Guidelines For Creating A Good Bar Code By Susan Snyder, Microscan Systems, Inc.

Successful applications all start with a good bar code. Following these five guidelines will eliminate unnecessary application challenges and will go a long way toward helping you achieve the 100% data integrity you desire from your data capture system.

No. 1 - Select an appropriate symbology.

Before you decide on a specific symbology, first make sure you're up to date on all applicable industry standards and specifications. For example, the NCCLS has specified Code 128 as the bar code symbology to be used for specimens. Educating yourself will save you time and help you avoid headaches later. Be sure to take advantage of check digits or error correction if the bar code offers it. Check digits and error correction are built-in ways to help ensure the accuracy of your data and should always be used.

When selecting a bar code, you should also choose one that is appropriate for your specific application. If applicable industry guidelines don't exist for your application or project, ask yourself these standard questions:

• What is the general purpose of the bar code?
• How much space is available?
• Will it be used inside your facility or will others need to read it as well?
• What type and how much data will you need to encode?
• What are your marking and printing requirements?

Read the rest of the guidelines by downloading this article.