RBarcodex ActiveX

• Introduction
• Installation
• Examples (use with Visual Basic)
• Use with MSAccess
• Use with a ASP
• API

Introduction

Barcodes types

• BAR39: Code 39 is an alphanumeric bar code that can encode decimal numbers, the upper case alphabet, and the following special symbols: _ . * $ / % +. If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate the optional check character (modulus 43).
• BAR39EXT: Extended Code 39 encodes the full 128 character ASCII character. If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate the optional check character (modulus 43).
• INTERLEAVED25: Interleaved 2 of 5 code is a numeric only bar code. If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate the optional modulus 10 check character.
• UPCA: UPC-A is used for marking products which are sold at retail in the USA. Version A encodes a twelve digit number. The first number encoded is the number system character, the next ten digits are the data characters, and the last digit is the check character.
• EAN8: EAN-8 is a shortened version of the EAN-13 code. It includes a 2 or 3 digit country code, 4 of 5 data digits (depending on the length of the country code), and a checksum digit.
• EAN13: The symbol encodes 13 characters: the first two or three are a country code which identify the country in which the manufacturer is registered (not necessarily where the product is actually made). The country code is followed by 9 or 10 data digits (depending on the length of the country code), and a checksum digit.
• UPCE: The UPC-E code is a compressed barcode which is intended for use on small items. Compression works by squeezing extra zeroes out of the barcode and then automatically re-inserting them at the scanner. Only barcodes containing zeroes are candidates for the UPC-E symbol.
• CODE128: Code 128 is a continuous, multilevel, full ASCII code. If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate the mandatory check character (modulus 103).
• EAN128: Modifed version of code128, starting with FNC1.
• MSI: MSI Code is a numeric. If the CHECK_CHAR flag is set RBarCode will calculate the modulus 10 check character.
• CODE11: Code 11 is a numeric, high density code with one special character - .If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate check character. If the value to be encoded is longer than 10 digits, a second check character will be calculated.
• CODE93: Code 93 is a more compact version of Code 39. It encodes exactly the same characters as Code 39, but uses 9 barcode elements per character instead of 15. If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate the optional modulus 43 check character .
• IND25: Industrial 2 of 5 is a numeric-only barcode that has been in use a long time. Unlike Interleaved 2 of 5, all of the information is encoded in the bars; the spaces are fixed width and are used only to separate the bars. The code is self-checking and does not include a checksum.
• CODABAR: Codabar is a discrete, numeric code with special characters (-$:/.+). If the barcheckCharacter flag is set RBarCode will calculate the optional modulus 16 check character .

Installation

After unzipping the file you have received or downloaded, the activeX needs to be registered in your windows environment by executing the install.bat file.On windows 7 you must right click the bat file and run it as administrator.

If you want to deinstall the OCX you can do it by means of uninstall.bat.

Boths programs just run the regsvr32.exe windows tool in order to register and unregister OCX's.

The ActiveX has been developed using Visual Basic 6.0. For this reason it needs the following files:

1. the OCX needs the file Msvbvm60.dll. Make sure the file is available at your PC.
2. If you use the OCX in other development environment different from Visual Basic, you will also need the file Msstkprp.dll.

Examples

Visual Basic

In the subdirectory Examples/VB you will find a visual basic 6.0 project you can use to test the ActiveX. The project is already compiled, you can execute it by means of exampleBarcode.exe.

Use with MSAccess

The ActiveX can be inserted into your MSAccess forms and reports. If want to retrieve a value from the database before you create the barcode you can do it this way:

1. Place an invisitble text box in the detail band where the barcode resides, and set its Control Source to the approiate field in the database.
2. In the detail_format event of the report (or form), place the following code: me!NameOfBarCodeControl.BARCODE=me!MyControlsName

Use with ASP

The ActiveX can also be used in your web applications when you use ASP. The following code shows how this can be done:

<%@ LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" %>
<%

set bc=server.createobject("RBarcode.RBarcodeX")
bc.standalone=true
bc.barType=11
bc.barcode=98765432
bc.saveToBMP("c:\inetpub\wwwroot\barcode")
set bc=nothing

