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Intermec PB51 Fingerprint Developer's Guide (old) - Page 89

General Rules for Bar Code Printing, Commands for Working With Bar Codes

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Chapter 5 - Managing Fonts, Bar Codes, and Images General Rules for Bar Code Printing The printer contains a number of bar code generators, which can produce highly readable bar codes in four different directions. Generally, it is more difficult to print a bar code with the bars across the media path (ladder style) than along the media path (picket fence style.) Therefore, to ensure a highly readable printout, Intermec recommends that you use narrow bars at least 3 dots wide when printing ladder-style bar codes. Print speed also affects the printout quality of bar codes. Generally, a lower print speed gives a better quality, especially for ladder style bar codes and at low ambient temperatures. Print speed should be only as high as necessary, considering the overall print cycle time. In some instances, a lower print speed may actually give better overall performance. Intermec recommends that you do your own tests with your unique applications to find the best compromise between printout quality, performance, and media. For more information on specific bar code parameters and settings, see the Fingerprint Command Reference Manual. Commands for Working With Bar Codes Use these Fingerprint commands when working with bar codes: • BARADJUST - Adjusts position of bar code to avoid faulty printhead dots. • BARCODENAME$ - Lists available bar code fonts. • BARFONT - Selects a human-readable font for bar code interpretive printing. • BARFONT ON|OFF - Enables bar code interpretive printing. • BARHEIGHT - Bar code height. • BARMAG - Specifies a magnification for the width of bars in a bar code. • BARRATIO - Sets the ratio between wide and narrow bars in a bar code. • BARSET - Specifies a bar code type and sets additional parameters for complex bar codes. • BARTYPE - Specifies a bar code type. • PRBAR - Provides input data for a bar code. For more information, see the Fingerprint Command Reference Manual. Intermec Fingerprint Developer's Guide 73

Section	Page
Before You Begin	13
Safety Information	13
Global Services and Support	13
Warranty Information	13
Web Support	13
Telephone Support	14
Who Should Read This Manual	14
Related Documents	14
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Fingerprint	17
What Is Fingerprint?	18
Which Printers Support Fingerprint?	18
Learning the Structure of Fingerprint Commands	18
Fingerprint Operating Modes	19
Sending Fingerprint Commands to the Printer	19
Chapter 2 - Understanding Fingerprint Syntax	21
Learning Fingerprint Syntax	22
About Keywords, Statements, and Lines	22
About Functions	23
About Constants, Variables, and Expressions	24
About Operators	25
Using Arithmetic Operators	25
Using Relational Operators	25
Using Logical Operators	26
About Devices	27
About Immediate Mode	28
Sending Command Strings in Immediate Mode	28
About Programming Mode	29
Using Line Numbers	30
Programming Without Line Numbers	30
Sending Programs to the Printer	31
Commands for Editing Code	31
Using Conditional Instructions	32
Using an IF...THEN...[ELSE] Instruction	32
Using an IF...THEN...[ELSE]...END IF Instruction	33
About Branching	33
Branching to Subroutines	33
Instructions for Conditional Branching	34
Using an IF...THEN GOTO...ELSE Instruction	34
Using an ON...GOSUB Instruction	35
Using an ON...GOTO Instruction	35
Using an ON BREAK...GOSUB Instruction	35
Using an ON COMSET...GOSUB Instruction	36
Using an ON KEY...GOSUB Instruction	36
Unconditional Branching Using a GOTO Statement	37
Branching to an Error-Handling Subroutine	37
Using an ON ERROR GOTO Instruction	37
Resuming Execution After Error Handling	37
About Loops	38
Using a FOR...NEXT Instruction	38
Using a WHILE...WEND Instruction	39
Structuring Your Program	40
Executing the Program	41
Writing, Executing, and Listing a Short Program	41
Breaking Program Execution	42
Using a BREAK Statement	43
Using a BREAK...ON or BREAK...OFF Statement	43
Using an ON BREAK ...GOSUB...Statement	44
Saving the Program	44
