Formtastic Learns New Barcode Tricks
June 17, 2014 Alex Woodie
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Quadrant Software says it added support for two new barcode formats and one new automated payment format to Formtastic, its document management software for IBM i. Support for QR and 2D DataMatrix barcodes and the ACH CCD+ data format in Formtastic version 5.4.5 will help customers address requirements. Formtastic is a suite of IBM i and Windows software designed to merge variable print stream data originating from IBM i servers with pre-defined document templates, enabling customers to use standard laser printers to generate custom forms, labels, and checks, and to eliminate pre-printed forms. In addition to generating forms and barcodes, the software can generate MICR checks, and can also initiate payments using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) payment network. Support for 2D DataMatrix and QR barcodes, which are both two-dimensional barcodes, will give Formtastic customers new ways to encode data originating on IBM i. The 2D DataMatrix barcode can hold up to 1.5 KB of data, thereby allowing customers to pack a lot more data into a barcode than a typical one dimensional barcode. QR barcodes have grown in popularity over the last few years because they allow anybody with a camera-enabled smartphone to scan barcodes and receive the data. Organizations often use QR barcodes as hyperlinks to automatically open specific Web pages on users’ phones, but they can be used in other ways, too. Lastly, the addition of the ACH CCD+ format will allow customers to include additional information with payments. The CCD+ format gives a payment originator the capability to add a single 80-character addendum record to the payment. According to Quadrant, the data format will allow companies in the healthcare industry comply with certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (i.e. “Obamacare”) that have to do with reimbursement payments sent via ACH. “We are constantly working to make it easier for our customers to distribute professional-looking IBM i spool files,” Steve Woodard, Quadrant Software’s CEO, says in a statement. “This release will enable our customers to add modern new elements to their forms. It will also simplify compliance for customers who need to attach addenda records to their ACH layout.” Interestingly, this was the third time that Quadrant has announced Formtastic version 5.4.5. The first time was in May 2011, which brought new barcode creation fields, and the second time was in April 2013, when it first announced support for QR barcodes. Quadrant says Formtastic version 5.4.5 will ship in August. RELATED STORIES Quadrant Adds QR Code Support to Formtastic Quadrant Adds Upgrades to Formtastic Product
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