Native Barcode Generator for Microsoft Access
Patent Pending

• Add barcodes to Microsoft Access without installing special fonts, ActiveX controls or plug-ins.
• Supports Linear and 2D symbologies including Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, Postnet and PDF417.
• Complete VBA source code is provided with purchase.
• Easily redistribute reports with embedded barcode objects.

Demo Version Notice:
 This is a demo version of the Native Barcode Generator, which may only be used for evaluation purposes. The demo version is fully functional, with the following 2 exceptions: (1) a pop-up notice will appear intermittently and (2) the VBA module is password protected. To purchase the fully functional version with access to the Native Barcode Generator module, please visit http://idautomation.com/access/native/index.html#Order.

INDEX:

• Order Now
• Download Demo
• Product Overview
• Tutorial
• Support
• Other barcode software products
• If a scanner is needed to verify barcodes, IDAutomation offers several affordable, easy-to-use scanner kits.

The Native Barcode Generator is VBA code that may be easily inserted into Access databases to create bar code images on reports and forms. Once installed in a database, no other components or fonts need to be installed to create barcodes; it is the complete barcode generator that stays with the database, even when distributed.

Additional Features Include:

• Multiple Locale Compatibility - This product is compatible with all languages and locales, including Double Byte versions of Windows, such as those used in China and Japan, as well as other Asian locale settings.
• Two Wide to Narrow Ratios are Provided in this package with ratios of 2:1 and 3:1 for the Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar and MSI symbologies. The ratio is changed by a parameter in the function.
• Multiple Barcode Types are supported with a single product.
• Bar Height Parameter allows the height of the bar codes to be increased or decreased with precision.
• Easy Function Encoding Capability - IDAutomation's font tools provide easy methods of encoding functions such as returns and tabs in Code 128 barcodes.
• Industry Standards - The universal barcode font creates barcodes that conform directly to international AIM and ISO standards.

The Native Barcode Generator currently supports the following symbologies:

• Codabar
• Code 39
• Code 128 Auto
• Code 128 UCC/EAN
• Code 128, Sets A, B and C
• Interleaved 2 of 5
• MSI
• Postnet
• PDF417 (in 2D version)

The following symbologies may be created upon request with the purchase of the Unlimited Developer License:

• Code 93
• OneCode
• DataMatrix

This package does not support UPCA, UPCE, EAN13 or EAN8 barcodes because of the required OCR text characters that must appear below this barcode type. If these barcode symbologies are required, the UPC/EAN Barcode Font Advantage is available as a separate purchase only.

Installing the Native Barcode Generator is a fairly easy process. If problems are encountered with this tutorial, IDAutomation recommends referring to the sample database included in the package.

1. Extract the files from the Native Barcode Generator package.
2. Open the database the barcode is needed for.
3. Choose Tools - Macro - Visual Basic Editor.
4. From the Visual Basic Editor, choose File - Import file and select the IDAutomation_Native_Barcode_VBA.bas file from the files extracted in Step 1.
   
5. Choose File - Save and then close the Visual Basic Editor. All functions of the Native Barcode Generator are now embedded in the database.
6. Open the report in Design Mode.
7. Insert a text box in the details section of the form, and increase the height and width so it will be able to contain the bar-code.
   
8. Right-click on the text box and choose Properties.
9. In the Properties panel, change the font to "Arial". The only exception is when PDF417 or Postnet is used, the "Courier New" font must be selected.
10. In the Properties panel, change font size to "3" points. Because the point size is smaller then what is available in the drop down menu, it must be manually entered.
    
11. In the Properties panel, change the Control Source to the formula or function for the barcode type that is needed; for example:
    =IDAutomation_Nat_C128([Table1.Field1])
    would create a code 128 barcode from Field1 in Table1.
12. Enter parameters to modify the height and other options of the barcode; for example:
    =IDAutomation_Nat_C39([Table1.Field1],8,3)
    changes the height to 8 and the N Dimension to 3 in Code 39.
13. If it is necessary to change the X dimension or barcode width, highlight the object and change the font point size. The point size must be small, generally 3 or 4 points. Because the drop down box does not contain these small sizes, they must be manually typed in. The font selected for the object must be "Arial" or "Times New Roman" for all barcode types except for Postnet and PDF417, which requires the "Courier New" font.
     

    Font Point Size	Approximate X Dimension
    2	08 Mils
    3	12 Mils
    4	16 Mils
    5	20 Mils

14. Run the report to verify barcodes are being properly created. Ensure the object has been sized properly to contain the entire barcode. If the width of the symbol is larger then the object, several white lines will appear.
    
15. It is normal to view some distortion of the symbol on the screen because of low screen resolution. However, the barcodes should be accurate when printed. Light horizontal lines may appear in the printed symbol under certain conditions. However, these horizontal lines will not decrease symbol accuracy or cause scanning errors because scanners decode the vertical lines in the symbol. If it is desired to eliminate the lines completely, IDAutomation suggests implementation with Barcode Fonts or ActiveX Controls.
    

