Use of Barcode in Business
Bar codes are like a printed version of the dit-dot pattern of telegraphic morse code. Different sequence of bars and spaces are used to represent different characters. Sets of these patterns are grouped together to form the set of barcode symbols. There are many types of bar code systems each having their own special characteristics and features. Most systems were designed to meet the needs of a specific application or industry. For example the UPC barcode was designed for identifying retail and grocery items while Code 3 of 9 or Code 39 is widely used for business, industrial and numerous other applications.

Using Bar Coding in the Program

For the software without inventory control the options of bar coding are limited. Barcodes of customer, supplier etc. can be generated and printed. The barcodes are printed on program Vouchers and can be used to open the transaction for editing. Date and Transaction Number values can also be scanned from the printed voucher while making a new voucher or while editing a voucher.
For programs with inventory module you can start off like this. Scan the code of the product if it is already bar coded into the code field of the product record. Complete the product record by providing other information. You can now scan the product into the invoice and other transactions. If you scan a code more than once in the transaction only its quantity will increase and no new item in the invoice / transaction shall be added.
Automatic insertion of products into invoice will fetch the product information automatically. This is done by a program routine that detects if the data is from scanner or has been typed manually. SO if you have bar coding enabled and are scanning products into the invoice do not type very fast or send two keystrokes at a time otherwise the above routine will flag it as scanned value. If you are not using scanning then disable bar coding module by checking the option marked Disable Bar coding.

Bar Coded Transactions and Records
Important Info: Barcode Code 3 of 9 Standard Code 39 is commonly used for various bar-coding labels, such as name badges, inventory and industrial applications. The Code 39 barcode is the easiest of the alpha-numeric barcodes to use and is designed for character self-checking thus eliminating the need for check character calculations. Code 39 is also known as 3 of 9 Code and Code 3 of 9.
The symbols of the Code 39 character set consists of barcode symbols representing characters 0-9, A-Z and the space character plus the following symbols: _, $ , / , + , %.