Abstract: A method for decoding bar code symbols in which a bar code reader and associated components scan a bar code symbol produce a representation of the symbol, and attempt to decode that representation in order to produce a character message. The method consists of the steps of storing a first representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a first scan path through a first portion of said symbol smaller than the entire symbol, and storing a second representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a second scan path through the symbol. The method then processes these representations in the event a successful decode has not taken place by utilizing the signal from a first scan with the signal from a subsequent scan to determine whether the information from successive scans can be concatenated to form a combined signal. The process is repeated with different subsequent scans until successful decoding of the combined signal.