# Barcode Configuration Generating Alpha (Letters) instead of Numerical

**URL:** <https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955>\
**Category:** Community\
**Created:** [November 27, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955 "2024-11-27T02:20:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Karen.Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Karen.Johnson](https://talk.openelis-global.org/u/Karen.Johnson)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955/1 "2024-11-27T02:20:09Z")

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Hello,

Could anyone please help me out.

I’ve just started using OpenELIS and originally the barcodes were generating sequential numbering for new patients. Which was working well. Suddenly it has switched to generating letters to identify a patient registration, which is more difficult to manage. Is this normal?

Thank you.

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**Author:** ![caseyi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/talk.openelis-global.org/caseyi/32/65_2.png) [@caseyi](https://talk.openelis-global.org/u/caseyi)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955/2 "2024-12-09T17:13:04Z")

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Hi Karen,

The barcode formats are configurable, the alphanumeric (which contains no vowels to make it easy to tell the difference between 0 and O, or I and 1) was to make more lab numbers available in fewer digits to make the workload of technicians a little easier, and the barcode labels easier to scan.

You can switch to numeric by clicking admin - Lab Number Management, and change from alphanumeric to “legacy”

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**Author:** ![Karen.Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Karen.Johnson](https://talk.openelis-global.org/u/Karen.Johnson)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955/3 "2025-01-13T23:05:50Z")

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Hi Casey,

Thank you for your message and the clarification. It is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,  
Karen

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**Author:** ![Karen.Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Karen.Johnson](https://talk.openelis-global.org/u/Karen.Johnson)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 3:20am UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955/4 "2025-01-15T03:20:04Z")

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Hi Casey,

Is there anyway that the Prefix DEVO for the Legacy Barcode format be changed? When using the AlphaNumeric we are able to use our laboratory prefix (CPHL). And was hoping to replicate in legacy, if possible.

Thank you.

Kind regards,  
Karen

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**Author:** ![caseyi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/talk.openelis-global.org/caseyi/32/65_2.png) [@caseyi](https://talk.openelis-global.org/u/caseyi)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955/5 "2025-01-17T19:40:19Z")

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Hi Karen, you should be able to change the prefix before any orders are entered. We can extend the pre-print barcode functionality to track where it left off and allow it to be changed once orders are in, but it’s not on the roadmap right now.

So, short answer, currently you can if there are no orders in the system, and long term, we could add the ability to change this in the future.

A quick way to wipe out the DB is to turn training mode on and off again, which _should_ wipe out the orders in the system and allow you to change it. I don’t have a platform that I want to wipe out to test that at the moment, so let me know if that doesn’t work.

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**Author:** ![Karen.Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Karen.Johnson](https://talk.openelis-global.org/u/Karen.Johnson)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://talk.openelis-global.org/t/barcode-configuration-generating-alpha-letters-instead-of-numerical/955/6 "2025-01-19T23:38:59Z")

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Hi Casey,

Thank you for your email and for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.

I’ll give your suggestion a try.

Thank you again. Have a great week.

Kind regards,  
Karen