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Barcoding Overview

xAssets Barcoding Guide
Introduction

Barcoding Overview

This guide explains how to use barcodes with xAssets for asset tracking, auditing, and library check-out/check-in operations. Whether you are labelling assets for the first time or conducting a full location audit, this guide covers the end-to-end workflow.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for asset managers, facilities teams, IT administrators, and anyone who needs to:

  • Label assets with barcodes for identification and tracking
  • Conduct physical asset audits using barcode scanners
  • Use barcode scanning for library-style check-out and check-in
  • Search for asset records by scanning a barcode
  • Choose the right barcode scanner type for their environment

Prerequisites

Before using barcoding features in xAssets, you need:

  • Barcoding module enabled -- the Barcoding module must be turned on in xAssets (Settings > Site Settings > Enable/Disable Features). This may require a barcoding-enabled license.
  • Barcode scanner hardware -- either a Keyboard Wedge (Keywedge) scanner for real-time scanning, or an Intelligent scanner with third-party software (such as TracerPlus) for offline/batch scanning. See Barcode Scanner Types for a comparison.
  • Barcode labels -- labels must be printed and applied to assets before scanning. xAssets can generate printable labels using the CODE128 standard. You will need a suitable printer and durable label media.
  • Scanner configuration -- Keywedge scanners must be set to append a Carriage Return (Enter) after each scan. See the Keywedge Barcode Scanner Guide for detailed setup instructions.

What xAssets Supports

xAssets supports barcode identification for Assets, Locations, Departments, Cost Centres, and Custodians. Barcode labels can be printed directly from xAssets, and scanning is supported using either Keyboard Wedge (Keywedge) scanners or Intelligent scanners with third-party software such as TracerPlus. See Barcode Identification for details on how each entity type is identified.

Getting Started

If you are setting up barcoding for the first time:

  1. How to Setup Barcoding -- enable the module and configure your scanners
  2. Barcode Scanner Types -- choose the right scanner type
  3. How to Print Barcode Labels -- print and apply labels to your assets
  4. How to Run a Barcode Audit -- conduct your first asset audit

What You Will Find in This Guide

Chapter What It Covers
Introduction Overview, prerequisites, and scanner selection
Barcodes Barcode types, scanner types, RFID, and why use barcodes
Barcode Identification How assets, locations, and other entities are identified by barcode
Configuring Barcoding Scanner setup, audit types, and TracerPlus integration
Asset Audits Creating, performing, and reviewing audits
Library Check-Out and Check-In Temporary asset loans using barcode scanning
Barcode Search Using a scanner to quickly find asset records
How-To Guides Step-by-step instructions for common barcoding tasks

Common Tasks

These how-to guides walk you through the most frequent barcoding operations:

Choosing a Scanner Type

If you are unsure which scanner type to use, here is a quick guide:

Scenario Recommended Scanner
Quick asset lookups at a desk Keywedge
Library check-out/check-in at a service counter Keywedge
Small audit (under 50 assets) with live network Keywedge
Large warehouse or multi-building audit Intelligent (with TracerPlus)
Audits in areas without reliable network Intelligent (with TracerPlus)

See Barcode Scanner Types for a detailed comparison.