Bar Code -- WindowBar

Bar Codes -- WinBar

WindowBar V4 software can be called from GUI applications to print bar code labels. The following description applies to Windows clients and should be used with the WindowBar manual to configure the bar code software.

Installation :

Install the WindowBar V4 software including the printer driver (i.e. Zebra printer) and configure the com port using the WindowBar User's Manual Version 4.1, pp. 5-8/9.
Place the WindowBar Security Key between the printer port and the printer cable. WindowBar will only run in Demo mode if the key is not installed. Note that there are two Security Keys, a Print Key and a Standard Key- try both to determine which one is required. See the WindowBar User's Manual Version 4.1, pp. 1-4/5 & 6-3/4, for help on the Security Keys.
Set the environmental parameter 'bar_code' in TRIMhome\wrcis.ini to '1'.

Label Design: Labels are formatted in the WindowBar designer program and files for each design are stored in c:\Winbar4x\Labels\directory. Walter Reed currently uses three labels which are discribed below. The code for these files are included at the end of this document.

bn1make.lab: This label is used on new samples being registered into the CIS and is generated by pushing the [BarCode] action button on the Accession Sample Application.
wrbship2.lab: This label is used on bottles for shipments to Test Systems and is generated by pushing the [BarCode] action button on the Ship Samples Application.
address?.lab: This label is used to print address labels for packages and is generated by pushing the [Label] action on the Address Application.

Batch files are used to select the label program and pass it parameters (See WindowBar User's Manual Version 4.1, pp. 1-4, 5-11/12). Batch files are created in the GUI application triggers associated with the [Bar Code] or [Label] Action Buttons. After creating the batch files, they are written to c:\winbar4X\batch\. Currently the CIS writes three batch files:

The [Bar Code] Button in the Accession Sample Application executes the following trigger to write a batch file called new_bn.bat. When run, this batch file calls the bn1make.lab program and passes it a Bottle Number as a parameter.

{
list barcode;

if (!to_int(g.bar_code))        /* g.bar_code is environ var set in wrcis.ini */
  error("Bar Code program is not installed on this computer.");
else if (!p.bn_d)               /* BN must be displayed to print a bar code   */
  error("Enter BN field before printing bar code");
else{
  barcode= list_open("80",9,"Ship BarCode list");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"[LABEL]");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Label=C:\WINBAR3X\LABELS\BN1MAKE.LAB");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Port=COM3:");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Quantity=1");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-BN="^^p.bn_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-NAME=WindowBar AutoPrint");
  list_file(barcode,"gui!c:\winbar4X\batch\new_bn.bat","a");
  status("Created file c:\winbar4X\batch\new_bn.bat");
  }
}

The [Bar Code] Button in the Ship Sample Application executes the following trigger to write a batch file called ship_bn.bat. When run, this batch file calls the wrbship2.lab program and passes it three parameters, Bottle Number, Test System, and Milligrams.

{
list barcode;

if (!to_int(g.bar_code))        /* g.bar_code is environ var set in wrcis.ini */
  error("Bar Code program is not installed on this computer.");
else if (!p.bn_d)               /* BN must be displayed to print a bar code   */
  error("Enter BN field before printing bar code");
else{
  barcode= list_open("80",9,"Ship BarCode list");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"[LABEL]");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Label=C:\WINBAR3X\LABELS\WRBSHIP2.LAB");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Port=COM3:");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Quantity=1");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-BN="^^p.bn_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-TS="^^p.test_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-MG="^^p.ship_qty_d^^" M");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-NAME=WindowBar AutoPrint");
  list_file(barcode,"c:\winbar4X\batch\ship_bn.bat","a");
  status("Created file c:\winbar4X\batch\new_bn.bat");
  }
}

The [Label] Button on the Address Application executes the following trigger to write a batch file called ?????.bat. When run, this batch file calls the ?????.lab program and passes it the Name, Institute, Address1, Address2, and Address3.

int i,x;
list barcode;

if (!G.bar_code){
  status("Bar code system not installed on this computer.");
  break;
  }

if (!to_int(g.bar_code)) /* g.barcode is environ var set in wrcis.ini, parm.0 */
  error("Bar Code software not installed.");
if (p.wl == NULL)
  error("Select an address before printing bar code");
if (G.bar_code == 1){
  barcode= list_open("80",9,"Ship BarCode list");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"[LABEL]");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Label=C:\WINBAR3X\LABELS\WRADD2.LAB");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Port=COM3:");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"Quantity=1");
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-institu="^^p.institute_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-add1="^^p.address1_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-add2="^^p.address2_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-add3="^^p.address3_d);
  list_mod(barcode,1,"P-name="^^p.name_d);

  list_file(barcode,"gui!c:\winbar4X\batch\ship_bn.bat","a");  ?????
  status("Created file c:\winbar4X\batch\ship_bn.bat");    ?????
  }

AutoPrint is a WindowBar utility that runs as a background process and controls label printing (WindowBar User's Manual Version 4.1, Chapter 5). Start Autoprint by pressing the WBatch.exe icon and open Setup from the Menu Bar. Use the manual as a guide to configure Program Setup, Batch Setup and Port Setup. Batch Setup is used to enter the names of the batch files to be read, the interval to look for new batch files, and the path to the log directory.