<HTML>
<BODY>
RBARCODEX<BR>
<img src="barcode.bmp">
</BODY>
</HTML>

this script uses RBarcodeX in order to create a bmp image that can be display in the browser. If you want to use another format (not BMP) you can use external tools for the conversion. The following example uses the JanGraphics freeware library to convert the bmp to a png file:

<%@ LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" %>
<%

set bc=server.createobject("RBarcode.RBarcodeX")
bc.standalone=true
bc.barType=11
bc.barcode=98765432
bc.saveToBMP("c:\inetpub\wwwroot\barcode")
set bc=nothing

set conv=createobject("janGraphics.Compendium")
conv.convert "c:\inetpub\wwwroot\barcode.bmp","c:\inetpub\wwwroot\barcode.png"
set conv=nothing
%>

Properties and methods

Methods

• paintBarcode(): forces the barcode to be repainted.
• saveToBMP(filename): saves the barcodes to a BMP file.

Properties

• barType: this is the type of barcode to be used. Valid values are: BAR39 (code 0), BAR39EXT (1), CODE11 (3), CODABAR (4), CODE93EXT (14), CODE128 (13), MSI (5), IND25 (7), MAT25 (8), INTERLEAVED25 (2), EAN13 (10), EAN8 (11),EAN128(16), POSTNET (15), UPCA (6) and UPCE (12).
• barbackColor: back color of the barcode.
• barForeColor: color of the bars.
• barHeight:: height of the bars in pixels. If this value is 0, it will be calculated using H.
• CODABARStartChar: Start character for CODABAR. Valid values are "A", "B", "C" or "D".
• CODABARStopChar: Stop character for CODABAR. Valid values are "A", "B", "C" or "D".
• barcode: this is the value to be encoded.
• barcode128set: set of charaters to be used in code128. Valid values are : code128A (0), code128B (1) and code128C (2).
• barcheckCharacter : If true the software will calculate the check character automatically.
• barFontColor: color of the font used to display the code.
• barguardBars: indicates if guardbars will be height than other bars. Only for EAN and UPC.
• Isize: intercharacter separator , only for BAR39. A value of 1 means that the separator will have the same length as X.
• Hsize: Indicates how to calculate the height of the bars. A value of 0.5 means that the bars should be half the length of the symbol.
• barleftMargin: left margin in pixels.
• Nsize: a value of 2, means that wide bars will be 2 times the width of narrow bars. The default vaue is 2.
• barpostnetHeightTallBar: height (in pixels) of PostNet's tall bar.
• barpostnetHeightShortBar: height (in pixels) of PostNet's short bar.
• barsupHeight: relative height of the supplement's bars (only EAN and UPC). The default (0.8) means 80% of the normal bars.
• barsupSeparation: separation between the code and the supplement (in pixels). the default is 10(only EAN and UPC).
• barFont: font used to display the code.
• bartopMargin: top margin in pixels.
• barUPCEANSupplement2: indicates if the codes EAN and UPC will have a 2 digit's supplement.
• barUPCEANSupplement5: indicates if the codes EAN and UPC will have a 5 digit's supplement.
• barUPCESystem: encoding system to be used for UPCE, valid values are cSystem0 (0) and cSystem1 (1)
• Xsize: width in pixels of narrow bars. The default is 1.

How to use the checkCharacter property:

If you are suppling the code with the check digit already calculated, you must set barcheckCharacter to false (this is the default). If you want the software to calculate the checksum for you, you must set barcheckCharacter to true.

For EAN and UPC have fixed length and therefore you only have the following possibilities:

• EAN13: you supply a 13 digits code and set barcheckCharacter to false or you supply a 12 digits code and set barcheckCharacter to true.
• EAN8: you supply a 8 digits code and set barcheckCharacter to false or you supply a 7 digits code and set barcheckCharacter to true.
• UPCA and UPCE: you supply a 12 digits code and set barcheckCharacter to false or you supply a 11digits code and set barcheckCharacter to true.