Minimizing errors when typing Id numbers

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We are now sanitizing many laptops so, once in a while, we make mistakes when typing the id when tagging. Some of us (I personally do that once in a while) may swap codes form 12394 to 12943 or similar.
I know of two possible solutions for that and would like to know and share about them:

a) Add a Check digit-

b) Extract all the info with an USB connected to internet, sending the id number (previously sanitized, i guess) toghether with the Serial Number as well as other main laptop specifications. I am not sure this reduces errors as much as the other solution, but may be combined could lead to higher efficiency and reduce other errors such as the s/n.

Could you please explain these or other solutions and give your opinion and recomendations about them?
Thanks!!

Kommentare

Bild des Benutzers frankgeisler
Gespeichert von frankgeisler am Mo, 03/22/2021 - 19:48

Hi Elena

We in Switzerland are using a check-digit ID. That has helped us enormous, especially if helpers have to add hundreds of numbers manually and it brought the number of errors nearly down to zero.

Bild des Benutzers frankgeisler
Gespeichert von frankgeisler am Mo, 04/05/2021 - 05:46

Hello together

Here is how the calculation of the digit works:

Labdoo checksum calculation algorithm.

Labdoo ID has a form of -, e.g. 12735-4.

The last part after the dash is the check digit.

The check digit is calculated as follows:
* start with checksum = 0
* for all digits, starting from right to left:
* for odd indices, multiply by 3, for even indices, keep as-is.

Rightmost index of the Labdoo DB id number is an odd one (first digit).
* add the result to the checksum
* checksum modulo 10 is the check digit

For example:
DB id number: 12735
(5*3 + 3 + 7*3 + 2 + 1*3) % 10 = 44 % 10 = 4
Check digit: 4
Labdoo ID on the sticker: 12735-4

This protects from a digit mistake, e.g.:
3 mistaken for 8: 12785 -> 49, check digit 9
and from swapped digits:
3 and 5 swapped: 12753 -> 40, check digit 0
This algorithm is essentially based on the product bar codes check digit (as used on all products in grocery stores): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check_digit#UPC

Except our algorithm doesn't use the last step of the UPC algorithm (doesn't convert the digit into a 10-complement).

Thanks to Sebastian from our Swiss team who put all of this together!