Getting Started Guide

The AM Labels series of guides contain everything that you need to know about
barcoding, labelling and scanning your products. This guide is essentially a hardware
and software guide covering the essentials of barcoding, scanning and mobile
computing. Additional guides are available through the links below, covering:

• Barcode Types
• Labelling Guide
• Printer Selection Guide
• Scanner Selection Guide

We would be grateful to have your feedback on this guide, please feel free to let us
know if you find this guide useful, or if you would like to see anything covered here
that isn’t already, by clicking on the link and filling in the short form.

1. What is a Barcode?
Barcodes are a way of displaying information as a printed symbol that can easily
read by electronic devices. They are used to hold information about a product or item
such as a product code, asset number or patient ID. One of the most common
applications for barcodes is in shops and supermarkets.

2. Why Use Barcodes?

Barcodes are used for capturing data electronically, using either an electronic reader
or scanner. The process of capturing data electronically is referred to as Auto ID
Data Capture (AIDC). Systems for barcode AIDC consist of three phases:

i. Printing the barcode either directly on the item, packaging or on a label.

ii. Capturing the barcode data using a scanner or reader and inputting the
information into a computer, handheld terminal or PDA.
iii. Retrieving information from or updating a local or central database.

The main benefits of using barcodes for electronic data capture are:
• A reduction in man-made errors
• Much quicker and more efficient entry of information.
• Inexpensive and easy to implement - bar code scanners are relatively low cost
and extremely accurate.
• Businesses can produce detailed and up-to-date information/reports on stock
levels and the movement or tracking of items and products.
3. Common Applications For Barcodes

Some of the most common uses for Barcodes are:

• The management of processes and stock control within manufacturing.

• In all industries, Government organisations and the Public Sector for accurate
asset tracking.
• Within retail barcodes enable goods to be identified at the point of sale, so that
the correct pricing can be retrieved and stock levels instantly updated.
• Within healthcare barcodes are used for identifying patients, drugs, blood and
samples etc.
• Logistics and delivery services use barcodes for tracking parcels and goods.

4. 1D & 2D Barcodes.
Barcodes come in two main types or symbologies; one dimensional barcodes (1D or
linear) and two dimensional barcodes (2D).

1D / Linear Barcodes
These barcodes consist of lines (commonly called bars) and spaces

Code 128 EAN 13

Code 128 and EAN 13 are two of the most common 1D barcodes. 1D barcodes
typically contain a part number, product code or patient number etc. When a barcode
is read and input into a computer, it is typically cross referenced to either a local or
central database, where large amounts of information can be automatically retrieved
for the item scanned. The database could contain information on pricing in a retail
application, location and stock in manufacturing, or location and keeper in an asset
tracking application.

Code 128 is a general purpose barcode, widely used across all industries including
the public sector and government bodies and can contain letters and numbers.

EAN 13 is probably the most widely recognised barcode and is the type used to
identify goods in shops and supermarkets by scanning at the till, checkout or point of
sale system. This barcode can only contain numbers.

The use of EAN 13 barcodes is regulated by GS1 UK to ensure that each

manufacturer has a unique range of numbers to avoid duplication. To register, please
follow the link; http://www.gs1uk.org/membership/membership_types.asp

2D Barcodes

2D barcodes typically contain more detailed information about the item, e.g. the full
address of the recipient in the case of parcel delivery.
Datamatrix

Datamatrix, as shown here, is one of the most common 2D barcodes, and is

typically used in parcel delivery and healthcare. Whereas the Code 128 and EAN 13
barcodes above contain 12 and 13 characters respectively, the Datamatrix barcode
shown above contains 108 characters.

For a full list of the different types of barcode available, please see the AM Labels
Barcode Guide, here

5. How Do I Barcode My Products?

Barcodes can either be printed directly onto the product, onto packaging or onto a
label, ticket, tag, wristband or other material which can then be applied to the item.

There are two ways of printing your own barcodes, either using a conventional office
printer and A4 laser or inkjet labels, or a dedicated (thermal) label printer. Using a
dedicated thermal printer is easier and more efficient than using a conventional office
printer, and has a number of benefits including:

• Much wider choice of label materials and adhesives so that a solution can be
tailored more closely to your specific requirements.
• No more paper jams. The thermal printing process does not involve heating
the labels as it does with laser printers. This heating process in laser printers
can cause the adhesive to leach out causing paper jams.
• Labels are normally printed in a continuous form, either on rolls or fan folded,
for ease of application.
• Thermal label printers can be fitted with automatic cutters so that labels or
tags can be cut to the desired length.
• Greater range of shapes and sizes available off the shelf.

