Quick Check 2D Print Quality Assessment Applies to the following products: IT4410, IT4710, IT4600, IT4800, IT4X80 User’s Guide ™
Disclaimer Hand Held Products, Inc. d/b/a HHP (“HHP”) reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other information contained in this document without prior notice, and the reader should in all cases consult HHP to determine whether any such changes have been made. The information in this publication does not represent a commitment on the part of HHP.
Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction User Operation...................................................................... 1-1 Reading Techniques.............................................................. 1-1 Symbology/Parameter Specifics........................................... 1-2 2D PQA Reporting ............................................................... 1-3 Full Report ..................................................................... 1-3 Screening Report...............................
Symbology.................................................................... 1-19 Useful Row Height ....................................................... 1-19 X-dimension ................................................................. 1-20 Chapter 2 - Quick*View Quick*View Demonstration Software Instructions .............. 2-1 Setting Up the Imager and the Quick*View Software ... 2-1 Installing Quick*View from the Web ................................... 2-1 Temporary Quick*View Configuration .........
1 Introduction Two-dimensional Print Quality Assessment (2D PQA), a feature of HHP's image readers, identifies a successfully read symbol and also reports graded measurement parameters obtained from the symbol. 2D PQA is not "true" verification in the traditional sense of the word; however it can easily and inexpensively provide test results that you may find useful for 2D bar code symbol print quality process control.
• The hand-held imager has a view finder that projects a bright aiming beam that corresponds to the imager’s horizontal field of view. The aiming beam should be centered over the bar code and positioned horizontally over the code (no tilt, skew, or rotation). If the symbol surface is shiny, the reader may have to be held several degrees below the normal position to avoid specular reflections. 2D Matrix symbol • When testing, attempt to minimize as much movement of the imager as possible.
2D PQA Reporting Full Report HHP's 2D PQA reporting can be enabled in two different modes: Full Report or Screening. If you are using Quick*View, you can enable Full Report, a listing of all of a symbol's identifying information, measurements, and corresponding grades, by typing the following menu command: 2D_PQA1 or by scanning the following bar code: Full Report Note: With the IT4600/4800/4X80, the PQA report is sent out as a second data/ beep sequence after the bar code data.
If your imager is in keyboard wedge mode, enable Screening by scanning the following bar codes.
While the details are explained below, this general format includes: • the encoded data (the usual output message) in the first line. • a banner " >>> PQA from HHP <<<" identifying the start of the 2D PQA report. • the symbology, its features, and approximate size. • graded print quality parameters in the following lines.
{5} [A] < Row Height = 3.1 X {6} [A] < Useful Row Height = 2.5 X (82% Row) {7} [A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% (0 Erasures & 0 Errors) {8} [B] < Edge Accuracy = 59% {9} [C] < Print Growth = -43% of X where: {1} is always the Encoded Message, the usual data output. In this case "This is a representative PDF417 symbol". {2} is a standard Banner heading that marks the start of the PQA portion of the output.
D if Useful Height >= 1.0 X, else F otherwise In Screening modes, this parameter is reported as "Useful Row Height is Too Short (1.5X)" when that is the case. {7} lists the Data Safety Margin, which is the ratio of the unused error correction words to the recommended (!) number of such words. Data Safety Margin can exceed 100%, when the ECL is higher than the minimum recommended, or be limited to 50% or lower, even with perfect printing, when the ECL is below minimum.
In rare instances where neither a valid Start nor Stop pattern is measurable, yet the symbol is somehow read, lines {8} and {9} are replaced by a message to that effect. The message is either: "[F] < Start/Stop Decode Fails" in a Full Report or "Start/Stop Characters are Bad" in a Screening mode. In Screening modes, it often occurs that none of the parameters are below the Minimum Acceptable grade. In this case, the final PQA line becomes: "All Measurements within range".
