Printing Barcodes on 1700/1710 series

The barcodes that we would print to it is the actual barcode "code" coming from our ERP system. It's funny, we have an old LaserJet II and a 5si that prints the barcode code fine. The 1700 prints them fine from windows app, but I think that those are really barcode 'graphics' so to speak.

I know we have Printronix printers that print the barcodes out of our ERP, but they have IGP chips installed in them to translate the barcodes. HTH

Is the barcode font installed on the computer that you are attempting to print them from? Can that computer sucessfully print bar codes to other printers?

If its printing fine from windows to the printer but not from the ERP app on the same computer (not a windows app?) then it is a driver issue from within your ERP app and you should check with the ERP tech support or knowlegebase or whatever.

Thanks for the replies -

The ERP prints to a print queue on a 2003 print server; not directly to the printer via TCP/IP, so I would imagine the driver is still responsible for translation.

I see in the PS driver that there is a 3of9 "soft font" installed. But when I try to install the 3of9 ttf into the PCL driver, no dice.

I know on older HP's there was a thing called 'Bar codes and moore', not sure if that was a SIMM or a soft font or what... But our ERP spits out PCL barcode code so it just seems odd that another PCL capable printer (1700) just prints out the text of the code instead of the bar.

Message Edited by hickie13 on 02-08-2006 01:11 PM

OK, its becoming more clear now.

The old HP(s) probably have a cartrige in them that includes the extra fonts. When the ERP is printing the barcodes it just sends the characters and the font that it wants them printed in, and the printer handles the rest. Even though the new printer supports PCL it does not have the extra barcode fonts so it comes out as just the raw data.

According to this page: http://www.barcodingfonts.com/fonttype.htm

basically only Windows uses Truetype fonts and you need to get fonts that are in PCL format(?) that you download to the printer and are good as long as the printer is not turned off. They apparently sell these fonts if you want, please note I have never done business with them and am not advacating anything. Hope this all helps clear things up. Good Luck.