PUTTING BARCODES SYMB 128 INTO FIELDS USING DBASE IV VER 1.5 DOS

[FOOSEBALL]

HELPPPPP!!!

USING DBASE IV VER 1.5 - HOW DO I PUT A BARCODE FIELD SYMBOLOGY 128 INTO A FIELD IN MY CUSTOMER DATABASE AND PRINT IT OUT USING DOT MATRIX PRINTER ?


THANK YOU

TT

 

[BillPSU]

In the past using a dot matrix printer to make a barcode was not acceptable. The scanner couldn't read the codes. It can be done with a laser printer but you will have to either buy the font cartridge for the printer if you are using DOS or if you are using dBase within Windows you will have to buy the desired font.

Changing ribbons on dot matrix printers is also problematic.

If you are strictly printing barcode labels I would recommend you purchase a thermal transfer printer from someone like Zebra.

Bill

 

[1oldfoxman]

I believe you will have to store the code in a dBaseIV field (not the bar code itself, but the character equivalent)and pass that to software that sits between dBase and the printer - this may have come with the printer itself (not likely with a regular dot matrix printer). My experience is limited....... maybe someone else will have more insight.

Bill is correct that in many applications, dot matrix printers couldn't produce high enough quality labels to be read reliably by barcode readers and better results come from specialty barcode printers or laser printers.

hth
Dennis

 

[Blorf]

I use Ms Access to generate a csv file and pass it to Wasp, which is fairly cheap. It prints based on the csv file. I also use access to call the wasp program with command line args, so it works nicely. should work with dbase also.

ChaZ

 

[cricket]

Many dot matrix printers especially 24pin printers print very acceptable barcodes from their own internal fonts, if the size is large enough. The number of barcode fonts may be limited eg code 39, 2 of 5, 128 etc. This depends on the model of printer.

Store the barcode data in a field. When printing you will have to sent control codes to the printer that causes the printer to switch to the required barcode font. Barcodes often add an extra character which is used as a validation feature, and you may have to calculate this extra digit and add it to the data you are encoding in the barcode.

This is not easy, but can be done. If you are a skilled programmer it is easy, otherwise consisder using some barcode software which will do the printing from a text delimited file you create from Dbase.