README File for Australia Post Barcode Demo, R2, 5th March 1999
===============================================================

Description
-----------
The files in this area present sample code for generating 4-state
barcode digits. These have been written in accordance with the
following Australia Post documentation.

    -- Guide to Printing the 4-State Barcode (June 1998)
    -- Barcoding Technical Specifications (June 1998)
    -- Specification Number 203, Generation of 4-state barcodes
       (November 1997).

These samples demonstrate:

-- Generation of Reed-Solomon error correction codes

-- Character conversion, using 'N', 'Z' and 'C' encoding

-- Construction of each of the standard barcode types, for
   example 37-CUST. Barcodes may be of length 37, 52 or 67.

-- A Barcode calculator. The user is prompted to enter:

   - A 2 digit decimal Format Control Code (FCC)

	This is two decimal digits and must correspond to one
	of the format control fields defined in Spec 203. The
	format control field will identify the type of barcode.

	For example, if you enter an FCC of '11', a standard
	length 37 customer barcode (37-CUST) will be built.

   - An 8 digit decimal sorting code (or DPID)

	This is a standard Delivery Point Identifier, as described
	in "A Guide to Printing the 4-State Barcode".

	For example '39987520' is a valid DPID.

   - Free-format customer information

	Free format data to be 'C' encoded into the barcode. The
	input string must consist of digits, lower or upper case
	alphabetic characters, spaces or the hash character (#).
	For length 37 barcodes, this input will be ignored. The
	maximum string length for length 52 barcodes is 5 characters,
	and for length 67 barcodes is 10 characters.

	For example 'CAM Num 20' is valid customer information for
	a length 67 barcode.

   A barcode string is constructed and displayed for the above
   input data.   

Contents of directory
---------------------
These examples are available on the Australia Post Web-site
at http://www.auspost.com.au/futurepost .

There are three language code samples:

bcsample.c	 -- ANSI-C Sample
bcsample.cob     -- Cobol-85 Sample
VB Directory     -- Visual-Basic V5 (or higher) Sample

All sample programs accept user input. The ANSI-C and Cobol-85
uses character input. The Visual Basic uses a windows interface.

These programs may be run to demonstrate or test sample barcode
generation.

Notes
-----
(1) The final output of each of the programs is a display of
the barcode. The examples do not demostrate formatting of the
barcodes for printing.

(2) The length 52 and length 67 barcode examples demonstrate
'C' encoding of the customer information field. In practice any
user defined encoding scheme which translates to 4-state codes
may be employed. The encoding of other fields, and error correction
digits, must be as specified.

Installation of the VB Programs
-------------------------------
The VB application has been packaged using the VB Setup Wizard, 
using the Wizard Template "Barcode Installation Template.SWT" in
the VB directory.

The VB application can be installed by running the file 
\VB\Installation Files\Setup.exe and following the prompts.

Setup will create an icon for you run the demo program 
(eg. under Windows 95 there would be a "4-State Barcode demo" 
option on your start menu).

The setup program will also copy all the source files into the 
directory you installed the application into.

Building the VB Programs
------------------------
For details on installing the VB demo, see the section 
"Installation of the VB Programs" above.

The VB project is included with the VB source, so you can view and
edit the source by opening the VB project "BCDemo.vbp", which will 
be installed into the same directory as the VB demo application. The
steps required to build the application will vary depending on the 
version of VB you are using, however the demo can be considered a 
"Normal" VB application.

Building the ANSI-C and Cobol Programs
--------------------------------------
Each of the code samples consists of a single source file. In each
case this contains a main program and several subroutines.

The ANSI-C and Cobol versions of the programs can simply be compiled
and linked on any system with an approriate compiler. Please refer
to your system documentation.


Disclaimer
----------
Whilst Australia Post provides these programs in good faith, no
responsibility is taken as to their accuracy. The programs are
provided for guidance only. Australia Post shall not be liable
for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance placed
on, any information provided by it.