Naming the Program	44
Protecting the Program	45
Saving Without Line Numbers	45
Making Changes	45
Making Copies of Programs	46
Renaming a Program	46
Saving in CompactFlash Memory Cards	46
Creating a Startup Program	46
Chapter 3 - Managing Files	49
Using Directories in the Printer File System	50
Using Path Shortcuts	50
About File Types	51
Commands for Listing Files	51
Listing a File With the FILELIST Program	51
Commands for Creating and Managing Program Files	52
Commands for Creating and Managing Data Files	52
Commands for Transferring Text and Binary Files	53
Using the TRANSFER KERMIT Statement	53
Using the ZMODEM Protocol	53
Using a TRANSFER STATUS Statement	53
Commands for Transferring Files Between Printers	54
Checking Transferred Files With CHECKSUM	54
Commands for Working With Arrays	54
Specifying Array Dimensions Using DIM	55
Sorting Arrays	55
Splitting String Expressions	56
Calculating String Array Checksums	56
Chapter 4 - Managing Input and Output	57
Preprocessing Input Data	58
Modifying Character Sets Using a MAP Statement	58
Choosing a Single-Byte Character Set With a NASC Statement	59
Choosing a Double-Byte Character Set With a NASCD Statement	59
Converting Input Data	60
Generating Random Numbers	61
Calling the RANDOM Function	61
Using a RANDOMIZE Statement	61
Setting the Standard IN and OUT Channels	62
Input From a Host	62
Input From Sequential Files	63
Reading Data to a Variable With INPUT#	63
Reading a Specific Data Length With INPUT$	64
Reading a Line to a Variable With LINE INPUT#	64
Closing a File	65
Verifying the End of a File With EOF	65
Counting Data Blocks With LOC	65
Determining File Length With LOF	65
Input From a Random File	66
Creating a Buffer With FIELD	66
Copying a Specific Field With GET	66
Closing a File	67
Finding the Last Field Read With LOC	67
Determining File Length With LOF	67
Input From the Printer Keypad	67
Controlling Communication	68
Using BUSY or READY Statements	68
Using an ON LINE \| OFF LINE Statement	69
Controlling Printer Response with VERBON \| VERBOFF	69
Managing Background Communication	69
Background Communication Example	70
Retrieving Buffer Status With LOC or LOF	72
Setting Up RS-422 Communication	73
Output to the Standard OUT Channel	74
Printing Expressions With PRINT	74
Printing Characters by ASCII Values With PRINTONE	75
Redirecting Output to a File	76
Output to Sequential Files	76
Using an OPEN Statement	76
Printing Expressions to a Sequential File With PRINT#	77
Printing Characters by ASCII Values With PRINTONE#	77
Using a CLOSE Statement	77
Counting Data Blocks and Determining File Length With LOC and LOF	77
Output to Random Files	78
Opening a File for Random Input or Output With OPEN	78
Creating a Buffer With FIELD	78
Left or Right Justifying Data With LSET and RSET	79
Transferring Data to the File With PUT	79
Using a CLOSE Statement	80
Finding the Last Field Read and Determining File Length With LOC and LOF	80
Output to Communication Channels	80
Output to the Printer Display	81
Chapter 5 - Managing Fonts, Bar Codes, and Images	83
Managing Fonts	84
About Font Types	85
Selecting Fonts	85
Controlling Font Direction, Size, Slant, and Width	86
Adding and Removing Fonts	86
Using Older Font Formats	86
Creating and Using Font Aliases	86
About Bar Code Symbologies	87
General Rules for Bar Code Printing	89
Commands for Working With Bar Codes	89
Understanding Images and Image Files	90
Standard Images	90
Downloading Image Files	90
Listing Images	91
Removing Images and Image Files	91
Chapter 6 - Designing Bar Code Labels	93
Creating a Layout With Fields	94
Positioning Fields in the Layout	95
About Units of Measure	95
About Insertion and Anchor Points	96
About Print Directions	97
Checking the Current Position	98
Checking the Size and Position of a Field	99
Creating Single-Line and Multi-Line Text Fields	99
Specifying a Font With FONT or FONTD	99
Inverting Black and White Printing With NORIMAGE or INVIMAGE	99
Specifying Text for Printing With PRTXT	100
Defining Borders With PRBOX	100
Summary for Text Fields	100
Creating Bar Code Fields	101
Specifying a Bar Code Symbology With BARSET	101
Choosing the Human-Readable Font With BARFONT	102
Specifying Input Data With PRBAR	102
