E-WMS

E-WMS - Code Identifier

Introduction

This document describes the principles and configuration of using Code Identifiers in E-WMS, which uniquely identifies the type of barcode scanned.

Description

A code identifier is an international recognized extra character, or set of characters, added by the scan head of a hand terminal as prefix when scanning a barcode, to the value passed to the application. These extra characters identify which type of barcode was scanned, so scanner software like E-WMS knows how to treat (decode) this barcode. Usage of the code identifier has to be set up in the scanner configuration itself, and also in the E-WMS hand terminal settings.

Using a scanner prefix and suffix already gave the possibility to recognize whether the text input was scanned or manually typed. The 'code identifier' offers extra functionality to recognize the type of barcode that was scanned.

In warehouses where multiple types of barcodes are used, including GS1-128 (EAN128), the combination of prefix/suffix and code identifier should be used, to avoid unwanted 'GS1-128' decoding by E-WMS of non-GS1-128 barcodes.

This document contains following sections:

Prerequisites for using code identifier
Why use code identifier?
Code identifier standards
- Symbol code identifier
- AIM code identifier
How to configure code identifier in E-WMS
How to configure code identifier on scanners
Samples

Prerequisites for using code identifier

Usage of E-WMS ASP (Communication method 'Scanner - ASP')
The Code Identifier system on the scanner must be supported by E-WMS: AIM or Symbol.
- The usage of code identifier type 'Symbol' is available from product update 399
- The usage of code identifier type 'AIM' is available from product update 408
Usage of Code Identifier must be configured on the scanners and in E-WMS scanner settings
Scanner prefix and suffix also enabled on scanner and in E-WMS configuration, to avoid unwanted application of Code ID.
(when Code ID is enabled and prefix and suffix are not used, manual entry of item code "BCDEF" will result in interpretation of item code "CDEF", because "B" can be regarded as Code ID for a CODE39 barcode)
To allow for GS1-128 decoding, the E-WMS scanner setting 'Use EAN128' must be enabled per scanner process.

Why use code identifier?

Using a code identifier is a must when you are using multiple types of barcodes in your warehouse; CODE39 or CODE128 labels for warehouse location labels, GS1 UPC/UCC for single product identification, and GS1-128 barcodes containing multiple parts of data.

Scanning of GS1-128 barcodes requires that E-WMS decodes the scanned data, because a scanned GS1-128 barcode will in most cases contain several parts of data in one scan. Each part of information in a GS1-128 barcode is preceded by an 'application identifier' (AI). The AI for 'item code' is for example '02', so scanning the part '0208717496971075' within a GS1-128 barcode would result in E-WMS searching for item '08717496971075'.

However, when not scanning a GS1-128 barcode, but a simple (CODE39) barcode which also happens to start with a GS1-128 application identifier like '02', then GS1-128 decoding should NOT be started. Without code identifier, it can occur that scanning (CODE39) item code '0267879' would result in error message 'item code 67879 not found'. When using a code identifier, scanning this CODE39 label would add a prefix ('B' or ']A4') to the barcode, while scanning a GS1-128 barcode would add prefix 'K' or ']C1' , so E-WMS knows when to start GS1-128 decoding, and when not.

These extra characters are not visible in E-WMS, because these will be removed immediately. You can scan a barcode in 'Wordpad' on a scanner, to view the 'raw' scanned barcode, including prefix, suffix and code identifier.

Code identifier standards

There are two international standards for Code Identifiers; the Symbol standard and the AIM standard. E-WMS supports the Symbol standard (for a limited number of barcode types) from release 399, and the AIM standard from release 408.

Symbol code identifier

The codes marked below with "*" are supported by E-WMS, when Code Identifier 'Symbol' is enabled:

Prefix	Supported	Remarks	Barcode type

A			UPC-A, UPC-E, UPC-E1, EAN-8, EAN-13
B	*		CODE39, CODE32
C			Codabar
D	*		CODE128, ISBT128
E			CODE93
F			Interleaved 2 of 5
G			Discrete 2 of 5, IATA 2 of 5
H			CODE11
J			MSI Plessey
K	*	*1	UCC, EAN128
L			Bookland EAN
M			Trioptic Code 39
N			Coupon Code
R			GS1 Databar Omnidirectional (RSS14), GS1 limited (RSS limited),
			GS1 expanded (RSS expanded)
T			UCC Composite, TLC39
X			PDF417, Macro PDF417, Micro PDF417

P00	*	*2	Data Matrix
P01	*	*2	QR Code
P02			Maxicode
P03			US Postnet
P04			US Planet
P05			Japan Postal
P06			UK Postal
P08			Dutch Postal
P09			Australian and UK Postal

When Symbol is enabled as Code Identifier in E-WMS, scanning of this barcode type always results in GS1-128 decoding.
From release 413, GS1-128 content can be decoded from this barcode type, depending setting 'Use EAN128 in 2D bar code'. In release 412 or earlier, EAN128 is not decoded for these barcode types.

