Solve : How do you identify product types from barcode?

1.	Solve : How do you identify product types from barcode?
Answer» Dear all, I have a basic question about barcode which until now, i couldn't find a definite answer from the internet. My question, is there standard numbering/unique identifier used in the EAN/UPC 'product code' which can tell automatically the product type that the item will belong to? for e.g. fresh meat, cereal, etc. If my hunch is correct, I'm BETTING there isn't such a thing. Then my next question is that if i wanted to SORT my items into different product category into inventory by just scanning the bar code, would it be safe to assume that i would need to create a separate bar code for inventory purposes, instead of using the EAN/UPC bar code? This is a rater general answer to your questions. In the retail trade, bar codes are unique down to the packaging of the item. Put another way, even the sane product, if in a different package, with and a different bar code. Bar code scanning systems are made by IBM, NCR and others. The is a good source of other references on the topic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Product_Code Quote The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode symbology (i.e., a SPECIFIC type of barcode) that is widely used in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and in other countries for tracking trade items in stores. Its most common form, the UPC-A, consists of 12 numerical digits, which are uniquely assigned to each trade item. Along with the related EAN barcode, the UPC is the barcode mainly used for scanning of trade items at the point of sale, per GS1 specifications.[1] UPC data structures are a component of GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers). All of these data structures follow the global GS1 specification which bases on international standards. What kind of product you want to inventory? EDIT: Rather that trying to write your own software, you may want to consider buying a new up-ti-date scanner with its own software. This is a helpful reference from UNEXPECTED source: http://www.ebay.com/gds/Barcode-Scanner-Buying-Guide-/10000000177627177/g.html Really. It has some good ideas. Quote Evidenced by the ubiquity of barcodes, barcode scanners are an integral part of the modern retail, commercial, and industrial environments. Scanners are used to manage information for checkout, inventory management, and a large number of specialized applications from assembly lines to medical patient management. For these reasons, scanners come in many forms and technologies. Laser scanners are the most common, while image - based scanners and 2D imagers add special functionality. Handheld scanners are used in a wide variety of applications, while POS terminals benefit from dedicated stationary scanners. Buyers can find scanners with special features such as wireless connectivity, ruggedization, and more. With a wide range of options and price points, a little research can help buyers find a scanner that matches their needs exactly. Hope this was of some help for you. UPCs don't encode "categories" or departments. They basically have manufacturer and product codes. UPCs are designed to be used with an inventory system that can track UPCs and assign items to certain categories. YOu scan a barcode and you get a number. that number would be a unique lookup in a product database that can store further information not coded in the UPC on that product, such as managers DISCOUNTS on the item, promotions, what department it belongs too, etc. This should be part of any standard software for inventory management.Dear Geek and BC_Programmer, Thank you for your explanation to the topic, it was very helpful indeed. I now know that UPC/EAN does not contain any unique product identifier for the different categories. I was hoping they do have it, for example, 1 would denote grocery items, 2- Electronics etc. The reason i asked was not to design a new software to read bar-codes. Rather i was actually interested in doing inventory management for my store products. I have different types of products in store, from grocery items, electronics, clothings etc. And i was hoping, by just scanning them, my scanner can read the barcode and automatically categorize it according to their different types. Looks like the only way to do that is by imputing the codes for the different categories by myself, pretty much like imputing price, so when the POS detects it, it will automatically sort it out.

Answer»

Dear all,
I have a basic question about barcode which until now, i couldn't find a definite answer from the internet.

My question, is there standard numbering/unique identifier used in the EAN/UPC 'product code' which can tell automatically the product type that the item will belong to? for e.g. fresh meat, cereal, etc.

If my hunch is correct, I'm BETTING there isn't such a thing. Then my next question is that if i wanted to SORT my items into different product category into inventory by just scanning the bar code, would it be safe to assume that i would need to create a separate bar code for inventory purposes, instead of using the EAN/UPC bar code?
This is a rater general answer to your questions. In the retail trade, bar codes are unique down to the packaging of the item. Put another way, even the sane product, if in a different package, with and a different bar code.
Bar code scanning systems are made by IBM, NCR and others.
The is a good source of other references on the topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Product_Code
Quote

The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode symbology (i.e., a SPECIFIC type of barcode) that is widely used in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and in other countries for tracking trade items in stores. Its most common form, the UPC-A, consists of 12 numerical digits, which are uniquely assigned to each trade item. Along with the related EAN barcode, the UPC is the barcode mainly used for scanning of trade items at the point of sale, per GS1 specifications.[1] UPC data structures are a component of GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers). All of these data structures follow the global GS1 specification which bases on international standards.

What kind of product you want to inventory?

EDIT: Rather that trying to write your own software, you may want to consider buying a new up-ti-date scanner with its own software.
This is a helpful reference from UNEXPECTED source:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Barcode-Scanner-Buying-Guide-/10000000177627177/g.html
Really. It has some good ideas.
Quote

Evidenced by the ubiquity of barcodes, barcode scanners are an integral part of the modern retail, commercial, and industrial environments. Scanners are used to manage information for checkout, inventory management, and a large number of specialized applications from assembly lines to medical patient management. For these reasons, scanners come in many forms and technologies. Laser scanners are the most common, while image - based scanners and 2D imagers add special functionality. Handheld scanners are used in a wide variety of applications, while POS terminals benefit from dedicated stationary scanners. Buyers can find scanners with special features such as wireless connectivity, ruggedization, and more. With a wide range of options and price points, a little research can help buyers find a scanner that matches their needs exactly.

Hope this was of some help for you.
UPCs don't encode "categories" or departments. They basically have manufacturer and product codes.

UPCs are designed to be used with an inventory system that can track UPCs and assign items to certain categories.

YOu scan a barcode and you get a number. that number would be a unique lookup in a product database that can store further information not coded in the UPC on that product, such as managers DISCOUNTS on the item, promotions, what department it belongs too, etc. This should be part of any standard software for inventory management.Dear Geek and BC_Programmer,

Thank you for your explanation to the topic, it was very helpful indeed. I now know that UPC/EAN does not contain any unique product identifier for the different categories. I was hoping they do have it, for example, 1 would denote grocery items, 2- Electronics etc.

The reason i asked was not to design a new software to read bar-codes. Rather i was actually interested in doing inventory management for my store products. I have different types of products in store, from grocery items, electronics, clothings etc. And i was hoping, by just scanning them, my scanner can read the barcode and automatically categorize it according to their different types.

Looks like the only way to do that is by imputing the codes for the different categories by myself, pretty much like imputing price, so when the POS detects it, it will automatically sort it out.

Solve : How do you identify product types from barcode?

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