Expert: Concise Systems/Laird Scranton - 12/4/2009

Question
We scan serial numbers from barcodes into the screen and then auto advance to the next screen based on the fields value. We are increasing the serial number field to 20 positions from 15, but the majority of our labels are still 15 position barcodes. The 15 positions no longer fill the 20 byte field and so we lose the Auto-Advance and the scanners have to hit enter after they scan. Do you know of any way to blank fill the last 5 positions when the shorter barcode is entered or a way to auto-advance regardless of whether the field is full? Thanks for your help.

Answer
It's possible that the AUTO(RB) or AUTO(RAB) keyword (which right-adjusts and blank-fills the field) could work for you, although it would leave your barcode right-justified.  Your software would then likely have to left-justify any barcode shorter than 20 characters.

- Laird