FAQ: TBarCode OCX

The following workaround can help to solve the problem with the disappearing toolbar (TBarCode V9!) in Word 2007:

• Close Word 2007.
• Rename or delete the following file:

File: "TBarCode Add-In.dot"
Path (Windows XP): C:\Documents and Settings\[YourUserName]\Local
Settings\Application Data\TEC-IT\TBarCode9 

Path (Windows Vista): C:\users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Local\TEC-IT\TBarCode9

• Start Word 2007.

By doing so, a new .dot file should be created and the plugin should be visible again.

Visual Basic

Dim fnt As stdole.StdFont
Set fnt = new stdole.StdFont
fnt.Name = "Arial"
Set TBC.Font = fnt

Microsoft Visual C++

COleFont cOF = m_TBarCode.GetFont();
tagCY cy = cOF.GetSize();
cOF.SetName("Arial"); // Font Family = Arial
cy.int64 = cy.int64 * 1.5; // add 50% to original size
cOF.SetSize(cy);
m_TBarCode.SetFont((LPDISPATCH) cOF);
cOF.ReleaseDispatch();

VBscript^® (ASP):

Dim fnt
set fnt = Server.CreateObject("StdFont")
fnt.name = "Arial"
set TBC.Font = fnt

PHP (Windows):

$bcobj = new COM("TBarCode9.TBarCode9");
$fntobj = new COM("StdFont");
$fntobj->Name="Times";
$fntobj->Size=12;
$bcobj->Font=$fntobj;

TBarCode Office V10

Create a mail merge document with a data source. Insert a bar code into the document. Use the button "Insert Merge Field" to insert a mail merge field into the barcode.

TBarCode V9

For inserting multiple barcodes you can use the Serial Letter function in the TBarCode Word Toolbar. This function allows you to replace marked text with barcodes after the mail merge document was created. For more information about the TBarCode Toolbar and its functionality, please refer to the TBarCode OCX User Manual.

If you encounter speed problems you may alternatively use the Word Mail Merge Macro which can be downloaded in the TBarCode Download Area. The required steps for using the macro are explained in the enclosed text document.

If this occurs during printing, this effect is caused by the printer driver. Along other printer models this effect happens with Toshiba TEC and DataMax printers.

If this occurs during bitmap generation, this effect is caused by the screen driver.

The solution is to change the draw mode of TBarCode:

TBarCode V8+ Set the ActiveX Property DrawMode to Compatible.

TBarCode V7 Create a file barcode.ini with the following content: [DRAW_MODE] UseGDIRect=1 Copy the barcode.ini file to the installation directory of TBarCode (where you can find the file tbarcode7.ocx or tbarcode7.dll). Restart the program.

Depending on the printer driver the first bar in the symbol may be truncated (when printing through Microsoft Access). Also the symbol may be shifted inside of the bounding box.

If this occurs you can work around this problem by specifying an additional quiet zone around the bar code. This can be done in the property tab Appearance - Quietzone - Adjust.

You may get this runtime error if you didn't specify the full Prog-ID with CreateObject. Reference the TBarCode Type Lib in the project settings, and use the following commands to create a TBarCode object in VB (sample for TBarCode OCX V9):

      Dim objTB As TBarCode9
      Set objTB = CreateObject("TBarCode9.TBarCode9")
      objTB.AboutBox

For further trouble shooting read Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 244264

Licensing happens during startup of the document which contains the ActiveX^® Control.

• Open the Microsoft VBA editor with Alt+F11.
• In the Project Explorer select This Workbook.
• Now enter the following code as for the Workbook-Open Event (sample for TBarCode OCX V9):

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
 Dim tbc As TBarCode9
 Set tbc = CreateObject ("TBarCode9.TBarCode9")
 tbc.LicenseMe "Mem:Licensee", eLicKindDeveloper, 1, "Key", eLicProd1D
 Set tbc = Nothing
End Sub

We recommend to password protect your VBA code in the project property window.

