1. OR Barcodes from 10,000’ & Basic ZLP and EPL programming

2. Label creation lab’s for you to work through
Agenda
Intro to barcodes
Label creation lab’s for you to work through

3. You will be able to; Objectives
Indentify who is responsible for setting barcode standards
ID some symptom fixes for common issues
ID where spec’s come from for a project
Identify if a barcode is 1D or 2D
Create a label to specifications set forth in a lab using ZPL2
Create a label to specification set forth in a lab using EPL2 (page mode)

4. Label Creation Cycle Needs a Label Prints A Label Needs Specifications
Programming
With
ZPL
Needs a
Barcode? OR
Programming
With
EPL
Text?
Graphics?
Fonts?

5. Barcode Standards

6. Who controls the barcode standards
Controlling organizations
Each barcode has a governing body that administers it’s standard
Use web search engines to find standards
AIM (Association for Automation and Mobility) good starting point for getting information
Zebra does not control or set the standards for any barcode symbologies

7. Zebra printers are supplied with a base number of barcode symbologies
What do we support?
Zebra printers are supplied with a base number of barcode symbologies
If the customer needs one not in the firmware
They need to use an application that will create a bitmap graphic for that image
Maybe able to get CAG to add symbology as a custom or in future releases of firmware. This will most likely be considered as an enhancement request.

8. Printer generated barcode vs. application generated
When printer generates barcodes the ^BY commands controls
Ratio of the width between narrow and wide bars (some barcodes only)
Module width
Height is controlled by ^BY or the barcode command
When the application/driver produces the image it is sent as a bit map and may not be as accurate a representation.
If printer does not support the symbology then a software application will be the only solution.

9. Reading Barcodes

10. Barcodes % R “Space” areas reflect light -- high reflectance
“Bar” areas absorb light -- low reflectivity
% R

11. Barcodes
% R
Scanner
Creates data
Stream
12345

12. Picket Fence Barcode Printing
Lines run vertical or in direction of printing when label is still attached to the printer.
Advantages
Highest quality
Most dense packing of data
Not as affected by print speed
Disadvantages
Affect by dirty printhead or bad elements

13. Ladder Barcode Printing
Lines of bar code run left to right as rungs on a ladder when label is still attached to the printer.
Advantages
Not affected by dirty printhead or bad elements
May fit on label face better
Not as impacted by ribbon wrinkle
Disadvantages
Less dense data encoding
Needs slower printing speed to get better quality

14. Verify printer operation
Customers complains of lines in the barcode
Ask if
Extra gray or black lines
Clean the media and ribbon paths
Check condition of Strip Plate
Ribbon wrinkle
Voids
Dirty printhead
Bad elements
Cut in platen roller
Use Pause Test to check quality

15. No image for barcode Symptoms
Printer may not support barcode symbology
Check current list of barcodes supported by firmware may need to upgrade firmware
Not supported printer (Z140 to140Xi2)
Bitmap from application not correct or incomplete

16. Symptoms
Sometimes not scanning or not a high enough “Grade” for the quality of the barcode
Driver/application bitmap or printer generated
Picket fence vs. ladder
Dirty printhead
Worn printhead
Darkness setting
Could be too low or too high
Speed setting
Mismatch between media and ribbon

17. Not the right “size” Symptoms Printer generated Application generated
Use ^BY command to set width of narrow bar
Use ^BY command to set ratio between narrow and wide
Application generated
Change size in application

18. Barcodes should be readable by scanner
Symptoms
Not Scanning
Try printing Feed Key test with a large enough label
Checks darkness settings at different speeds
Ladder vs. Picket Fence
Barcodes should be readable by scanner
If this is a new format - try a different, known, working format, or create a simple label
See slide “Sometimes not scanning” for more items to check

19. Parts and Types of Barcodes

20. General parts of a barcode Slide 1 of 2
Start and end characters
Define the beginning & end of bar code
Allows the barcode to be read left to right or right to left and the application/scanner to decode the barcode correctly
Check digit
Provides a means to ensure the data is correctly read
Many forms based on the symbology

21. General parts of a barcode Slide 2 of 2
Data
Information that is to be encoded
Just numbers
UPC code
Weight
Quantity
Numbers and letters
Address
Special control characters that identify the type of barcode or the encoding as with the 128
Quiet Zones before and after the barcode

22. 1d or linier Types of barcodes Series of line and voids
May be read by a linier laser
Code 128
Code 39 or
3 of 9
USPS Zip + 4
Uses height

23. 2d barcodes Types of barcodes Code 49 AZTEC PDF417 Maxi Code (UPS)
Aztec code
Maxi Code
PDF417

24. Barcodes and ZPL

25. ZPL Programmers guide ^BY command
Use soft copy on PC to open ^BY command
Parameters
Discuss actual width

26. Widely used because of ability to;
^BC Code 128 Bar Code
Widely used because of ability to;
Encode alpha & numeric data
Pack numeric data tightly
Easy to define multiple data formats
UCC EAN – 128
UPC or Universal Product Code (U.P.C.)
GS1 Company prefix
Item Reference
Check digit

27. Code sets for formatting data layout
^BC Code 128 Bar Code
Code sets for formatting data layout
3 code sets
Code128 A
Full ASCII character set except for the 26 lower case letters
Code128 B
Full ASCII Character set Except 26 “control” characters
Code128 C
Double density numeric only. Each character represents 2 numbers.
In Zebra printers we have an Auto Mode that automatically changes to Code128 C if more than 4 numeric characters are encountered.

28. Detailed information in ZPL Programmers Guide
^ BC Code 128 Bar Code
Detailed information in ZPL Programmers Guide
In the latest rev of the guide, there are 13 pages of information
Match programmers guide you use to firmware level on the printer

29. Word document with label requirements Use the ZPL Programmers Guide
LAB Exercises
Word document with label requirements
Use the ZPL Programmers Guide
Sales Driver
See the ZPL section in the Tech. Support Cert. section for more data.
Please questions and comments to Bruce