1. In a bar code scanning system, a method for assembling label information from partial scans of label data which may comprise some undecodable characters, the method comprising the steps of: receiving scans of label data comprising character information; sequentially decoding characters in each scan of label data received; storing decoded character information in association with corresponding position information; and, merging decoded character information from multiple scans provided that each decoded character so merged has been stored in association with the same corresponding position a fixed number of times.