A if Row Height >= 1.5 X, F otherwise. {6} lists the Data Safety Margin. Because MicroPDF's error correction level is fixed, this parameter is just the "Unused Error Correction" and always between 0 and 100%. {7} lists the Edge Accuracymeasured in multiple scans through the Row Address Patterns. {8} lists the Print Growth measured within the Row Address Patterns. 2D Matrix This section describes 2D PQA outputs for Aztec Code, Data Matrix, QR Code, and MaxiCode.
Note: The reported X-dimension is approximate and based upon use of the IT4410LR at 4.7 in (12 cm) (see "Reading Techniques" on page 1-1). If you use different image engines, the X-dimension will vary. If you hold the reader closer than 4.7 in (12 cm), it will have the effect of reporting a larger than true X-dimension. Conversely, if you hold the reader farther away than 4.7 in (12 cm), it will have the effect of reporting a smaller than true X-dimension.
{7} [A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% {8} [A] < Horizontal Print Growth = +10% of X {9} [A] < Vertical Print Growth = +12% of X {1} is the Encoded Message. {2} is the Banner heading. {3} identifies the Symbology (DATA MATRIX) and lists the symbol's ECC and size. {4} lists the numbers of Data and Check Words, as well as the error correction used. {5} presents an approximate X-dimension. Note: The reported X-dimension is approximate and based upon use of the IT4410LR at 4.
{3} QR CODE: Model 2 Version 3 (29 x 29 modules) {4} Mask Pattern Reference #3, Error Correction Level "M" {5} Data Field: 44 data & 26 checks in 1 block(s) of GF(256) {6} X roughly = 0.025" {7} [A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% {8} [A] < Horizontal Print Growth = +20% of X {9} [A] < Vertical Print Growth = +17% of X {1} is the Encoded Message. {2} is the Banner heading. {3} identifies the Symbology (QR CODE) and lists the symbol's model, version and size.
{4} {5} {6} {7} X roughly = 0.043" [A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% [A] < Horizontal Print Growth = +2% of X [A] < Vertical Print Growth = -1% of X {1} is the Encoded Message. {2} is the Banner heading. {3} identifies the Symbology (MAXICODE) and lists the symbol's Mode. {4} presents an approximate X-dimension. Note: The reported X-dimension is approximate and based upon use of the IT4410LR at 4.7 in (12 cm) (see "Reading Techniques" on page 1-1).
{7} [A] (Ok) < Bar Widths = 0.022 in. {8} [A] (Ok) < Inter-Bar Gaps = 0.023 in. {1} is the Encoded Message. {2} is the Banner heading. {3} identifies the Symbology, (POSTNET or PLANET Code), and lists also the symbol's size and allowed range of measured width. {4} lists the Bar Sequence, "1" representing a tall bar and "0" representing a short one. {5} lists the Average Height of the tall bars, specified to fall within 0.115 to 0.125 in.
4-State Codes The Full Report from a typical scan looks like the following (line numbers have been added in curly brackets): {1} B15AJ6T {2} >>> PQA from HHP <<< {3} 4-STATE(British): 34 Bars, nominally from 38.5 to 42.3 mm. in Width {4} Bar Sequence: ADHTATDAHDDAADADAADTHTADHHDATHTADH {5} [A] (Ok) < "Tall" Bar Extensions: 2.79 mm. from center {6} [F] (Hi) < "Short" Bar Extensions: 1.00 mm. from center {7} [B] (Hi) < Bar Widths = 0.60 mm. {8} [A] (Ok) < Inter-Bar Gaps = 0.59 mm. {1} is the Encoded Message.
Note: For the Canadian and Australian 4-State symbologies only, any bar error that has invoked their error correction triggers an additional PQA parameter line: "[F] < One or more Bars are in Error!" in a Full Report or "One or more Bars are in Error!" in a Screening mode. Table 1: Dimensional Tolerances for the Various 4-State Bar Code Symbologies “Tall” Bar Extensions “Short” Bar Extensions” Bar Widths Gap (Space) Widths British 2.16 - 2.92 mm 0.51 - 0.76 mm 0.38 - 0.63 mm 0.50 - 0.