Running WindowBar V4.1:

Turn on the printer.
Start AutoPrint by pressing the WBbatch.exe icon.
Open the Ship Sample Application, select data, select the appropriate row and press the [BarCode] button.

How It Works: The action trigger associated with the [Bar Code] button in the GUI Application reads the parameters from the GUI display (i.e. bottle number etc) and writes a batch file called c:\winbar4x\batch\*.bat.

AutoPrint looks in C:\Winbar4x\Batch for new batch files at frequent intervals set by the user. If found, the batch file is opened and read.

AutoPrint performs four actions:

Prints the label.

Copies c:\winbar4X\batch\bn.bat to c:\winbar4X\log\bn.bat. Thus a log of the batch files run is maintained.

Erases c:\winbar4X\batch\bn.bat from the batch directory so that AutoPrint will not find it and print it again.

If an error occurs, a message written to c:\winbar4x\log\sample.err. See WindowBar User's Manual Version 4.1, pp. 5-13/14, for a list of errors.

bn1make.lab: program to print a bar code label for a new sample to be stored in the repository. This program was designed with prompts for the user to enter data. I think that the '[PROMPT]' and 'STATEMENT= ' commands need be removed to run this label program from a batch file.

[PARAMETER]
PGM_UNITS=INCHES
CLASS=ZEBRA
PRINTER=Zebra 105
ORG=0,0
DB_CLASS=Vista
DB_PATH=
DENSITY=8 dots/mm
DOTS_MMX=8.00000
DOTS_MMY=8.00000
DOTS_INCHX=203.20000
DOTS_INCHY=203.20000
DESC=PRINTS ONE BOTTLE LABEL
LABELSIZE=305,114
SIZE=305,114
EXTENT=305,114
LABEL_OFFSET=0,6
CUTTER_ENABLE=N
CUTTER_QTY=0
DARKNESS=60
CUTTER_PAUSE_OVERRIDE=N
PRINTSPEED= 51 mm/sec
MODE=Tear Off
LABEL_ROTATION=0   degrees
CLEAR_PRINTER=N
MIRROR=N
REVERSE=N
BACKFEED=N
DIRECT_THERMAL=N
CONTINUOUS=N
SEQREPEAT_QTY=2
SLEW_DOTS=0
STOCK=C:\WINBAR3X\STOCKS\BTLB2UP.STK
MAX_BITMAPS=6
DB_EXT=
[BARCODE]
ORG=35,11
SYMBOLOGY=CODE 39
RATIO=2:1
HEIGHT=69
OBJ_ROTATION=0   degrees
XDEM=2
GUIDE=Y
INTERP_SIZE=12,17
INTERP_OFFSET=5
INTERP_STARTSTOP=Y
BC_X_OFFBEF=0
BC_X_OFFAFT=0
INTERPRETATION=BELOW
PACK=
CHECKSUM=0
START_CHAR=
STOP_CHAR=
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=P-BN
DATA=BN12345
EXTENT=232,89
[END_OBJS]
[PROMPT]
STATEMENT=Enter Bottle Number to Print
NAME=P-BN
MAX_LENGTH=7
DATA_TYPE=STRING
[END_VARS]

Wrbship2.lab: program to print a bar code label for a sample to be shipped to a test system. This program was designed with prompts for the user to enter data. I think that the three '[PROMPT]' and 'STATEMENT= ' commands need be removed to run this label program from a batch file.

