5

Data Editing

Prefix/Suffix Overview

When a bar code is scanned, additional information is sent to the host computer along with the bar code data. This group of bar code data and additional, user-defined data is called a “message string.” The selections in this section are used to build the user-defined data into the message string.

Prefix and Suffix characters are data characters that can be sent before and after scanned data. You can specify if they should be sent with all symbologies, or only with specific symbologies. The following illustration shows the breakdown of a message string:

Prefix

 

Scanned Data

Suffix

1-11

 

variable length

1-11

alpha numeric &

 

alpha numeric &

control characters

 

control characters

Points to Keep In Mind

•It is not necessary to build a message string. The selections in this chapter are only used if you wish to alter the default settings. Default prefix = None. Default suffix = None.

•A prefix or suffix may be added or cleared from one symbology or all symbologies.

•You can add any prefix or suffix from the Code Page Mapping of Printed Bar Codes on page A-7,plus Code I.D. and AIM I.D.

•You can string together several entries for several symbologies at one time.

•Enter prefixes and suffixes in the order in which you want them to appear on the output.

•When setting up for specific symbologies (as opposed to all symbologies), the specific symbology ID value counts as an added prefix or suffix character.

To Add a Prefix or Suffix:Step 1. Scan the Add Prefix or Add Suffix symbol (page 5-4).

Step 2. Determine the 2 digit Hex value from the Symbology Chart (included in the Symbology Chart, beginning on page A-1)for the symbology to

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