Barcode Perl Module

• NAME
• SYNOPSIS
• DESCRIPTION
• AUTHOR
• README
• Download
• Latest is Barcode-1.5

NAME

 Barcode - version 1.5 Sat Sep 23 6:20:30 EDT 2000

 Creates a barcode image as a png file object. Currently only does type
 Code 128 (B or C). Also decodes scans from the CueCat scanner and retrieves
 the url from a Digital Convergence server.

 This module is part of the CueCat Project.

SYNOPSIS

 use Barcode;

 Class Code128
 # create a Code 128 barcode
 my $barcode = Code128->new($bar_code,$quiet_zone,$polarity,$density,
        $dpi,$image_type,$description);

 Class CodeISBN
 # return the ISBN number after previously decoding the barcode
 my $isbn = CodeISBN->encode($scan->{'barcode_data'});

 Class Cuecat
 # decode a barcode with the decode method
 my $scan = CueCat->decode($scan_string);

 # decode a barcode with the kdecode method
 my $scan = CueCat->kdecode;

 # retrieve a url
 my $scan_string = ;
 my $scan = CueCat->get_dc_cue($scan_string);

 # encode data
 my $data = CueCat->encode($barcode_data);

DESCRIPTION

 Creates a barcode image as a png object which you can then print or
 save to a file and decodes barcode scans from the CueCat scanner
 <www.cuecat.com> and can query the Digital Convergence database for
 a url.

 Currently only creates type Code 128 barcodes.
 If the data string is an odd length or contains non-digit characters,
 Code B is used, otherwise Code C.

 For more information on barcodes see
 BarCode1 http://www.adams1.com/pub/russadam/barcode1.html.

 Class Code128
 # create a Code 128 barcode
 my $barcode = Code128->new($bar_code,$quiet_zone,$polarity,$density,
        $dpi,$image_type,$description);
 
 where: $bar_code = string to be barcoded
        $quiet_zone = number of clear x-dimensions each end
        $polarity = bw (black on white) or wb (white on black)
        $density = width of individual bars in .001 inch
        $dpi = resolution of target printer
        $image_type = 'transparent' or 'interlaced'
        $description = optional description
                        
 Returns the png file in $barcode->{'png_file'}.

 Class CodeISBN
 Constructs the ISBN number from the raw barcode value on an ISBN
 barcode (this is the number found above the ISBN barcode).

 # return the ISBN number after previously decoding the barcode
 my $isbn = CodeISBN->encode($scan->{'barcode_data'});

 Returns $isbn->{'isbn_value'}.

 Class Cuecat
 Two decode methods are provided: decode and kdecode.

 CueCat->decode uses a perl decode routine on raw scan data from the
 CueCat. This method is NOT recommended on linux or any system using
 X-Windows due to the initial Alt-F10 sequence sent by the CueCat.
 It will work on a regular text console however, provided you do not
 have a virtual terminal set up on tty10.

 CueCat->kdecode is a binding to the linux CueCat kernel driver and
 is the recommended method on linux. The kernel driver is available at
 http://oss.lineo.com/cuecat/.

 # decode a barcode with the decode method
 my $scan = CueCat->decode($scan_string);

 # decode a barcode with the kdecode method
 my $scan = CueCat->kdecode;

 Returns $scan->{'barcode_type'} $scan->{'barcode_data'} and
 $scan->{'cuecat_ser_no'} in either method. If you call CueCat->kdecode
 inside a loop you must destroy the object created by calling
 $scan->destroy($scan->{'pid'}) before returning to the start of the
 loop.

 CueCat->get_dc_cue will query a Digital Convergence server and return
 the url from the database. This method requires the raw (undecoded)
 string sent by the scanner. It will generate a random "activation code"
 in order to preserve the privacy of the user. If the url is not in DC's
 database it will return the url of a form to submit the barcode to DC.

 # retrieve a url
 my $scan_string = ;
 my $scan = CueCat->get_dc_cue($scan_string);

 Returns $scan->{'url'}.

 CueCat->encode will take decoded data and re-encode it to the raw scan
 data format. This allows users of the linux kernel driver to get a
 decoded scan from the driver and re-encode it in order to call
 CueCat->get_dc_cue.

 # encode data
 my $data = CueCat->encode($barcode_data);

 Returns $data->{'encoded'}. Note you must do this for all 3 pieces of the
 original scan string and then reconstruct the scan format. See the example
 file.

AUTHOR

 D. Scott Barninger <barninger@cvn.net>
 http://www.b-wdesigngroup.com
 License: licensed under the same terms as Perl (Artistic License).

Based upon work by

 Carl Sewell <csewell@hiwaay.net>
 http://home.hiwaay.net/~csewell/

 Greg Kearney <gkearney@new-sharon.me.us>
 http://www.new-sharon.me.us/upc.html

Thanks to

 Gene Drury <herbert6@cvn.net>
 for the professional logo.
 http://www.b-wdesigngroup.com

This page has been accessed

times since 09/19/2000