Support Barcode for Windows as TrueType

Support TrueType and PostScript fontpackage - Bar Code

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Which versions of Windows are supported ?
A: In16-Bit version Windows 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, ME, NT 3.X, 4.X and 2000. For the 32-Bit version Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 3.X, 4.X and 2000.

Q: Which printers are supported ?
A: All printers, which own a (graphical) printer driver for Windows or Macintosh. For best readability you should use a lader printer instead of a matrix printer. If using a ink jet printer take care of good paper quality for getting best results when printing bar codes.

Q: Are 2D bar codes supported ?
A: The 32-Bit version for Windows is seperatly available in a 2D version, the bar code generator which supports e.g. the 2-dimensional bar code PDF 417. Using the bar code generator bar codes will be insert in the target application via OLE as an WMF object. Additional to that the bar codes are exportable as an EPS file (requires a postscript printer driver).

Q: What kind of licensations are available ?
A: Single user, network and location licences and a free copyable developer licence for a unique tax.

Q: Is a special network version of the software available ?
A: No, all software solutions and fonts are installable on a network server. Due this every user at a workstation can access to the filefolder and use the full functionality. Please, get noticed of the network licence conditions.

Q: Is an English version available, too ?
A:The software is bilingual. Means, you can switch while working between German or English guidance, that matters naturally even for the online help and you can get the complete manual in both languages.

Q: How are the bar codes displayed ?
A: All bar codes will be displayed as a TrueType font via WYSIWYG.

Q: Is a demo existing?
A: Click here to reach the download site for a demo font of code

Q: What can I do if i do not find my manual?
A: The complete manual is available as online help.

Q: How are the bar codes generated ?
A: Bar codes without checksums (e.g. Code 39, Code 93, Codabar and 2 of 5 industry) can be directly typed in and will be formated with the correct (bar code) font. For bar codes with interleaving or checksums there is a stand alone application, which calculates these things, which can be placed in the desttination application via clipboard.

Q: How can I create bar codes without using the distributed program ?
A1: For special bar codes without checksums like Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, 2 of 5 industry and 2 of 5 matrix you can directly place the code like this: <start character><valid character><stop character>
A2: For bar codes with interleaving or checksums the manual or the online help describes detailed the calculation, so that you are able to program this out of your application.

Q: How does the bar code generation works with the distributed application ?
A: - start the software
- choose a bar code type
- type in the valid character
- click on the button 'calculate'
- change to your destination application
- copy the bar code via the clipboard e.g. with <edit> and <paste> to the wished placed.

Q: Access supports DDE, how does it works ?
A: With following macro example for Access the marked characters will be changed to a bar code and the valid character will be placed as plain text:

Sub Barcode_Click ()

Dim out_CodeEan As String
Dim in_ean As String

'Barcode starten
barcode_task_nr = Shell("C:\PFAD\BARCODE.EXE", 7)

'Kanalnummer zuweisen
kanal = DDEInitiate("Barcode", "Hauptdialog")

'Bild verkleinern
DDEExecute kanal, "MINI"
'bei neuerem ACCESS: DDEPoke kanal, "BarCodeDDECommand", "MINI"

'Methode zuweisen
DDEExecute kanal, "EAN 13"
'bei neuerem ACCESS: DDEPoke kanal, "BarCodeDDECommand", "EAN 13"

'Beispiel EAN mit den ersten 12 Stellen
in_ean = "123456789012"

'EAN ubergeben
DDEPoke kanal, "Nutzziffer", in_ean

'Berechnung auslösen
DDEExecute kanal, "BERECHNEN"
'bei neuerem ACCESS: DDEPoke kanal, "BarCodeDDECommand", "BERECHNEN"

'Ergebnis festhalten und ggfs weiterverarbeiten
out_CodeEan = DDERequest(kanal, "Gesamtfolge")

'am Ende, wenn Barcode nicht mehr gebraucht wird, Programm beenden
DDEExecute kanal, "BEENDEN"
'bei neuerem ACCESS: DDEPoke kanal, "BarCodeDDECommand", "BEENDEN"
DDETerminateAll

