Learn in this article,
- how to readout information from barcodes and QR codes and
- what information is readout and analyzed in the process.
1. Introduction
To be able to carry out a detailed analysis of a Print Item, it should also be possible to read information from barcodes or QR codes. This is exactly what the Barcode / QR Code tab in the Print Item Editor can be used for.
The Barcode / QR Code tab allows you to read the content of barcodes or QR codes in a document and analyze the codes in terms of symbology.
2. "Barcode/QR Code" tab
In the Barcode / QR Code tab of the Print Item Editor, barcodes or QR codes can be read from the Print Item and the structure of the codes can be analyzed. The user is shown information such as Type, Value, Module Width, Bar Width Reduction, Width and Height as well as the Page on which the respective barcode or QR code is located.
Figure 1: The Barcode /QR Code tab after the barcode information was extracted
2.1. "Barcodes and QR Codes" settings area
The Extract Infos from Barcodes function is provided in the Barcodes and QR Codes settings area. The user must execute the function in order to access the information.
2.1.1. Extract Information
Proceed as follows to extract information from barcodes or QR codes:
- Open an Article or Print Item in the Print Item Editor with at least one barcode or QR code.
- Switch to the Barcode / QR Code tab.
- Click on the Extract Infos from Barcodes button [1].
Figure 2: The Barcodes and QR Codes settings area for extracting the Barcode Infos
2.1.2. Navigate Between Codes
As soon as you have extracted a document that contains one or more barcodes or QR codes, the navigation bar is displayed below the Extract Infos from Barcodes button [2]. If there is only one code on the first page of the document, the navigation bar is dimmed.
Figure 3: The Extract and Navigate function in detail
If there are several codes on the first or subsequent pages, the following options are available in the navigation bar:
- First code [3] – jump to the first code in the document.
- Previous code [4] – jump to the previous code in the document.
- Current code [5] – shows which code is currently highlighted on the Print Item.
- Total number [6] – shows the total number of found codes on the Print Item.
- Next code [7] – jump to the next code in the document.
- Last code [8] – jump to the last code in the document.
2.1.3. Preview and Barcode/QR CodeInformationen
The currently selected code [9] is displayed in the Barcodes and QR Codes settings area. If it is on the current page, this code is also displayed on the artboard with a red frame [10].
Figure 4: The Barcodes / QR Code tab with already extracted Barcode Infos
Zoom to barcode
Clicking on the barcode preview image in the settings area zooms in on the respective code in the Artboard. This allows you to find the barcode on the page very quickly.
The evaluated information is displayed below the preview image of the barcode. The following information is available:
- Type [11] – the type of code is displayed here. Up to 120 different barcodes/QR codes can be determined in the Workflow.
- Value [12] – - the value of the barcode or QR code is displayed here. This value must be checked against the specifications in the order!
- Module Width [13] – specifies the width of the narrowest module of a barcode. The module width must be extended in some cases for correspondingly poor Substrates, as otherwise the readability of the code is not given.
- Bar Width Reduction [14] – indicates the reduction in bar width that was defined when the code was created. This value can also vary greatly depending on the Substrate used for printing. Which bar width reduction is the right one for your used Substrate must be tested for all Substrates. In general, however, a bar width reduction is required in digital printing in order to guarantee legibility.
- Width [15] – specifies the width of the barcode or QR code.
- Height [16] – indicates the height of the barcode or QR code.
- Page [17] – indicates on which page of the document the barcode or QR code is located. Codes that are not on the first page of the document are not currently marked on the Artboard.
Readability of the Barcodes / QR Codes
Please note that this function can be used to check the general legibility of a barcode / QR code. It is not possible to ensure that the barcode / QR code can still be read on the printed Substrate! It is therefore essential that you also check the legibility on the printed Substrate!
Unreadable Barcodes / QR Codes
If barcodes / QR codes were not created with sufficient security zones, the general check of readability is not given. This means that, as in our example, only two codes are recognized, although there is a barcode on all three pages of the document.
Article update: Workflow 1.17.0 – 02/2024