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1991-03-06
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WELCOME TO Zbar !
Zbar is a barcode printing shareware program. It will print the
barcode, two comment lines above it and the code in human
readable characters below it.
Its menu-driven, windowed interface makes it extremely easy to
use. Try it by just typing 'zbar' followed by the ENTER key. It
was designed to be uncomplicated, intuitive and robust enough for
serious commercial applications (it has been ported to several
multi-user platforms with the same interface). If interested in
multi-user/network versions, please contact me at the address
listed at the end of this manual.
Zbar runs under DOS and OS/2, real or protected mode!
The interface makes use of the up and down arrow keys for menu
scrolling and the ENTER key to select your choice. Input is
terminated if ENTER key is hit when prompted for the number of
labels to be printed.
Zbar supports both interactive and command line input modes. This
allows you to create input files from other programs (such as
inventory control) and feed them right into Zbar without the need
for the tedious and time-consuming task of entering all the data
again.
It currently supports the following barcode symbologies: UPC-A,
UPC-E, EAN/JAN-13, EAN-JAN-8, code 39, extended 39, interleaved 2
of 5, code 128, CODABAR, Zip+4 Postnet, MSI Plessey, code 93,
extended 93 and UCC-128.
Several printers can also be used including emulation for 9- and
24-pin Epson, 9- and 24-pin IBM Proprinter, 24-pin Toshiba,
Okidata Microline, HP Laserjet and Deskjet as well as Postscript
printers.
Zbar also allows you to print several times across a page as
would be the case for adhesive labels, price tags and shelf ID's.
It is smart enough to optimize label usage so that no matter how
many different labels you print, you will always end up wasting
no more than the number of label across the page minus 1.
Zbar operates both in interactive and command line mode.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
512k RAM recommended.
QUICK START - 1-2-3 TO BARCODING
The default parameter file was set for the 9-pin IBM Proprinter
emulation and code 128.
Interactive Mode:
1) At the DOS prompt, type 'zbar' and hit the ENTER key.
2) Answer the prompts or just hit ENTER to accept the defaults.
3) Type in the number of labels and barcode data you want to
print. Hit ENTER at the quantity when finished.
Command Line Mode:
1) At the DOS prompt, type 'zbar demo.dat' and hit the ENTER key.
FIXED INPUT PARAMETERS
Some input parameters are fixed during a session and may be
changed for another session. They are:
- printer
0001 Epson 9 pins
0002 Epson 24 pins
0003 IBM Proprinter 9 pins, 1/9'' per printhead pass
0004 IBM Proprinter 9 pins, 1/12'' per printhead pass
0005 IBM Proprinter 24 pins
0006 Okidata Microline
0007 Toshiba 24 pins
0008 HP Laserjet at 150 dots per inch
0009 HP Laserjet at 300 dots per inch
0010 HP Laserjet 150 dpi Compatibility Mode
0011 HP Laserjet 300 dpi Compatibility Mode
0012 HP Deskjet 150 dpi
0013 HP Deskjet 300 dpi
0014 Postscript
- barcode symboloby
0001 UPC-A
0002 UPC-E
0003 EAN/JAN-13
0004 EAN/JAN-8
0005 3 of 9
0006 3 of 9 Extended
0007 Interleaved 2 of 5
0008 128
0009 CODABAR
0010 Zip+4 Postnet
0011 MSI Plessey
0012 93
0013 93 Extended
0014 UCC-128
- number of printhead overpasses (for darkness control);
- barcode density with reference to number of dots used to
produce the thinnest bar;
- barcode height as a function of the number of printhead passes;
- number of labels or tags across the page;
- offset for the first label measured as the number of characters
from the left margin at 10 CPI horizontal spacing;
- offset for the second and subsequent label measured as the
number of character from the begining of the previous label at
10 CPI horizontal spacing.
- number of ticks for precise vertical spacing between labels
measured in ticks. One tick is the smallest vertical displace-
ment the selected printer is capable of making. This varies
from printer to printer and is 1/72'' for 9-pin Epson, 1/216''
for 9-pin IBM Proprinter.
VARIABLE INPUT DATA
These are the number of label, upper comments, letters/numbers to
be barcoded, lower string and if you want to send the data to
printer now or wait until the end fo the input to start printing.
Input is terminated by hitting the ENTER key when prompted for
the number of label to be printed.
When printing a large number of labels, one may wish to start
printing while still in the middle of the data entry process in
order to expedite matters. This is made possible by selecting YES
(use the right and left arrow keys) when asked if want to print
now. If a print spool is active, the program prepares the data,
sends it to the printer and you can keep on typing other labels
while the first batch is coming out from the printer. In any
case, all the data is sent to the printer when you ENTER at the
label quantity prompt.