End Sub

Q: WinWord supports DDE, how does it works ?
A: With following macro example for WinWord 6.0 the marked characters will be changed to a bar code and the valid character will be placed as plain text:

Sub MAIN

Kanal = DDEInitiate("Barcode", "Hauptdialog")

DDEExecute Kanal, "MINI"
DDEExecute Kanal, "Code 39"

nutz$ = Markierung$()
DDEPoke Kanal, "Nutzziffer", nutz$

DDEExecute Kanal, "BERECHNEN"

gesamt$ = DDERequest$(Kanal, "Gesamtfolge")

schr_art$ = DDERequest$(Kanal, "Schriftart")
schr_gr$ = DDERequest$(Kanal, "Schriftgr")

altschrift$ = Schriftart$()
altgrösse = Schriftgrad()

Schriftart schr_art$, Val(schr_gr$)
Einfügen gesamt$
Schriftart altschrift$, altgrösse

Einfügen Chr$(13)
Einfügen nutz$

DDETerminate Kanal

End Sub

F: How can I print serial letters out of WinWord ?
A1: For Barcodes without checksums (e.g. Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, 2 of 5 industry and 2 of 5 matrix):
Search directly in the online help of the bar code program based on the wished bar code for the start and stop characters. Using them in WinWord works like this:
<start character><data base field><stop character>
All will be formated with the wished bar code font.
For Code 3 of 9 it looks like this:
*{SERIENDRUCKFELD POSTLZ}*
The printing is made via the common serial print command.
A2: For bar codes with checksums and interleaving with the bar code generator program here is a example for a DDE program:

Sub MAIN

SeriendruckLetzterDatensatz
AnzahlDaten = SeriendruckGeheZuDatensatz()

Kanal = DDEInitiate(”Barcode”, ”Hauptdialog”)
DDEExecute Kanal, ”MINI”
DDEExecute Kanal, ”Code 39”

For i = 1 To AnzahlDaten

SeriendruckGeheZuDatensatz i

rem Hier ist der DBase Feldname einzugeben, bei mir NUMMER
nutz$ = AbrufenSeriendruckFeld$("Nummer”)
DDEPoke Kanal, ”Nutzziffer”, nutz$

DDEExecute Kanal, ”BERECHNEN”

gesamt$ = DDERequest$(Kanal, ”Gesamtfolge”)
gesamt$ = LTrim$(RTrim$(gesamt$))
BestimmenFormularFeldergebnis ”BarcodePos”, gesamt$

DateiDrucken .Exemplare = l

Next

DDETerminate Kanal
End Sub

This macro was developed for version 6.0. If it does not work, please replace following commands (according to the Access example):

is alternative
DDEExecute ... DDEPoke Kanal, "BarcodeDDECommand”, "MINI” oder "Code 39” etc.

A3: For bar codes with checksums or interleaving without using the bar code generator program:
You have to write the calculation by yourself. On the utility disk for stethos hardware solutions sos8026D or sos8026S is a WinWord macro that does the calculation for that hardware solution by example. You can change this macro for your requirements.

Q: My DDE program does not work correctly, how can I debug ?
A: Run the macro in single step mode, then you can change after every single step via Alt-Tab to the bar code program and check the results. Or using the option 'stay on top' in the bar code program and the application will be visable at any time.

Q: Is it possible to create an automatization for the generation of bar codes under Windows (e.g. under WinWord 6.0) ?
A: It is quite easy when using the distributed DDE interface of the bar code generator software. The required DDE code is documented in the manual and the online help for the most common applications (e.g. Winword, Excel, Access, ...) and can be placed via copy/paste in your destination application. Generally every DDE-able program should be able to communicate with the bar code generator software via DDE.

Q: I am searching for complete ready macro e.g. for WinWord, that generates and positions my special bar code after setting its properties via a comfortable dialog ?
A: You can download 2 demomakros here. If that is not enough stethos will develop macros with customer specific needs for the most common applications.

