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Article #4168

Need help with zip-code bar-code pgm.

#4168
From: adamstr
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 22:04
200 lines
7584 bytes
Hello - I recently received the following US Postal Barcode generator
program from my system manager, who found it on the net (not sure when). 

I have been inserting various zip codes in the
parenthesis just previous to the first "dobar" command at the bottom of the
file. I have been viewing the results thru both the "CDA VIEWER" application on
my VAXStation 3100 and on paper from our DEC Printserver 20. I am running
across something that is really confusing - it seems to dislike my own zip
code! (840587675)

Here is the error as it appears thru the CDA VIEWER:

  %%[Error:rangecheck;Offending Command:get]%%

Here is the error as it appears on paper:

  %LPS-W-RANGECHK, rangecheck: Argument out of bounds - offending command 
   is get

I can't figure out why it seems to work on some zip codes, but not on others.
Any suggestions will be appreciated!! - the entire program follows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
%
%
% (C) Copyright 1990 by Woody Baker
% Rt.1 Box I
% Manor, Tx. 78653
%
% this code may be used for personal use,  as long as this header
% remains intact but may not be used
% as part of a commercial package.  All commercial rights reserved.
%
%
% code to print usps barcode.
% checkdigit computation is the sum of the digits, rounded up to
% the next even multiple of 10.
%
% You MUST print this on the envelope within certain very specific areas.
% The x and y coordinate MUST have the following relationship with the
% RIGHT LOWER CORNER of the envelope.
% x can be no further from the right edge than 4" and no closer than
% 3 1/4.  The y coordinate MUST be 1/4 inch up from the bottom of the
% envelope, +/- 1/16 th inch.  The x coordinates' wide lea-way is
% to accomodate shifting of inserts containing POSTNET codes which appear
% through windows in the envelope.  For printed barcodes on envelopes
% the post office prefers 3 7/8 to 4 inches.
% request Publication 25 (A Guide to Business Mail Preparation) from
% your local Post Office.  Be sure to ask for the template that accompanies
% the book.
%
/inches {72 mul} def
/barwidth .020 inches def       % MUST NOT CHANGE
/long  .125 inches def          % MUST NOT CHANGE
/short .050 inches def          % MUST NOT CHANGE
/nextx .0475 inches def         % MUST NOT CHANGE
%
% one of the recommended fonts for OCR lables.  10/14 is one of the
% recommended settings.
%
/Helvetica findfont 10 scalefont setfont
/linehite 14 def
%
/digarray
        [
        {
        lbar lbar sbar sbar sbar        % digit 0
        }       
        {
        sbar sbar sbar lbar lbar        % digit 0
        }
        {
        sbar sbar lbar sbar lbar        % digit 2
        }
        {
        sbar sbar lbar lbar sbar        % digit 3
        }
        {
        sbar lbar sbar sbar lbar        % digit 4
        }
        {
        sbar lbar sbar lbar sbar        % digit 5
        }
        {
        sbar lbar lbar sbar sbar        % digit 6
        }
        {
        lbar sbar sbar sbar lbar        % digit 7
        }
        {
        lbar sbar sbar lbar sbar        % digit 8
        }
        {
        lbar sbar lbar sbar sbar        % digit 9
        }
        ] def

%
% sbar does a short bar, and alters the current point accordingly
%
%
/sbar
        {
        barwidth setlinewidth           % always make sure it is correct width
        currentpoint                    % remember where we are
        currentpoint short add lineto   % do the bar
        exch nextx add exch moveto      % advance the current point
        } def
%       
% lbar does a tall bar and alters the current point accordingly
%
/lbar
        {
        barwidth setlinewidth           % always make sure it is correct width
        currentpoint                    % remember where we are
        currentpoint long add lineto    % do the bar
        exch nextx add exch moveto      % advance the current point
        } def
%
% routine takes a string of numbers (no hyphens in the first cut)
% an orientation flag (1=Landscape) and an x and y coordinate
%
%
% x y orientation (numberstring)
%
% check digit computation 10 sum 10 mod sub computes the remainder
% from a divide by 10, and then subtracts that from 10 to generate
% a digit, which if added back to sum would round it up to the next even 
% multiple of 10
%

/dobar
{
        /msg exch def   % get all parameters from the stack.
        /orient exch def
         moveto % relative to origin of mail piece
        /sum 0 def
        
        gsave
                orient 1 eq
                        {
                        90 rotate 0 -612 translate
                        } if
                lbar             % starting marker
                msg              % process the message.
                        {
                        48 sub dup              % convert the digit to binary
                        sum add /sum exch def   % update the checksum
                        /digval exch def        % have the binary digit
                        digarray digval get  exec % draw the digit.
                        }
                forall
                digarray
                10 sum 10 mod sub               % compute check digit   
                get exec
                lbar                            % ending marker
                stroke
        grestore
} def   

%
% routine takes x y array of strings and does an address block
% for an envelope.  Prefered is ALL UPPERCASE
% [(WOODY BAKER) (RR 1 BOX I) (MANOR  TX  78653)]
% NOTE: the City State and Zip MUST be the last line, and in that order.
% it is preferable NOT to use punctuation.  If the last line won't fit, it
% is permitted to put the ZIPCODE on the line under that, all by itself.
% you should provide that decision, when constructing the array of strings.
%
% In addition, since this is HELVETICA, and it is Proportional, it
% is a wise idea to put 2 spaces down rather than 1 for separation.  The
% USPS states that there should be at least 1 full space or 1 em space
% between the characters, and at least 2 points additional 
% leading between the lines, 4 points is better for a 10 pt font.
%
% bottom line of RETURN address no lower that 2 3/4" from bottom edge
% of envelope. Mailto address should fit  within a rectangle that extends
% from 5/8 " from the bottom, to 2 1/4" up from the bottom of the mail piece.

%
/address
        {
        /stringaray exch def
        /ycoord exch def
        /xcoord exch def
        xcoord
        stringaray length               % get number of lines
        linehite mul ycoord add moveto  % adaptively find the top line.
        stringaray
                {
                currentpoint linehite sub exch pop xcoord exch moveto
                show
                } forall
        } def
%
% example code for testing
%
100 120 [(WOODY  BAKER) (RR 1  BOX I) (MANOR  TX  78653-0102)] address
100 100 0 (786530102) dobar
200 200 1 (1234567890) dobar
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From: adamstr@cc.uvcc.edu
Subject: Need help with zip-code bar-code pgm.
Message-ID: <1992Oct16.150435.1@cc.uvcc.edu>
Lines: 202
Sender: news@fcom.cc.utah.edu
Organization: Utah Valley Community College
Date: 16 Oct 92 15:04:35 -0700