Bar Codes in Banners

Control-D is capable of printing bar codes on banner pages. The bar codes are usually used by additional hardware components, such as job separator machines or shrink packaging machines.

Any data, whether banner variables or any other user supplied data, can print in bar code format. Bar codes are usually required on the Start-User bundle banner (member $$USERST in the IOA BANNERS library) so the explanations and examples below use this banner. Note that bar codes can be printed on any or all Control-D banners, not only on the user bundle banner.

AFP provides three basic methods for printing bar codes:

• BCOCA – This method can be used on printers that support IBM’s Bar Code Object architecture. Using AFPDS X‘5A’ bar code records, the required bar code can be printed. This method requires special software and is only supported on specific AFP printers. For additional information regarding AFPDS bar code records, refer to the IBM publication AFP Data Stream Reference S544-3202.
• DRAWRULE Commands – Using regular AFPDS X‘5A’ DRAWRULE commands, the required bar code can be printed. This method requires drawing the bar codes manually, not a simple task. When using variable data (such as a recipient name), this task becomes even more difficult.
• Bar Code Fonts – IBM offers a set of special bar code fonts; each bar code font is intended for a specific purpose. This method is the simplest and most commonly used on AFP printers. The bar code font method is supported on all AFP supported printers. It also provides a simple method for printing variable data in bar code (an IBM conversion routine). This is the recommended method for printing bar codes on Control-D banners. For additional information regarding IBM AFP bar code fonts, refer to the IBM publication Bar Code Fonts User’s Guide S544-3190.

Many possible techniques exist for printing bar codes on Control-D banners. The general concept is to decide which data need to be printed in bar code format and to print those data using a bar code font. For example, if the recipient (user) name needs to be printed in bar code format, the Control-D banner variable %USER% must be used for retrieving the recipient name and placing the recipient name in position (that is, line and column) on the banner page where the bar code is required. This line is then assigned to print with a bar code font (character set). Following is a description of possible techniques for assigning this line (or just the recipient name) to print with a bar code font.