change font to barcode and back to normal

[kenif]

Hello. I am an amature RPG hack. (I adjust and add to print programs for my company, no real programming.) I have an IBM 4230 printer that is capable of barcodes. I would like to add a barcode of our order # when we print our warehouse pick slip. In the PC world, I would insert into the program that is creating the output an escape character followed by the command to switch to barcode font followed by the data to barcode. Is there anything simular in the os/400 rpg world? Or can anyone give me further instructions. I have read about the 'barcode:' keyword and many things about ipds printing, but I am not putting the pieces together. (probably because I'm thinking in PC type terms). Thanks.


Ken in Reno, NV

 

[RedMage1967]

Do you have AFP on your AS/400?

RedMage1967
IBM Certifed - RPG IV Progammer

 

[kenif]

Yes, though I have never used any of those tools.

 

[RedMage1967]

I've only played with AFP, a couple of months ago. I know you need to create an overlay to generate the barcode. Check out the tutorial and see if that helps. Also, make sure your printer is an AFP capable printer.

RedMage1967
IBM Certifed - RPG IV Progammer

 

[jmd0252]

Well the first thing I would ask,, is the printer output in the program,,, just O specs, or an actual PRTF file,,, if it is a PRTF file,,, then you can use the keyword, for the type of barcode your want,, but when you compile the PRTF file,,, there is an option that you have to set so that it compiles it as barcode capable, I believe it is *IPDS, but cannot remember which option it is.

 

[PeteJohnston]

There is now a BARCODE keyword in the DDS when you create the external printer file. It will print as a barcode if your printer is capable of doing it. If you go to

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/pubs/html/as400/online/v4r4eng.htm

you can download the DDS Reference manual and scan for barcode - there are a couple of examples in the manual. The IBM website is crap, but if you go to the PDF section it allows you to download any/all of the manuals to your hard drive as Acrobat documents which is a lot better/easier.

PeteJ
(Contract Code-monkey)

It's amazing how many ways there are to skin a cat
(apologies to the veggies)

 

[kenif]

Thanks, I will do some more reading and check these out.