AIM code identifier

From release 408, E-WMS supports the AIM code identifier. The AIM system adds multiple characters to a barcode scan. All these barcode types are recognized by E-WMS when using AIM, but only the marked entries (*) are handled specifically. For the other barcode types, the content of the barcode is just passed 'as is' to the E-WMS scan field.

The 'x' mentioned below in the prefix is the 'modifier character' which is not interpreted by E-WMS, so can be any character.

Prefix	Remarks	Barcode type

]Ax		CODE39
]Bx		Telepen
]C0		CODE128
]C1	*1	GS1-128 (EAN128)
]Dx		Code One
]dx	*2	Datamatrix
]Ex		UPC/EAN8/EAN13
]ex		GS1 databar (RSS)
]Fx		Codabar
]Gx		CODE93
]Hx		CODE11
]Ix		Interleaved 2 of 5
]Kx		Code 16K
]Lx		PDF417
]Mx		MSI Plessey, Magnetic
]Nx		Anker code
]Ox		Codablock
]Px		Plessey code
]px		Pharma code
]Qx	*2	QR code / Micro QR code
]Rx		Standard 2 of 5
]Sx		Discrete 2 of 5, IATA 2 of 5, Straight 2 of 5
]Tx		CODE49
]Ux		Maxicode
]Xx		CODE39 Trioptic, Bookland EAN, NW7, Coupon, unlisted types
]Zx		Non-barcode data
]zx		Aztec

When AIM is enabled as Code Identifier in E-WMS, scanning of this barcode type always results in GS1-128 decoding.
From release 413, GS1-128 content can be decoded from this barcode type, depending setting 'Use EAN128 in 2D bar code'. In release 412 or earlier, EAN128 is not decoded for these barcode types.

How to configure code identifier in E-WMS

In menu System, E-WMS, Scanners, General scanner settings can be configured what type of code identifier is used. Please refer to this document for details on these settings.

How to configure code identifier on scanners

Please choose one of following documents:

Samples

The consequence of enabling 'Code ID' on the scanner, is that all scans now have an extra prefix, to identify the barcode type.

Scanning an (CODE128) GS1-128 barcode without 'Code ID' : "(020871749697108137100$1512010110ABC01)"
Scanning an (CODE128) GS1-128 barcode with Symbol Code ID : "(K020871749697108137100$1512010110ABC01)"
Scanning an (CODE128) GS1-128 barcode with AIM Code ID : "(]C1020871749697108137100$1512010110ABC01)"


input on scanner	result
(K02087174969710743705$10140110)	When in E-WMS Code identifier 'Symbol' is enabled: GS1-128 decoding is started by E-WMS
(]C102087174969710743705$10140110)	When in E-WMS Code identifier 'AIM' is enabled: GS1-128 decoding is started by E-WMS
(D02087174969710743705$10140110)	When in E-WMS Code identifier 'Symbol' is enabled: CODE128 barcode, so GS1-28 decoding is not started
(]A402345678901234)	When in E-WMS code identifier 'AIM' is enabled: CODE39 barcode, so GS1-128 decoding is not started, E-WMS will search for scan- or item code 02345678901234
(]C10202345678901234)	When in E-WMS code identifier 'AIM' is enabled: GS1-128 barcode, so GS1-128 decoding is started, removing Application Identifier '02' and passing item identification '02345678901234'.
(02087174969710743705$10140110)	When code identifier is enabled in E-WMS: scan has no code ID but is still scanned: GS1-128 decoding is started by E-WMS
30717496971074	When prefix/suffix configured in E-WMS: since no prefix and suffix are detected in the input, assuming manual input of item code and GS1-128 decoding is not started, passing '30717496971074' as scanned value.
30717496971074	When prefix/suffix and code identifier are disabled in E-WMS: treated as GS1-128 barcode, so application identifier '30' is removed and '717496971074' is passed as scanned value.
101213	When prefix/suffix and code identifier are disabled in E-WMS: treated as GS1-128 barcode, application identifier '10' (batch number) is removed and '1213' is passed as scanned value.
(D4-A2-3)	Assuming code identifier 'Symbol' is NOT enabled on the hand terminal but is enabled in E-WMS; '4-A2-3' will be passed as value to the current E-WMS scan field, because 'D' is a recognized code identifier (CODE128 barcode) and is removed by E-WMS.