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Introduction

This document provides instructions for enabling and printing a customized barcode image on the LayCom work ticket form with that capability. The symbology, height, location, rotation, and barcode label are customizable for each setup.

Procedure

Determine what data you wish to print in the barcode. The data for this barcode is from data stored within the job_data table. Printing the barcode can be triggered by any method available in the job triggers or other menus to set a job data item. This document will example a barcode of a remote tray number.

Begin by creating the placeholder for the barcode.

Job Data Definitions

From the Optifacts main menu:

Select Option 3 - Editor Utilities and press enter.

Select Option 6 - Configuration Editor and press enter.

Select Option 7 – Edit Job Data Definitions and press enter.

The Prompt Configuration for Miscellaneous Job-Related data screen displays.

• Press “Q” to Query for the table shown below.
• You can then use “N” and “P” to scroll forwards and backward in the results list and press “U” to update an existing record. (If you need more assistance navigating this screen, please refer to the appropriate SOP for navigating Perform Screens.)

If the table does not exist:

• Press “A” to add a new record.
• Enter all the information as shown in the diagram below.
• Press Escape to save the data.
• Repeat this procedure for each barcode configuration you will be making.
• Press “E” to exit.

Field Definitions

Field Name - Must begin as WT BAR CODE, followed by a space, and then a number 1 through 20. WT BAR CODE 1, WT BAR CODE 2, etc.

• This entry matches the Field Name from the Custom Configuration screen.
• Each entry must be uniquely named, from WT BAR CODE 1 through WT BAR CODE 20.

Prompt Order - A numerical value. Since this configuration is not prompting an operator for input, this value is not used but is still required. Therefore, we use 30 in this example.

Order Within Prompt Grp - May be left blank

Prompt Title - Can be left blank, but advise placing something in this field.

 Validation Mask - Can be left blank.

Include or Limit - Can be left blank.

Minimum Characters - Numerical value. It may be left as 0.

Comment - Comment this entry as you see fit.

Print in Invoice Box - Leave this as N to prevent the barcode text from printing in one of the invoice boxes.

Invoice Prefix - Leave blank. If printing to an invoice box, text here would prefix the data printed.

XML Tag - Leave blank.

Mandatory - Set to “F” to signify this as a flag that will not require operator input.

Prompt Station - Set to “NONE” since no operator input is required.

Local Use Only - Set to “Y,” this data not included on routed jobs.

Right, Left, or Job - Set to “J,” as barcode applies to the job.

Tibco Use - Leave blank.

Relaunch Use - Leave blank or set to “Y” if you know you would desire this barcode to be pre-configured for any relaunched jobs. It is better to leave the unset and allow the system to enable a barcode on a relaunched job automatically.

Press the Escape key to complete adding your entry. Repeat this procedure from “Press “A” to begin adding” for each barcode configuration you will be making.

Remote Tray Number

Next are creating a new job_data for REMOTE TRAY NUMBER. This is a job_data field where the system will store the remote tray number on jobs where it applies.

• Press “A” or “U” to add or Update (if needed) an entry for “REMOTE TRAY NUMBER.” Then, refer to the instructions shown above.

• Press the Escape key to complete adding your entry.
• Press the “E” key to exit this screen and return to the Configuration Menu.

Job Data Triggers

Next, define the trigger for each barcode. In this example, we use the actual account number as the trigger.

From the Optifacts main menu:

Select Option 3 – Editor Utilities and press enter.

Select Option 6 – Configuration Editor and press enter.

Select Option 7 – Edit Job Data Triggers and press enter.

The Triggers to Cause Prompts for Miscellaneous Job-Related Data window displays.

• Press “Q” to Query to search if the table you are looking for exists.
• Press Escape to search. You can then use “N” and “P” to scroll forwards and backward in the results list and press “U” to update an existing record. (If you need more assistance navigating this screen, please refer to the appropriate SOP for navigating Perform Screens.) This screen defines what data will trigger the appearance of the barcode and points to the job data element that contains the barcode text.

If the table does not exist:

• Press “A” to add a new record.
• Enter all the information as shown in the diagram below.
• Press Escape to save the data.
• Press “E” to exit.

Field Definitions

Account Number - This example uses account 1.

Ship To Code - Leave blank

Lite-Up (num) - Leave blank

Lite-Up (bit) - Leave blank

Lite-Up On/Off - Set to ”N” since this entry is not using a lite-up configuration.

