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adlikon

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Bar Code printiing from Solaris 5.8

Hi, I have a large multi user N-Tier application, windows presentation layer but everything is hosted on Solaris 5.8 servers. I need to produce bar codes on some printed shipping documents and this therefore neesds to be done from Solaris, everything I find on the web however is for Windows applications. Can't seem to find a simple UNIX bar coding site, Ive been to sites like idfautomation and its like too complicated and unclear.

My question is this, is my following understanding correct ? ;

I beleive I need to install some fonts (PCL) on my Solaris Server and use activation codes in my data to get the elements of data I want converted into a bar code or perhaps the font vendor will provide an application that I would pipe my data  as in cat 'dat.txt' | fontprogram | lp -dhplzr. Am I on the right track or have I missed something ? Do you know of a vendor site where I can get such a sollution for Solaris.

Thanks
 
 
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yuzh

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yuzh

You can also use Latex to make format your doc/bar-code to the exact format, then
complie it to postscript file and print the postscript file.

I have not used Latex for more than 10 years now, but you can find a lot  Latex
manual/tutorial on the web.
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ASKER

Thanks for both your assistance, now i just have a problem with lpr on solaris.
adlikon, when you crack this problem it would be very useful if you posted your method - e.g. laying out the print file, embedding the codes - There is a similar question at https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21039990/Install-barcode-Font-on-AIX.html  that you could answer ;-)
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ASKER

Hi,

I have looked at the AIX question, lots of people involved including both of you - not too sure I can add value.

Now that I know I can print Bar Codes from our Solaris App svr using a demo font I will obtain the real font and begin work on our Service which manages all print jobs from our application. This will involve the embedding of codes etc, I will post my sollution (which will be in Uniface)  if that question is still open, probably won't get around to that for 3 weeks.



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ASKER


Hi,

Got this working now so I thought I would publish how I managed it.

The Bar Code printing is achieved using PCL fonts, basically you get a font from these guys http://www.makebarcode.com/software/printerfonts.html. This is then loaded into the printer using the print command lp. Then you just need a text file with your escape sequence wrapped arounnd your data to convert into a Bar Code.

like so, text file called test.txt;

   ^[(25501X*START123456*^[(3@

    (The data between * is converted to Bar Code)


EG

lp -d{printer} c3925501.dsf           (Loads the font into the printer - needs HP or PCL compatible printer)
lp -d{printer} test.txt


This wil produce a Bar COde.

Of couse this is a soft memory resident font, you can use DIMM/SIMM Catridges but they are very expensive and you need one for each printer.