Barcode and Label Software

There are a number of software solutions for designing and printing labels and
documents with barcodes, including:

• Standard Windows programs such as Word or Excel using a barcode font.

• Dedicated label design programs such as Bartender.
• Most thermal printers have built-in barcode software in the form of barcode
fonts. This allows barcodes to be printed with suitable software on your PC or
other devices such as PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). If you would
like more information on this method of printing barcodes, please call the AM
Labels Technical Support Team for advice on 01536 414222)

AM Labels can provide solutions for all the above options. Most thermal label printers
come with a free, basic label design program which will allow you to print 1D and 2D
barcodes. More advanced versions will also allow you to connect to external
databases.
For more information on selecting a label printer, please see our thermal printer
selection guide, or call our friendly and knowledgeable sales team on 01536 414222.

6. Barcode Scanning
Barcode scanners or readers come in a wide variety of forms to suit every
application. There are two important considerations when choosing the correct
scanner for your needs, which are:
• The scanner technology e.g. CCD, laser or imager.
• Scanner type: e.g. corded scanners (connected via a cable), cordless
scanners (wireless), PDA and handheld terminal scanners and barcode
verifiers.

Scanner Technology

o CCD (Charge Coupled Device) scanners illuminate the barcode with

light from LEDs and are available in two types. Contact scanners have
read ranges from contact to 2-3cm and medium range types have read
ranges from 20-30cm.
o Laser scanners illuminate the barcode with light from a laser and are
therefore capable of reading barcodes at a greater distance. Standard
laser scanners typically read barcodes up to 30cm, with long range
versions able to read barcodes up to 10M.
o Imager technology uses a small camera to capture 1D and 2D
barcodes. The barcode is then decoded using digital image processing.

Scanner Types

Corded Scanners
Corded scanners are handheld devices connected via an interface cable to a PC or
laptop. Interface cables are typically 1.5m to 2m long, which means that the item to
be scanned has to be brought to the scanner. A typical application would be point of
sale, where the barcode is scanned at the checkout.

The main types of corded scanner are:

• Office/Retail Scanners – low cost, light weight devices with drop

specifications up to 1.5M. These scanners will typically read 1D (linear)
barcodes.
• Industrial Scanners – These are ruggedised devices sealed against dust and
moisture to IP65 , with drop specifications of up to 2m onto concrete.
• 2D Scanners – these are handheld devices able to read 1D and 2D barcodes.
2D scanners usually capture an image of the barcode and are therefore omni-
directional (i.e. able to read a barcode at any orientation). These scanners
come in office/retail and industrial (rugged) versions.
• Presentation Scanners – these scanners are specifically designed for hands-
free scanning and are also omni-directional. They’re often found in retail
applications at the point of sale.
• Fixed Mount Scanners – These devices are commonly mounted on
production lines and scan the barcode as it passes. 1D, 2D and omni-
directional versions are available.
• Wands – these are hand-held devices shaped like a thick pen, which are used
to scan barcodes by running them across the surface of the barcode.
When choosing a corded scanner you will need to select the correct interface cable
to suite the software and connection on your PC or laptop. The most common types
are USB, serial and keyboard wedge

Cordless or Wireless Scanners

Cordless scanners are handheld devices connected via a Bluetooth or proprietary
wireless link to a base station or access point. Cordless scanners can either replace
a corded scanner, providing the operator with greater freedom of movement, or form
part of a network, where a number of scanners would communicate with a single
base station or a network of access points. The wireless range varies from 15m to
50m.

Cordless scanners come in a variety of types. These include office/retail, industrial,

2D/omni-directional, small handheld scanners and “ring” scanners. Click here to find
out more.

PDA Scanners
These are small devices that can be plugged into the SD or CF socket in the top of a
PDA, converting the PDA into a handheld data capture device. 1D, 2D and RFID
versions are available.

Barcode Verifiers
These are specialist barcode readers designed to measure the quality of barcodes in
terms of the contrast between the bars and spaces and the ratio between the width of
the bars and spaces. It is a requirement of many supermarkets that barcodes are
checked by an approved barcode verifier. Barcode verifiers measure the quality of
barcodes to international standards such as ISO/IEC 15416 and ANSI X3.182.

