Generating and Reading Barcodes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tod Birdsall, MCSD for .NET
  • Start date Start date
T

Tod Birdsall, MCSD for .NET

Hi All,

I am looking for recommendations on ways/components to implement the
following features in my application:

1. Dynamically generate a barcode image to insert into a PDF document
using iText.

2. Read the previously generated barcode from a tiff image.

Has anyone had experience with the above and could offer
recommendations?

Thanks.

Tod Birdsall
software blog: http://tod1d.net
 
There are many different barcode schemas.
The most easiest one is Code39

Almost all of them are pretty much a special font. Meaning that A is 2 fat
lines and 3 narrow lines, B is 1 fat line, 2 narrow and then 1 fat.......
(it's just a sample).

So to insert barcode into anything you simply need to output text with
special font. You can download code39 font for free from internet. The
differences between schemas is in how they have error corrections.
For example code39 is prefixed and suffixed with symbol '*'

So Order number 345 in code#9 notation will be *39*. Then Barcode reader
will automatically recognize it and enter into computer as if you punched
keys 3 and 9 on a keyboard and hit enter (that behavior is configurable in a
reader)


To Read barcode you need a scanner similar to those you can see in a store.


George.
 
There are many different barcode schemas.
The most easiest one is Code39

Almost all of them are pretty much a special font. Meaning that A is 2 fat
lines and 3 narrow lines, B is 1 fat line, 2 narrow and then 1 fat.......
(it's just a sample).

So to insert barcode into anything you simply need to output text with
special font. You can download code39 font for free from internet. The
differences between schemas is in how they have error corrections.
For example code39 is prefixed and suffixed with symbol '*'

So Order number 345 in code#9 notation will be *39*. Then Barcode reader
will automatically recognize it and enter into computer as if you punched
keys 3 and 9 on a keyboard and hit enter (that behavior is configurable in a
reader)

To Read barcode you need a scanner similar to those you can see in a store.

George.









- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Hi,

I should have been more specific. The user will print a document
containing the dynamically generated barcode. After filling out the
document by hand, the user will fax the document back to me. I will
receive it as a tiff file. I would like my app to read the barcode off
the tiff file and handle the document accordingly.

Thanks.

Tod Birdsall
software blog: http://tod1d.net
 
I see now.
Unfortunately you will need some sort of image recognition library.

I am positive that such algorithms/programs exists because they work in real
life with the barcode readers.
Most likely you will easily develop one but my advice would be to buy

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Programming/Components_and_Librari...
or type into Google

"barcode reader algorithm from tiff file"

George.
Click to expand...

Hi George,

Thanks for the response. I will continue to research a possible
solution.

Tod Birdsall
software blog: http://tod1d.net
 
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