We have put together a brief summary of the most frequently asked questions, and the decisions that need to be made.
What is a Barcode?
A Barcode is simply a machine readable language. It is letters and numbers put in a form that machines (computers) can then easily read. (Check out the hardware section for more details of the scanners and other readers available - They range from the size of a pen that links to your computer or EPOS all the way up to large readers which can be mounted to forklifts for a large warehouse) Software programs are written that translate data, usually numeric and alpha codes into barcodes so that a scanner can read it and input it into a computer.
In order for us to be able to understand your data capture/ barcoding requirement please complete our Data Capture/Barcode Questionnaire.
Aren't there different types of barcodes?
Yes. There are a number of different types of barcodes, all of the them accomplish the same task, converting data into a form that a machine can easily recognize. The different formats are almost like different languages. Just as the word "telephone" is said differently in English, French, German or Spanish, so too different barcode Motorolas can be used to represent the same set of data.
The different languages are called "Barcode Symbologies" (currently there are more than 22 of them that have different capabilities for the amount of information you need to convey about your product - sometimes you just want to record that 1 tin of beans has left the shop floor and needs reordering - other times you may want to record an entire address and the nature of merchandise being sent out so you can track it on a delivery run).
For those of you that like to know the technical terms - Some of the Symbologies include:
UPC-A/E, EAN, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, I 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5, Coda bar, MSI, Book land, POSTNET, UCC/EAN 128, PDF417, Maxi code, Data Matrix
How do I know which type of barcode I need?
Fortunately this part of the process is pretty straight forward. Software programs on the market today print almost all of the various barcode formats. It is simply a matter of telling the software which Symbology you want the barcodes in, much like you would select a font on a word processing program. If you are producing barcodes for an end user they will know which barcode Symbology they are using. If you are printing labels to scan internally, your software program will recommend one of the Symbologies to use.
Can I create a barcode label with regular print on it?
Most barcode labels have both barcode (machine readable) and human readable characters on it. The software program will allow you to print almost anything that you would want on a barcode label. On your computer screen an image of a blank label will appear allowing you to create a label. You can then input your address, unit price, description or any other text you would want to appear on the label. For the barcode itself, you would put in an alpha numeric code and the software then converts that to a barcode. Many of the software programmes available will also tie in to your current database of products and automatically create a barcode for each item. Easier than you expected?
I heard that there are two methods of printing used by barcode printers, which one do I want?
Barcode printers come in two basic forms, DIRECT THERMAL and THERMAL TRANSFER Both use the heat of the printing element to form an image on the label. The difference is in the process.
DIRECT THERMAL printers, use the heat of the print head to form an image on specially coated papers. Much like the old style fax paper that was chemically treated and would react to the heat of the print head on an incoming fax these labels have been processed to react to the heat of the printing element.
THERMAL TRANSFER printers use the heat of the printing element to TRANSFER the resin from a ribbon onto a label. The image is crisper and longer lasting.
Most printers come in either configuration, so you could order a particular printer in either the DIRECT THERMALor THERMAL TRANSFER model. Some printers actually have the option of being changed from one type to the other by simply adding a ribbon and changing your labels - something to bear in mind when you chose.
Which one do I need?
The criteria to make that decision is your application. DIRECT THERMAL(no ribbon) is slightly cheaper. Because there is no ribbon involved the cost per thousand labels tends to be less. However the disadvantage of DIRECT THERMAL is that the label will fade with time. Just like the old curly fax paper that would turn grey and fade after about 6 months,. so too thermal direct labels, since they are coated to react to heat they will fade with time. If your application involves the need for labels to last more than 6 months, we recommend using a THERMAL TRANSFER printer. If you were using the printer for address labels on one day and for yearly stock taking the next day it may be advisable to invest in a printer that can do both.
How do I select which printer I need?
There are a few questions you have to determine and then the decision is pretty straight forward. The first question is how many labels do you plan on printing? Barcode printers are largely designed to handle a given work load. The most common method of measuring a printer's capacity is by the amount of "labels a day" it is rated for. A light duty printer will accommodate up to 200 labels a day. A medium grade printer will handle up to 500 a day. If your application requires you to print more than 500 labels a day then you would need a heavy duty printer. Finally if you find that your application demands printing more than 1000 labels a day you would need an industrial grade printer. Check out the hardware section for specs on a few of the printers available.
Are there different speeds in printers?
Yes. Thermal barcode printers are rated by how many inches per second (IPS) they print. The print speeds vary from 2" a second up to 10" a second. The actual speed of printing will be determined by the height of your label. If you are printing a 4"wide by 2" high label, then every label will consist of 2 print inches. Assuming that your printer was rated for 2 inches per second (IPS) then it would print one label every second.
What software do I need to create barcodes?
Some of the entry level printers already come with software that will print the barcode labels as we mentioned above. Look at the specs of your job to determine if that particular printer comes with software that'll do your job or if it must be purchased at an additional cost. If you are looking at a Heavy duty printer you will need to purchase additional software. There are a number of software packages that are very good at creating barcodes as you will see on the software page.
To help you with this process we have created software tours, information files and free downloads. At the end of the day you are the one who will have to live with the product you chose so it seemed only fair to let you play with the merchandise first. If you have any questions or need further help then please do not hesitate in emailing us your questions. Because we have a wealth of direct contacts with our manufacturers and suppliers we can provide an answer to most questions within 4 hours.
We hope these answers to barcoding have helped and look forward to your comments and custom in the future. |