[PARAMETER]
PGM_UNITS=INCHES
CLASS=ZEBRA
PRINTER=Zebra 105
ORG=0,0
DB_CLASS=Vista
DB_PATH=c:\winbar3x\data
DENSITY=8 dots/mm
DOTS_MMX=8.00000
DOTS_MMY=8.00000
DOTS_INCHX=203.20000
DOTS_INCHY=203.20000
DESC=
LABELSIZE=256,272
SIZE=256,272
EXTENT=256,272
LABEL_OFFSET=0,16
CUTTER_ENABLE=N
CUTTER_QTY=0
CUTTER_PAUSE_OVERRIDE=N
PRINTSPEED= 76 mm/sec
LABEL_ROTATION=0   degrees
CLEAR_PRINTER=N
MIRROR=N
REVERSE=N
BACKFEED=N
CONTINUOUS=N
SEQREPEAT_QTY=0
SLEW_DOTS=0
STOCK=
MAX_BITMAPS=6
DARKNESS=30
MODE=Tear Off
DIRECT_THERMAL=N
[BARCODE]
ORG=5,35
SYMBOLOGY=CODE 39
RATIO=2:1
HEIGHT=51
OBJ_ROTATION=90  degrees
XDEM=2
GUIDE=Y
INTERP_SIZE=12,17
INTERP_OFFSET=5
INTERP_STARTSTOP=Y
BC_X_OFFBEF=0
BC_X_OFFAFT=0
INTERPRETATION=ABOVE
PACK=
CHECKSUM=0
START_CHAR=
STOP_CHAR=
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=P-BN
DATA=BM12345
EXTENT=232,71
[BARCODE]
ORG=181,46
SYMBOLOGY=CODE 39
RATIO=2:1
HEIGHT=51
OBJ_ROTATION=270 degrees
XDEM=2
GUIDE=Y
INTERP_SIZE=12,17
INTERP_OFFSET=5
INTERP_STARTSTOP=Y
BC_X_OFFBEF=0
BC_X_OFFAFT=0
INTERPRETATION=ABOVE
PACK=
CHECKSUM=0
START_CHAR=
STOP_CHAR=
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=P-MG
DATA=1234M
EXTENT=180,71
GROUPED=
[TEXT]
ORG=39,4
FONT=Smooth Font
FONT_SIZE=21,26
FONT_MULT=1,1
OBJ_ROTATION=0   degrees
OBJ_CHARSET=USA - 1
REVERSE=N
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=CONST Field
DATA=WRAIR
EXTENT=57,26
[TEXT]
ORG=67,242
FONT=Smooth Font
FONT_SIZE=19,26
FONT_MULT=1,1
OBJ_ROTATION=0   degrees
OBJ_CHARSET=USA - 1
REVERSE=N
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=CONST Field
DATA=Test System:
EXTENT=95,26
GROUPED=
[TEXT]
ORG=176,243
FONT=Smooth Font
FONT_SIZE=19,26
FONT_MULT=1,1
OBJ_ROTATION=0   degrees
OBJ_CHARSET=USA - 1
REVERSE=N
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=P-TS
DATA=TS
EXTENT=19,26
GROUPED=
[TEXT]
ORG=158,3
FONT=Smooth Font
FONT_SIZE=14,26
FONT_MULT=1,1
OBJ_ROTATION=0   degrees
OBJ_CHARSET=USA - 1
REVERSE=N
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=F-MONTH
DATA=October 10. 1994
EXTENT=89,26
GROUPED=
[TEXT]
ORG=100,27
FONT=Smooth Font
FONT_SIZE=17,22
FONT_MULT=1,1
OBJ_ROTATION=270 degrees
OBJ_CHARSET=USA - 1
REVERSE=N
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=CONST Field
DATA=JOHN_NOTSCH@WRSMTP-
EXTENT=178,22
GROUPED=
[TEXT]
ORG=136,67
FONT=Smooth Font
FONT_SIZE=17,22
FONT_MULT=1,1
OBJ_ROTATION=270 degrees
OBJ_CHARSET=USA - 1
REVERSE=N
SERIALIZED=N
LEADING_ZEROS=N
INC/DEC=INC
STEP=1
VARIABLE_NAME=CONST Field
DATA=CCMAIL.ARMY.MIL
EXTENT=123,22
GROUPED=
[END_OBJS]
[PROMPT]
STATEMENT=Enter Bottle Number:
NAME=P-BN
MAX_LENGTH=7
DATA_TYPE=STRING
[PROMPT]
STATEMENT=Enter Test System:
NAME=P-TS
MAX_LENGTH=2
DATA_TYPE=STRING
[PROMPT]
STATEMENT=Enter Sample Weight
NAME=P-MG
MAX_LENGTH=7
DATA_TYPE=STRING
[FORMAT]
STATEMENT=<S-Month(1:* s)
MAX_LENGTH=9
NAME=F-DATE
DATA_TYPE=STRING
[FORMAT]
STATEMENT=<S-Month(1:* s)" "<S-DD(1:* s)", "<S-YYYY(1:* s)
MAX_LENGTH=18
NAME=F-MONTH
DATA_TYPE=STRING
[END_VARS]