Datamax-O'Neil Class Series Programmer’s Manual - Manual (Page 138)

Label Formatting Command Functions
Class Series Programmer’s Manual 124
– (<)()) Make Last Field Entered Decrement Numeric (Alphanumeric)
(Hexadecimal)
This command, useful in printing sequenced labels, causes the printer to automatically decrement a
field on the labels in a batch. The numeric data in the field will decrement by the value assigned after
the minus (-) sign each time a label is produced (or the less than character [<] can be substituted to
make the field decrement alphabetically, or the right parenthesis [)] can be substituted to make the
field decrement hexadecimal data*). This command is effective only on the label format record that it
follows, and is intended to be used with the Q, <STX>E or <STX>G commands.
Syntax: *pii
Where: * - Is – for numeric decrement, < for alphanumeric decrement, or)
for hexadecimal decrement.
p
- Is the fill character for the leftmost character of the field.
ii - Is the amount by which to decrement the field.
Sample: <STX>L<CR>
132200000000000123AB<CR>
<01<CR>
Q0003<CR>
E<CR>
The sample will generate a single field label format that prints the initial label with a value of 123AB,
and then decrements that number by one for the next two labels.
Embedding
Numeric strings for decrementing may also be embedded between alphabetic characters (e.g., when
systems require alphanumeric bar codes with alphabetic prefixes or suffixes).
Sample:
<STX>L<CR>
1611000001000101000CD<CR>
- 100<CR>
Q0003<CR>
E<CR>
The sample will print three labels: 1000CD, 999CD, and 998CD. Note that the pad character is a
placeholder for digits removed from the left side in the subtraction process. When a fixed pitch font
(where all characters have the same width) is used, the justification of the rightmost character is
sustained regardless of the number of digits replaced by the pad character on the left side.
* Valid hexadecimal data is 0-9 or A-F, usually in pairs.