You can key in up to 99 different entries (labels) before input
is sent to the printer. Once data is sent to the printer, you can
key in up to 99 other entries.
THE UPPER COMMENTS
Two comments lines are placed on top of the barcode. Each can be
up to 40 characters long and typically would contain things such
as product description, manufacturer and pricing information. The
upper comments are always vertically aligned with the begining to
the barcode and use standard horizontal (10 characters/inch) and
vertical (6 lines/inch) spacing. For the first label the printing
start at a given offset from the left margin. For subsequent
labels, another offset is used with respect to the begining of
the previous label.
THE BARCODE
For a run of labels you must select the printer and barcode
symbology used.
The barcode height is defined by the number of passes that the
printhead makes across the page. Depending on the printer and on
the selected graphics mode, one printhead pass will typically be
1/9'' high. Therefore, if you select 3 passes your barcode will
be 3/9'' high.
To adjust darkness of the printout, you may select more than one
overpass for the barcode.
The density of the barcode is measured with reference to the
width of the thinnest bar. For high density printing select 1
yieding a width of one dot for the thinnest bar. Use 2 for medium
density and 3 for low density.
THE LOWER STRING
You may choose to print the code that originated the bar code
just below it. This is used in case the label becomes damaged or
rendered unreadable by the scanner. The string of characters is
automatically centered under the barcode and is usually an exact
copy of was is being coded but may include spaces or dashes to
aid readability.
THE 'DEFAULTS FILE'
As the program loads, it reads a 'defaults file' whose contents
correspond to parameters that will be used during this session.
These parameters were described above and are the ones that
govern the size of the barcode, type of barcode, type of printer
being used, etc. While running under interactive mode, the
existence of these default values allow you to just press the
ENTER key when presented with a menu selection. This file is
called 'zbar.dat' and may be changed with an ASCII editor of your
choice. Keep in mind that the order in which these parameters
appear (as shown above) is very important. Also notice that all
parameters start with a space followed by the default parameters
value always occupying 4 spaces and padded with zeroes on the
left (blocked format).
INTERACTIVE MODE
This mode is invoked by simply typing 'zbar' followed by the
ENTER key. The program loads in memory, reads the defaults file,
prompts for the fixed parameters and then pops a window where you
type in the variable data (label quantity, uppper comments, code,
lower string and if you want to print now or later).
COMMAND LINE MODE
This mode allows you to build an input data file and feed it to
Zbar. There will be no prompts and no questions. The input file
should contain all the necessary variable data as diescribed
above. This mode is invoked by typing 'zbar filename' followed by
the ENTER key where 'filename' is to be substituted by the name
of your input file. Up to 99 different labels may be submitted to
Zbar at a time.
The fixed parameter are taken from the defaults file and may be
edited according to the type and size of labels you are going to
print in this run.
The variable data is stored in the input file in a blocked
format, i.e., the fields which comprise the data file always have
a fixed length: the upper comments are 40 characters long(padded
on the right with spaces), the code and the lower string are 16
characters long (padded on the right with spaces) and the label
quantity is 4 characters long padded on the left with zeroes when
necessary. The structure of the file is as follows:
QQQQ 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890
1234567890123456789012345678901234567890
CODEgoesHERE!!!!
LOWERstringHERE!
QQQQ 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890
1234567890123456789012345678901234567890
CODEgoesHERE!!!!
LOWERstringHERE!
You can even use your favorite word processor to block the
structure above and use it as a template for your data file.
Or, better yet, use the 'demo.dat' file as an example.
THE OUTPUT
Output is sent to file which is then piped to the printer through
the parallel port 1. This output file has a unique name for every
run and resides in the directory you are currently logged in.
This unique file name has the form 'printxxx.dat' where xxx is an
incremental number starting at 000. Once the file goes to the
printer it is not automatically deleted - it is therefore your
responsibility to do so whenever appropriate. The reason this
file cannot be automatically deleted lies on the fact that the
file may still be on the print queue and Zbar uses the print
spool's queing feature to send output to printer but at the same
time letting you continue with your work.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
If you liked this product, please send $35.00 to become a
registered user. In addition, this will allow you to receive free
future upgrades and a printed version of the manual.
Thank you,
Al Borges
263 Ashsale Ave
Syracuse, NY - 13206
* All brand and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
* Zbar Copyright(c) 1991. All rights reserved. Al Borges.