Account Segment - Leave blank

Account Sub-Segment - Leave blank

Sales Group - Leave blank

Buying Group - Leave blank

Chain Group - Leave blank

Business Type - Leave blank

Field Name - Set to WT BAR CODE 1 (or what name you are using for the WT BAR CODE., i.e., WT BAR CODE 2, etc.)

Default Value - Set to REMOTE TRAY NUMBER ( for this example. You can also enter the name of any other valid job data field here)

Custom Configuration

The last step is to define information about where and how the information will print on the ticket. Some of this may require trial and error to obtain the optimal placement and size of the text to meet your desired outcome.

From the Optifacts main menu:

Select Option 3 - Editor Utilities and press enter.

Select Option 6 - Configuration Editor and press enter.

Select Option 6 – Edit Custom Configuration and press enter.

The Custom Configuration Editor displays.

• Press “Q” to Query to search if the table you are looking for exists.
• Press Escape to search. You can then use “N” and “P” to scroll forwards and backward in the results list and press “U” to update an existing record. (If you need more assistance navigating this screen, please refer to the appropriate SOP for navigating Perform Screens.)

If the table does not exist:

• Press “A” to add a new record.
• Enter all the information as shown in the diagram below.
• Character Setting, Float, and Integer values may vary by lab. This is only an example.
• Press Escape to save the data.
• Repeat this procedure for each barcode configuration you will be making.
• Press “E” to exit.

Field Definitions

Calling Program - Must be LAYOUT. No other options exist.

Field Name - Must begin as WT BAR CODE, followed by a space, and then a number 1 through 20. WT BAR CODE 1, WT BAR CODE 2, etc.

• Each entry must be uniquely named, from WT BAR CODE 1 through WT BAR CODE 20.

Enabled - Set to “Y” to enable “N” to disable this barcode.

Character Setting – Fill this field with five parameters separated by a comma delimiter. ( separated with a semi-colon delimiter in non-US locations where a comma gets used for decimal notation)

• Type parameter – This is the barcode symbology used for the barcode. This choice is important as the capabilities and what each type of barcode can print will differ. We show a brief description of each barcode capability below. Choices are (Upper/Lower case is not important):

Code39 – Code 39 is a linear barcode that will get longer the more characters you try to encode. The data field can hold any of the following:

• Numbers 0-9
• Capital letters A-Z
• Symbols -.$/+%* and space 

Code128 - Code 128 is an arbitrarily long, high-density barcode symbology that can be used to encode a full 256 character extended-ASCII.

Interleaved2of5 - Interleaved 2 of 5 is a high-density barcode symbology. The data can consist of any number of digits (numbers). If the length of the digits is odd, then the barcode will prefix the digits with 0. (encoding 123 will result in a barcode that reads 0123).

Code2of5 - Code 2 of 5 is a simple low-density numeric barcode symbology. The data can consist of any number of digits (numbers).

Datamatrix - The Data Matrix symbology is 2D matrix-style barcode that can encode a full 256 character extended-ASCII. You can encode extreme amounts of data within a small barcode.

Qrcode - The QR Code symbology is a 2D matrix-style barcode symbology that can encode a full 256 character extended-ASCII. You can encode extreme amounts of data within a small barcode.

• Height parameter - A numerical value representing the approximate height of the barcode in inches. Keep in mind there is a small border around the barcode to maintain readability, so specifying a height of 0.5 inches will yield a barcode slightly shorter than 0.5 inches.
• Rotation parameter - A numerical value representing axis to print along. 0 = normal left to right, 180 upside down, etc. Orientation of 0 is when holding paper in portrait mode. (taller than it is wider) See Appendix A for more information.
• Print value - Either “Y” or “N.” For the non-2D bar codes, it is possible to print the textual representation of the barcode just underneath the barcode. We show examples in Code128 and Code39 above.

Float Setting - A numerical value. The “X” coordinate, or measurement from the left margin to where you wish to print. Enter the value in mm format.

• The leftmost printable margin is 5.0
• The rightmost printable margin is 210.0

Integer Setting - A numerical value. The “Y” coordinate, or measurement from the bottom margin to where you wish to print. Enter the value in mm format.

• The bottom-most printable margin is 5.0
• The topmost printable margin is 275.0

Comment - Enter comments about this entry. An Optifacts default is to input comments about the field requirements, as shown in the example above.

Test Job

• Enter an appropriate test job to validate the new text/barcode appears on the work ticket.

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