devtype(*AFPDS) and varying length barcodes

[Jimmy Ballard <JBallard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all,

I have two questions:

1)      We have a few printer files that must be compiled with
DEVTYPE(*AFPDS) - since they print bar codes. I am hoping that one of you
smarter folks knows of an  "H Spec" of sorts for a printer file - where I
can specify this option somewhere in the source. (So that I do not have to
rely upon a comment in the TEXT or in the source to remind me to compile
these specific printer files with this specific option.) Does anyone know of
a way to specify this particular option in the source so that it always
compiles with this option?

2)      Speaking of barcodes - I would like to print a varying length field
out as a barcode. If the field is only 5 chars long - I don't want a barcode
that has the 5 characters and then 45 blanks - I would like the barcode to
only be 5 chars long. In an attempt to define the field as varying in the
printer file I created a reference file that has this field defined as
VARLEN - and specified REFFILE in the printer file. (however, the compile
listing for the printer file showed the length as the max length - 40) Then,
when I compile the RPG program it fails because it doesn't like that the
printer file sees the field as 40 long when the pgm sees it as varying
length (42 long). I have since created a Frankenstein DS in the RPG to
accomplish my feat - but there has to be a cleaner & easier way...Does
anyone know of a way to use a varying length field to print a varying length
barcode?

Thanks tons...

-Jimmy