Printing Bar Codes 
With SAPscript/Smart Forms, you can format data to print out as bar codes. Bar codes are often printed on labels to allow machine-reading of data for such purposes as inventory of stock, transport, or purchase.
Bar codes code data as a series of lines of varying thickness and/or distance from one another. Sometimes they include a check number, which can be used for detecting and analyzing errors. Sometimes the bar code data is also repeated in human-readable numeric form.
Traditional and New Bar Code Printing
It is important to distinguish between the traditional method of creating bar codes and the new procedure. While the bar codes are generated in the printer with traditional bar code printing, and special hardware is therefore required, with the new procedure, a graphic is generated from the bar code in the system, and sent to the printer, meaning that no special hardware is required. The new print procedure only applies, however, for Smart Forms, and not for SAPscript.
The table below lists the most important differences between traditional bar code conversion and the new procedure:
Traditional Bar Code Printing |
New Procedure |
Can be used for Smart Forms and SAPscript |
Can only be used for Smart Forms |
Bar codes are generated in the printer. |
Bar codes are generated in the SAP system and sent to the printer as graphics. The print file is larger due to the graphic created. |
Special hardware is required |
No special hardware is required |
To format or control bar codes, print controls must be changed in the printer commands. |
Bar codes can be simply changed using the font maintenance transaction (SE73). |
For all SAP releases |
By default, bar codes can be created with the new procedure as of SAP Web Application Server 6.40. With the appropriate Support Package and Patch Level, the new bar code printing works as of release 4.6C. |
Supports most bar code symbologies |
Supports only the most important bar code symbologies (see also SAP Note 645158) |
Bar codes are only simulated for PDF conversion. |
Bar codes are correctly reproduced after PDF conversion. |
For more detailed descriptions of each type of bar code printing, see the following:
New Bar Code Printing for Smart Forms
Traditional Bar Code Printing for Smart Forms and SAPscript