Click here to download a demomacro for WinWord (ausweis.zip: 5 K)

Click here to download a demomacro for Excel (Barcode_Excel.zip: 2 K)

Q: WinWord generates a macro error when using the command DDEPoke
A: Newer versions of WinWord does not support this command any longer. Replace it with the command DDECommand (have a look at the Access example).

Q: How do I print barcodes out of Visual Basic?
A: Click here for the download site for the examples

Q: I need Code 39 with line proportions of 1:2.5, does it work?
A: Yes. The proportions 1:2, 1:2.5 and 1:3 are scope of supply for the bar codes Code 39 and 2 of 5 interleaved.

Q: How can I reach a specified height/width proportion ?
A1: If the scaleability is insufficient, then you can change proportions as wanted for e.g. in WordArt.
A2: If your application does not support such a feature, then choose a bigger size as wanted and print a white panel over the bar code.
A3: stethos will kindly create customer specific proportions.

Q: Which bar code is able to display aplhanumeric characters, too?
A: Code 39 (and Code 3 of 9), Code 93, Code 128 and EAN 128.

Q: Is it possible to print plain text of bar codes ?
A: Using DDE programming plain text of every created bar code can be printed at the correct position.

Q: The version of my program does not support the bar code I need ?
A: The program is in developement at any time. Just call the support of stethos and ask if there is an update for your needed bar code (e.g. for Quelle-Schickedanz we offer a special program for EAN 128 with MOD10 checksum).

Q: Even if I use the manual and the online help I still got big problems
A: The free support of stethos will help you. With programming problems of macros please send the source code as E-Mail to support@stethos.com.

Q: Which scope of supply has the software package?
A: You will get two disks and a detailed documentation in English or German language.

Q: I want to print bar codes out of a DOS-box, does it work ?
A: No, TrueType fonts are only available in Windows applications.

Q: After successfull installation of the software under Windows NT, the error:'font types are not installed' is raised when starting the program.
A: Wether no standart printer is installed or only the universal/only text driver is installed. Choose a graphical printer and the program will run without errors.

Q: I need the bar code in a certain height (pointsize), but then the code ist too wide. Can I reduce the width?
A: The new version 5.0 of the software hat the ability to reduce the width by 20% at the same height.

Q: May I calculate more than one bar code by the software at once?
A: The version 5.0 of the software has now the ability to calculate textfiles. The file must contain each number to calculate in a separate line. After calculating the textfile will contain the number and the barcode separated by a Tab (ANSI 009). This textfile can be imported by several applications like Excel or WinWord. You must declare the textfile encoded by Windows charset, not by DOS charset.

Q: I use Code 3of9 within Microsoft Word 97 without the checksum-programm. Why can't read my barcodereader the code after printing and formatting the text with the appropriate Code 3of9 font?
A: After the Installation of Word the spellchecker correct *BOLD* and _ITALIC_ automatically. If a word is encapsulated by 2 * (Asterix) MS-Word converts this word into bold and the Code cannot be recognized. To fix that problem, you must change a default setting in Word:
- Select the « Tools » menu from the top menu bar
- Choose the « Options… » entry in the Tools menu
- Open the « Compatibility » tab
- Activate the « Use Printer Metrics » option checkbox.

Make sure you define that modification as a permanent default setting by clicking on « Set Default …» button, then close the window.

Q: Why are the EAN Bar Codes not correctly printed within Adobe PageMaker?
A: Older Versions have had problems with the EAN fonts. Ask us for a free update of the EAN fonts.

Q: How can I print barcodelables for my DLT tapedrive?
A: Click here for the download site of the DLT barcode label programm

Q: After installing the everything works perfect. Why are the barcode fonts not shown after a reboot of the PC?
A: In some cases Windows does not disply the barcode fonts after a initial reboot. They have to be added again manually. We recommed the following procedure:

1) Copy all barcodes fonts (CODE_*.ttf) temporarily with the explorer (e.g. \windows\fonts) into an empty folder (e.g. \temp\barcodefonts).

2) Erase all installed barcodefonts with the control panel (launch the icon fonts there). All related fonts start with the name Code...

3) Add all barcodefonts with the control panel (launch the icon fonts there) again out of the temporary folder 1). Just click the menue "File - add new fonts" there.