32 Line Matrix Printer Code V Programmer's Reference Manual

131

3 Bar Codes

Overview

A bar code is a graphic representation of alphanumeric characters. Bar codes

are produced by entering a bar code command to the Code V in the Graphics

mode using an Extended Graphics command.

You can print the bar codes horizontally, vertically, with or without a human

readable data field, with default bar/space ratios, or with variable ratios. The

human readable data field may be printed using any of the Extended

Graphics command fonts available with the (cc)S or (cc)IFONT commands.

Bar code symbols are configured in a series of varying width bars and spaces

representing a specific bar code character set. These characteristics are in

accordance with established industry-wide practices.

Several integrity checks are performed against the bar code data, and error

messages are printed if any illegal data is discovered.

Each type of bar code has a different set of characters that can be bar coded,

and the Code V ensures that the data falls within the allowable set. Some bar

codes permit a variable number of data characters, while other bar codes

require a fixed number of data characters. The Code V ensures that the data

adheres to these constraints.

Examples

Using different printers may affect the printed appearance of your print

samples compared to those shown in this manual. This is due to the printer

scaling factor and varying print mode/densities. Print position also depends

on your paper top-of-form position and the initial print position. Therefore, the

location of the bar code print samples in this chapter are for reference only

and do not reflect the actual bar code print position.

Bar Code Size/Height Requirements

The length of any bar code is based on several factors: (1) the type of bar

code, (2) the number of data characters encoded, and (3) the bar/space

ratios.

The starting position of a bar code is determined by any justifications

specified in the previous alphanumeric command.

The alphanumeric command provides the proper length (height) of the bars in

bar codes.