By Ron Weinberg, Tampa PC Users Group
rswjbr@att.net

They seem to everywhere, bar codes. Coke cans, software boxes, furniture, car parts, mail, and a million more everyday and not so everyday items and places. The ubiquitous bar code is a modern day phenomenon that serves two basic purposes, identification and inventory control. They are the essential component of the (AIDC) Automated Identification and Data Capture industry.

For the PC user, amateur or IT professional, they are another very useful utility. Uses are virtually unlimited. Cataloging and tracking parts, hobby collections, retail or wholesale items, storage boxes, ID cards, tickets, work orders or other documents, luggage tags, etc., etc.

Groceries and general merchandise carry UPC bar codes which are controlled by the Uniform Code Council, an issuing authority. This is much like the way domain names are controlled. UPC codes are limited to genuine business applications. However, there are many other bar code symbologies freely available for use. Code 39 is one of many popular codes. Often they incorporate check digits to minimize errors.

Some of the new two dimensional (2D) codes are capable of containing vast amounts of information so that direct reads eliminate the necessity for any lookup files.

In this article I will not go into the technical specifications of each bar code, but rather I am trying to provide more general information to suggest using bar codes for your own needs and ideas.

To use bar codes you will need a scanner as an input device which can be plugged into your keyboard circuit and will deliver the scanned codes to your program and/or display screen. Other RS232 serial port and USB varieties are on the market. Scanners can be Laser, Light Pens, or CCD, the latter being safer and less expensive for amateur use. Today’s sophisticated professional scanner gun is often wireless. Some may require a translator box (wedge) and power supply, others are self contained. The scanner is programmed to accept one or more type codes by scanning control code bars into itself. If you elect to use a specific code or unusual size label be sure your scanner has that specific capability.

Various bar code fonts and label stock are readily available for common PC printers. High volume users can purchase special bar code printers such as those made by Zebra.

A wide variety of off the shelf software is available. Two examples are LabelWorks, complete package, and Speedbar, which allows cutting and pasting codes. These programs can accept scanner input as if it were keyed in.

The basic concept is that the bar code acts as a key to a record in a file or database. The file can contain as much or as little related information as desired.

You will find bar codes not difficult to use and understand. They will allow easy access to data and offer solutions to many problems.

Much more specific information is available on the Internet or you may contact the writer through the Tampa PC Users Group. u