E-WMS

How to simulate EAN128 scanning in Pick-IT

Recognizing scanning

Scanning a barcode is basically no more than filling the 'keyboard buffer', the scan head of a scanning device just translates a barcode. A EAN128 barcode looks like a complicated barcode, but it just a row of digits (and some hidden separator signs). Only the meaning and format of the digits is decided by international rules (GS1).

This presented a problem to Pick-IT: how could the software recognize if something was scanned, or typed in manually ?  Because for software like Pick-IT, there is no way to tell the difference. That is why Pick-IT needs 'prefix' and 'suffix' configured. When enabled on a scanner, all scans are preceded by this prefix sign, and followed by the suffix sign. So when configured in Pick-IT, Pick-IT now knows when to start EAN128 decoding: when prefix and suffix are used in the input field.

A sample:
when this is entered in an 'item code' field, Pick-IT will just search for this scan code or item code, and not start EAN128 decoding:
0212345678901234

when this is entered in an 'item code' field, Pick-IT will start EAN128 decoding:
(0212345678901234)

Simulating

This means you can simply simulate EAN128 barcode scanning when testing Pick-IT on your PC in Internet Explorer. A few steps to follow:

• set up Pick-IT to use prefix, suffix and group separator:
  19.405.574 - How to activate EAN128 barcode scanning in Pick-IT ASP
   
• link a (unique) EAN13 scan code to one or more of your items. It does not have to be a 'valid' EAN13, just use 14 figures.
  Go to item maintenance and use the Pick-IT button to add a scan code.
     
• set up some basic EAN128 barcodes in a document (Notepad or Word), so you can use the same barcodes again
  
    
  Keep in mind the AI's supported by Pick-IT:
  18.940.418 - Which EAN128 application identifiers are supported by Pick-IT ?
  
  always use this syntax:
    "("                         
  + "02"                     
  + EAN13 code      (always 14 digits)
  + "10"  + batch code + "$"        (for batch items)
  + "21"  + serial nr + "$"              (for serial items)
  + "37"   + quantity  + "$" 
  + "15"   + end date format YYMMDD    (for S/B items)
  + ")"
  
  $=group separator, because batch code, serial number or quantity have no fixed length.
  The "$" is not needed when the AI is the last AI in the barcode.
  
  the order of the AI's after '02' should not matter, so these would be valid EAN128 barcodes:
  
  batch item
  (02087156002290803750$109123)
  (0208715600229080109123$3750)
  (0208715600229080109123$3750$15111231)
   
  serial item
  (0208717496971089211000)
  (0208717496971089211000$15110501)
  (02087174969710891511050121AE1235A)
   
     
• Now just copy and paste these "EAN128 codes" in the Pick-IT simulator:
  
  
  
  and Pick-IT will start decoding the EAN128, and validating the master data found.