5525B/31/32 Line Matrix Printer Code V Programmer's Reference Manual

Codabar
143
ratio Optional parameter (used in conjunction with 9
above) representing the ratios for variable ratio bar
codes. The default ratios are overridden by the
variable ratio feature. The ratio data must be
hexadecimal numbers from 0 through 9 or A
through F; the Code V automatically checks the
input for validity. If an invalid character is found in
the ratio, an error message is generated.
NOTE: The Code V automatically checks ratio data for validity only within the
allowable hexadecimal range. The Code V does not verify that ratio
data creates acceptable wide/narrow element relationships for bar
code readability. For example, the Code V accepts wide/narrow ratio
values of 2 and 5, respectively; however, a narrow element larger
than the wide element produces an unreadable bar code. When
designing unique ratio data, carefully plot wide/narrow ratios to
conform to readable bar codes.
Codabar bar codes require an eight-digit ratio. The
ratios are interpreted from left to right, measuring
the size of each bar or space in dot width. The first
four digits are interpreted as follows:
narrow bar :
narrow space : wide bar : wide space.
The sixth
digit specifies the number of dots for the
intercharacter spacing. The fifth, seventh and
eighth digits are not used; any data in these
positions is ignored. For example, if the Codabar
ratio data was 24681211, it would be translated as
follows:
2-dot-wide narrow bar
4-dot-wide narrow space
6-dot-wide wide bar
8-dot-wide wide space
ignore data
2-dot-wide intercharacter spacing
ignore data
ignore data
data The bar code data. Codabar encodes from 1
through 40 characters from the Codabar Character
Set shown in Table 20. Characters A, B, C, and D
are strictly start/stop codes.
(cc)G Terminates the bar code command. Enter the
SFCC for your Code V configuration immediately
followed by any valid command character or G, the
universal sequence terminator.