# Read a scanned lot and expiry date

Scan GS1 data with a hidden group separator and read the lot and the expiry date as separate fields.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/barcodebench/guides/scanned-separator

Audience: Operator

BarcodeBench checks the text a scanner sent, not the physical print quality, ownership or correctness of a shipment.

## Read a scanned lot and expiry date

1. **Start a barcode check**

   Start a barcode check.

   Start a temporary session. Values stay on this device and are not sent for a remote lookup.

2. **Scan a carton label with a lot and an expiry date**

   Scan a carton label with a lot and an expiry date.

   A scanner set up for GS1 data sends the item number, the lot and the expiry date as one value, with a hidden group separator after the lot, because the lot can be any length.

3. **Choose how to read the value**

   Choose how to read the value.

   Move to the format choice before asking BarcodeBench to explain the value.

4. **Choose GS1 data as a scanner sends it**

   Choose GS1 data as a scanner sends it.

   Scanned GS1 data has no brackets: each field follows its application identifier, and a group separator ends a field of variable length.

5. **Read the lot and expiry date separately**

   Read the lot and expiry date separately.

   The separator that arrived ends the lot, so the expiry date after it is read as a field of its own. Nothing is split on a guess.

[Watch or practise this chapter](https://help.smartfact.ai/barcodebench/demo?guide=scanned-separator&chapter=scanned-separator)