Summary for Bar Code Fields	102
Creating Image Fields	103
Magnifying Images With MAG	103
Inverting Black and White Printing With NORIMAGE or INVIMAGE	103
Specifying Images by Filename With PRIMAGE	103
Summary for Image Fields	103
Creating Box Fields	104
Summary for Box Fields	104
Creating Line Fields	105
Summary for Line Fields	105
Additional Printing Instructions	105
Printing Partial Fields With the CLIP ON Command	105
Inverting Intersection Printing With XORMODE	106
Using the LAYOUT Command	106
About Layout Requirements	107
Creating a Logotype Name File	110
Creating a Data File or Array	111
Creating an Error File or Array	111
Creating an Error Array	111
Creating an Error File	112
Using the Files in a LAYOUT Statement	112
Creating a Simple Label	113
Handling Errors With ERRHAND.PRG	117
Renumbering Lines When Merging Files	117
Merging Programs	117
Using the Print Key	118
Chapter 7 - Controlling the Printer	119
Using Fingerprint to Control the Printer	120
Controlling Media Feed	120
Adjusting Media Feed Distance With TESTFEED	120
Feeding Media With FORMFEED	120
Overriding Start and Stop Adjust Values With LBLCOND	121
Rotating the Platen Roller With CLEANFEED	121
Checking Media Feed Distance With ACTLEN	121
Controlling Printing	121
Enabling the Automatic Paper Cutter With CUT ON	122
Enabling the Label Taken Sensor With LTS& ON	122
Repeating the Last Printing Operation With PRINTFEED	122
Enabling Manual Printing With PRINT KEY ON	123
Checking the Transfer Ribbon and Printhead With SYSVAR	123
Handling Faulty Dots With HEAD, SET FAULTY DOT, and BARADJUST	123
Checking Printhead Status With FUNCTEST or FUNCTEST$	125
Reprinting Labels After Interruptions	125
About Batch Printing	125
Clearing the Print Buffer With CLL and FIELDNO	126
Maintaining Print Speed With OPTIMIZE “BATCH” ON	127
Interrupting Batch Printing	127
Using the Printer Keypad	127
Branching to Subroutines With KEY...ON and ON KEY...GOSUB	127
Defining Audio Beeps With KEY BEEP	128
Entering ASCII Characters With INPUT#, INPUT$, or LINE INPUT#	128
Remapping the Keypad With KEYBMAP$	128
Using the Keypad in Immediate Mode	130
Using the Printer Display	130
Printing Text to the Display on PF/PM/PX-Series Printers	130
Controlling the Display Cursor on PF/PM/PX-Series Printers	131
Customizing the PD42 Display	132
Controlling the LEDs and Beeper	133
Using an LED ON\|OFF\|BLINK Statement	133
Using a BEEP or SOUND Statement	133
Setting the Date and Time	134
Reading the Clock and Calendar	134
Using Setup Mode Programmatically	136
Reading the Current Setup	136
Creating a Setup File	136
Changing the Setup Using a Setup File	136
Changing the Setup Using a Setup String	136
Saving the Setup	137
Using the SYSVAR System Variable	137
Checking Hardware and Firmware Versions	138
Checking Immediate Mode and STDIO Status	139
Rebooting the Printer	139
About Printer Memory	140
Permanent Memory	140
Temporary Memory	140
Using Memory Cards	141
Other Memory Devices	141
Changing the Current Directory	141
Checking Free Memory	142
Providing More Free Memory	142
Formatting the Permanent Memory	142
Using the Industrial Interface	142
Chapter 8 - Error Handling	145
Standard Error Handling	146
Choosing an Error Message Format	146
Checking for Programming Errors	147
Using a TRON\|TROFF Statement	147
Using STOP and CONT Statements	147
Specifying Breakpoints	147
Commands for Error-Handling Routines	148
Branching to Subroutines With ON ERROR GOTO...	148
Checking Error Codes With ERR and ERL	148
Resuming Execution After Errors	148
Returning Print Job and Printhead Status With PRSTAT	148
Error Handling Example	149
Using the ERRHAND.PRG Utility Program	150
Modifying ERRHAND Variables and Subroutines	150
Complete Listing of ERRHAND.PRG	151
Extensions to ERRHAND.PRG	154
Standard Error Codes	154
Appendix A - Printer Keypad Layouts	155
PF2i, PF4i, PF4ci	156
PM4i	158
PX4i and PX6i Standard Keypad, PA30	160
PX4i, PX6i Alphanumeric Keypad	162
About ID Numbers and ASCII Values	162
PD42	164
PB50 and PB51	167
PB21, PB31, PB22, and PB32	167
Appendix B - Character Sets and Keywords	169
Introduction to Character Sets	170
About the UTF-8 Character Set	171
Example	172
Reserved Keywords and Symbols	173