^BL
LOGMARS Bar CodePreview: partialCode 39 with the US Department of Defense rules applied: the human-readable line is not optional.
Syntax
^BLo,h,gParameters
| Parameter | Description and accepted values | If omitted |
|---|---|---|
| o | Rotation of the bar code on the label.N normal, R 90°, I 180°, B 270° | Last ^FW value, else N |
| h | Bar height in dots. Overrides the height set by ^BY for this field only.1 to 32000 dots | Height set by ^BY |
| g | Puts the interpretation line above the bars instead of below.Y or N — put the interpretation line above the bars | N |
How it works
^BL prints LOGMARS — Logistics Applications of Automated Marking and Reading Symbols, the US military's application standard for Code 39. The bars are ordinary Code 39; what LOGMARS adds is a set of rules about how the symbol appears on a military label.
The visible difference in the command is what is missing: there is no parameter to turn the human-readable line off. LOGMARS requires it, so the printer always prints it, and the only choice you have is whether it sits above or below the bars.
Use ^BL when a MIL-STD-129 label calls for it and ^B3 everywhere else. The bars a scanner sees are the same either way.
Example
^XA
^BY2,3,80
^FO60,60^BLN,80,N^FDLOGMARS^FS
^XZRendering…
How the preview on this site handles it
Drawn with a real Code 39 encoder — which is what LOGMARS is — so it scans, and rotation is applied. The interpretation line is always drawn, as the standard requires. The wide-to-narrow ratio from ^BY is not applied: the preview always uses 3:1.
Common mistakes
- Sending lowercase. Code 39 has no lowercase, and LOGMARS labels are specified in uppercase.
- Looking for a way to hide the interpretation line. There isn't one, by design — if the label needs a bare Code 39, use ^B3.
- Assuming compliance comes from the command. ^BL draws the symbol; the size, placement and quiet zones a MIL-STD label requires are still yours to get right.