4500 Terminal Barcode Badges and

Readers
Reference:
The 4500 terminal's Integrated Barcode reader and External RS-485 Barcode reader will support both unmasked
(visible barcodes) and masked (covered barcodes with a black mask requiring infrared lighting to read) barcodes.
The Kronos Linear Imager Barcode readers only support unmasked (visible) barcodes.
Supported Barcode Fonts for use with all Kronos Barcode Readers:
Interleaved 2-of-5 (USS I 2/5) ***Preferred Font***
Code 128 (ISS-128) compressed and uncompressed ***Preferred Alternate Font***
Code 3-of-9 (USS-39)
Codabar (USS-Codabar)
Universal Product Code (UPC-A and UPC-E with optional 2- and 5-character supplements)
European Article Numbering (EAN-8 and EAN-13 with optional 2- and 5-character supplements),
The Integrated Barcode reader, External RS-485 Barcode reader, Kronos Wands, and Linear Imager Barcode
Reader support the ANSI standard for barcode quality of A, B, and C (passing quality). ANSI barcode quality of D or
F (failing quality) may or may not be read by the reader and is not a supported quality.
Kronos Standard Barcode Badges
The Kronos Standard Barcode is 17 digits encoded in Code 39 or 18 digits encoded in Interleaved 2 of 5
(***Preferred Format***).
No barcode badge with either 17 or 18 digits can be used with a 4500 terminal unless it is encoded in the Kronos
Standard barcode format.
The Kronos Standard barcode format is hard coded into all 4500 terminals and cannot be changed even using the
generic programming in the software.
A 17 or 18 digit barcode badge that is not configured with the Kronos standard barcode format will not display the
correct badge number information in the 4500 terminal.
All Barcode badges used with the Kronos terminal are counted from right to left when figuring the characters position
in the software, like counting from a decimal point.
The format for the Kronos standard 17 digit barcode must be encoded with font Code 39:
Example of encoded characters 01234567893232000
The Kronos standard 17 digit barcode badge breakdown 0 123456789 3232 000
000
Digits 1 thru 3 are for security 000 is required.
3232
Digits 4 thru 7 are for Company Code 3232 is required.
123456789
Digits 8 thru 16 are for badge number, customer modifiable as needed, may require 0 fill for
maintaining 9 digits.
0
Digit 17 is a filler 0 is required.
Note: This format is very difficult to achieve and is suggested not to be use with a 300 dpi card printer.
***Preferred Format***
The format for the Kronos standard 18 digit barcode must be encoded with font Interleaved 2 of 5:
Example of encoded characters 001234567893232000

The Kronos standard 18 digit barcode badge breakdown 00 123456789 3232 000
000
Digits 1 thru 3 are for security 000 is required.
3232
Digits 4 thru 7 are for Company Code 3232 is required.
123456789
Digits 8 thru 16 are for badge number, customer modifiable as needed, may require 0 fill for
maintaining 9 digits.
00
Digits 17 and 18 are for a filler 00 is required.
Generic Barcode Badges
Kronos considers a Generic Barcode Badge as any barcode badge that is not encoded in the Kronos Standard
Barcode badge format. A customer is able to use either a Kronos Standard Barcode badge or a Generic Barcode
badge with any Kronos Barcode reader.
With TKC, iSeries, and DCM 5.0 and lower, the encoded data on a Generic barcode badge can be between 2 to 16
characters or between 19 to 32 characters long, with up to a 9 digit numeric badge number. This format can be used
with the 4500 terminal's Integrated Barcode reader and all externally attached barcode readers, scanners, and
wands.
With DCM 5.1.3 and greater, the encoded data on a Generic barcode badge can be between 2 to 16 characters or
between 19 to 60 characters long with up to an 18 digit numeric badge number. This format can be used with the
4500 terminal's Integrated Barcode reader and all externally attached barcode readers, scanners, and wands.
The Kronos suggested using font Interleaved 2 of 5 and the alternate Code 128 for generic badges.
Both barcode fonts use the least amount of bars per character, taking up the smallest amount of space for the
barcode.
Characters used for the badge number must be numeric for all versions of Kronos software. Generic barcode badges
may contain alpha or special characters in the encoded data. As long as the alpha or special characters are not part
of the badge number.
Barcode Size and Location Specifications for Barcode Badges
All barcodes badges used with Kronos readers are required to conform to the following size and location
specifications:
The distance from the center of the barcode to the bottom edge of the badge must be 0.450" + or - 0.020".
The barcode height must be greater than 0.250" above and below the center of the barcode.
A barcode can always be taller never shorter than the requirement.
Figure 1 below, if printed on a laser printer should be to scale. It is a correctly located, sized, and formatted Kronos
Standard 18 digit barcode badge using font Interleaved 2 of 5. This paper badge is how all other printed badges
should look like when configured and printed correctly.
Use this printed badge as a correct example to compare to your printed badges. Cut out the badge below exactly
along the solid outside Red line. Cut the badge in half on the red dotted line from top to bottom. This leaves a left and
right side of the paper badge. Place the right side of the paper badge in front and on the right side of the plastic
badge, matching the bottom edge of both badges together. Use the top of a table or a flat surface to get the bottom of
both badges even with each other. Now notice where the barcode on both badges are in relation to each other. The
barcode top and bottom of both badges should be the same height. The top and bottom of the barcode on the plastic
badge must be the same or greater than the top and bottom of the paper badges barcode. Having the barcode
greater than the requirement is always good. The requirement for left and right side of the barcode is no closer than
0.200 or about 3/16 from each badge edge or printed material.