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      Barcode & POS Tools Overview

      Enhance the efficiency and accuracy of data entry.

      In this article

      Getting Started | Features | Related Content

      Getting Started

      Barcode technology can greatly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of data entry. Receiving, shipping, and point-of-sale processes can be greatly improved by using existing barcodes on products or by printing new barcodes for different units of measure.

      The EBMS barcode Controls, Reports, and Fonts kit gives the user the ability to print barcodes onto product labels, packing lists, work orders, financial documents, and other forms. Product labels can be generated containing a barcode, pricing, and other product information.  A variety of existing barcodes can be associated with inventory products or printed directly from a label or laser printer. A barcode can be associated with each unit-of-measure setting for an inventory item.  Review Entering Barcodes for a list of multiple ways to associate new or existing product items with UPC codes and other barcodes.   Review [Financials] Vendor Payments > Printing Checks and other forms on Plain Security Paper for setup instructions to print bank information using the MICR barcode.  

      EBMS distributes barcode fonts that can be used for the included documents and forms within EBMS.   Additional font licenses are required to be purchased by the user add barcodes to custom documents for forms.

      EBMS is designed to work with the following types of barcode scanners:

      •       Handheld or fixed mount laser or imager scanners:  These laser and imager scanners, which are connected to a Windows EBMS device, activate the EBMS scanning process by simulating F8.  Review Programming Scanners for instructions to program a scanner to activate the EBMS scanner mode.

      • Mobile scanners:  These Android based scanners communicate directly with the EBMS data server using WIFI or cellular technology.  These scanners use the MyEBMS tools to process and communicate with EBMS data.  Review MyInventory Scanner > Overview for mobile scanner setup and user instructions.

      EBMS uses barcodes for the following purposes:

      • Open EBMS dialogs
      • Populate data within those dialogs
      • Identify items
      • Communicate data to financial institutions and other entities

      Barcode Enabled Dialogs

      Barcodes scanners can be used to open a dialog using a barcode or can be used to populate data within these dialogs.   The following dialogs contain barcode scanning tools to allow the user to scan without placing the focus on the correct entry location:

      Review Printing Barcodes to print barcodes on forms generated from these dialogs.  

      Populate data within these dialogs

      These dialogs allow the user to populate repetitious information such as quantity, product, pricing, and other data quickly in a point of sale environment.  Identifying codes such as serial numbers, lots, jobs, locations, etc can be accurately entered into a dialog.  Although barcodes can be used to populate any entry field in EBMS, these dialogs do not depend on the focus of the keyboard cursor.   

      A scan cannot open a document and populate the document on the same barcode.  The order of the prefixes and codes is not important.  

      A barcode scanner can be simulated to test software functions.   Review Scanning Barcodes for more details on simulating or using a barcode scanners within EBMS.

      Identify Items

      The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a common way of uniquely identifying product.   EBMS also includes tools to identify items by serial number, lot number, VIN number, or other barcode.   Scanning barcodes to identify these details can greatly enhance sales, service, job, or manufacturing processes.

      Activate Save Functions

      A sales order, invoice, or proposal can be saved by scanning the following barcode.   

      Complete the following steps to use barcodes to save documents:

      1. Print the save barcode report by selecting File > Reports > Miscellaneous > Function Barcodes from the main EBMS menu:
      2. Post the barcode at a convenient location within the scanning area may be a convenient way to complement product scanning.

      Communicate with financial institutions

      Many financial institutions require barcodes on financial documents such as checks and deposit slips.

      EBMS includes the MICRO barcode to facilitate these plain paper forms.   

      Barcode Options

      Various TrueType barcode fonts can be used within EBMS including but not limited to the following:

      1. Barcode 39 font is used within the forms and labels printed from EBMS. This code is ideal when printing the EBMS Product ID since the font can handle both numbers and letters.  Codes should not include spaces or any symbols besides the dash (-), underline (_), and period (.) since these characters can create issues if barcodes are printed from these ID codes. EBMS also prints using this font.
      2. GTIN and ITF-14 fonts:  The scanner configuration for these codes are slightly different than others. Review GTIN and ITF-14 barcodes for more technical information on these codes.
      3. MICR font is used for financial documents such as checks and deposit slips.  EBMS also prints using this font.

      4. UPC barcodes are the most common barcodes scanned within EBMS.   These barcodes do not require any special programming.

      5. UPC-A:  is a code that combines information on a product label.   Review Programming Scanners and Barcodes for details on programing and scanning the UPC-A and compressed barcodes.  

      Review Printing Barcodes for instructions to print product labels using various methods.

      Review Programming Scanners and Barcodes for details on programing various barcodes including UPC-A and compressed barcodes.

      Review Purchasing a Barcode Scanner for barcode scanner types that work well with EBMS software.

      The Barcode Font kit must be included with the EBMS license to print and scan the following barcodes.   Review [Main] Server Manager > Optional Modules for instructions to add this feature.

      Common use cases

      Barcode Tools

      A variety of barcode scanners can be configured to be used with the EBMS software. Scanners must be programmed to work with the EBMS software. EBMS will accommodate scanners that are setup as a keyboard wedge and scanners that are attached to a COM port. There are benefits and limitations involved with each option. 

      Recommended POS Barcode Scanner: We recommend going with the Zebra DS2278 Bluetooth Image Scanner for a quality POS Scanner.

      Barcode Label Printer

      Direct thermal and thermal transfer label printers are recommended to print product barcode labels that may also include pricing. Barcode labels can be printed from a purchase order or inventory item. The EBMS software includes standard product barcode label options.

      Weigh Scale

      The weigh scale POS option of EBMS is used to sell a product that is sold by the pound. This option involves a scale connected to the POS Station and is used when the product is weighed at the time of check out. The Weigh Item on Entry option on the inventory item triggers the POS station to capture the weight of the product. A scale must be attached to EBMS before this option can be used.
      Avery Berkel's 6720 POS Scale is a great option for those who need a POS scale for items under 30lbs.

      Cash Drawer

      The EBMS system supports serial and USB cash drawers. The cash drawer can be configured to open when a cash sale is processed within the sales order window or the POS software. The recommended configuration is the serial cash drawer.

      Payment Devices

      Also, Eagle Business Software offers a variety of Payment Devices.

      Features

      •  Print barcodes onto packing lists, work orders, and other forms
      •  Generate product labels containing barcodes, pricing, or other product information
      •  Associate a variety of barcodes with inventory products
      •  Associate a barcode with each unit-of-measure setting for an inventory item
      •  Print a variety of reports that contain barcode fonts
      •  Can be configured to work with a variety of barcode scanners
      • GTIN barcode scanning and interpretation of Application Identifiers

      Related Videos and Content

      Related Videos and Content

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      Barcodes in EBMS