Bar Sequence Bar Sequence is the bar height pattern within a height modulated, multi-state, postal-type symbology. In a 2-state symbol, a "1" represents a tall or full height bar and a "0" represents a short or half height bar. In a 4-state symbol, "A" represents the ascending bars, "D" the descending bars, "T" the short bars, and "H" the tall bars that both ascend and descend. Incorrect sequencing can be systematic and can be caused by the symbol generating program not meeting requirements.
Encoded Message The encoded message is the information (alpha, numeric, and/or control characters) or message contained within the bar code symbol and output as part of the decoding process. This information precedes the calculated PQA parameters. This information must be manually compared to the characters that should be encoded. Error Correction/Error Correction Characters Error Correction is a reader/decoder’s use of mathematical processes to reconstruct or replace damaged or missing symbol characters.
Module Errors Module Errors are individual errors within fixed pattern/data areas. Although often benign, Module Errors in the fixed regions of a symbol can signal a fault that, in some instances, will prevent proper decoding. They can generally be corrected by using a larger X-dimension and/or cleaning up the print process to eliminate stray ink, voids, and other causes of inconsistency in the print.
height, giving more leeway to symbols printed with above minimum row heights (e.g., 4.0 X). A poor grade here is corrected by either stretching the symbol vertically or correcting the print condition (e.g., turning down the thermal burn setting or adjusting inking) that causes rows to interfere.
2 Quick*View Quick*View Demonstration Software Instructions Quick*View is a Microsoft Windows® program that displays decoded symbol messages and captures images (for instance, ID photographs) from the imager. Bar code information and images are displayed in the Quick*View window. Note: For additional information about Quick*View, please refer to the user’s guide for your imager. Setting Up the Imager and the Quick*View Software 1.
8. Double click on the Quickview.exe file. Follow the screen prompts to install the Quick*View program. 9. To start Quick*View, from the Start Menu click on Programs, Quick*View, Quick*View. Note: If you wish, you can create a shortcut to the Quick*View executable on your desktop. Temporary Quick*View Configuration For a quick download communication configuration, scan the appropriate Quick*View bar code, and the imager will be temporarily configured for Quick*View settings.
Using the Quick*View Software Upon startup, the Quick*View splash screen appears for approximately three seconds. Quick*View will then attempt to establish communications with the Imager. If Communication Cannot Be Established This message appears if communication cannot be established: Quick*View defaults to com 1 as the communications port. If you have plugged the Imager into another com port, you must Cancel out of this message. Click on File - Preferences.
Scan Data Window Once successful communication has been established, you can scan codes and display the bar code data in a window. Select View - Scan Data Window. As you scan bar codes, the data appears in the Serial Scan Data Window. You can alter the font in this window by using the Font button, or clear all data in the window with the Clear button. If you wish to see the mnemonic for any embedded control characters, you should put a check in the checkbox for Expand Control Chars (the default setting).
3 Customer Support Obtaining Factory Service HHP provides service for all its products through service centers throughout the world. To obtain warranty or non-warranty service, return the unit to HHP (postage paid) with a copy of the dated purchase record attached. Contact the appropriate location below to obtain a Return Material Authorization number (RMA #) before returning the product. North America HHP Corporate Offices Telephone: (800) 782-4263, Option 3 Fax: (704) 566-9904 E-mail: ProductService@HHP.
Technical Assistance If you need assistance installing or troubleshooting your imager, please call your Distributor or the nearest HHP technical support office: North America/Canada: Telephone: or in the U.S. Fax number: E-mail: (315) 685-2476, Option 4 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST) (800) 782-4263 (315) 685-4960 support@HHP.com Europe, Middle East, and Africa: TelephoneEuropean Ofc: Int+31 (0) 40 29 01 600 U.K. Ofc: Int+44 1925 240055 E-mail: euro_support@HHP.
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