How to extract data from barcodes

Orca Scan Variables make it easy to extract data from a barcode value and move it to another field. Simply add a variable as a default value to one of your fields and scan a barcode. To get started:

1. Download the Orca Scan barcode app
2. Create a new sheet
3. Add columns/fields for each value you want to extract
4. Enter an Orca Variable as the default value for each field

   

5. Save the changes
6. Scan the relevant barcode to see the data extracted

How do Orca Variables work?

Orca Variables have the following structure $TYPE:PROPERTY:FORMAT

• TYPE = type of data $GS1, $HIBC, $ISBT, $JSON, $CSV, $PSV
• PROPERTY = property/reference of the item to extract
• FORMAT = (optional) output format

There are times when you may need to extract data from an unstructured barcode; that is barcodes that contain data that does not follow a specific standard. In such cases, you would use the $RAW variable listed below.

Orca Scan supports:

Barcode Standards: GS1, HIBC, ISBT, UDI, FMD

Data Formats: JSON, URL, CSV, PSV, TSV, RAW

Barcode Standards

GS1

Get data from a GS1 barcode using the following variables:

Use our free GS1 Barcode Decoder to copy the variables easily

Note: If the barcode scanned is not a valid GS1 barcode, no data is returned.

HIBC

Extract data from a Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) using the following variables:

Use our free HIBC Barcode Decoder to copy the variables easily

Note: If the barcode scanned is not a valid HIBC barcode, no data is returned.

ISBT

Get data from an ISBT barcode using the following variables:

Note: If the barcode scanned is not a valid ISBT barcode, no data is returned.

UDI

UDI barcodes can be encoded using the GS1, HIBC or ISBT barcode standard. Using the $UDI variable allows you to extract the correct data, regardless of the standard used. To get data from a UDI barcode, use the following variables:

Use our free UDI Barcode Decoder to copy the variables easily

Note: If the barcode scanned is not a valid UDI barcode, no data is returned.

FMD

Get data from an FMD barcode using the following variables:

Use our free FMD Barcode Decoder to copy the variables easily

Note: If the barcode scanned is not a valid FMD barcode, no data is returned.

Data Formats

JSON

Get values from a barcode containing JSON data:

Note: If the barcode scanned does not contain valid JSON, no data is returned.

URL

Get data from a URL barcode using the following variables:

Note: If the barcode scanned is not a valid URL, no data is returned.

CSV

Get values from a barcode that contains CSV data:

Using the following as input:

Col1,Col2,Col3,Col4
A1,B1,C1,D1
A2,B2,C2,D2
A3,B3,C3,D3

• Return First Row
  • Variable: $CSV:ROW1
  • Example: Output: Col1,Col2,Col3,Col4
• Return Second Row
  • Variable: $CSV:ROW2
  • Example: Output: A1,B1,C1,D1
• Return Third Row, Third Column
  • Variable: $CSV:ROW3COL3
  • Example: Output: C2

PSV

Get values from a barcode that contains Pipe Separated data:

Using the following as input:

Col1|Col2|Col3|Col4
A1|B1|C1|D1
A2|B2|C2|D2
A3|B3|C3|D3

• Return First Row
  • Variable: $PSV:ROW1
  • Example: Output: Col1|Col2|Col3|Col4
• Return Second Row
  • Variable: $PSV:ROW2
  • Example: Output: A1|B1|C1|D1
• Return Third Row, Third Column
  • Variable: $PSV:ROW3COL3
  • Example: Output: C2

TSV

Get values from a barcode that contains Tab Separated data:

Using the following as input:

Col1	Col2	Col3	Col4
A1	B1	C1	D1
A2	B2	C2	D2
A3	B3	C3	D3

• Return First Row
  • Variable: $TSV:ROW1
  • Example: Output: Col1 Col2 Col3 Col4
• Return Second Row
  • Variable: $TSV:ROW2
  • Example: Output: A1 B1 C1 D1
• Return Third Row, Third Column
  • Variable: $TSV:ROW3COL3
  • Example: Output: C2

RAW

Get data from a barcode value regardless of the format used:

Using the following as input:

Hello World

• Return First 3 Characters
  • Variable: $RAW:GET:FIRST3
  • Example: Output: Hel
• Return Last 3 Characters
  • Variable: $RAW:GET:LAST3
  • Example: Output: rld
• Exclude Last 3 Characters
  • Variable: $RAW:GET:EX-3
  • Example: Output: Hello Wo

Formatting

The third segment of an Orca Variable $TYPE:PROPERTY:FORMAT is used to format the result. By default, all values from known barcode standards are returned in the correct format (dates, weights, etc). You can use the FORMAT segment to modify the output to suit your needs:

1. True/False

You can convert the value into a boolean (true or false) using the following token:

2. Dates

You can convert a date into another format using a combination of the following tokens:

Using the following GS1 barcode value as an example:

01050601301313832152888501717543172303311000327C

• $GS1:EXPIRYDATE:DDMMYYYY returns 31032023
• $GS1:EXPIRYDATE:DDMMYY returns 310323
• $GS1:EXPIRYDATE:DDDD returns Friday

3. Characters

You can extract only a specific number or type of characters using the token below, followed by the number of characters:

You must follow each token with a number of characters, for example:

Using the following barcode value as an example:

Orca Scan

• First 6 Alphanumeric Characters
  • Variable: $RAW:GET:X6
  • Example: Output: Orca S
  • Description: Extracts the first 6 alphanumeric characters
• Exclude Last 3 Characters
  • Variable: $RAW:GET:EX-3
  • Example: Output: Orca S
  • Description: Removes the last 3 characters

System Variables

The following variables provide access to User and Date information:

Using Variables With Triggers

Variables can be used within triggers to set conditions and specify actions.

Examples

• Expired Product Removal:
  • Variable: $DATE:NOW
  • Condition: Expiry date has passed
  • Action: Notify the team the item scanned has expired

• Capture ‘user’ once status equals ‘delivered’:
  • Variable: $USER:EMAIL
  • Condition: Status equals “Delivered”
  • Action: Set the deliverer’s email in the “Delivery By” field

For detailed instructions on creating triggers, check out our triggers guide.

Need help using Orca Variables?

chat with us live or email us at hello@orcascan.com.