Barcode Labels using Access DB

  • Thread starter Thread starter Douglas J. Steele
  • Start date Start date
I want to print Barcode labels with Access 2000 Prof. I
was using the 128 Code font and in the screen they looks
OK but when I printed in the HP LaserJet 4000 Series PS
the Barcodes are unreadable.
When I use other software with the same printer and same
128 Code Font the labels are redable with the scanners.

How can I obtain readable Barcodes from Access using the
Code 128 font?
 
Tommy said:
I want to print Barcode labels with Access 2000 Prof. I
was using the 128 Code font and in the screen they looks
OK but when I printed in the HP LaserJet 4000 Series PS
the Barcodes are unreadable.
When I use other software with the same printer and same
128 Code Font the labels are redable with the scanners.

How can I obtain readable Barcodes from Access using the
Code 128 font?
Click to expand...

You may want to check the specification:

The Code 128 Specification requires the inclusion of a check digit. The
barcode symbol structure consists of...

1. A quiet zone, or white space to the left of the bars
2. Start character
3. A variable number of data characters
4. Check digit
5. Stop character
6. A quiet zone or white space to the right of the bars
The quiet zone should be at least ten times the width of the narrowest
bar/space element.

http://www.barcodeman.com/info/c128.php
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access
 
Tommy said:
I want to print Barcode labels with Access 2000 Prof. I
was using the 128 Code font and in the screen they looks
OK but when I printed in the HP LaserJet 4000 Series PS
the Barcodes are unreadable.
When I use other software with the same printer and same
128 Code Font the labels are redable with the scanners.

How can I obtain readable Barcodes from Access using the
Code 128 font?
Click to expand...

You need to obtain a quality code 128 font. Take a look at
http://www.morovia.com/font/code128.asp. They have the VB source code
to generate barcode string.
 
As a previous responder noted, Code 128 requires a check character as
well as the start and stop characters. Asterisks are typically not
used for the Code 128 start or stop characters.

Part of the problem is that mapping of Code 128 characters can be a
little strange because the font has to get around some specific
TrueType characters that print as blank white spaces no matter what
the font says they should look like. The mapping can be different
depending on who published the font.

Here is a link to an AppNote on how to calculate a Code 128 checksum
in Access:

http://www.makebarcode.com/info/appnote/app_004.html

This example uses the character mapping found in Azalea fonts, so here
is a link to some information on those:

http://www.makebarcode.com/software/softwarefonts.html#Azalea

The last bit is a caution about Code 128 and TrueType. There are
inherent inaccuracies in this combination; not a problem if the width
of your bars is generous, but if you are trying to print dense
barcodes you can end up with unscannable codes. Here's the article:

http://www.makebarcode.com/info/appnote/app_009.html

Best Regards,

Bob
 
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