Legal Notice: This product is Patent Pending. Reports containing this object may only be distributed outside the licensed organization with the purchase of a Developer License to the Native Barcode Generator.

All the functions listed below are preceded with IDAutomation_Nat_. For all functions below, the data type returned is a string and the input type for DataToEncode is a string.

Description of the parts of the functions:

• DataToEncode - This is a string value that represents the data being encoded.
• BarHeight - The height of the bars in the symbol; default = 6 which is about .3 inches or .8 CM. The approximate height is determined with the following formula:
  Height in Inches = (Font Size) * (BarHeight) * 0.015
  Height in CM    = (Font Size) * (BarHeight) * 0.04
  N_Dimension - Determines the width of the wide bars, which is a multiple of the X dimension. Valid values are 2 and 3. The default is 2. The X dimension is determined by the font point size.
• IncludeCheckDigit - A Boolean value that determines whether a check digit should be automatically calculated and included for the DataToEncode.
• ApplyTilde - In Code 128 AUTO and UCC128, if the ApplyTilde option is set to True, the tilde will be processed and allow the following encoding options:
  • ASCII characters: The format ~ddd may be used to specify the ASCII code of the character to be encoded. For example, if entering the following text in the Data field: 66~02977 it will actually encode 66GS77 where GS is a delimiter ASCII 29 character. Other commonly used ASCII codes are ~009 for a tab and ~013 which is a return function. To encode other functions, please refer to IDAutomation's ASCII chart.
  • Encoding UCC/EAN-128: To encode alpha-numeric UCC/EAN128, the character must be set to "AUTO" for automatic. Then, ASCII 202 or character Ê is entered as the FNC1 before each AI and the required start C is included automatically. For example, the UCC number of (8100)712345(21)12WH5678 should be entered as: Ê8100712345Ê2112WH5678. In most cases, the AI's will be properly represented in the human readable text. If the parenthesis is not around the correct number for the AI, enter the following extended ASCII character as the FNC1 for the correct number of digits in the AI:
    ASCII 212 = 2 digits
    ASCII 213 = 3 digits
    ASCII 214 = 4 digits
    ASCII 215 = 5 digits
    ASCII 216 = 6 digits
    ASCII 217 = 7 digits
    For example, to encode (1277)56, enter Ö127756.
    For more information, please refer to the UCC/EAN 128 section of IDAutomation's Code 128 FAQ
  • Create a Mod 10 Check digit: To create a Mod 10 check digit for xx number of characters, add the following to the DataToEncode: ~mnn (where nn is a 2 digit number representing the number of characters preceding the tilde in which to base the Mod 10 calculation). The additional MOD 10 check digit is commonly used in UCC or EAN barcode types. For example, setting the DataToEncode property to Ê4021234567890123456~m16 will cause a mod 10 check digit to be created based on all 16 characters before the tilde. The human readable text and scanned data will display as (402)12345678901234560. The final 0 is the mod 10 check digit and replaces ~m16.
  • FNC2: When necessary, the FNC2 character may be inserted into the DataToEncode string by using ASCII 197. For example; Å8012349091. IDAutomation's SC5USB Scanner can be programmed to hold the barcode starting with the FNC2 in memory and only transmit it to the computer after scanning a barcode containing the FNC1.

Common Problems and Solutions:

• If scanning problems are encountered, verify a printer of 600 DPI or greater is being used. A large point size such as 5 points must be used with low resolution printers. IDAutomation also offers many barcode fonts that print well to low resolution printers.
• Ensure the barcode can fit in the object. If the width of the barcode is larger then the object, several white lines will appear.
  
• Ensure the font selected for the text box is correct. Selecting the wrong font will cause spacing problems in the symbol. It should be "Arial" or "Times New Roman" except when using PDF417 or Postnet, which requires "Courier New" or another mono-spaced unicode font.
  
• Additional problems and solutions are provided at IDAutomation's barcode font troubleshooting site and by searching resolved public help desk issues. Priority phone, email and help desk support is provided up to 30 days after purchase. Additional priority phone, email and help desk support may be obtained if the Priority Support and Upgrade Subscription is active.

IDAutomation has many other products to offer for barcoding purposes including:

• Microsoft Access Barcode Integration Index
• ActiveX Controls - easy to use add-ins for Microsoft Access, Excel, VB and C++.
• .NET Forms Controls - create and print barcodes from Microsoft Visual Studio.NET applications. Also generates images that can be saved to a file.
• ASP Barcode Server for IIS - add barcodes to any web application with this component for Microsoft IIS.
• ASP. NET Barcode Web Controls - for creating bar codes in VB .NET or C# .NET web applications.
• Barcode Label Design Software - allows easy printing of barcodes with database support.
• Hosted Barcode Services - allow dynamic creation of barcodes without installing any software.
• Image Generators - easily create barcode images for almost any Windows application.
• Java Servlets, JavaBeans, Class Libraries & Applets - create barcodes on any operating system with a JVM.

Copyright © 2001-2006 IDAutomation.com, Inc. IDAutomation and BizFonts are registered trademarks of IDAutomation.com, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.