|
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary. If the term you are looking for starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
American Blood Commission symbol, developed in 1977 by the Committee for the Commonality in Blood Banking Automation (CCBBA) as a bar code standard for automated
systems in the blood service community. The symbology used in the ABC symbol is Codabar.
A LAN product that acts as a bridge between an Intermec 2.4 GHz RF network and an Ethernet network.
An operating parameter setting that allows the reader to store scanned labels in a buffer until a transmit command is entered.
Operating mode in which the terminal or reader stores scanned information in the buffer until it receives a transmit command.
A bar code verification term. The determination of whether any element width, or intercharacter gap width, differs from its nominal width by more than the printing
tolerance.
Acknowledge character. A handshake character that indicates that a message was received.
Automated data collection. Technologies that automate data collection at the source such as bar code, biometrics, machine vision, magnetic stripe, OCR (Optical
Card Readers), voice recognition, smart cards, and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).
The character set described in the American National Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is used for information interchange between data processing
systems, communications systems, and associated equipment.
A bar code verification term. In a bar code symbol, the ratio of bar code symbol height to symbol length.
Also referred to as start/stop transmission. Every character transmitted has special bits attached, telling the receiving device when the data begins and ends.
Data is transmitted independently with no associated clock. See also Synchronous communication.
The ability of bar code scanning and decoding equipment to recognize more than one symbology.
A bar code verification term. Expressed as a percent. See Reflectance
The white spaces and quiet zones surrounding a printed bar code.
A technology that uses white spaces and black bars to represent encoded information. This encoded information can then be read with an optical device that converts
the bars and spaces into an electrical signal, which is then decoded into the original characters.
A single group of bars and spaces that represents a specific individual number, letter, punctuation mark, or other symbol. This is the smallest subset of a bar
code symbol that contains data.
A device (light pen, laser gun, fixed scanner, etc.) used to read a bar code field.
The darker element of a printed bar code field.
The thickness of an individual bar measured from edge to edge of the same bar.
A bar code symbol capable of being read successfully if scanned in either direction.
Binary Synchronous Communication. Protocol supported by the AS/400 for communicating with other AS/400, IBM mainframe, System/36, and System/38 systems.
Sensor mark usually printed on the reverse (non-printing) side of tag stock, or on the liner (backing paper) of label stock.
Microsoft Windows bitmap graphics file format.
Form of label stock used in continuous operations. Butt cut stock usually yields an additional 10% more individual labels than die cut stock.
Charge Coupled Device. Type of bar code scanner that uses LEDs (not lasers) to flood the bar code with light.
Characters available for encodation in a particular bar code type. Not all bar code types can encode the entire ASCII character set.
Factory automation term where information is shared between computer aided design programs, materials resource planning (MRP) programs, and machine tools on the shop floor. Bar code data collection
is an important part of a successful CIM implementation.
See Quiet Zone.
A numeric-only bar code type, in which each character is composed of seven elements: four bars and three spaces. CODABAR is currently used in a variety of applications such as libraries, medicine,
and overnight package delivery. Also known as USD-4 code, NW-7, and 2 of 7 code, it was originally developed for retail price-labeling use.
A full alphanumeric bar code type composed of five bars, four spaces, and an intercharacter gap for each character. Code 39 is the standard for many industries, including adoption by the U.S.
Department of Defense for its LOGMARS specification. Also known as USD-3 code and 3 of 9 code, it is one of three symbologies identified in the ANSI standard MH10.8M-1983.
An extremely compact, multi-row, continuous variable bar code type capable of encoding the full 128 ASCII character set. It is ideally suited to applications where large amounts of data are
required in a small space. The code consists of 2 to 8 rows. A row consists of a leading quiet zone, 4 symbol characters encoding 8 code characters, a stop pattern, and a trailing quiet zone.
Rows are separated by a one module high separator bar. Each symbol character encodes two characters.
A high density, variable length, full alphanumeric bar code type capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters. It was designed for complex encoded product identification and is the basis of
the UCC-128 marking specification. Code 128 has three subsets of characters. There are 106 printing characters in each set. Therefore, each character can have three different meanings, depending
on the character subset used. Each Code 128 character consists of six elements -- three bars and three spaces.
Characters Per Inch. A common measurement for bar code density.
Also called a knife. An integrated mechanism used to cut individual tickets from a roll of tag supply.
A compliance marking term. Message prefixes in a bar code that define the general category or intended use of the data that follows.
