1

barcode printing

easy and reliable identification

simplify processes

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 2

The use of barcodes is growing thanks to the proved advantages

compared to manual input. Almost all products are covered with a barcode
nowadays, so its no surprise that there is a need to automate the process
of assigning barcodes often directly related to certain steps in a process. It
would be great if that created barcodes automatically and prints it on the
printer used by that application! Often thats impossible, but bring in some
solutions which could be hardware or software gives new opportunities to
automate processes and make use of (existing) office printers instead of
dedicated barcode printers.

use of barcodes

easy and reliable identification

supermarkets
shipping
pharmacy, chemistry
manufacturing

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 3

Bar-coding is a standard way to assign an id value to things. We are not

talking only about the goods which can be bought in supermarkets.
Bar-coding is used in a wide spectrum of industries. They are very
common in shipping companies, in pharmacy and chemistry and of course
in any kind of manufacturing.
Barcodes allow to simplify a lot of processes like sales and distribution,
storage management,

use of barcodes an example

VDA 4902 form
used for goods delivery identification

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 4

Vda form is a typical example of a barcode printing application. It is widely

used in many industries, especially in automotive companies.
The document identifies the shipment of any parts arriving to the factory.
From the barcodes, the operators can easily read the description of the
part, the volume, package and other specifications.
Thanks to the barcodes it is possible to immediately insert the information
to the accounting system, for example to SAP modules.

types of barcodes
one-dimensional barcodes
holds an ID of the items
the ID can easily point to database
information

8 591234 123457

numerical or alphanumerical codes

two-dimensional barcodes
holds the whole information
can code more than 1KB of data
need of special readers

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 5

Traditionally used barcodes are one-dimensional barcodes. They can code several bytes
of information, so they are mostly used as an id of the item.
The applications which processes 1d barcodes are usually on-line or off-line connected to
the database, which is able to offer more information about the item whose id was read by
the barcode reader.
The 1d barcodes are either numerical ( they can encode only numbers ) or
alphanumerical (numbers and characters ).
The set of characters which can be encoded into barcodes depend on the type of
barcode. Some of the barcodes for example can encode even control codes for
controlling the reading application.
The newer barcodes are two-dimensional or 2d barcodes. These barcodes hold
information encoded on the rectangular area.
2d barcodes can encode more than 1kb of data. This can be used not only for assigning
the id to the bar-coded items, but it allows the application to encode the whole description
of the product. Technically the 2d barcode can hold the same information more than once
making it possible to read it even if it is not readable entirely.
It can be used in variety of applications. Let us imagine that firefighters busy with a traffic
accident will be able from the barcode placed on the side of the tank truck to read the
content information with the note whether the liquid inside the tank is flammable or not.
2d barcodes sometimes need a special reader in order to read the content.

JetCAPS
barcode printing solutions

OCR + barcode module

barcodes for Windows
JetCAPS BarSIMM/BarDIMM
Barcode font package

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 6

The hp JetCAPS program offers basically three different solutions. The

right choice depends on several factors.
The main factors are:
Operating system from which the barcodes will be printed
The application printing the barcodes
The possibility to change the application in order to print the barcodes
Barcodes needed
We will describe the solutions on the following slides
The JetCAPS BarSIMM & DIMM mean easy, quick and versatile barcode
printing without needing to invest in specialty printers.The JetCAPS
intelligent BarSIMM integrates seamlessly into SAP R/3, supports virtually
all barcodes and OCR fonts, and can even calculate checksums in the
printer, if required.
The Barcode Font Package provides a quick and simple solution for
anybody who needs to print barcodes with flexibility and form.
The OCR+Barcode Module adds easy, quick and versatile OCR, barcode
and symbol printing (featuring the Euro symbol, and many common
packing symbols) to a standard hp printer.

barcode printing solution for MS Windows

consists of the set of TrueType fonts which are installed to the system
fonts can be used from any Windows application
font calculation can be done by an application or by a barcode generator

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 7

This product consists of the set of true type fonts which need to be
installed to the ms windows fonts folder. After installation these fonts can
be used by any windows based application which offer font selection.
When the user wants to print the barcode for example from ms word, he or
she has to write the value of the barcode, highlight it and change the font
to the font proper for the desired barcode.
Some of the barcodes are very complex. The barcodes often use special
start and stop signs, some of them use checksums for integrity checks,
some of the codes have relatively complex rules for encoding the data.
If you want to print complex barcodes, you can program your application
so that it will calculate the whole barcode itself or it is possible to use a
application called barcode generator, which takes the data and does all
necessary calculations. Barcode generators can be called from other
applications using dde communication.

 easy to install
easy to use from Windows applications
barcode generator helps to calculate
the correct code

advantages of barcodes for

Windows

can be printed on any printer LaserJet,

deskjet and even in color

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 8

The main advantage of this solution is its ease of use. The barcodes
created are well known to most users.

firmware solution
JetCAPS BarDIMM

adds functionality to printers

firmware
barcodes are called by font
selection like sequences
the firmware calculates the
barcodes
check sums
start, stop characters

BARCODE 3OF9

length optimization of some

codes
error Messages
2-D barcodes
08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 9

JetCAPS barDIMM is a firmware based solution. It is a DIMM module

which after inserting to the memory slot of the printer, adds new functions
to the printers internal program firmware.
Printers with barDIMM filters the incoming data and looks for the escape
sequences which are very similar to font selection commands.
When the printer finds such a sequence, it reads the parameters of the
barcode from the sequence, removes the sequence and inserts the
graphical commands describing the desired barcode.
The barcode graphical description is created by a program from the
barDIMM module. Because it is in fact a software application it can offer a
lot of functions. Therefore this module is regarded as a intelligent barcode
printing solution.
The module calculates all necessary calculations including checksums,
start and stop signs, it can optimize the length of the code and allows x-y
axis independent barcode scaling. It can even check the correctness of
data being sent to the printer and print error messages in case of incorrect
barcode data.
The sequences can be sent again from any application which can send
escape sequences. In addition to it, the application can define an other
character instead of the escape character. This function allows to use the
barDIMM even from systems which cannot send escape characters and
thats called freescape.
The barDIMM is also able to print 2d barcodes.

advantages of
JetCAPS BarDIMM

simple to program without

knowledge of barcodes
easy error corrections with error
messages
independent X-Y axis scaling
2D barcodes support
SAP recommended!

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 10

Here you can see the advantages of the JetCAPS barsimm solution. Its
main advantage origins in the fact that the product is a sw application.

10

labs

Megaform printing

barcodes for windows

08 December 2003

filename\location

Page 11

11