Using BCOCA to produce bar code resources

By using a set of structured fields called a bar code data object or BCOCA object, you can direct some PSF-supported printers to produce bar codes. A bar code data object specifies the type of bar code (the symbology), its size, and positioning information. Many different bar code symbologies can be produced by use of bar code data objects.

A bar code data object can be included in a print data set or in an overlay resource, or it can be created from bar code specifications in a page definition. PSF accesses resources and sends them to the printer with the print data set.

When you create a bar code data object, you have these options:

• One of several bar code types (symbologies) can be selected.
• The bar code elements can be of any height and width, within the limitations of the symbology.
• The bar code can be printed in one of several colors (on printers that support printing in more than one color). However, you cannot specify color when you are specifying bar codes in a page definition.
• The bar code can be placed at any position on the page.
• The bar code can be rotated.

If the bar code is stored as a resource, you can change some of these properties at print time. For more information about coding bar code data objects and about the options you can specify, see Mixed Object Document Content Architecture Reference, AFPC-0004 or Bar Code Object Content Architecture Reference, AFPC-0005. For information about coding bar code specifications in page definitions, see Page Printer Formatting Aid: User’s Guide.