Distribution Center. When goods are shipped to a distribution center, the container marking specifications are usually different from those required when shipping directly to a store.
Data Communications Equipment. Hardware interface standard for modems, protocol converters, and other communications equipment. To interface DCE devices with DTE (Data Terminal Equipment)
devices such as terminals or PCs, a straight through serial cable is required. See also DTE.
As part of a bar code reading system, the electronics that process the signals from the scanner, interpret the signals into meaningful data, and control the interface to other devices.
The distance between the maximum and minimum surface in which a scanner is capable of reading bar codes of a specified X dimension.
A compliance marking term. SeeData Identifier.
Type of label supply used in on demand applications. See also butt cut.
A bar code verification term. The component of reflected light that emanates in all directions from the reflecting surface (as opposed to the focused light of the scanner laser reflected back
to the scanner).
A system of impact printing where individual dots are printed by tiny wires striking the supply through an inked ribbon.
Dots Per Inch. Used in comparing relative printing resolution of thermal printheads and laser print engines.
Direct Store Delivery. When goods are shipped directly to a store, the container marking specifications are usually different from those required when shipping to a distribution center.
Data Terminal Equipment. Hardware interface standard for display stations, personal computers, printers and other non-communications equipment. To interface a DTE printer with a DTE device
such as a PC or a display station, a null-modem serial cable is required. See also DCE.
European Article Numbering system. The international standard bar code for retail food packages. The EAN-13 bar code type has 12 data characters, one more data character than the UPC-A code.
An EAN-13 symbol contains the same number of bars as the UPC-A but encodes a 13th digit into a parity pattern of the left-hand six digits. This 13th digit, in combination with the 12th digit,
represents a country code. The JAN-13 (Japanese Article Numbering system) is a special application of EAN-13.
<
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code. Developed by IBM, it is the character set used by the IBM AS/400.
Electronic data interchange. Intercompany, computer-to-computer business transactions.
The international standard that supports EDI transactions across national boundaries.
A single bar or space in a bar code.
Federation of Automated Coding Technologies. Because of the large number of groups that have been independently developing bar code standards, FACT was formed to foster interindustry communications
and coordination. An "association of associations," FACT maintains a database of specifications and data identifiers.
A bar code verification term. The ratio of the number of successful reads to the number of attempts. Commonly expressed as a percentage. Abbreviated as FRR.
A visible light or laser scanner that requires a more exact positioning of a bar code than a moving beam scanner.
First Read Rate. See First Read Rate
Function (FNC) codes define instructions for a bar code reader decoding Code 128 bar codes. FNC 1, for example, is a required component of the UCC-128 specification. FNC 2 tells the reader
to store the data read and transmit it with the next symbol. FNC 3 is reserved for code reader intializing and other reader functions. FNC 4 is reserved for future use.
A LAN product that allows devices on two different subnets to communicate with each other.
A type of address that is used by the host to locate two or more devices.
The bars that are at both ends and center of a UPC and EAN bar code type. They provide reference points for reading, serving a function similar to start/stop codes.
Graphical user interface.
A data communication term pertaining to an alternate, one direction at a time, transmission. See also full duplex.
A scanner held and operated by a human. The scanner is moved to the object to be scanned, instead of moving the object close to the scanner.
A helium neon laser commonly used in bar code scanners.
Health industry bar code standard. A modified version of Code 39 that has 43 characters, utilizes the Modulus 43 check character, and reserves some character combinations for special usage.
A bar code type presented in such a manner that its overall length dimension is parallel to the horizon. The bars are presented in an array which looks like a picket fence.
A character, number, or symbol printed in a font that can be read by a human; as opposed to bar code symbology that can only be read by a machine. See text.
Infrared laser diode. Used in some hand laser scanners to project a light beam.
The band of light wavelengths too long to be seen by the human eye. Used in access control and security applications where bar code fields must not be visible by human eye -- only to an infrared
scanner.
A high density, self-checking, continuous numeric bar code type in which each character is composed of five elements: five bars or five spaces. Of the five elements, two are wide and three
are narrow. The bar code is formed by interleaving characters formed with all spaces into characters formed with all bars. Total number of digits must be even.
(empty)
(empty)
The space between adjacent labels on continuous form, die cut supply.
A bar code field printed in a rotation perpendicular to the horizon so that the individual bars appear as rungs on a ladder. Also referred to as a vertical bar code.
Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A focused light source (as opposed to LEDs used in wands and CCD readers) used in fixed, moving beam, and handheld scanners.
Light-emitting diode. The light source often used in light pens.
Also known as a wand. A scanning device which is used as a hand held bar code reader. Requires direct contact with the printed bar code field.
A compliance marking term. Logistics of Marking and Reading symbols. A Department of Defense marking specification.
One one-thousandth of an inch (0.001"). Unit of measurement used in bar code specifications.
A condition which occurs when the data output of a reader/decoder does not agree with the data encoded in the bar code field.
The width of the narrow bars in a bar code.
A device where scanning is achieved by mechanically moving a light beam through the bars of a bar code field.
A bar code verification term. Unit of measure used to define the wavelength of light.
A bar code verification term. The net data density of a linear bar code symbol is determined by dividing the number of characters in the symbol by the overall symbol length, measured from
the leading edge of the start code to the trailing edge.
A bar code verification term. The exact (or ideal) intended value for a specified parameter. Tolerances are specified as positive and negative deviations from this value.
Optical Character Recognition. Technology for machine reading of human readable text.
A printing mode where one label at a time is printed. The label is presented to the operator, separated from the backing paper. When the label is taken from the printer, the next label is
printed and presented. Also known as Demand mode.
A bar code verification term. 1).The optical property of a substrate material that measures the show through from the back side or the next sheet. 2).The ratio of the reflectance with a black
backing to the reflectance with a white backing. 3).Ink opacity is the property of an ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.
The minimum distance a bar code can be away from a scanner and still be read.
Two possible bar code field orientations are horizontal with vertical bars and spaces (picket fence) and vertical with horizontal bars and spaces (ladder).
The bars and spaces representing the start, stop, function codes and check characters required by some symbologies. These increase the length of the bar code but do not affect the message
content.
A bar code verification term. Print contrast signal. A measurement of the ratio of the reflectivity between the bars and spaces of a bar code field, commonly expressed in percent.
ZSoft Paintbrush bitmap graphics file format.
A bar code type whose length is printed horizontally so that the bars are presented in an array which looks like a picket fence.
Price Look-Up. In a retail POS (Point Of Sale) system, the UPC bar code field is a key field in a price file that when scanned, retrieves a price for the encoded item.
A bar code symbology used primarily by the U.S. Postal Service for mail sortation. All bars and spaces are the same width. ZIP Code information is encoded into the particular arrangement of
tall and short bars.
A bar code verification term. The measure of compliance of a bar code symbol to the requirements of dimensional tolerance, edge roughness, spots, voids, reflectance,
PCS, quiet zone, and encodation.
Quick Response. A retail industry initiative to improve inventory turnaround through the use of EDI, bar code scanning, and the sharing of merchandise movement data with vendors.
A clear space, containing no machine readable marks, which precedes the start character of a bar code field and follows the stop characters. Sometimes called the "clear area."
A bar code verification term. The ratio of the number of successful reads to the total number of attempts.
A bar code verification term. The ratio of the amount of light which is reflected back from the white spaces of a bar code during scanning to the amount of light reflected under similar illumination
conditions.
The narrowest element dimension which can be recognized by a particular scanning device or printed with a particular device or method.
A technology that connects devices using electromagnetic waves instead of physical cabling.
A plastic tape with several layers of material, one of which is thermal wax, that when melted, produces the visible marks on the labels installed on a thermal transfer printer.
A common communication interface standard that permits DTEs and
DCEs to connect successfully.
An electro/optical device that converts the bars and spaces of a bar code field into electrical signals.
Synchronous data link control. Protocol supported by the AS/400 for communicating with other AS/400, IBM mainframe, System/36, and System/38 systems.
A bar code verification term. Substitution error rate. The rate of occurrence of incorrect characters.
A bar code verification term. Generally undesirable property of a supply that permits underlying markings to be seen.
Stock Keeping Units. In a distribution/retail environment, a generic term for item number.
System Network Architecture. Enterprise communications standard developed by IBM for linking different systems running IBM operating systems such as OS/400 (AS/400), OS/2 (PC), AIX (RS/6000),
etc.
A bar code verification term. The thickness of a space measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the trailing edge of the same space.
A bar code verification term. The variation in sensitivity of a test surface to light of different wavelengths.
Maxicode, 16K and Code 49 are examples where a long bar code field is broken into sections and "stacked" one upon the other, resulting in codes that are extremely compact.
An optional electromechanical accessory that is invaluable for unattended, organized, printing and cutting of multiple batches of tags.
