Extending machine-readable document support beyond standard formats
Datalogic mobile devices have long supported OCR (Optical Character Recognition) symbology for reading machine-readable text in standardized formats like passports (TD3) and ID cards (TD1). This capability addresses the critical need for automated document processing in enterprise environments, particularly for travel documents, official IDs, and financial instruments using OCR-A, OCR-B, and MICR E13B fonts.
While the standard OCR symbology handles official travel documents efficiently, enterprise applications often encounter machine-readable text in non-standard layouts: industrial labels, custom ID cards, specialized forms, or passport variants that don't conform to TD1/TD3 specifications. This is why Datalogic has introduced Custom OCR Template Configuration - a powerful extension that enables precise reading of any document using OCR fonts, regardless of layout complexity.
Custom OCR Templates transform your mobile device into a versatile document reader capable of handling diverse text formats, enabling applications ranging from inventory management to custom document processing workflows.
Device and Firmware Compatibility
Custom OCR Templates are supported across Datalogic's Android mobile device portfolio with firmware supporting Android SDK v1.29 or higher:
| Product Family | Min OS version | Min Firmware version |
|---|---|---|
| Memor 11 | Android 11/13 | v1.00.01 (A11) / v2.00.01 (A13) or later |
| Memor 12 / 17 | Android 13 | v1.00.004 or later |
| Memor 30 | Android 13 | v1.00.004 or later |
| Memor 35/35X | Android 13 | v1.06.004 or later |
| Memor K20 | Android 13 | v2.00.01 or later |
| Memor K25 | Android 13 | v1.01.03 or later |
| Joya Touch 22 | Android 11/13 | v3.04.002 (A11) / v4.03.002 (A13) or later |
| Skorpio X5 | Android 11/13 | v3.04.002 (A11) / v4.03.001 (A13) or later |
From Standard to Custom: Extending OCR Capabilities
Standard OCR Symbology provides built-in support for official travel documents with predefined layouts and character patterns. The system works excellently for passports and ID cards but is limited to these standardized formats.
Custom OCR Templates extend this foundation by allowing enterprises to define their own document reading patterns. Instead of being restricted to TD1/TD3 formats, applications can now process any document that uses OCR fonts - whether it's a 6-digit industrial label, a multi-row equipment tag, or a custom passport variant with non-standard encoding.
The system works through a JSON configuration file that defines character patterns and validation rules for specific document types. Once configured, these custom templates appear alongside standard OCR options in the device settings menu, allowing seamless switching between different document types.
Real-World Applications
Custom OCR Templates address diverse enterprise scenarios where machine-readable text doesn't conform to standard passport or ID card formats. In industrial and manufacturing environments, equipment labels often follow custom patterns like "TracPw_N001" or "RailOp_E001" that require precise character recognition at specific positions. Government and immigration applications benefit when processing passport variants that don't conform to standard TD3 encoding, allowing flexible templates to accommodate different character sequences while maintaining reading accuracy.
Enterprise document processing becomes more versatile with support for multi-row forms containing both mandatory and optional fields, ensuring reliable data capture across document variations. Banking and financial institutions can process custom check formats or specialized documents using OCR fonts, with built-in validation capabilities through configurable check digit algorithms.
Getting Started
The Custom OCR Template Configuration Manual linked in this news provides comprehensive implementation guidance including:
- Complete parameter reference and character pattern language
- Step-by-step configuration and deployment procedures
- Real-world examples for common enterprise scenarios
- Performance optimization and troubleshooting guides
- Advanced features including mathematical validation algorithms
- Best practices for enterprise fleet deployment
This manual enables technical teams to quickly implement custom OCR solutions tailored to their specific document processing requirements, extending the powerful OCR capabilities of Datalogic mobile devices beyond standard formats.
Useful Links:
Datalogic:
- Custom OCR Template Configuration Manual (PDF)
- Supported Devices - Current SDK Versions
- OCR Symbology Settings Reference
Configuration Deployment: