SwiftDecoder FAQs

If your question is not answered here you can post a question to the SwiftDecoder Support Forum and one of our developers will answer it directly.

1. What bar code symbologies does SwiftDecoder support?

SwiftDecoder supports all common 1D, 2D and Postal bar code symbologies. For a complete list please download either the SwiftDecoder Technical Datasheet (pdf) or SwiftDecoder Sales Datasheet (pdf).

2. When running SwiftDecoder's demo what is the difference between Elapsed Time and Processing Time?

Elapsed Time represents the time from the start of decoding until a single result is issued.

Processing Time is the total time it takes to process the entire image.

3. How many bar codes can be decoded in one image?

There is no limit to the number of bar codes that can be decoded in a given image.

4. What does Omnidirectional decoding truly mean in SwiftDecoder?

In SwiftDecoder omnidirectional decoding means that any code can be decoded no matter what orientation it is in. SwiftDecoder offers true 360 degree omnidirectional reading where many others may only support a small variance from 0, 45 and 90 degree orientations.

5. How many symbologies can be enabled at one time?

All 1D and 2D symbologies can be enabled at the same time. Some Postal symbologies can not be enabled when other Postal symbologies are enabled in order to ensure accurate decoding results. It is important to note that decode times will increase as more symbologies are enabled.

6. Where can I find more information on bar codes?

There is much bar code information in Omniplanar's Support section. The links section is also a good place to start.

7. Can Omniplanar decode OCR fonts?

Yes, Omniplanar supports OCR templates such as ISBN and Passport. See our SwiftOCR product for more details. Omniplanar does not currently support full-page OCR.

8. How fast can SwiftDecoder typically decode common types of bar codes?

Most bar codes can be decoded in a matter of milliseconds. Decode speed depends on many factors including image and bar code quality and processor speed. See the SwiftDecoder Decode Speed Chart for more detailed information.

9. Can SwiftDecoder decode non-ECC 200 Data Matrix symbologies(ECC 000 - 140)?

No. These specifications are obsolete. Only the current ECC 200 specification is supported for Data Matrix.

10. What is the minimum pixel resolution needed by SwiftDecoder to successfully decode bar code symbologies?

Minimum resolution for 1D codes is 1.6 pixels per narrow element and 2.75 pixels per narrow element for 2D matrix codes.

11. Does having more pixel resolution make a bar code easier to read?

Not necessarily. There is a minimum number of pixels required per narrow element for 1D and 2D symbologies. Beyond these minimums adding pixels per narrow element will not necessarily help decode times. Providing significantly higher pixels per narrow element may actually adversely effect performance significantly.

12. Does SwiftDecoder read mirror image bar codes?

Yes.

13. Can SwiftDecoder read inverse bar codes (bars are white, spaces are black)?

Yes, SwiftDecoder supports inverse reading of all symbologies whose standards support it such as 2D matrix codes.

14. How is SwiftDecoder software delivered?

Omniplanar will typically email or make SwiftDecoder available on our ftp site. The software package will contain a compiled library, documentation and all of the supporting files necessary to integrate SwiftDecoder into your application.

The supplied object file is typically protected by a hardware key that will be sent priority the same day the software is ordered.

15. Onto what processors has Omniplanar ported SwiftDecoder's code?

SwiftDecoder has been ported to most common platforms such as X86, ARM and MIPS. Download SwiftDecoder's Technical Datasheet (pdf) for a complete list of platforms that have been ported to before.

SwiftDecoder can also be ported to any 32-bit platform upon request.

16. Can I get source code from Omniplanar.

Sorry, but no.

17. How do I convert an image from color to 8-bit grey-scale?

The basic formula is: Y = 0.299 * R + 0.587 * G + 0.114 * B

This wiki article discusses this issue in more detail.

18. How do I convert an image from 1 bit (binarized) to 8-bit grey-scale?

If images come in at 1bpp, create a byte and simply change the bits that are 1 to a 255, and leave the bits that are 0, at 0.

19. Why am I getting a "HASP device driver too old (-13)" error

You need to update your driver to the latest HASP4 driver at www.hasp.com