[ILL-L] Barcodes printed using Firefox

[ILL_PSC ILL_PSC]

Dear Richard,

I've been using Firefox regularly to print out OCLC requests. I never use MSIE. 

I like to print out the complete record, but if I print it out at 100%, then the patron e-mail and phone number always seem to be on page 2. So... I print out at 80% to get everything on one page. At 80% the bar code scans.

I just did a test and printed out a request at 100%, 90%, and 80%. The first two didn't scan, but 80% did.

To set it up, go to Print Preview. In the Scale: box, choose 80%. 

I am also the reference librarian and do a lot of printing off while helping students. So far no one has complained that the 80% makes things too small to read, so until MY eyes give out, I will keep it set at 80%.

Linda


Linda Celet Bane
Interlibrary Loan (PWS/PWSA)
Mary F. Shipper Library/LRC
Potomac State College of WVU
Keyser, WV  26726-2697
phone: (304)788-6903
fax: (304)788-6946
Ariel: 157.182.165.30, PSC_Ariel at mail.wvu.edu
E-mail: ILL_PSC at mail.wvu.edu

>>> Richard Samford <samford at pittstate.edu> Friday, February 15, 2008 12:32 PM >>>

    I've run into an interesting problem lately, and haven't heard 
anyone else ask about it, so I thought I would.

    I'm having trouble with our barcode scanners reading OCLC 
Interlibrary Loan "Request Identifier" barcodes.  It does fine when the 
request form is printed using Internet Explorer or CLIO, but it doesn't 
scan at all when the same request is printed using Firefox, those 
barcodes are noticeably different.  In fact the print version, on the FF 
screen, _shows_ a barcode that _is_ scanable.  I did a screen grab and 
pasted it into Photoshop and printed it, it scans great, but when you 
print the request form out using Firefox, it prints a different (and 
unscanable) barcode. 

    Of course, I cannot find any references on the manufacturer's web 
site (Metrologic), Mozilla, or the OCLC site, even backed up and punted 
on Google.  Anyone out there have a working knowledge on why FF might 
handle barcodes differently, and how to squish it? 

Thanks!  Richard