(in reply to Ocean West, thread below , about a year ago)

http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=files&Number=67784

Just tried to scan barcodes from LCD screen anyway: Surprise!

It is perfectly possible to scan barcodes from a recent TFT screen.

Using a cheap Jarltech USB Scanner, i can read on-screen barcodes from a distance:

Formac TFT 17" Monitor, Code39/128, 1px per single bar: 1-2 in

Formac TFT 17" Monitor, Code39/128, 2px per single bar: 2-3 in

Powerbook G3/400 Firewire (Pismo), Code39/128, 1px per single bar: 0.5-1 in

Powerbook G3/400 Firewire (Pismo), Code39/128, 2px per single bar: 1-1.5 in

2003 14" Siemens Notebook same as Formac.

RELIABLY!

It seems modern, bright TFT color displays are better suited than the older panels.

This can save us a lot of trouble matching UPS package labels and our monolithic ERP system.

btw, maximum range of the scanner reading from paper is about 3.5 inches.

Christian:

This is excellent news. Exactly what model scanner are you using in these tests? I'd like to be able to look up the data on the unit, to compare with what my clients use.

-Stanley

Something to watch out for...

This won't work with all bar codes at all sizes, since pixels have a finite width on the screen. If the bar code's module (narrowest bar or space) is set up so that it equals 1 pixel width, then it should work reliably, since every element (any bar or space) width is a multiple of the module width. Zooming in or out may cause the scan to fail (except in the case of zooming in in multiples), since the software will have to use aliasing to simulate the new size. This works well on the eye, but not so well on a bar code scanner.

The Phoenix II will read barcodes from an LCD screen.

Regards

Guy

www.barcodereaders.com