Below we show you how to license at startup of the database (sample for TBarCode OCX V9). Create a new Module with the following function (in Microsoft VBA Editor):

Public Function LicenseTBarCode()
 Dim TB As New TBarCode9
 TB.LicenseMe "Mem:Licensee", eLicKindDeveloper, 1, "Key", eLicProd1D
 SetTB = Nothing
End Function

Create a new Macro named "Autoexec" with the following settings:

Action = RunCode
Functionname = License TBarCode()

Please use this code snippet as starting point:

Barcode.Barcode = eBC_PDF417
Barcode.Text = "My Data... "

' the following settings produce a barcode 82,296 mm wide
' if your barcode should have a constant width, set the data columns
' as shown below (increase/decrease to make wider/smaller symbol)

Barcode.PDF417.Columns = 15

Dim X, Y
Dim Scaling
Dim Dpi

' define ratio of module width (small bar width) to row height
X = 1
Y = 1       ' keeps default ratio, which is 1:3
'Y = 3 / 2  ' creates 1:5 ratio

Dpi = 300     ' 300 dpi printer
Scaling = 3   ' 1 Module (smallest bar) = 3 Pixels = 0.254mm

Dim Cols
Dim Rows

Cols = Barcode.Get2DXCols()
Rows = Barcode.Get2DXRows()

Dim XSize
Dim YSize

XSize = Int(X * Cols)     
YSize = Int(Y * Rows)   

' scale with DPI enlarging factor
XSize = XSize * Scaling
YSize = YSize * Scaling

' Save barcode as bitmap
Barcode.SaveImage "c:\temp\barcode.bmp", eIMBmp, XSize, YSize, Dpi, Dpi

Please use this code snippet as starting point:

' set barcode type = PDF417
Me.bc.Object.BarCode = 55

' set size mode to CustomModuleWidth
Me.bc.Object.SizeMode = 1

' now adjust module width to 0.254 mms
Me.bc.Object.ModuleWidth = "254"

' set number of data columns
' optional parameter, but required to get constant width
Me.bc.Object.PDF417.Columns = 5

' adjust row height to 3 times of the module width
Me.bc.Object.PDF417.RowHeight = 254 * 3

Me.bc.Object.Text = "my data"

Since I've added TBarCode to my Word 2003 document, I cannot protect it.

Solution: You have to leave design mode to be able to protect the document. If you insert a Barcode Control, the document is switched to design mode. Through the Control Toolbox you can leave design mode, then you are able to protect the document.

For further information visit Microsoft Office Online.

TBarCode V9 and Barcode Studio V9 allows you to specify the target code page for the data to be encoded.

tbarcode.CodePage = eCodePage_Custom
tbarcode.CodePageCustom = 28605   ' Latin-9 on Windows

Alternatively you can use Windows API character set conversion functions.

The PDF417 "GLI" code is an indicator for the reader software, which character set is used for the forthcoming data string. The AIM ECI table contains ECI 000017 for ISO/IEC 8859-15 Latin alphabet No. 9. ECI is the successor of GLI.

The GLI or ECI indicator can be insert by escape sequences into the data stream:

PDF417: \Gnnnnnn (n...6 digits specifying the GLI)

Encode: \G000017 + bar code data

What is the meaning of FNC1?

FNC1 is used as a field separator for variable length application identifiers (AIs) and is encoded by the sequence \F. For instance, the batch number is a variable length data field and needs an FNC1 as terminator if the data length is lower than the maximum of 20 characters.

Please note:

• For encoding the FNC1 you have to activate Translate Escape Sequences.
• Do not use FNC1 after the last data field.
• Do not use FNC1 if the maximal field length is used.

Example 1: FNC1 with TBarCode

In the following examples we generate a GS1-128 bar code with two application identifiers (AIs): The charge number (AI =10, variable length, needs FNC1) and the expiration date (AI=15).

' set the barcode type = GS1-128 (EAN/UCC 128)
TBarCode91.BarCode = eBC_GS1_128
' enable Translate Escape Sequences
TBarCode91.EscapeSequences = True
' set the data to be encoded
TBarCode91.Text = "10222333\F15100701"

Example 2: FNC1 with Barcode Studio

For demonstrating on how it works with Barcode Studio we use the same example data as shown in the previous code sample. Follow these steps to insert a FNC1 control into your bar code data:

1. Enter „10222333\F15100701“ as for the bar code data.
2. Then switch to the advanced properties tab and mark the check box Escape Sequences.
3. FNC1 is inserted and the application identifier (AI=15) is displayed.

The default bar code type can be set through a file named barcode.ini.

The barcode.ini file must be located in the installation path of TBarCode and has to contain the following lines:

[DEFAULT_SETTINGS]
BarcodeType=8

The index (in this example 8) for the required barcode type can be found in the barcode reference, chapter 6.