Solved: Re: Bar Code Scanner - The Square Community

Nicole;

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Since you are just starting out to get the information you need to do this correctly the first time, let me ask you a few questions.

Which Square product are you using currently?  Square POS or Square for retail (free version)

What type of hardware are you using for your POS system? (Android, Apple tablet etc, Square Stand, Square Register......etc)

You previously said you have a Mac (Apple) computer is it on site of your business?

To figure out barcodes please read this information because there are a lot of barcodes with different rules.

Guide to Barcodes 

After reading that you can figure out what type of barcode you are using.  Keep in mind Square lets you use up to 40 characters for a barcode.   With 1D barcodes the more character you use the longer the barcode.  If you use Libreoffice Calc, Google Sheets or Excel type in 3 different cells 5, 10, 15 characters in a cell and choose the same barcode font for these and you will see they are different lengths.  So if you use a 1D barcode all your SKU's will have to be the same length so the barcodes are the same length to fit the label you choose.  I got around this by using a QR code as my 'Barcode' to start.  I have switched to an Aztec code.  This can hold more information than a QR code and is actually a little smaller in size.... which means a smaller price label.

So now you figured out the type of Barcode you would prefer, but does your scanner read that barcode? 

Figure out which Barcodes your current scanner reads and they may limit your choice also.  I found out using the screen side camera on my Square Stand using Square for Retail free... the camera will read barcodes and QR codes.... but does not read m Aztec code.  Think of a Barcode scanner as a multilingual interpreter.... first it needs to work with your hardware ( Android, Apple, Square Register....etc) and with Squares Software!  I bought a cheap wireless 2D scanner, worked great on my PC but not with my Square Stand.   So what the Scanner does is it reads the barcode sends that data to your Hardware then to Square.  So the scanner you buy Interprets for your hardware the barcode to input it to square.  The data in the barcode is just text the scanner reads to fill into Square the SKU to look up to find your price.  For a free online barcode generator you can go to Free Barcode Generator .  Just remember that Square only reads Lowercase letters and numbers, I tried the '&' sign in my barcodes and got "7" in my SKU when my scanner read it on Square, Ipad read it as & and my PC read it as &.... but Square read it as 7.

As for a label printer you could use a regular printer with Avery type labels but this will get expensive as your business grows with cost of ink and label sheets.  The other option is to buy a Direct Thermal Label printer.  The Zebra 420D I bought is a direct thermal printer which does not use ink but uses special labels that the text is basically burnt onto the labels.  These printers cost more, but use no ink.  There are multiple brands of direct thermal printers for labels.  Zebra, Dymo, Brother etc.  You can look on Amazon for your scanner and printer like I did and get used or refurbished ones at savings.  Now since you wanted to use the Square for Retail FREE version you would need these Direct Thermal printers to be compatible with your computer (PC or Mac), because Square for Retail Free will not directly print barcode labels.

Now you will be asking what I use.

I have Square for Retail Free

Square Stand with Ipad

Zebra DS (2D Scanner)   this is USB to a cradle then wireless from scanner to cradle also Bluetooth capable .... have not tried Bluetooth yet.  NOT SQUARE APPROVED  in their approved list of Scanners but works for me and reads other 1D barcodes

and I have the Zebra GX420 D - Direct Thermal and GK420t - Thermal Transfer label printers.  The 420D prints onto white Direct Thermal labels and the 420T prints on to my labels with Aztec code.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website 2d Desktop Barcode Scanner.

Below are pictures of my hardware and printed labels that I use to track inventory in Square

The Aztec code from the 420D on the white label is roughly 3/8" in size and always works.

The Aztec code on the preprinted label from the 420T is roughly 1/4" in size and mostly works but scanner has to be at the correct angel and the correct distance (ie A Lot closer) because of how small it is and how many characters are in the 2D code.  My longest text for the Aztec code is 34 characters I believe, and at 1/4" square is a lot of data.  The fewer character 1/4" Aztec codes work the best.

Hope all this helps!

Choosing a barcode scanner can be a challenging task if you lack experience. This article will provide a quick overview of what you should know when selecting a barcode scanner.

1D or 2D Barcode Scanner?

The first question you must ask is, what type of barcode will you be scanning: 1D or 2D.  This is important because although 2D scanners can scan 1D barcodes, a 1D scanner cannot scan a 2D barcode. A 1D barcode has black vertical lines that looks like this:

Imager or Laser Barcode Scanner?

Most new handhelds, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant), or mobile scanners have converted to use imager. An imager enables you to read 1D or 2D barcodes. However, when you are purchasing a scanner and it includes an imager, be sure to specify that you need to read 2D barcodes.

Laser barcode scanners read 1D barcodes by emitting a thin red line of light (the laser). Many imagers also emit a red light line to help the user target what they are scanning. Imagers also tend to read broken or dirty barcodes better than laser scanners.

Mobile, Handheld, or Fixed?

The form factor for scanners varies by the type of application. Most customers use handheld scanners built into rugged mobile devices like Intermec CN3, CN50, Motorola MC55, or MC75 devices. These scanners are built into mobile computers, and mobile software application talk directly to the scanners using the scanner’s API address. Mobile computer scanners range in price from $ to $+.

Examples of mobile computer scanner applications include:

• Inventory counts
• Proof of Delivery
• Asset tracking and audits
• Inspections
• Operator rounds

Most handheld scanners can take whatever is scanned and put it in the keyboard buffer. This makes it appear that someone has typed the barcode value. Operating in this mode is simple to use with existing applications. It is important to check that each type of scanner supports this; otherwise, you will need to ensure drivers are there to support the operating system. Most scanners support Windows, but that does not mean they support Windows CE. This application is usually the operating system on forklift terminals.

If you elect to use a BlueTooth scanner, it is important to ensure it supports your device. For instance, if you want to scan a or PDA, the scanner must have drivers. You can not assume a Bluetooth scanner will work just because your device has Bluetooth.

Handheld scanners like the Motorola LS are around $200. Tethered scanners can be less than $100. Bluetooth scanners like the Baracoda or Socket scanner range from $400-$600.

Fixed-Mount Scanners

A third option is fixed-mount scanners which are usually installed on conveyor belts. Self-serve grocery checkout stands and store price lookups also have fixed-mount scanners. With fixed-mount scanners, you must ensure the barcode will pass within a readable distance and at a suitable angle. Grocery store checkout stands have multiple scanners to address this. In applications like conveyor belts, fixed-mount scanners can be tied to light-activated sensors to activate the scanner when the light beam is broken. This enables you to know when to expect to read a barcode and when to control the time to read a barcode.

Fixed-mount scanners for industrial-type use can range in price from $500 – $.

For more information, please visit Automatic Image Sensing Barcode Scanner.