1. A decoder for translating the signals from a bar code scanner into character data, capable of processing the output signals from both wand and laser bar code scanners from scans of various bar code symbology tags without using separate decoding hardware, comprising: timer means for measuring the pulse width time intervals between the state changes of the signals from the wand and laser bar code scanners and producing a time interval data signal; filter means comprising an adaptive digital filter connected to the timer means for transforming the time interval data from a wand scanner into time interval data having the characteristics of time interval data from a laser scanner, to produce transformed wand time interval data that preserves the relative proportions of time interval values of bars and spaces of the bar code; and decoder means for receiving the laser time interval data from the timer means and for receiving the transformed wand time interval data from the filter means, for translating the time interval data into character data, said decoder capable of translating only time interval data having the characteristics of data from a laser scanner.