Cannot Adjust NarrowBarWidth Accurately when Printing to Low-Resolution
Printers
Problem:
The NarrowBarWidth (X dimension) in the IDAutomation
Barcode Image Generator,
Barcode Label Software
and Barcode Components
can only be adjusted to values the printer can support. In the event
that a value does not match up exactly with the printer, the component
will calculate to the nearest possible X dimension. Because the barcode
is created from the X dimension, different sized barcodes are sometimes
created on printers with different resolutions. In addition, changing
the X dimension when printing to low-resolution thermal printers may
not actually have any effect.
This is because at 203 dpi, the size of each
dot in the printer is in increments of 5 mils or .013CM (1/203
= .005", 5 mils or .013CM). Therefore, 10 MILS or 0.026 CM should equal
2 dots on a 203 DPI printer. In the barcode products, the barcode component
will round down the measurement given to the nearest pixel and create
the entire barcode from that number of pixels. If this were not done,
barcodes on the low-resolution printers would not be accurate.
Solution(s):
To create the most accurate sizes on printers
with different resolutions, set the X dimension (or font point size
when using a
barcode font)
to increments that are a multiple of the size of a dot on the lowest
resolution printer. Use the following chart to set the X Dimensions
that create barcodes of the same width on 203 dpi and higher resolution
printers:
| Printer
dots |
MILS |
CM |
Barcode
Font Point Size* |
| 1 |
5 |
.013 |
6 |
| 2 |
10 |
.026 |
12 |
| 3 |
15 |
.039 |
18 |
| 4 |
20 |
.052 |
24 |
| 5 |
25 |
.065 |
32
|
*This only applies to IDAutomation barcode fonts
designed
to print at 12 points on 203 DPI printers such as
Code 39,
Code 128 or
Universal Barcode
Fonts.
|
