Printronix LQH-HWTM manual Incremental Bar Code Fields, Incrementing Bar Code Data

Chapter 3 Incremental Bar Code Fields

Incremental Bar Code Fields

With the incremental bar code fields feature, you can update bar code (and alphanumeric) data fields in a numeric or alphabetical manner automatically with just one set of data sent from the host computer. You can print up to 65,535 forms with incremental fields automatically updated.

Note Throughout the discussion of incremental fields, the term “increment” or “incremental” means the field is automatically updated by a specified amount (or increment). You can actually increment the field by a positive amount (added) or a negative amount (subtracted) as specified within the command.

You can use bar code incremental fields with fixed (static) data input as part of the Create Form mode, or with dynamic data supplied in the Execute Form mode. New formats and parameters are required in the bar code commands for static and dynamic incremental fields. In addition, the Execute Form command requires a new format and parameters when you use incremental fields with dynamic data. You can increment or decrement incremental fields, repeat at specified intervals before updating, and reset to the starting value after a specified number of increments.

Incrementing Bar Code Data

The IGP internally counts incremental static (fixed) bar code data fields. A maximum of 255 incremental fixed bar code data fields are allowed per form.

Incrementing is controlled with the STEPMASK and STARTDATA command parameters as described in Table 20. The parameters are part of the bar code command or part of the Execute command when using the Incremental Bar Code Dynamic Data command.

The STEPMASK parameter performs three functions:

1.It defines the increment amount (step);

2.It defines the number of characters allowed in the data field (STARTDATA); and

3.It provides a “mask” to link or unlink subfields of data for individual incremental activity. The data provided in the STEPMASK field combined with the data in the STARTDATA field determine the result of these functions.

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