| PPSS Bar Code Generator |
Bar coding doesn't work.
After inventory items are entered, bar codes must be assigned to those items. Select 'Assign Bar Code to Inventory' (under Inventory) after entering new inventory items.
Bar codes print in mirror image.
This is usually caused by having too many printer drivers installed. Go to Control Panel, Printers and remove any drivers for printers that are not being used. It is best to have only one document printer and one receipt printer. Intuit's driver for QuickBooks has been known to cause problems. Print another document to assure that the printer is working properly.
Can PPSS recognize existing bar codes from a previous business?
Yes. Enter the existing bar code number while entering inventory.
PPSS Bar Coding
Bar-code capability is available in the Diamond Edition or may be added to the Deluxe Edition.
Scanners
PPSS is compatible with most scanners. PPSS has been tested with the tethered Unitech MS210 Bar Code Reader and the cordless Datalogic M100 Bar Code Reader.
Scanners are shipped (free via FedX ground within the continental U.S.) with all necessary cords, cables and manuals. Faster delivery and delivery outside the continental U.S. are available. Only actual additional shipping charges apply. Please contact customer support at support@bestconsignmentshopsoftware.com or 901-837-9155.
Unitech and Datalogic provide a 30-day replacement guarantee. Unitech's warranty is 3 years, Datalogic 5 years.
Scanner are usually connected to the PC using a keyboard wedge, but scanners can be connected with a USB connection instead. This will be required when using a wireless keyboard.
Bar Code Type
The type of bar code to use for a particular situation depends upon: (1) the implementation; (2) the data to encode in the bar code and (3) how the bar code is to be printed. 'Symbologies' are different types of bar-code standards for different purposes. Each type of symbology (or bar code type) is a standard that defines the printed symbol and how a device such as a bar code scanner reads and decodes the printed symbol.
PPSS defaults to UPC-A (11 characters) or UPC-E (for narrower bar code). UPC-A and UPC-E are used for items for sale in the USA and Canada.
Setup
Generally scanners can be used 'out of the box'. Scanners are shipped with a manual which explains how to configure the scanners, but it does not explain what a particular setting might be for.
In PPSS under Inventory, Printer Reports, Bar Code Labels, select 'Configure Bar Code Appearance' and set the bar code height to 300. Select 'Apply Changes' to save the setting. Most printers fit Avery-sized labels with a top margin of zero.
The Bar Code Appearance Window has a Symbology drop-down window. The default is UPC-A which is 11 characters. Choose UPC-E for a narrower bar code. (UPC-E uses 7 characters.)
Bar code setup uses inches for margins.
How to Scan
A PPSS Work Area screen must be in the 'foreground', i.e, no sub-screens can be open on top of a main screen. Minimize any screens on top of the PPSS Work Area screen.
Click the Begin-Bar-Code-Reading button to read the bar code. A New-Sale screen will open with the item scanned already in place. To scan additional items, bring the PPSS Main Screen back to the foreground and select the Begin-Bar-Code-Reading button again. Read subsequent bar codes without interruption.
If a bar code is read that does not exist in inventory, PPSS opens the New-Inventory-Item process. Choose the consignor who provided the item. After the new item is entered, read the bar code again to enter the item on the New-Sale screen.
Manual Bar Code Entry
On occasion it may be necessary to print or reprint labels for select items. To do so, select Inventory from the Work Areas Tool Bar, then Bar Code Labels. Select the last option, Manually Enter Bar Codes to Reprint. An input window will pop up. When a valid bar code is entered, the pop-up window disappears and processing proceeds as if a bar code had actually been read with the reader. Use the numbers on the keyboard that are below the function keys to enter the code. Do not use the numeric keypad.
After typing in the 11 or 7 digits, press the enter key. The pop-up window no longer automatically disappears until you press the enter key.
PPSS will print only what is entered for bar code, ID, description and price. The quantity column is used if printing enough labels to cover quantities on hand. Nothing is saved from this screen. It is a one-time printing of bar codes - useful if the labels on certain items need to be replaced.
Bar Code Labels
Price, item number, item description and bar-code number are printed on the bar-code label.
To print stick-on labels, use 1" x 2-5/8" labels, 3 across and 10 down on a sheet - Avery #5160 (laser), #8460 (ink/bubble jet), #4144. Try setting the left margin to 350 and the top margin to 1.14. On the bar-code-label button choose to print inventory for 1 consignor. Set the top and bottom margins to 0.3 and the left and right margins to 0.1 Set Row width to 1.02.
To print perforated hang tags, use 1" x 4-7/32" labels on 8.5" x 11" sheets. Try a top margin setting of 800 as a starting point.
A dot-matrix ribbon must be kept fresh to print readable bar codes.
Activating Inventory Items for Bar Coding
It is also possible to manually enter bar codes by editing the item individually or in batch.
