the j=1 odd-parity spectrum of barium is studied through a combination of the eigenchannel r-matrix and multichannel quantum defect (mqdt) methods. short-range parameters used by mqdt to describe electronic channel interactions are determined by performing r-matrix calculations in ls coupling and the (ls/jj) frame transformation is used to include fine-structure effects. this approach has proven to be an efficient tool for describing lighter alkaline earths but its ability to handle ba, where spin-orbit interaction is stronger, is analysed. the calculations reproduce well the perturbations of the principal rydberg series 6snp /sup 1.3/p/sub 1/ by eight low-lying doubly excited levels as well as most of the features observed in the photoabsorption spectrum 6s/sup 2/-j=1' up to the 6p/sub 3/2/ threshold. although some discrepancies were found, the considerable overall success obtained by describing spin-orbit effects in ba with the (ls/jj) frame transformation instead of including them explicitly in the short-range calculation is a great surprise