Barcoding Explained

They mean whatever they are programmed to mean.

I'm looking at two different receipts from the same store, different dates. I don't see any similarities between the numbers. They seem to be random numbers assigned to the transactions at the point of sales. They are probably used to verify the authenticity of the receipt when an exchange or return is made; anyone with a computer and decent printer can generate a receipt that looks real, but it would be almost impossible to match the barcodes to pass the phony as real.

I'd agree with USB on the receipts, it's probably a reference number for the transaction, so the stores can pull up the history if need be, as in the case of a return as USB pointed out.

As for the codes on letters, those are used by the automated sorting machines the United States Postal Service uses. They probably identify the destination of the letter in "machine readable" form.

Tom D.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode

Shoplifters now make fake barcode labels and stick them over the existing label. What they do is they fine a cheap drill and a costly drill from the same maker and make a fake cheap label for the expensive one. They will also make a second label to stick over the product number etc.

There are several barcode alphabets. If you google "free barcode font", you can get the most common one. Cash registers, however, use a different one that you have to buy (and justify yourself to the vendor).

I have a barcode font in Excel. I type in the alphabet characters and the cell shows the barcode.

Hi Harry , Thanks that the one I am looking for ... I know that they have one for "translating" postal address for US ...that will be my next project ..Thanks a lot Rgds Yves

Try this one:

download.cnet.com/Free-TrueType-Code-39-Barcode-Font/3000-2190_4-10067143.html

It's the one I used for a time card scanner.

You can check it out in GS1. This is the link:

http://gepir.gs1.org/v31/xx/

You can find all the answers here. As I remember, every code is used only by one member around the world. The last digit is configured in a way that you multiply by 1`s and 3´s you sum them up subtract it from the nearest 10 and the answer is the last digit.

Hi Conpadre ,

That's the one !!!!

Excellent ...Muchas Gracias

Rgds

Yves