Reference Guide

5 - 2 Barcode Scanner Configuration Guide
Bar Code Acceptance Test
Upon decoding a bar code, the barcode scanner checks to ensure that the bar code fits the description of a
bar code that anchors or links to an IDC form. To be accepted as an IDC bar code:
• The symbology must be enabled in the IDC symbology parameter and enabled for decode in the
barcode scanner. The IDC firmware allows enabling between zero and eight symbologies
simultaneously: Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5, Discrete 2 of 5, Codabar, PDF417, Data
Matrix, and EAN-128.
• The decoded data must satisfy the values set in the IDC Minimum Text Length and IDC Maximum Text
Length parameters. To disable either of these checks, set the value to zero.
If the bar code does not satisfy both requirements, it is sent as a normal (non-IDC) decode.
An IDC bar code is required when IDC Operating Mode on page 5-5 is set to Anchored or Linked.
Free-Form operating mode does not require a bar code, but transmits decoded data if one is found and
satisfies the requirements. If no bar code is decoded, the document capture process starts but can be subject
to the following condition: specify a non-zero value for the IDC Delay Time on page 5-16. The barcode
scanner must wait for at least this amount of time after trigger pull before capturing a document, unless a bar
code is decoded before the time expires.
If Picklist Mode on page 1-16 is enabled, the bar code must be directly under the aiming pattern, within the
barcode scanner’s decode range, and the region to capture completely within the engine's field-of-view.
Capture Region Determination
After accepting an IDC bar code, the firmware establishes the region to capture as an image. The method used
depends on the setting of the IDC Operating Mode as follows.
The IDC firmware emits a single low beep after successfully capturing a region. The engine is then no longer
capturing images and can be moved without disturbing the IDC output. Be sure to hold the trigger button until
the decode beep, otherwise the IDC process may be aborted.
IDC Operating Mode = Anchored
A coordinate system is built based on the bar code in its rectified (de-skewed) form. The origin is the center of
the bar code, and the x-axis is set toward the right, from the bar code's point of view. The unit module width of
the bar code is the unit for x. Similarly, the y-axis is set toward the up direction. The unit for the y-axis is
specified via the parameter IDC Aspect on page 5-9. This is the aspect ratio of a thin bar or space - the bar
code's height is divided by this value to get the unit in the y-axis. The aspect ratio is calculated automatically if
IDC Aspect is set to zero. The bar code can be of different sizes for the same form, as long as the center of the
bar code is the same when the bar code's length changes.
From this coordinate system, the IDC area is determined using four parameters: offsets in x and y (IDC X
Coordinate, IDC Y Coordinate) to the region's top-left corner, and width and height (IDC Width, IDC Height).
If the capture area is relatively large as compared to the bar code area, the calculation to obtain the capture
area is prone to significant errors. A recommended solution is to enclose the form with a single black-lined
rectangular border (a box), which is not in contact with any other line on the outside of the form (although it can
be connected to lines on the inside of the form). When the IDC Find Box Outline is set, the firmware searches
for the box, and does not decode if any edges are broken (such as by a protruding thumb).
The IDC Zoom Limit parameter controls the quality of the captured form. The IDC firmware rejects capturing a
form unless the width is at least the IDC Zoom Limit percentage of the IDC Width parameter. For example, if
IDC Zoom Limit is set to 100 and IDC Width is set to 150, the form must be at least 300 pixels wide before it is
captured (each unit module is scaled to two pixels).