Bar Code Functionality

  • Thread starter Thread starter BKR
  • Start date Start date
B

BKR

Is there any bar code functionality with Access? What I
am trying to develop is a report to print a label
displaying a patient account number and demographics with
a bar code attached to that label.
 
BKR said:
Is there any bar code functionality with Access? What I
am trying to develop is a report to print a label
displaying a patient account number and demographics with
a bar code attached to that label.
Click to expand...

Depending on the barcode style you need you might be able to get by with a
barcode font. With the 3 of 9 barcode format you just need a TextBox with
an expression that adds an asterisk to the start and end of the "word" to
be barcoded and then use a barcode font for that TextBox.

Some report problems using barcode fonts, but I picked up a free one a
couple years ago and have never had a report from any of my users
concerning difficulty in scanning them correctly.
 
Thanks Rick ,

Could you provide an example of an expression that I could
use within the textbox? I am new to this.
 
I wrote an application that needed to print Serial Number barcodes onto
label paper. I got the free 3 of 9 barcode font as suggested, and used the
following as the Control Source for the text box:

="*" & [SN] & "*"

where [SN] was the table field of the serial numbers I needed to print. The
'*' is the start and stop character for the barcode. Set the Font Name to
the '3 of 9 Barcode' font you obtain, and set the font size to whatever you
need. I used 20pt.

Ross Cox
 
BKR said:
Is there any bar code functionality with Access? What I
am trying to develop is a report to print a label
displaying a patient account number and demographics with
a bar code attached to that label.
Click to expand...

Simple use a barcode font. The most convenient to use is code 3 of 9.
And the font can be find here: http://www.morovia.com/font/code39.asp.
 
The best way to print bar codes from an Access database report is to
use a bar code ActiveX control. Fonts produce poor quality bar codes
that can be difficult to read. With fonts, you also have to add start
and stop codes to the bar code data and you also have to calculate
check digits yourself. A good bar code ActiveX control will do
everything for you and it will also be much easier to use - in
addition to printing much better quality bar codes.
The best bar code ActiveX control available is the TAL Bar Code
ActiveX control. You can download a trial version from complete with
an Access database sample that shows how to use it from:
http://www.taltech.com/TALtech_web/products/activex_barcodes.html
 
Back
Top