SOURCE: BLD FLASH 9636
SOURCE MATERIAL DATED: 8/96
¦
 
 
 
              BCOCA BAR CODE SUPPORT NOW IN PPFA/AIX AND PSF/AIX
 
                               (August 21, 1996)
 
 Support for BCOCA* Bar Codes, previously announced for PPFA/370 and PSF*/MVS,
 is available immediately for the AIX* platform.
 
 AFP*  PAGEDEFS  now  support BCOCA* Bar Codes.  This means you can access the
 Bar Code object support available in our high-end AFCCU* printers and in most
 low-end printers without coding hex structured fields or buying a third party
 program.  Simply define the Bar Code type and characteristics (such as  size,
 wide-to-narrow  ratio,  etc.)  you wish to use for specific fields of data in
 the print data.  The printer will generate the bar code and  the  check-digit
 as  appropriate.   Position and orientation of the bar code are controlled by
 the position and orientation of the field being printed.
 
 This function is available for both PSF for AIX Version 2 and  PSF/6000  Ver-
 sion 1 Release 2. The ACIF and PPFA components are the same in both PSF/6000*
 and  PSF/AIX,  so the latest PTFs to ACIF and PPFA will also allow BCOCA sup-
 port on existing PSF/6000 R2 systems as well  as  PSF  for  AIX  V2  systems.
 (However,  please  note  that  PSF/6000  R2 goes out of support September 30,
 1996.)
 
 The following components and PTFs are required:
 
 o   PPFA for AIX to generate BCOCA information.  The APAR is PN54401;  as  of
     August 7, 1996, the PTF is UN88660.
 o   ACIF  to  interpret the pagedef and create the BCOCA object.  The APAR is
     PN80403; as of August 7, 1996, the PTF is UN92025.
 o   PSF for AIX Version 2 or PSF/6000 Release 2 to drive  the  printer.    No
     APARs are required; however, we do recommend the customer order and apply
     the  latest  cumulative PTFs as there have been enhancements and fixes in
     other areas.
 o   The printer must support BCOCA.   See  AFP  Printer  Summary  (G544-3135)
     available in AFP PACKAGE on PENPUBS disk for printer support.
 
 Documentation  for  the new BARCODE subcommand on the FIELD command is in the
 IBM Page Printer Formatting Aid: User's Guide (S544-5284-01)  available  from
 PENPUBS.  The syntax is also described in APAR PN79369.
 
 -------------------------
 
 The  following  terms  are  trademarks  of  the IBM Corporation in the United
 States or other countries or both:   AFCCU, AFP, AIX, BCOCA,  IBM,  PSF,  and
 PSF/6000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$EOM