Found the problem. Turns out I needed to use the "pass-through filter"
option in the Unix printer setup. Barcodes now print and scan. Thanks all!

John B.

"John B." <jlb@computac.com> wrote in message
news:1175698892.369484@nfs-db1.segnet.com...
> Programming in COBOL on a Unix mainframe - I'm trying to get Code 128
> barcodes to print on an HP LaserJet 2430n. The appropriate PCL code is
sent
> via a print file and ends up in a Unix print queue. Everything is
> recognized, except the start and stop characters of the barcode escape
> sequence. They are passed as a Hex A2 and Hex A4, respectively, (and show
> as such when displayed in hex) but are somehow "lost" come time to
> physically print them on the HP. All I'm getting are the data characters
> and check character in the barcodes, thus making them unscannable.
>
> When I physically send those hex characters to the printer, they come out
as
> an inverted L for the Hex A2 and a double pipe for the Hex A4, which are
way
> off. Would they be getting mucked up going from EBCDIC to ASCII? Are
there
> any print queue settings on the Unix side I need to change? Filters,
> perhaps? (The HP will successfully print a Code 128 barcode via other
> methods, so it's not the printer itself.) Or is this simply not possible
to
> do??
>
> Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
>
> John B.
>
>