E-WMS

E-WMS - how to configure Symbol/Motorola devices for GS1-128 barcodes: prefix, suffix and code identifier

E-WMS

Introduction

This document describes how to enable and configure use of a prefix, suffix, group separator and code identifier on Symbol or Motorola hand terminals, to enable optimal GS1-128 (EAN128) bar code scanning in E-WMS.

Description

When using GS1-128 bar codes with E-WMS, it is necessary to configure the scanner and E-WMS to use a group separator. When you want to prevent GS1-128 decoding to start on non-GS1-128 bar codes, also configure the prefix, suffix and code identifier.

This document contains following sections:

Prerequisites
Configure prefix and suffix
Configure group separator
Configure Code ID

Prerequisites

This procedure only applies to supported Symbol and Motorola devices (see: E-WMS System Requirements, mobile devices)
The functionality of 'code identifier' is supported from E-WMS product update 399, the 'AIM' code identifier from release 406
The sample screens are from a Windows Mobile device, the same procedure applies to Windows CE devices
Datawedge 3 needs to be installed on the device. Datawedge is an external tool to activate the scanner head and offer extra scanner settings for Symbol and Motorola devices, and can be downloaded from Symbol support or from Scansource

Configure prefix and suffix

On the main screen (Today screen), click on the Datawedge symbol right below in the task bar. This configuration can be done on the terminal (as described below), or on your PC were Datawedge 3 is installed, using Datawedge 'remote configuration'.


Select Basic Configuration.	Select 3.Basic Format	Select 2. Prefix to data



Enter the prefix character and	Select 3. Suffix to data	Enter the suffix character and press Save (*1)
press Save (*1)

(1) Enter the same prefix and suffix character as entered in E-WMS settings: System, E-WMS, Scanners, General Scanner Settings*.

Configure group separator

The group separator is needed to translate a non-visible separator character in GS1-128 bar codes, which defines where data fields with variable length end, and the next data field (Application Identifier) starts. This would be the case for a batch code or for quantity. Without group separator, GS1-128 cannot be used properly. Use the same group separator as configured in E-WMS settings System, E-WMS, Scanners, General Scanner Settings.

On the main screen (Today screen), click on the Datawedge symbol right below in the task bar.


Select Basic Configuration.	Select 2. Keystroke Output	select 4. Keymap	Select 1. Mapping The first time you choose this menu you may have to select '1 Add new' first



select 1. Character code	The group separator or data termination an EAN128 bar code to be replaced, has code 029. Fill in: 29 and press Save.	select 2. Key code	Now enter the character you want to use as replacing character (see 1): "$" = 036 "=" = 187 Press Save*.

*1 : for a list of Datawedge 'key code' values, see appendix A-2 (page 84) in Datawedge 3 Advanced Configuration Guide

Press Back twice, Exit and save changes.

Now, when scanning a GS1-128 bar code in WordPad or Word Mobile, the prefix and suffix will be added. When the barcode also contains a data terminator then also the replacing 'group separator' character will be visible:

Configure Code ID

If you are using multiple types of bar codes in your warehouse, and you want to prevent non-GS1-128 barcodes to be treated as GS1-128 by E-WMS, you can enable 'code identifier' (see: E-WMS - Code Identifier). Enable the code identifier in Globe as described in this document.

Configuration on the device: on the main screen (Today screen), click on the Datawedge symbol right below in the task bar.


Select Basic Configuration.	Select 1. Barcode input	Select 1. SSI Scanner (this may be named differently on different devices, choose '1')


Select 4. Scan Params	Select 1. CodeID	Select 2. Symbol or 3. Aim
		Both are supported by E-WMS.

Now select Back (to menu) until the main menu, and select Exit.

Now, when scanning a barcode in WordPad, an extra character will be added between the prefix and the data. This character will be recognized and stripped if 'Code ID' is set 'Symbol' in the E-WMS settings.