Specifications of Barcodes

This section explains the types of barcodes that can be detected with DirectScan and the conditions for detection.

One-dimensional barcode

One-Dimensional Barcode

Example: Code 3 of 9

Code

Character Set

Check Digit

Field Width

UPC-A

Numeric character (0-9)

If check digit verification indicates an error, the barcode value will not be output.

12 (include a check digit)

EAN 8 (JAN 8)

EAN 13 (JAN 13)

Numeric character (0-9)

If check digit verification indicates an error, the barcode value will not be output.

8 or 13 (includes a check digit)

Code 3 of 9

  • Alphabetical characters (A-Z)

  • Numeric character (0-9)

  • Symbols (-.*$/+%)

  • Space

The barcode value including the check digit will be output without check digit verification.

1 to 32 (excludes start and stop codes) (*1)

Code 128 (EAN 128)

  • Alphabetical characters (a-z, A-Z)

  • Numeric character (0-9)

  • Symbol (!"#$%&'()*+,-./:;<=>?@[Yen Mark]^_`{|}~)

  • Space

  • Control codes (all codes will be replaced with spaces)

  • Function codes (<FNC1> to <FNC4>)

    • For barcodes that begin with <FNC1> (EAN128)

      The first FNC1 will not be output. Barcode values will be output with function codes other than FNC1 replaced with "_" (underscore).

    • For barcodes that do not begin with <FNC1>

      <FNC1> to <FNC4> are not output.

  • Start/Stop characters (CODE-A, CODE-B, CODE-C)

  • Code set characters (CODE-A, CODE-B, CODE-C)

If check digit verification indicates an error, the barcode value will not be output.

1 to 32 (excludes a check character) (*1)

Codabar (NW-7)

  • Start/Stop characters (ABCD)

  • Numeric character (0-9)

  • Symbols (-$/.+:)

The barcode value including the check digit will be output without check digit verification.

1 to 32 (excludes start and stop codes) (*1)

ITF

Numeric character (0-9)

The barcode value including the check digit will be output without check digit verification.

2 to 32 (always an even number of digits) (*1)
*1:

When scanning barcodes containing more than 32 digits, make sure that the barcode has been accurately recognized before starting operations.

Detection Conditions for One-dimensional Barcodes

Item

Condition

Barcode height

10 to 30 mm/0.39 to 1.18 in.

Barcode width

300 mm/11.81 in. or less

Barcode margin

5 mm/0.20 in. or more on each side of barcode

(The left and right edges of ITF are either 5 mm/0.20 in. or more, or six times the width of the thin element or more, whichever is larger)

Barcode color

Black

Barcode base color

White

Resolution

200 to 600 dpi

Barcode angle

Horizontal and vertical

Thin element width/module width

  • UPC-A/EAN 8 (JAN 8)/EAN13 (JAN 13)

    For 300 dpi or more: 0.264 mm/0.010 in. or more

    For less than 300 dpi: 0.30 mm/0.012 in. or more

  • Code 3 of 9/Code 128 (EAN 128)/Codabar (NW-7)

    For 300 dpi or more: 0.20 mm/0.008 in. or more

    For less than 300 dpi: 0.30 mm/0.012 in. or more

  • ITF

    For 300 dpi or more: 0.254 mm/0.010 in. or more

    For less than 300 dpi: 0.30 mm/0.012 in. or more

Wide element width

14.0 mm/0.55 in. or less

(For UPC-A/EAN 8 (JAN 8)/EAN13 (JAN 13)/Code 128 (EAN 128), this is the width of the widest element, which is equivalent to the total width of four modules.)

Gap between characters

  • UPC-A/EAN 8 (JAN 8)/EAN13 (JAN 13)/Code 128 (EAN 128)/ITF

    No gap between characters

  • Code 3 of 9/Codabar (NW-7)

    Equal to or less than either 1.52 mm/0.06 in. or three times the width of the thin element, whichever is larger, and equal to or larger than the thin element width
HINT

  • Skewed barcodes may not be recognized correctly.

  • Using the same document repeatedly may decrease the recognition accuracy due to accumulated dirt on the document. If the document is not recognized correctly or gets smudged, replace it with a new document.

  • The barcode may not be recognized correctly depending on the document (if skewed) and/or the condition of printed barcodes. Make sure that the barcode is correctly recognized before starting operations.

  • If scanning performance is poor, reducing the barcode detection area may improve performance.

  • If there are multiple barcodes in the detection area, the barcode to be detected is unknown.

  • If there are multiple barcodes in the detection area, the order in which the barcodes are to be detected is unknown.

  • Even if the barcode base color or the barcode color is a color other than white and black, the barcode may be able to be recognized. To recognize colored barcodes, adjust the color document scanning settings to ensure that the documents are recognized correctly before using the barcodes.

  • Barcode recognition results may include errors if a barcode is smaller than the minimum size required.

  • If barcodes that meet the conditions are not being scanned properly, performance may be improved by trying the following.

    • Specify a higher resolution in the scan settings

    • Reduce image noise

      Increase the data size of JPEG images by using [JPEG Compression] for [Output] in [Scan Settings].

    • Scan colored (gray) barcodes in "Black & White" and monochrome barcodes in "Color"

    • Print barcodes with a higher resolution (at a higher quality)

    • Increase the size of the barcodes

    • Change the paper that barcodes are printed on to paper with a higher level of whiteness

  • To carry out check digit verification on a barcode type where the check digit is unchecked, calculate the check digit and verify it yourself.

  • When using a barcode type where the check digit is checked, the barcode value will not be output if the check digit verification indicates an error. If barcodes are not being recognized, check that the check digit is correct.