are PDF417 and Datamatrix, both of which are used in manufacturing, package tracking and similar applications which require large data amounts to be encoded.
Barcode Checksums
To ensure safe and error free reading and scanning of barcodes, all common barcode symbologies support so called checksum or check digit schemes. A checksum or check digit is an additional character or number that is calculated from the encoded data and appended to the barcode. While reading the barcode the scanner or reader can verify the checksum and determine if the barcode was scanned correctly. This is especially important if the barcode can easily be damaged or be tampered with. Simple check digit systems like the sort that is used with most linear barcodes will only detect simple errors, like a missing character. More sophisticated systems, especially those used with area barcodes can not only detect but also repair any damage that may have occurred to the code.
Barcode Applications
Today barcodes enjoy wide spread use through all types of businesses. The first major application of barcodes was in the retail sector where the codes would encode article numbers, manufacturer data and pricing. Another prominent use of barcodes is in the transport industry where the codes carryaddress and tracking information. Finally, two dimensional area codes have recently gained much popularity for use in personal identity cards, drivers licenses and so forth. They are also used for the tagging of electronic parts like computer or memory chips.
