Barcode Education

Usually most 2D barcode scanners connect via the keyboard or serial (COM) port. In recent years, however, connection via the keyboard port appears to be the most popular since the installation is much simpler. Regardless of the input connection type, 2D software solutions exists to process the scanned input data in real-time so that the software application does not need to or have to be modified. This creative approach makes 2D barcoding practical and affordable for most businesses considering this technology. Data can easily be edited, formatted, parsed, remapped, and re-ordered with no programming required. In addition, since the scanned input data is processed before it is transferred to the software application, unique features such as Windows message prompting and even sounds for user-defined triggered events exist to take full advantage of the PCÕs capabilities. These features can be used to prompt the user to take specific action(s) and/or provide instruction when certain user-defined events occur (e.g. a particular bar code is scanned).

The true benefit lies in the fact that the user can continue to use the existing business software with no costly modifications. Often, the source code may not be available to even modify. With these new 2D barcode software tools, a substantial amount of the project development cost and time to support the increase in information can be eliminated. Until now, this drawback was usually one of the primary reasons why companies waited to integrate 2D bar coding. Now with these 2D software utilities, users can maximize the full potential of 2D bar coding by extracting only the information that is needed in any order and in any formatÑa fully custom solution.

The benefit of 2D barcoding is clear and certainly with this new innovative software approach, 2D bar coding may be more appealing to those who are waiting.