Selecting Which Labels to Print
The bar-code function operates independently of the report-defining options on the inventory report page. Inventory filters do not apply to bar codes. Bar codes have their own configuration and filters which are accessed under Inventory, Printer Reports, Bar Code Labels.
There are five options for filtering which bar codes to print:
- Print selected bar codes from inventory.
- Print all bar codes in inventory.
- Print open bar codes.
- Print inventory from one consignor.
- Manually enter bar codes to print.
Select the desired option. A pop-up screen appears. Choose desired options for margins, rows and columns. (There is an intermediary screen for options 1, 4, and 5.) For now, leave 'Print bar codes from this position' blank. Check 'Print Multiple Labels' to print enough labels for the quantity of an item in stock, e.g. print 10 of the same label for 10 of the same jeans.
Use a blank sheet of paper to print a sheet of labels. Align the printed test sheet with a sheet of labels and hold them up to light to see if adjustments are necessary in the margin settings to align print with labels. It may be necessary to return to the bar code Options screen, 'Configure Bar Code Appearance' and adjust the height of the bar code. Change bar code height to 350, for example, reprint a test sheet and compare it to a sheet of labels again.
For a partial sheet of labels, used labels on the sheet may be skipped. Set 'Print Labels From #' to match the next available label on the partially-used sheet of labels. For example, with a sheet having 3 labels across and 10 down, if the first three labels have been used, make this setting '4'. If the first 22 labels have been used, set it to '23'.
Below is a list of the settings with explanations. Note that a bar-code number is referred to as a 'message'. See 'Message' below for instructions for specifying a bar code number for an inventory item (in the Inventory Work Area).
Configurable Properties
Automatic Size
Background Color
Bar Color
Border Style
Bottom Comment
Bottom Font
Check Digit Enable
Comment Align Style
Height
Message
Message Font
Narrow Width
Orientation
Quiet Zone
Supplement
Symbology
Top Comment
Top Font Transparent
Wide/Narrow Ratio
Automatic Size
When set to true, the extent of the bar code display is automatically adjusted to its boundary height and boundary width
Background Color
If the Transparent option is not checked, the bar code will have this color for a background, otherwise the background color is ignored.
Bar Color
Sets the color for the bar code , the message, and the comments.
Border
Determines the border style of the bar code.
| None | No Border |
| Single Broken Line | Broken-Line Border 10 mils |
| Double Broken Line | Broken-Line Border 20 mils |
| Single Sold Line | Solid-Line Border 10 mils |
| Double Solid Line | Solid-Line Border 20 mils |
Bottom Comment
Enter text that is to appear beneath the bar code in this window. End lines with \r\n if you want multiple lines. This text is displayed with the bottom font.
Bottom Font
This font is used to display the bottom comment. It need not be a true type font for rotated displays.
Check Digit Enable
If this box is checked, a check digit is added to the far right of the message in each bar code.
Comment Align Style
Sets the alignment of the top and bottom comments. Possible selections are:center, left and right.
Height
Height of the bar code in mils. This value will be overridden if the one you choose is too large or small.
Message
For UPC-A, this is an 11 digit number. For UPC-E, it is 7 digits. The software will compute and add one
more as a check digit. There can be no spaces or punctuation of any kind in this number. To enter a message
for an inventory item, go to the inventory section of PPSS, choose an inventory item in the table and select
the edit button in the inventory tool bar. The bar code window is at the bottom left. Enter the 11 or 7 digit
number here. PPSS will not attempt to print bar codes with invalid messages.
Message Font
This font is used to display the message numbers. It need not be a true type font for rotated displays.
Narrow Width
The width of a narrow bar in mils. This value will be overridden if the one you choose is too large or small.
Orientation
The bar code can be printed rotated. The options for rotation are:
| Degree 0o | No Rotation |
| Degree 90o | Rotate 90o Clockwise |
| Degree 180o | Rotate 180o Clockwise |
| Degree 270o | Rotate 270o Clockwise |
Note: If one of the fonts selected is not a true type font, choosing a rotation will cause the background color to be printed.
Quiet Zone
The width of the quiet zone in mils. This value will be overridden if the one you choose is too large or small.
Supplement
Specifying a supplement will cause a small extension to appear to the right of the bar code. The supplement can
contain letters and/or numbers. It can have 2 or 5 characters.
Symbology
Choose UPC-A or UPC-E.
Top Comment
Enter text that is to appear above the bar code in this window. End lines with \r\n if you want multiple lines. This text is displayed with the top font.
Top Font
This font is used to display the top comment. It need not be a true type font for rotated displays.
Transparent
If transparent is checked, the bar code will not print with a background; if it is not checked the bar code will print in a background of the color selected. Note: Transparent mode is unavailable if bar code is rotated and one of the fonts selected for message, top comment or bottom comment is not truetype.
Wide/Narrow Ratio
Specifies the ratio of the width of a wide bar to a narrow bar.