Responding specifically to the need of locating and reading several barcode types from scanned images, Auto Search Barcode Software is offering barcode reading as a Windows based program and as a DLL library or VBX/OCX component that can be called from an existing program. (UNIX versions are available on request.) The AutoSearch Barcode program allows users to specify the expected location of the barcode using a mouse. Documents can then be processed as a batch of images. The ASCII equivalent to the barcode is extracted from the bit-mapped image and an image index is created.
AutoSearch Barcode will automatically recognize several Barcode types such as Code 2 of 5I, Code 39, Code 128 and Codabar, Code 93, UPC, EAN, Postnet, and produce an ASCII string corresponding to the coded data.
Barcode AutoSearch is a more advanced version of the program featuring the capability of finding the barcode without predetermined knowledge of its location.
Using barcode for indexing:
The use of bar-codes & Decision Bar has become more and more popular in image storage and retrieval applications. In order to reduce the cost of indexing images of documents, barcodes are used as primary index. The barcode and Decision Bar assigns a unique identifier to the scanned image. Each page has a pre-printed bar-code or a label is pasted on the page. The software reads each image, finds the barcode and creates the unique index. Application examples:
Invoices, Proof of Delivery, Bill of Lading, Purchase Orders, Insurance Claims forms.
Batch Separation and Folder Indexing:
Combined with Auto Scan batch scanning which recognizes pre-printed batch separators, AutoSearch BarCode will read a barcode on the lead sheet and index the folder or document with the barcode value followed by a page number.
Application examples: Credit and Mortgage files, Accounts Payable, Legal Case files and Litigation support files.
How does it work?
Documents are scanned and compressed in one of the several known formats on disk (PCX, TIFF). The user specifies to AutoSearch what directory and what compression format has been used; next he indicates with his mouse the probable location of the barcode for this form. AutoSearch can then be activated on a batch of images located in the specified directory. AutoSearch Barcode does not require to select the location of the bar-code and will automatically find the bar-code anywhere and at any angle in the page.
AutoSearch barcode will search the probable area where the bar code & Decision Bar should be for this form, then clip the area and recognize the barcode. The form is thus immediately indexed in seconds. Two files are now available on the local disk or on the file server; the compressed image file and the index file, composed of image sequence number and the barcode value. The default format of this index file is an ASCII record with fields delimited by commas, however a record formatter allows to specify unique formats.
Example of output for the image 0001.tif #c:image�001.tif,12345678
Technical Specifications
Microsoft Windows 3.1, 95 and NT and DLL, VBX and OCX 
16-32 bits
4Mb RAM. Mouse recommended.
Support barcode types:
- Code 2 of 5I, Code 39, Code 128 and Codabar, Code 93, UPC, EAN and Postnet.
- Horizontal , Vertical and full search (in AutoSearch & Decision Bar)
- Supported compression format PCX and Tiff G3/G4. Decompression boards on request.
Number of barcodes per page: 64 in AutoSearch
Functions:
Create Application, Open Application, Load and Decompress an Image, Display and Scale an Image, Process an Image, Process a Batch, Define a Barcode Area, Define a Barcode Type, Define the File Location and Format.
Guidelines to Barcode Indexing:
Barcodes and Decision Bar are usually easy to read and reject rates are low, however, a few factors affect performance. Resolution is one of the main factors. It is recommended to limit number of characters per barcode inch to 4 at 200 DPI and 6 at 300 DPI. Higher density can be achieved using the program enhancer but recognition rate will drop.
Skew does affect barcode reading when the height of the barcode is less than 25% of its length. The larger this ratio, the more the tolerance to skew. All barcodes require a quiet zone which is an area without data in front or above the barcode, usually 1/4 of an inch. When all direction search is activated, this restriction is eliminated
Some barcodes are numeric only (Codabar) some alphanumeric (Code 39) and some have the full ASCII set (Code 128).
Mode of Operation:
Program or developer’s kit
AutoSearch Barcode is a Windows program that allows to run a single image or all images in a directory, using a preset window where the barcode is positioned. If the barcode type is unknown, the software will recognize the code then read the data. In the same package, a dynamic linkable library is delivered. The library is a standard C code DLL. Integrators can call the library on an image passing X and Y coordinates to the library and receiving the data value in the return of the call. In AutoSearch barcode, the software automatically locates the barcode in the page.
End-user Barcode Server
Barcode Server will poll the file server for incoming batches of images either from a scanner or from the fax server. As soon as a batch is available the barcode will be read and the image indexed. When a folder needs to be indexed, a batch separator containing the barcode and this number is assigned to each page in AutoClass Barcode Server.
OCX/Activex component: AutoSearch Barcode is also available as an Imaging Component. This easy to integrate module allows developer’s to integrate barcode recognition in their applications in virtually no time. AutoSearch Barcode is also available as a component in Auto Search Barcode Software developer’s tool-kit.
Performance:
On a Pentium 100 MHz at 300 dpi around 10 ms per read attempt. If automatic barcode search and barcode type detection is selected, reading time may be up to 1 second.
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