User manual

CODE 128 SUPPLEMENT

Code 128 is an alphanumeric bar code. All code 128 data must be bracketed by a caret (^) on both sides. The

letter O is used to select one twenty eight bar code. Shift characters and check digits are automatically

calculated by the Ghostwriter. The printer will switch between start codes ‘B’ and ‘C’ where appropriate.

A typical ladder code 128 bar code would be sent as follows:

"<RC0,70><OL3>^CODE128^"

This would result in a 3 unit wide bar code starting on row 0, column 70. No interpretation is printed.

A typical expanded picket fence code 128 would be as follows:

"<RC0,10><X2><OP5><BI>^CODE128^"

This code starts at row 0, column 10. The interpretation is included.

SOFTSTRIP BAR CODE SUPPLEMENT

Softstrip is a very high density bar code that can consist of any character from 0 to 255. It can be used to store

text data or graphics data. The commands to use this bar code are very similar to our previous bar code

commands. However, there are a few differences that must be noted when using this bar code. The lower-case

letter s is used to signify that a Softstrip bar code is being selected. The uppercase letter will not be accepted

as it is with the other bar codes. Also the bar code ratio command letter (X) has a different meaning with the

Softstrip bar code. It is used to indicate how many bytes of data each line of the bar code will contain. There

can be either 2 or 3 bytes in each line. The default value is 2 bytes but the X letter will change that to 3 bytes.

The default size of the bar code is 1 dot wide by 2 dots high. <X#> expands the width, while <sXL#> expands

the height. We recommend maintaining the initial 1x2 ratio of the width to height. Number values of 2 and 3

work best with 200 dpi printers while values of 2 thru 5 are recommended for 300 dpi printers.

When sending alphanumeric data to the printer you can use the caret character ^ to mark the bar code data

string. For example, the following sequence will produce a rotated-left, ladder Softstrip bar code with 3 bytes

per line and a bar size of 2 by 4.

<RC200,20><RL><X2><sXL2>^THIS IS A SOFTSTRIP BAR CODE^

If the data string you are sending to the printer consists of graphics data (non-alphanumeric values), then you

must add the graphics command string immediately after the bar code select command and before the actual

data. The bar code delimiter character ^ is not used in this case. You can also use this method when using

alphanumeric chatracters. For example, you could print the same bar code as above with the following

sequence.

<RC200,20><RL><X2><sXL2><G28>THIS IS A SOFTSTRIP BAR CODE

Note, that you can't print bar code interpretations with the Softstrip bar code.

Softstrip is a registered trademark of Cauzin Systems Inc.