Plugins

The Axicon linear barcode verifier software can perform data content analysis for almost any barcode application by means of plugin files. The results of these do not affect the verification grade of the barcode, but can provide you with useful information about the data that is contained within the code.

To see a list of the plugins already available with your software, go to the verifier set up dialogue, and choose the ‘Plugins’ tab.  To do this, go to the Command window, choose Options, then Set Up.  The plugins that are enabled will be marked with a tick, and you can choose to switch these on or off.  Further plugins can be added to your software, and the full list is set out below.

The results of the plugins are displayed in tabs across the top of the Summary window, and also in the Pass/Fail window. Some plugins can also display their own windows containing more information about the data content of your barcode. You can display this information (if any) by clicking the “More info…” button, to the right of the plugin’s tab in the Summary window.

Plugin results are also saved in Axicon Verifier Saved Scan files.  When a scan file is opened (‘loaded’ is the term used by Axicon) all of the plugin results that were available when the scan was saved will be shown, even if the original plugin is disabled or not installed. If the plugin is not installed, the “More Info…” button will have no effect.

All the plugins on the Axicon linear barcode verifier software that are installed and enabled will also be used to recalculate the result of any scan file that is loaded.  Any applicable plugins that were not installed when the scan file was saved will also display their results here when the scan is loaded. If a plugin determines that the data content of the code is invalid in some way, a red cross is shown in the tab. If it is valid, a green tick will appear.

AIAG GTL  –  Automotive

Checks data content of the ‘license plate’ barcode for automotive industry Global Transport Label (encoded using Code 128).

AI CHECK  –  All

Validates Application identifiers (AIs) and data structure content for both GS1-128 and GS1 DataBar Expanded.

AI DATE  –  Retail

Checks that a valid date AI (11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 7003, 8008, or 8101) and its data are present.

AUS­_VARIABLE  – Retail

Displays in-house product, 5-digit price and validation of both check digits (displayed on variable quantity eg cheese and meat products) Unique variant to cover the specific requirements of the Australian and the New Zealand markets.

BRANDED  –  Retail

Displays breakdown of information in UK Branded Variable Measure Consumer Unit EAN-13 codes.

C39 ASCII  –  Automotive

Decodes full ASCII Code 39 barcodes.

C39 PHARM  –  Pharmaceutical

Displays the decoded number for Italian Pharmacode (base 32) Code.

COMMENTS  –  All

Allows for free text to describe or comment on verification results.

COUPON  – Retail

Displays information on issuer, coupon number and value (Euro and UK) and (USA) provides information on manufacturer, family type, purchase requirement and value.

DELIVERY DATE  –  All

To check that a best-before or use-by date is  n days later than the present date.

EURO COUPON  –  Retail

Displays information on issuer, coupon number and value.

FILE DATA  – All

To read the first line of data from a text file at the moment the scan is made.

GENERIC VMCU  – All

Allows for any variable measure consumer unit prefix (02, 20 to 29) to be used as basis for checking data content.

GEN SPEC  – Retail

Describes where a GS1 barcode may be used.

GTIN  – All

To report whether a barcode contains a GTIN.

HIBC  –  Pharmaceutical

Health Industry Barcode. Validates both primary and secondary HIBC symbols. Checks date identifier and structure of data content.

INSTORE  –  Retail

Displays in-house product reference, 5-digit price and validation of both check digits for in-store variable measure retail items.

ISBN  – Retail

Displays the original ISBN or ISSN number of book and magazine barcodes, and 5-digit add-on data.

JOB REF  – All

Allows a single line reference for ISO traceability and spreadsheet information; forms part of the printed report. You can configure a default Job Reference, and also choose to be prompted for a job reference on every scan.

LENGTH CHECK  –  All

Allows for checking of minimum and maximum lengths of Code 39, ITF, Codabar, Code 128, GS1 DataBar, MSI Plessey, and Code 93 symbols.

LOOKUP  – All

Links to an existing database to show (and print) description of product along with quality control information. Please see Text Lookup below.