A compliance marking term. A set of rules, specifications, instructions and directions to use a bar code or other automatic identification system. Usually issued by a trade organization.
A special bar code character that provides the scanner with start and stop reading instructions as well as scanning direction indicator.
The surface on which a bar code field is printed. Can be a label, tag, or paper supply.
See Substrate.
A combination of bar code characters, including start/stop characters, quiet zones, data characters, and check characters required by a particular symbology, which form a complete, scannable
entity.
The distance between the outside edges of the quiet zones on the two ends of a bar code field.
Bar code type.
Transmission of data which does not use special control bits, but requires a master clock signal for coordination between the devices. The clock may be a separate signal, or it may be part
of the data.
Time and Attendance. An application using bar code employee badges and bar code slot reading terminals to enter employee start/stop data.
A printing method where dots are selectively heated and cooled and dragged upon heat-sensitive paper. The paper turns dark in the heated areas.
A printing method like thermal direct except a onetime ribbon is used and common paper is used as a supply. This eliminates the problems of fading or changing color inherent in thermal direct
printing.
Universal Product Code. The standard bar code type for retail products in the United States. See also UPC-A and
UPC-E.
A fixed length, numeric, continuous bar code type used primarily in the retail industry for labeling packages. The UPC-A symbol encodes a number system character, 10 digits of data, and a
Mod 10 check digit for error correction.
A UPC symbol encoding six digits of data in an arrangement that occupies less area than a UPC-A symbol. The UPC-E bar code type is a shortened version of the UPC-A bar code type in which zeroes
are suppressed, resulting in codes that require less printing space. Used for labeling small items.
A compliance marking term. Uniform Product Carton Code, a standard administered by the UCC.
A device that makes measurements of the bars, spaces, quiet zones and optical characteristics of a bar code field to determine if the code meets the requirements of a specification or standard.
A bar code field printed in a rotation perpendicular to the horizon so that the individual bars appear as rungs on a ladder.
Used in some hand laser scanners to project a beam of light visible to the human eye, simplifying the scanning process.
A bar code verification term. An undesirable absence of ink in a bar.
See Light pen.
A device that plugs in between a keyboard and a terminal or PC. Allows data to be entered either by the keyboard or an attached scanner.
A compliance marking term. Warehouse Information Network Standard. Defines EDI transaction types for the warehouse industries.
Work-In-Progress/Process. An application using bar code totes and bar code scanners to track lots through a manufacturing operation.
An AS/400 program that serves as a link between an output queue and a printer. Normally the writer is started automatically at AS/400 IPL time.
The width of the narrow bars and spaces in a bar code type; usually measured in mils.
(empty)
(empty)
An implementation of Ethernet IEEE standard to describe the primary characteristics of the cabling system. The 10 signifies 10 Mbits per second. Base indicates that the type of signaling used
is baseband. The T at the end means that twisted-pair cable is used. The number (2, 5, or 10) at the end indicates the maximum cable length in hundreds of meters.
A discrete, self-checking code for encoding numeric data only. It requires loose printing tolerances. It is used for warehouse sorting systems, photofinishing envelopes, and sequentially numbered
airline tickets. The character set is 0 - 9. All information is encoded in the width of the bars, and the spaces are used only to separate the individual bars.
A symbology that uses both the horizontal and vertical axes to encode data. Each 2D matrix code is created as a matrix of square elements, with each element being either white or black to
encode data in a binary code. This allows a very large amount of data, along with extensive error detection and correction codes, to be encoded in a very small amount of space. 2D matrix symbologies
cannot be read with a laser scanner and instead are read with a digital imager, which permits very fast data collection by capturing the entire symbol at once instead of scanning each component
individually.
A symbology that consists of many linear codes stacked on top of each other, providing the ability to scan across many rows of code at once. The 2D stacked format allows a large amount of
information to be condensed into a relatively small amount of space. 2D stacked symbologies can be read with any 2D code imaging device, including laser scanners that are equipped with 2D code
scanning capabilities.
An application that allows Intermec devices to emulate an IBM 3270 or 5250 terminal.
Third generation language. The name given to a generation of programming languages that are higher level than 2GL languages. Example of 3GLs are C and Pascal.
Fourth generation language. The name given to a generation of programming languages that are higher level than 3GLs, such as SQL. 4GLs are designed to allow users to develop applications,
particularly for the purpose of querying databases and producing reports.
|
