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Process Barcode

Processes an image to detect and decode barcodes using ABBYY Cloud OCR service.

Common Properties​

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.

Inputs​

  • Image Path - Path to the image file containing barcodes to be detected and decoded.

Options​

  • Barcode Type - Type of barcode to detect (default: autodetect). Options:
    • Auto Detect - Automatically detect barcode type
    • Patch - Patch codes
    • Code 39 - Code 39 linear barcode
    • Code 93 - Code 93 linear barcode
    • Code 128 - Code 128 linear barcode
    • UCC-128 - GS1-128 (UCC/EAN-128)
    • Interleaved 2 of 5 - I2of5 barcode
    • Industrial 2 of 5 - Industrial 2 of 5
    • IATA 2 of 5 - IATA 2 of 5
    • Matrix 2 of 5 - Matrix 2 of 5
    • EAN-8 - EAN-8 product barcode
    • EAN-13 - EAN-13 product barcode
    • Codabar - Codabar barcode
    • UPC-A - UPC-A product barcode
    • UPC-E - UPC-E product barcode
    • Postnet - USPS Postnet barcode
    • Aztec - Aztec 2D barcode
    • Data Matrix - Data Matrix 2D barcode
    • PDF417 - PDF417 2D barcode
    • QR Code - QR Code 2D barcode
  • Region - Optional region coordinates to scan for barcodes (format: "left,top,right,bottom").
  • Description - Optional description for the processing task.
  • PDF Password - Password for encrypted PDF files.
  • Contains Binary Data - Whether the barcode contains binary data instead of text (default: false).

Outputs​

  • Task - ABBYY task object containing barcode detection and decoding results.

How It Works​

The Process Barcode node detects and decodes barcodes from images. When executed, the node:

  1. Reads the image file from the specified path
  2. Optionally limits scanning to a specific region
  3. Uploads the image to ABBYY Cloud
  4. Detects barcodes of the specified type (or all types if auto-detect)
  5. Decodes the barcode data
  6. Returns a task object with barcode values and locations

Requirements​

  • Valid ABBYY Cloud credentials
  • Valid image file containing barcodes
  • Clear, well-lit barcode images for accurate detection

Error Handling​

The node will return specific errors in the following cases:

  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrImagePath - Image path is invalid or file not found
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrImageData - Cannot read image file
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrOption - Invalid barcode type selected
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrRegion - Invalid region format
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrDescription - Invalid description
  • Robomotion.ABBYYCloud.ErrPDFPassword - Invalid or incorrect PDF password

Usage Example​

Scenario: Scan a product label to read QR code and EAN-13 barcode

1. Process Barcode node:
   - Image Path: "C:/products/label_001.jpg"
   - Barcode Type: Auto Detect
   - Contains Binary Data: false

2. Wait Task node:
   - Task: {{ $.task }}
   - Timeout: 30 seconds

3. Extract barcode values from task results

Scenario: Read specific barcode from a region of an image

1. Process Barcode node:
   - Image Path: "C:/forms/invoice.jpg"
   - Barcode Type: Code 128
   - Region: "500,100,700,150"
   - Contains Binary Data: false

2. Wait Task node:
   - Task: {{ $.task }}

Common Use Cases​

  • Product Scanning - Read product barcodes (EAN, UPC) from labels or packages
  • Inventory Management - Scan barcodes during stock taking
  • QR Code Reading - Extract data from QR codes on documents or products
  • Document Tracking - Read document tracking barcodes
  • Shipping Labels - Extract shipping information from barcode labels
  • Access Control - Read access badges or tickets
  • Form Processing - Extract barcode fields from forms and documents
  • Asset Tracking - Read asset tag barcodes

Tips and Best Practices​

  • Auto-Detect vs Specific Type:
    • Use "Auto Detect" when barcode type is unknown or mixed
    • Specify exact type for faster processing and better accuracy
    • Auto-detect works well for most common barcodes
  • Image Quality:
    • Ensure barcodes are in focus and well-lit
    • Avoid shadows, glare, or reflections on barcodes
    • Use at least 300 DPI for small barcodes
    • Ensure adequate contrast between bars and background
  • Region Usage:
    • Specify region to speed up processing
    • Use region to avoid detecting unwanted barcodes
    • Determine coordinates using image editing software
  • Barcode Types:
    • 1D Barcodes: Code 39, Code 128, EAN, UPC for products
    • 2D Barcodes: QR Code, Data Matrix for larger data amounts
    • Postal Barcodes: Postnet for mail sorting
    • Specialized: PDF417 for licenses, Aztec for transport tickets
  • Binary Data:
    • Enable for barcodes containing non-text data
    • Common in industrial or specialized applications
    • Leave disabled for standard text barcodes
  • Multiple Barcodes:
    • Auto-detect can find multiple barcodes in one image
    • Process the task results to extract all detected barcodes
    • Consider processing each barcode region separately for reliability
  • Error Handling:
    • Enable Continue On Error for batch scanning
    • Check task results to verify barcode was found
    • Implement retry logic for critical barcode reads