Do You Know?
- Verification?
(Updated - 09th Sep 2008)
What is barcode verification for?
A barcode’s foremost function is carrying data from the point where it is from to the point at which the data has to be encoded. The barcode plays a major role in the data communication chain of any applications. If it fails, the chain will fail.
Verification is to ensure that printed barcode able to perform the above mentioned function, by performing two key tasks.
a) Enabling the barcode’s originator to measure his output and to apply feedback thus controlling and maintaining his operation.
b) Predicting the scanning performance likely to achieve by the barcode.
What is a verifier? How does it differ from a scanner?
A verifier is a precision measuring instrument designed to provide consistent and repeatable measurements of a symbol and to analyses these measurements in relation to the likely scanning performance of the barcode under a set of protocol. In order to maintain the accurate and consistency of its measurement, it has to be calibrated.
A barcode scanner is a device that decodes the pattern of bars and spaces into the data encodes in the barcode. It does not have the capacity of measuring any parameters that will affect how a barcode can be decoded.
Can I use a barcode scanner to verify the barcode?
The optical arrangements available for scanner vary widely, ranging from light pens or wands to CCD scanners and handheld or omni-directional laser scanners and from manually-operated to automatic, unattended devices, any of which might be found at the various points in the distribution chain to the retail store or warehouse through which the product passes.
Each device has difference scanning performance. In order to enhance their performance, manufacturer of barcode scanner come out with all kind of features and built into the decode algorithms to help the equipment decode even poor quality symbols reliably. However, not all there work in the same way and two different readers might well have different degrees of success with same symbol.
Using a wand reader to scan the barcode will not give any reliable indication of whether is would read with a laser scanner, and also that any other wand reader could read it successfully. Nor does it help you understand whether the barcode deviates from perfect and if so what is wrong with it. At best, it can be used as a can “scan/cannot scan” test and to check the data content. There is no other form of measurement to conclude the grade of the barcode. Therefore it is risky to conclude any else.
A verifier bases its assessment on the use of a standardized reference decode algorithm (ISO) specified as part of the symbology specification, and on calibration of its optical response. Both of these enable consistent and objective quality assessment to be irrespective of what type of scanner will be used in the application.
Benefit
The benefits of verification are the reassurance and confidence that barcode will perform as intended at all stages of the products’ process flow down the supply chain right up to hand of the customers.
Additional benefits to the barcode’s originator is he is able to make use of the information on the barcode he is printed to monitor his production process and adjust his equipment or procedures in order to correct any deviations from his optimum quality.
(Updated - 09th Sep 2008)
What is barcode verification for?
A barcode’s foremost function is carrying data from the point where it is from to the point at which the data has to be encoded. The barcode plays a major role in the data communication chain of any applications. If it fails, the chain will fail.
Verification is to ensure that printed barcode able to perform the above mentioned function, by performing two key tasks.
a) Enabling the barcode’s originator to measure his output and to apply feedback thus controlling and maintaining his operation.
b) Predicting the scanning performance likely to achieve by the barcode.
What is a verifier? How does it differ from a scanner?
A verifier is a precision measuring instrument designed to provide consistent and repeatable measurements of a symbol and to analyses these measurements in relation to the likely scanning performance of the barcode under a set of protocol. In order to maintain the accurate and consistency of its measurement, it has to be calibrated.
A barcode scanner is a device that decodes the pattern of bars and spaces into the data encodes in the barcode. It does not have the capacity of measuring any parameters that will affect how a barcode can be decoded.
Can I use a barcode scanner to verify the barcode?
The optical arrangements available for scanner vary widely, ranging from light pens or wands to CCD scanners and handheld or omni-directional laser scanners and from manually-operated to automatic, unattended devices, any of which might be found at the various points in the distribution chain to the retail store or warehouse through which the product passes.
Each device has difference scanning performance. In order to enhance their performance, manufacturer of barcode scanner come out with all kind of features and built into the decode algorithms to help the equipment decode even poor quality symbols reliably. However, not all there work in the same way and two different readers might well have different degrees of success with same symbol.
Using a wand reader to scan the barcode will not give any reliable indication of whether is would read with a laser scanner, and also that any other wand reader could read it successfully. Nor does it help you understand whether the barcode deviates from perfect and if so what is wrong with it. At best, it can be used as a can “scan/cannot scan” test and to check the data content. There is no other form of measurement to conclude the grade of the barcode. Therefore it is risky to conclude any else.
A verifier bases its assessment on the use of a standardized reference decode algorithm (ISO) specified as part of the symbology specification, and on calibration of its optical response. Both of these enable consistent and objective quality assessment to be irrespective of what type of scanner will be used in the application.
Benefit
The benefits of verification are the reassurance and confidence that barcode will perform as intended at all stages of the products’ process flow down the supply chain right up to hand of the customers.
Additional benefits to the barcode’s originator is he is able to make use of the information on the barcode he is printed to monitor his production process and adjust his equipment or procedures in order to correct any deviations from his optimum quality.
- 200DPI or 300DPI?
- CCD or Laser Scanner?
- Linear or 2D barcode?
- Interleaved 2 of 5?
- Inches to mil size?
- DTC or HDP printer?
- YMCK or Pantone color?
Copyright © 2007 Autopack |
Feedback
Best viewed with IE 5.0 and above with 1024 x 768 screen resolution.
Best viewed with IE 5.0 and above with 1024 x 768 screen resolution.