Using Bar Codes - Kodak 8383697 - Capture Pro Software User Manual

Using bar codes

A-61635 December 2010
Bar coding is a method of encoding data in a machine-readable code
consisting of a parallel arrangement of dark and light elements. The light
elements are referred to as "spaces" and the dark elements as "bars." The
bars and spaces are either wide or narrow. The combination of wide and
narrow bars and spaces is a bar code. Each bar code begins with a "start"
character and ends with a "stop" character. The industry uses bar codes to
provide more accurate and efficient data input than is possible using manual
data entry.
Bar code setup allows you to define the:
• name of the bar code
• data mask or syntax
• physical location where to find the bar code (in a zone or anywhere on the
image)
• bar code type (width, height, quality and confidence level)
• level where you can find the bar code (batch, document or page level)
Follow these tips to maximize the performance of Kodak Capture Pro
Software:
• Choose the Page Setup name that you will use for scanning before you
define a bar code zone.
• Make sure that all glass surfaces (the glass guides or glass over the camera
area) within the scanner transport are clean. Dirty surfaces cause poor read
rates.
• Use a higher resolution to obtain better read rates (300 vs. 200 dpi).
• Check the positioning of the zone around the bar code; it can affect the
confidence level of a bar code. Leave at least a 1/4-inch of space around a
bar code to guarantee that the full bar code will always fall within the zone.
Move the zone around the bar code until the highest confidence rate is
achieved.
• The minimum bar code height specification is 40 pixels. At 200 dpi, 40 pixels
ths
is 20/100 of an inch; at 300 dpi, 40 pixels is 13/100
codes smaller than 40 pixels in height, specify a bar code height in the Bar
Code Zone Setup dialog box.
• Verify that the correct bar code type and bar code orientation are selected in
the Bar Code Zone Setup dialog box.
• If bar codes are on documents with color backgrounds, you may need to
lower the threshold value in the Bar Code Zone Setup dialog box for
improved read rates.
• If possible, use medium or low density bar codes. High density bar codes
may require a lower Threshold value in the Bar Code Zone Setup dialog
box.
• To achieve better read rates on more difficult bar codes, lower the Quality
level in the Bar Code Zone Setup dialog box.
• When using Anywhere bar code zones, use a PC with a 2.8 GHz processor
or higher. This will ensure Kodak Capture Pro Software's ability to scan at
scanner rated speeds when bar code reading is enabled.
ths
of an inch. For bar
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