LPPR  –  Pharmaceutical

Checks French (Liste des Produits et Prestations Remboursables) LPPR codes as applicable.

 

M&S – Retail

Gives details on in-store reference, supplier code, GTIN, quantity and check digit on 20 digit M&S transit labels.

MSI PHARM  –  Pharmaceutical

Validates code structure and format of CNK (Code Nationale Kode) used on Belgian pharmaceutical products.

MULTI PLUG  –  All

Configurable to allow for checking that one or more plugins have been satisfied.

 

NL INTERNAL  – Retail

Checks data on in-store variable measure products (eg: variable weight with price or  weight shown) as specified by GS1 Netherlands.

PZN  – Pharmaceutical

German Pharmaceuticals Code. Validates code structure and format.

SISAC  – All

Displays expanded version of the data encoded in the SICI (Serial Item and Contribution Identifier) incorporating: ISSN, Chronology enumeration/supplement and all other details.

 

TEXT LOOKUP  – All

Specially designed for .csv and .txt databases. Several copies of the Lookup plugin can be installed if the user needs to refer to multiple databases for two or more fields within a single database. Click here for more information.

TIME ZONE  –  All

Records the time zone setting of the PC where the scan is made.

UB PHARM  – Pharmaceutical

Displays Belgian Pharmacodes.

 

UK COUPON  – All

Shows the monetary value of a United Kingdom coupon code from a standard EAN-13 barcode.

UPC  – All

Displays UPC-A and UPC-E codes formatted in their original short forms, rather than as EAN-13s.

USER DATA  –  All

Allows multiple job referencing: relevant information can be appended to a scan. This can be exported to a spreadsheet using Scan DB Extractor and saved in CSV format. Particularly suitable for undertaking audits in manufacture and retailing.

USER NAME  –  All

Automatically displays network user logged on at time of scan; ideal for ISO 9001 procedures.

WOOLWORTHS  –  Retail (Aus)

Checks variable measure consumer unit barcodes beginning with 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27 for Woolworths Australia.

Scan file Data Extractor – Verification results in a spreadsheet

The Scan File Data Extractor enables you to summarise and record all the verifications made by recording them in a standalone database. It uses the data from the Axicon scan files (those with a .scn extension) to create a complete record of all the files that have been saved, either automatically or manually.

It is therefore possible for a quality manager, for instance, to inspect verifications made by a member of staff from a particular shift, or even from a remote site over any period (say, a week or a month) in order to monitor print press performance and barcode quality.

Scan files can also be imported into the database manually by selecting the import function from the file menu. It is possible to import a whole folder of scan files, or just a selection, in one import process, simply by selecting all of the files that are required.

Imported verification results are displayed in the table of records. Each row contains data from one scan file, and each column contains a single item of data from the scan file. If verifications have been saved with additional plugin data, this information is displayed in its own panel below the main table. The table can be sorted on certain fields to make locating a particular verification record easier when the table contains many results, and it is also possible to see more detail about an individual record by selecting Display Scan from the file menu, or clicking on the Axicon Linear Verifier icon . This will launch the Axicon Linear Verifier software (if it is not already running), and will open the scan file for viewing in that application.

The table itself can be extremely useful for viewing the complete data about all of the verifications that have been imported, but when generating a report from this data it is likely that only some of the data will be required. It is possible to export chosen fields of data from the table to a CSV (comma separated values) file, for use in an application such as Microsoft Excel.

This is done by selecting Choose CSV fields from the options menu. It is possible to select whichever data fields may be required and to choose whether or not plugin results are also output to the CSV file by selecting the plugin fields tab and ticking the appropriate plugin. This data can then be stored in a CSV file format by selecting Save CSV from the file menu and it is possible to see the output format for this file in the panel beneath the table if the CSV preview tab is selected.

Data can always be added to the table by importing more scan files. It is possible to clear the database completely by selecting the appropriate option from the options menu if a fresh start is required. Individual records can also be deleted from the database by selecting the record so that it is highlighted and then clicking the – button.