Defining Barcode Formats

You can set Polaris to distinguish between patron and item barcodes, so that if you scan or type a barcode that is the incorrect type for a barcode field, Polaris displays a warning message. Permission is required to continue to save a record with an invalid barcode. You can define several barcode types for each usage, and specify a default format for patron barcodes.

Example:
Based on your settings, if a barcode designated for patrons is entered in the Barcode box on the Item Record workform, or if an item barcode was scanned in the Patron box on the Check Out workform, the staff client displays a warning message.

Polaris checks the barcode value for prefix numbers and barcode length to identify its type and usage. However, Polaris does not check for incomplete scans or check digits. Barcode validity checks are usually done by the scanner software and equipment.

Note:
If a record exists that uses the entered barcode value, the barcode is accepted, even though the barcode may not use a valid definition. It is not always practical to fix a barcode problem during operations where the patron is being served.