7. Mobile Computing and Data Capture

Mobile computers or Portable Data Entry Terminals (PDETs) are used in applications
where information needs to be collected or a barcode scanned in locations away
from a conventional computer or PC, such as in a warehouse. Mobile computers
come in a range of designs, sizes and levels of ruggedness and have the advantage
of being able to process the information, either before being passed on to a remote
computer or for use by the operator.

Applications for mobile computers include:

• Stock replenishment in shops and supermarkets.
• Booking in, despatch, order picking and stock takes in warehousing and
manufacturing.
• Administering drugs in health care.
• Booking in and out items and audits in asset tracking.
• Field sales and delivery (route accounting).
• Law enforcement (e.g. issuing parking tickets).

Mobile Computer Operating Systems

The type of operating system on the PDA handheld terminal will determine your
choice of application programs and software development tools. There are two main
types of operating system software used in mobile computers, Pocket PC / Windows
CE and proprietary operating systems:
 • Pocket PC / Windows CE – these are versions of the industry standard
Microsoft Windows operating systems, specifically designed for mobile
devices with limited memory and small screens (1/4 VGA). These operating
systems are becoming increasingly common, with a wide range of applications
and development tools available. Windows CE is a subset of Pocket PC
without applications such as Windows Explorer.
• Proprietary or non-standard operating systems are more commonly found on
low cost handheld terminals. These devices often come with Application
Programme Generators (APGs), which allow simple applications to be quickly
and easily developed by non-programmers.

8. Mobile Computing Application Software

There are a wide range of applications and development tools for Pocket PC and
Windows CE based PDAs and handheld terminals available from AM Labels. The
options for application software include:

• Off-the-shelf applications such as Stock Control, Asset Tracking, Field Sales

and Delivery.
• Application Programme Generators (APGs). These are designed for non-
programmers and allow sophisticated applications to be developed quickly
and easily. An example is the MCL-Collection from Zetes. Please call our
sales team on 01536 414222 if you would like more information.
• Bespoke programming service; AM Labels offers a cost effective programming
service for applications requiring a dedicated solution.

Examples of previous bespoke solutions developed by AM Labels include:

o Various applications for issuing and receiving stock, linked to Enterprise

Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
o Auditing housing stock
o Issuing parking tickets
o Mobile caretakers
o Waste management systems

• Programming by the customer using programming languages such as C++,

C# or Visual Basic. AM Labels can provide advice and support should you
wish to develop your own application in this way.

9. Wireless Applications

The choice of wireless solution will depend on your specific application. Some of the
most popular systems for wireless communication are:

• Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). The most common type of link in
this category is Bluetooth and this is typically used for short range
communication (up to 15M) between a PC or PDA and devices such as
headsets, mobile printers and cordless scanners.
• Proprietary wireless networks. For example the Datalogic narrow band, Star
system, allows up to 32 scanners to communicate with a single base station
and up to 2000 scanners in the same area.
 • Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The industry standard for this type of
wireless network is 802.11 b/g (also known as Wi-Fi). Wireless LANs are
typically used to link computers or other devices within buildings with a
wireless range of up to 50M from the nearest access point (some coverage
outside of buildings is also possible). Most laptops, PDAs and handheld
terminals come with this type of wireless network as standard. As this type of
wireless network is low cost and easy to install, it is increasingly found in
shops, offices, factories, warehouses and homes.
• Wide Area Networks (WANs) are computer networks that allow data
communication over large distances, e.g. between regions and countries. This
type of wireless network would be the system of choice for mobile workers
such as field sales and delivery people. Many modern devices cater for WAN
technology; PDA cell phones come with a WAN capability as standard, and
Rugged PDAs and handheld terminals have the option for a WAN capability
and simply require a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) to be fitted to allow
access to the internet and wireless data communication. The international
standard for WAN communication is GSM, (Groupe Spécial Mobile, also
known as the Global System for Mobile communication). There is now a
newer version, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) designed specifically
for internet use and data communication.

10. Wireless Application Software

The main advantage of wireless systems is that information can be updated in real
time (i.e. information on both the handheld and the main computer system can be
completely up to date.) The options for wireless applications are very similar to those
described in ’Section 8; Mobile Computing Application Software’, with the exception
of Terminal Emulation.

Terminal Emulation – with this type of system, you do not need specialist application
software on your handheld terminal or PDA, you simply run the application program
resident on the host computer using terminal emulation software. Traditionally,
terminal emulation has been used in warehouses to replace a “dumb” VDU display
and keyboard with a wireless handheld terminal, providing the user with greater
freedom of movement. Some of the more common types of emulation are 5250,
3270, VT and HP.

Version LK 20/10/2008