Barcode Size and Format
Hi! We are barcoding our inventory for the first time. The company chose to use 2" x 1" labels, and I am creating the layout for the labels.
Two questions I have today are:
1. Is the barcode field in Flex only numbers? If so, is there any reason to use a barcode type that is longer than the number of digits currently used? Our inventory uses 5-digit codes right now, almost all of which have a leading zero. Code128-C codes have 6 digits. Any reason not to use this?
2. Related to the above, if we are only producing barcodes with integers, is there a compelling reason to consider 2D codes? Can they be printed much smaller? Do they scan quicker with hand-held scanners? Do they work better with iOS device cameras? (We plan on using hand-held scanners).
Thank you for any advice you can offer.
Aaron Kruse
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Hi Aaron,
1. No, it's alphanumeric (see Numbering Schemes for details). The remainder of the questions here are largely irrelevant. As long as the info in Flex matches the actual barcode, the digit count and format are moot. The format is only relevant with regards to your scanner's ability to read it.
2. I'm not a 2D expert, but yes, they can be printed quite small (I've seem them the size of my pinky nail). Scanning speed is up to the scanner hardware itself. An iOS device is just another device, but I'd hazard a guess that a purpose-built scanner is probably faster at scanning 2D barcodes than an iPhone camera.
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My preferences / suggestions:
All barcodes should be the same number of characters. Makes things simple and uniform when working with them in bulk.
Barcode numbering scheme should not start with leading zeroes. If you are ever working with them in bulk in CSV/XLS, the leading zeroes can cause problems when importing/exporting from these formats. My ideal barcode scheme starts with 100000 and increments up by 1.
Just my $.02 as somebody who has spent a lot of time working with inventory import spreadsheets.
-Bigs
Endorsed Flex Consultant
www.squarewave.com.au -
Benjamin,
Thank you for your helpful reply. Following your recommendation that barcode numbers are easier to work with in bulk when they are the same length informs me that our codes (and therefore label layout) should take into account how much we expect our inventory to grow. We can design a label once instead of redesigning it when we need another digit.
Randy - thank you for clarifying that they can be alphanumeric and for yoru input on 2D QR codes.
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