MTX 1330-X02, Operator'S Manual

Page: 168 / 183

701333-004 B-41
Programming Notes
Bar code data must follow the specifications of the bar code type selected. Spaces and
commas are processed as delimiters, not as bar code characters. As per the ANSI X3.64-
1979 documentation, all bar codes will be preceded and followed by 1/4 inch of white
space.
The delimiters (space and comma) are processed as follows:
Space: A space will position the print head one character position to the right of the
current head position, based on the current CPI selected. If the space occurs
as a break in the bar code datastream, an additional 1/2 inch of space is
added to the spacing of the accumulated spaces. (For example, at 10 CPI,
ten spaces will position the print head one inch to the right of its current
position. If the ten spaces are used as a break between bar codes, the print
head will position 1.5 inches to the right of its current position.)
Comma: A comma will cause a break in the bar code data. The break will cause the
print head to be positioned 1/2 inch to the right of its current position.
Consecutive commas embedded in a bar code datastream will be treated as
one break (or as if only one comma were encountered in the bar code
datastream).
The bar code height determines the number of linefeeds that are required to process the
bar code printout. Therefore, the number of linefeeds that follows the ANSI escape code
is crucial for the entire bar code to be printed. If the bar code height is one inch, then at
6 LPI it will take six linefeeds to process the bar code printout. The number of linefeeds
required is determined by the expression LF = n/12 (LPI) without human readable and
plus one or two linefeeds with human readable, where n equals the bar code’s height
parameter.
Example: Printing a “Code 3 of 9” bar code 1/2 inch high without human readable
code using the data “3 of 9.”
<ESC>[4;6;0;}<ESC>[3t 3 of 9 <ESC> [0t<CR><LF><LF><LF>
Text data may be processed with the ANSI bar code data. Text data that is contained on
the same line as the bar code commands will be processed as follows:
Leading text data will be processed from the left margin as normal. The bar code will
start 1/4 inch from the last text character processed in the leading text data. (This includes
spacing as text data.) Trailing text that follows the bar code commands will start 1/4 inch
after the last bar code character processed. Any additional lines of text data will be treated
as normal text printing along with the bar code.
Note: All ANSI bar codes will start the top of the bar code on the same line that the
Activate Bar Code command is found.
Caution
Text that occurs adjacent to the bar code, but is not on the same line as the bar code
command, can overprint the bar code if spacing is not provided for positioning data
beyond the bar code.