Acceptable types of barcodes and scanners for use with Aleph

Question

What types of barcodes and scanners will work with Aleph?

Answer

Aleph will work with any barcode (1D, 2D, etc.) and any barcode scanner/reader.
The reader converts the barcode into a series of characters which are sent to Aleph. All Aleph is concerned about is the characters. The barcode, magnetic stripe, etc., and its reader is of no concern to Aleph.

Additional Information

An error-detection routine is *not* required and very few North American sites are using one. As long barcodes are scanned, rather than typed, this should not be an issue.

However, if the site wants to have check-digit error detection, the Aleph table is xxx50/tab/tab_checksum. Please see the following KB articles:

KB 16384-38929 (checksum - how to implement for codabar)
KB 16384-38962 (modulus 10 checksum algorithm; tab_checksum works for 14-digit only)
KB 5791 (Aleph use checksum algorithms for item barcode? )
KB 4626 (Code 39 barcodes with ALEPH)

There are a number of site-specific programs which have been created for barcodes with specific check-digit routines in tab_checksum. The only generic routine included there is Codabar / Mod10 L-to-R. (See KB 5791 in regard to the latter.) As described in KB 4626 Aleph doesn't do error detection for Code 39 routines.

Category: Circulation (500)

Subject: Patrons

• Article last edited: 10/8/2013