Assigning Barcode to any data so it could be reckognize with barcode reader

Question

Hi all,
Although I am a SolMan consultant, the fallowing task is assigned to me recently:
We have borrowed a Symbol handheld Barcode device, and I have connected it to SAP ECC, and generated needed screens so LM01 and other mobile transactions can be used.
Now, I am asked to create a basic, simple example of how the device can be used (from start to an end).
I fail to understand what is the concept of optimal usage of this device:
At first I thought: OK,  the goods is arriving to a WH, then I scan the material barcode, enter the amount, so the system automatically update the status in stock.
I have searched www and forums as well as sap help and I read that "SAP reads bar codes for identification and verification. The items that can be identified include Storage bin, Material, Quantity, Delivery, Staging area, Shipment, Pick wave, Handling unit, Storage Unit. It is possible to scan items for verification purposes and these fields includes Storage unit, Material, Quantity, Storage bin, Other fields determined in a user exit"
Nicey!
The one milion dolar (or at list 10 point ) question is:
How do I generate a barcode for specific entry (one of mantioned)?
How do I link this barcode to this specific entry?
All I could find was a EAN field for material in MM01, and first I entered a (mineral water) barcode for testing purpose there, and then tried to read the barcode in LM01 with Goods Receipt > GR by others > Material.
Didn't work. Got message "Material 000000xxxxxxxxx does not exist".
Then I created a Delivery for that material, and again executet LM01 > Goods Receipt > GR by Delivery  - I get a "Delivery" filed. So now I can enter a delivery number and it is OK, but I am under strong impresion that delivery barcode should be used here, and not a manualy entered delivery number.
So - how can I link a delivery with certain barcode?
Is there a special transaction like "VB11" (I entered a test mineral water barcode as a "MatEntered", assigned to my test material "353" and again, I got the same "Material 000000xxxxxxxxx does not exist" message again.
Excuse me for such a basic questions, but look at the bright side: it will be lot easier to answer
Thank you in advance,
Nenad
P.s. - is there any good documentation covering this filed with some useful info of HOW to do it, not WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Answer 1

Hi Arakish,
Thank you for your reply.
This all makes sense for the internal numbers, but what about external barcode numbers?
For example, the same "mineral water" I tried to read - can I:
- name the material "Mineral Water xx"
- assign an external, manufacturer barcode number to it,
- read that barcode,
- the Mineral Water would be recognized as material?
I suppose I can. But how? I want the material to be named "mineral water xx", and not 8605002300xx?
So let's summarize (for the future colleagues-in-need):
Every internal number we want to enter with barcode should be used in original form - weather SAP generates it (Delivery, HU, SU...) or we named it ourselves (Material, Quantity...). No special Barcode number is needed to be assigned.
But first, we need to generate that specific number/data in Barcode format (example: Delivery), so we are able to read the very same number into pre-designated field (example: in Tx LM06) using a BC reader.
There is a (costy) plug in for Microsoft Excel that can transform a text to barcode. One should search the net for "barcode with Microsoft excel". However, there are other (commercial) software that can convert characters to barcode. SAP can do it via Smart Forms and SAPscript.
Thanks once again,
Cheers,
N