Re: Bar Codes
From: Andrew D. Newbould (newsgroups_at_NOzadSPANsoft.com)
Date: 11/24/04
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Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 18:24:33 +0000
In message <B818C0D0-43E2-4FC3-8E40-6AA8ACAB56CC@microsoft.com>, Ricardo
Furtado <RicardoFurtado@discussions.microsoft.com> writes
>I'm developping an application in VB. That same application has to be able to
>read, create and print bar codes to register product information. I need
>documentation (sites, books, ..., anything) in order to start working on this
>task. Can you please help?
>
>my thanks in advanced
Most of the hits you'll get through Google et al will be useless or
people just selling the hardware, software etc.
The first thing you need to do is determine how and what you want to do
with barcodes, what symbologies you want to use and what you want to use
them for. Your comment above is too broad. I should know, my day job is
as a Senior Developer for an Auto ID specialist (ie: Barcodes, RFID,
Magnetic Strip etc etc).
All barcodes, regardless of Symbologies, just convert into plain text.
So if you have a keyboard wedge scanner and scan an EAN barcode you will
get a text response containing 7 to 13 numeric digits. These translate
very easily into database fields etc.
Creating barcodes is as simply as coming up with an appropriate
alphanumeric id for the symbology of choice (ie: your internal product
codes). There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, you can't
just dream up your own EAN / UPC barcodes as they have a special format
(with embedded check digits) and are issued by the relevant governing
bodies. For most internal uses other symbologies can be used at will
(ie: Code 39 or Code 128).
Printing barcodes is another complex issue. By far the most simple
answer would be to buy a dedicated barcode printer that handles the
media formats you require and write your application around that. Bare
in mind that Zebra Printers for example talk in 5 different languages
(CPCL, EPL, EPL2, ZPL and ZPL2) so mixing your printers becomes
troublesome. Going the Barcode Font route is just as messy (for starters
you need a Font for each symbology you intend to use and there is
normally a cost per machine you intend to install them on - they are NOT
royalty free). In addition you normally can't simply send your barcode
data (ie: "12345678") to the printer in the barcode font. You first have
to manipulate the data sent to the printer depending on the Font's rules
so "12345678" might become "x1A23Dv57G8p" when sent to the printer in
the Font.
Kind Regards,
-- Andrew D. Newbould E-Mail: newsgroups@NOSPAMzadsoft.com ZAD Software Systems Web : www.zadsoft.com
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