DevOps, CI/CD and Automation

My problem, in brief is as follows

I have a report that shows details concerning automobiles. The user wants the VIN number to display as a 3-of-9 barcode.

Approach #1: I've used the Oracle Graphics file barcode6i.ogd to generate the barcode. This works as long as I tell the report server to generate the PDF as a file and then send the output to the browser. The browser successfully fires up Adobe Acrobat Reader and everything is right with the world.

Problem with Approach #1: My problem is when I have to generate the PDF directly to the printer (DESTYPE=PRINTER). The barcode printed does not look right. In fact, it looks more like a Tootsie Roll. The reason this has to occur seemlessly in this way is that we have users that are using handheld units which do not have the capability to run Adobe Acrobat Reader. Hence, we have created a prompt that will allow them to generate report output and send directly to the printer.

What I've done to attempt to resolve approach #1: I read on Metalink that uiprint.txt should reference default.ppd for the destination printer in question. This has not worked so far. I have not been able to find a solution that addresses this particular problem. Would the best approach be to load a barcode font on the X Font Server on Unix? Is there a place for the report server to determine what the font should be?

Approach #2: I've found a java application that, given a string, will produce a valid barcode image in JPG format. With that, I created a table to store the barcode image. The idea is if the record exists, I don't have to re-generate it (which takes a few seconds and could appear to slow the report down). The table has a BLOB column where I store the image. The report, then queries the record and should display the contents.

Problem with Approach #2: As long as the BLOB represents content of a GIF image file, then it displays without a problem. It appears the reports 6i cannot do anything with JPG content. When I direct the report to query and display the BLOB contents of a JPG loaded to the database, it does not display anything at all. The rest of the report displays normally, but the barcode never materializes as output.

What I've done to attempt to resolve approach #2: It appears that it is not possible for reports 6i to display JPG content retrieved from the database. I have tried GIF content and found immediate success. The java app I downloaded will only generate barcodes in JPG format because of copyright issues concerning the GIF format. Also, I have serious misgivings concerning the loading of a file potentially everytime that the report is run.

In brief, I'd prefer to have a resolution that involves using a font. I would rather not have to generate a file and load it.

I would seriously consider, though, a java class that can be loaded to the database that generates output understandable by reports fairly quickly. I don't know enough java to able to attempt this on my own.

I understand that in 9i Oracle Graphics goes away but that we'll be able to use a java bean specifically for this task. My DBAs tell me that the report server also has a font that will allow easy displaying of barcodes. However, I have to give our users something that works now without telling them to wait until they are able to run the 9i environment.

Our reports server resides on an RS/6000 running AIX Unix version 4.3.3.0.

Database: 8.1.7.2.0
AppServer: 1.0.2.0.1
Forms & Reports Services: 6.0.8.11.0
Forms Extensions: 8.1.7.0.0


Thanks!

Fernando Luna