Smartforms Barcode

Introduction

A bar code (also barcode) is an optical machine-readable representation of data. Originally, bar codes represented data in the widths (lines) and the spacing of parallel lines and may be referred to as linear or 1D (1 dimensional) barcodes or symbologies.

Barcodes can be read by optical scanners called barcode readers or scanned from an image by special software.

Symbologies

The mapping between messages and barcodes is called a symbology. The specification of a symbology includes the encoding of the single digits/characters of the message as well as the start and stop markers into bars and space,
Some symbologies use interleaving. The first character is encoded using black bars of varying width. The second character is then encoded, by varying the width of the white spaces between these bars. Thus characters are encoded in pairs over the same section of the barcode. Interleaved 2 of 5 is an example of this.

Symbology	Supporting data	Width	Height	Other characteristics	Bar ratio (wide :narrow)
Code 39 (alpha numeric code)	Numbers  1234567890 Capital letters  A-Z Special char   - . $ / + % Blank char (space characters) Start & stop character is *	1 - 10 (1-narrowest 10-widest)	1 - 9999 (600 = 1 inch ht )	Mod -43 check digit X = yes Blank =  no	20 - 30 (20 = 20:1 & 30 = 30:1)
Code 128 (alpha numeric code)	There are 3 diff char sets where each represent 106 char. Within a barcode one can alternate b/w 3 char sets Code 128A - digits, caps letters, control characters Code 128B -digits, upper & lower case characters Code 128C - digits from 00 to 99.	1 - 10 (1-narrowest 10-widest)	1 - 9999 (600 = 1 inch ht )	Mode - N,A,U N = code128B will work A= automatically assigns most suitable subset (code 128A , B or C) U=code128C, 19 digits should be transferred, if less than 19 then zero's will be appended to left.
Interleaved 2of5 (numeric code)	Numbers 0 - 9 , digits are always mapped in pairs so total digits should be zero if not a leading zero is appended automatically	1 - 10 (1-narrowest 10-widest)	1 - 9999 (600 = 1 inch ht )	Mod - 10 check digit X = yes Blank = no	20 - 30 (20 = 20:1 & 30 = 30:1)
PDF417 (2 d bar code)	To represent dataset of more than 1000 char(larger than 1dim), consists of 3-90 consecutive rows.	1 - 10 (1-narrowest 10-widest)	Single row height 1-32000 (this value multiplied by width gives the height of individual row) Note : 1 shud not be used .
Code 93 (alpha numeric code)	Numbers  1234567890 Capital letters  A-Z Special char   - . $ / + % Blank char (space characters) Start & stop character is (#)	1 - 10 (1-narrowest 10-widest)	1 - 9999 (600 = 1 inch ht )	Mod -43 check digit X = yes Blank =  no

For more details on symbologies refer to SAP note 654158

Bar Codes within SAP

With Sap Script or smart forms one can print bar codes. Generally bar codes are printed for labels so that machine can read the data for various purposes such as stock, transport, purchase, warehouse management etc. Sometimes the bar code data is also repeated in human - readable numeric form.

Traditional versus New Bar Code

Distinguishing between the traditional method of creating bar codes and the new procedure. While the bar codes are generated in the printer with traditional bar code printing, with this special hardware is therefore required.

Whereas graphics are generated from the bar code in the system and sent to the printer, hence no special hardware is required, but this procedure is applicable to SMART FORMS and not for SAP SCRIPTS.

The most important differences between traditional bar code conversion and new way of creation of bar code generation are:

Traditional bar code printing	New method
Can be used for Smart forms and Sap Scripts	Used only for Smart forms
Bar codes are generated in printers	Bar codes are generated in SAP system and sent as graphics to the printer, due to this print file becomes large
To format Bar codes print controls must be changed in the printer settings/commands	Bar code is controlled through transaction SE73 (font maintenance)
For all SAP releases	SAP web application Server 6.0 will be used by default with proper support package and patch level new bar code printing works as of SAP R/3 4.6C
Almost all bar code symbologies are supported	Only most important bar code symbologies - refer SAP NOTE 645158
Bar codes are simulated for PDF conversion done through smart forms (in the form of black and white rectangles)	Bar codes are correctly reproduced after PDF conversion

Traditional bar code

With traditional bar code printing, the bar codes are generated at the printer and not in the SAP systems. Special hardware, such as SIMM modules is required to this; if any formatting is required print control is to be changed in printer commands. For Sap Scripts you must use the traditional bar code printing.

Non-exhaustive list of SAP traditional system barcodes:

System bar code	Symbology name	Characteristics
BC_93	Code 93	Height 13 mm, no plain text
BC_C128B	Code 128 B	Height 13 mm, no text
C128A_00, C128A_01	Code 128	Character set A, height 5 mm, no plain text
C128B_00, C128B_01	Code 128	Character Set B, height 5 mm, no plain text
CD39C_00, CD39C_01	Code 39	Check digit, height 5mm, no plain text
CD39_00	Code 39	No check digit
CD39_01	Code 39	No check digit, height 5 mm, no plain text
KUNAUNR	Code 128	Customer request number
KUNAUPS	Code 128	Customer request item
MBBARC	Code 128	Test bar code for inventory management
MBBARC1	EAN - 8	Test bar code for inventory management
RSNUM	Code 128	Reservation number
RSPOS	Code 128	Reservation item
RUECKNR	Code 128	Completion Confirmation number

And many more ...

System barcodes mentioned here are old technology and are configured with printer to print the barcodes.

New Bar Code Printing for Smart Forms

In contrast to traditional bar code printing, the new bar code printing does not require any special software, since the bar code is sent to the printer as a graphic. The bar code can also be simply changed using the font maintenance transaction (SE73). However, the new bar code printing only works with Smart Forms.

Prerequisites
The new bar code conversion is included as standard as of SAP Web Application Server 6.40. You can also use the new bar code conversion as of SAP R/3 4.6C, as long as you have imported the relevant Basis Support Package and the corresponding Kernel Patch. For more information about this, see SAP Note 430887 in the SAP Service Marketplace.

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