1. ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
  2. ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
  3. ZPL Commands
  4. ^BB
  • ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
^BB

^BB

The
^BB
 command produces a two-dimensional, multirow, stacked symbology. It is ideally suited for applications that require large amounts of information.

CODABLOCK Barcode

Depending on the mode selected, the code consists of one to 44 stacked rows. Each row begins and ends with a start and stop pattern.
  • CODABLOCK A supports variable print ratios.
  • CODABLOCK E and F support only fixed print ratios.
If additional information about this bar code is required, go towww.aimglobal.org.
Format:
^BBo,h,s,c,r,m
Parameters
Details
o =
 orientation
Values:
N =
 normal
R =
 rotated 90 degrees (clockwise)
I =
 inverted 180 degrees
B =
 read from the bottom up, 270 degrees
Default:
N
h =
 bar code height for individual rows (in dots)
Values:
2
 to
32000
Default:
8
 This number, multiplied by the module, equals the height of the individual row in dots.
s =
 security level
Values:
N =
 no
Y =
 yes
Default:
Y
Security level determines whether symbol check-sums are generated and added to the symbol. Checksums are never generated for single-row symbols. This can be turned off only if the parameter
m
 is set to
A
.
c =
 number of characters per row (data columns)
Values:
2
 to
62
 characters
This is used to encode a CODABLOCK symbol. It gives you control over the width of the symbol.
r =
 number of rows to encode-
Values:
for CODABLOCK A:
1
 to
22
for CODABLOCK E and F:
2
 to
4
  • If values for c and r are not specified, a single row is produced.
  • If a value for r is not specified, and c exceeds the maximum range, a single row equal to the field data length is produced.
  • If a value for c is not specified, the number of characters per row is derived by dividing the field data by the value of
    r
    .
  • If the s parameter is set to the default of Y, then the checksum characters that are included count as two data characters. For example, if c = 6, r is set to 3 and s is set to N, then up to 18 characters can be used (6 x 3). However, if s is set to Y, then only 16 characters can be used.
  • If the data field contains primarily numeric data, fewer than the specified rows might be printed. If the field data contains several shift and code-switch characters, more than the specified number of rows might be printed.
m =
 mode
Values:
A
,
E
,
F
CODABLOCK A uses the Code 39 character set.
CODABLOCK F uses the Code 128 character set.
CODABLOCK E uses the Code 128 character set and automatically adds FNC1.
Default:
F
Example
This is an example of a CODABLOCK barcode:

Special Considerations for the
^BY
 Command When Using
^BB

The parameters for the
^BYw,r,h
 command, when used with a
^BB
 code, are as follows:
w =
module width (in dots)
Values:
2
 to
10
 (CODABLOCK A only)
Default:
2
r =
ratio
Fixed Value:
3
 (ratio has no effect on CODABLOCK E or F)
h =
height of bars (in dots)
Values:
1
 to
32,32000
Default:
10
CODABLOCK uses this as the overall symbol height only when the row height is not specified in the
^BB h
 parameter.

Special Considerations for
^FD
 Character Set When Using
^BB

The character set sent to the printer depends on the mode selected in parameter m.
CODABLOCK A:
 CODABLOCK A uses the same character set as Code 39. If any other character is used in the
^FD
 statement, either no barcode is printed or an error message is printed (if
^CV
 is active).
CODABLOCK E:
The Automatic Mode includes the full ASCII set except for those characters with special meaning to the printer. Function codes or the Code 128 Subset A <
nul
> character can be inserted using the
^FH
 command.
<fnc1> = 80 hex
<fnc3> = 82 hex
<fnc2> = 81 hex
<fnc4> = 83 hex
<nul> = 84 hex
For any other character above 84 hex, either no barcode is printed or an error message is printed (if
^CV
 is active).
CODABLOCK F:
 CODABLOCK F uses the full ASCII set, except for those characters with special meaning to the printer. Function codes or the Code 128 Subset A <
nul
> character can be inserted using the
^FH
 command.
<fnc1> = 80 hex
<fnc3> = 82 hex
<fnc2> = 81 hex
<fnc4> = 83 hex
<nul> = 84 hex