Barcodes & QR codes
Capture barcode and QR values into fields, and use codes as document-splitting separators.
A barcode or QR code on a page can do two jobs in Scanix Desktop: it can become a captured field (the value lands in your index data and exports), or it can act as a separator that tells Scanix where one document ends and the next begins. This guide shows you how to set up both.
You never flip a global "barcodes on" switch. For capture, you set a zone's Type; for splitting, you add a Barcode splitting rule and point Scanix at a sample.
Supported symbologies
Scanix reads the common 1D and 2D codes you'll meet on invoices, shipping labels, and case files:
- QR Code
- Code 128
- Code 39
- EAN-13
- Data Matrix
- PDF417
- Aztec
Capture a code into a field
Use this when the code carries a value you want to keep — an order number in a QR code, a tracking number in Code 128, a Data Matrix on a label.
Draw a zone on the code
Open your template in the Designer and draw a zone over the barcode or QR code on the sample page. A zone is a rectangle Scanix finds again on every incoming page and reads only what's inside it. Keep the box tight to the code with a little quiet zone (white margin) around it.
Set the zone Type
In the zone editor, open the Type dropdown and choose the kind of code:
- Barcode — for 1D codes such as Code 128, Code 39, and EAN-13
- QR Code
- PDF417
- Aztec
- Data Matrix
Setting the Type is what tells Scanix to decode the region instead of reading it as plain text. The decoded value becomes the field's value, captured per page and carried into every export.
Screenshot
The zone editor with the Type dropdown open, showing Barcode, QR Code, PDF417, Aztec, and Data Matrix among the options. — shot data-capture-barcodes-and-qr-01
Tune Barcode Mode (optional)
When the zone Type is Barcode, QR Code, PDF417, Aztec, or Data Matrix, the editor shows a Barcode Mode dropdown:
- Speed — faster, may miss damaged codes — the default; best for clean, well-printed codes at volume.
- Quality — thorough, slower — try this when codes are faint, smudged, or partly damaged.
A Timeout (ms) field sits below it (default 5000) — the longest Scanix will work on a single code before giving up. Raise it only if Quality mode is timing out on hard codes.
Screenshot
The barcode zone options: the Barcode Mode dropdown set to Speed — faster, may miss damaged codes, with the Timeout (ms) field showing 5000 beneath it. — shot data-capture-barcodes-and-qr-02
One code per field today
Each barcode zone captures a single code value. Reading many barcodes from one page into separate fields isn't exposed in the template editor today — if you need that, capture the codes you care about with one zone each, or get in touch so we can prioritise it.
For everything else about drawing zones, validation, and the Type dropdown, see Index fields.
Use a code as a document separator
Use this when codes don't carry data you need — they just mark boundaries. You print a separator sheet with a barcode, drop one between documents in the stack, and Scanix starts a new document each time it sees that code. This is one of a template's document splitting methods.
Add a Barcode splitting rule
In your template's splitting settings, click Add Rule, then pick the Barcode method tile. The rule appears as Barcode Split.
Choose Symbologies and a value to match
Under Symbologies, tap the chips for the code types your separator uses — QR Code, Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec. Pick only what you'll actually print; fewer types means faster, more reliable detection.
Leave Value contains (optional) empty to split on any barcode of the chosen type, or enter a value and a Match operator (Exact match, Contains, Starts with, or Regex) to split only on a specific separator value.
Screenshot
The Barcode Split rule with the Symbologies chips, the Value contains (optional) field, and the Match operator dropdown. — shot data-capture-barcodes-and-qr-03
Define the separator area — upload or generate
Click Define area to open the Define separator area dialog. It has two paths:
On the Upload separator tab, click Choose sample image / PDF to use a separator you already have. The sample appears in the dialog so you can mark the area that holds the code.
On the Generate separator tab, set the Symbology, the Value to encode, the Page size (A4 or Letter), and the Position on the sheet, then click Generate. Scanix renders a printable separator and produces a PDF you can print.
Drag a box around the code in the preview so Scanix knows exactly where to look.
Test decode to confirm it reads
With an area marked, click Test decode. The Result panel shows the decoded value if Scanix can read the code, or an error if it can't. This is your proof the separator will work before you print a stack of them.
Screenshot
The Define separator area dialog: a barcode marked on the sample at left, and the Result panel at right showing a successful Test decode. — shot data-capture-barcodes-and-qr-04
Print the sheet and save
If you generated a separator, click Open / print PDF (or Print sheet on the saved rule) to print it. Click Save area to keep the rule.
Optionally turn on Remove separator page from output so the separator sheets don't end up inside your finished documents.
Troubleshooting
Next steps
Document splitting
The splitting methods — including barcode separators — that turn one stack into separate documents.
Index fields
Set a zone's Type, validation, and how captured values map to your export columns.