Dynamic Internet Font Embedding
for MICR, OCR and Barcode Fonts

New font formats such as TrueDoc and OpenType make it possible to embed fonts into HTML webpages for display on web browsers running from multiple operating systems. This technology allows webmasters to create web-based applications that include barcode, MICR and OCR technology from IDAutomation fonts without having to install the fonts on the destination machine. On this page, IDAutomation provides a summary, examples of both technologies and a barcode implementation example.

NOTE: It is strongly suggested that webmasters consider a server-side solution for creating barcodes on web pages, such as the IDAutomation ASP Barcode Server for Microsoft IIS or Java Barcode Servlets, because server side solutions are compatible with all web browsers. For more information about creating barcodes on the Internet, see the IDAutomation Internet Barcode FAQ.

Return to IDAutomation.com | TrueDoc | Online TrueDoc Demo | OpenType | Tutorial

How do embedded fonts work? The embedded font is temporarily used by the Web browser and then discarded after the user is done with the web page, so the font cannot be used for anything else. Barcode automation can be accomplished by retrieving the text to barcode from a database or the IDAutomation Font DLL and then presenting it in HTML where the appropriate font is selected. Using the font tools described here, IDAutomation fonts may be embedded in HTML codes and applications according to the IDAutomation Font License Agreement after purchasing a Developer License.

TrueDoc is an embeddable font format developed by Netscape and Bitstream. A minimum of Netscape Navigator 4.03 or Internet Explorer 4.0 is required to view TrueDoc embedded fonts. TrueDoc embedded fonts can be accessed with Netscape 4 natively from all operating systems. If Internet Explorer is used to view a web page with TrueDoc embedded fonts for the first time, it will be necessary to install a "BitStream WebFont Player" control. If the BitStream control is not installed, TrueDoc fonts will not be viewable with Internet Explorer. TrueDoc embedded fonts cannot be viewed using Internet Explorer on the Macintosh. Note: Netscape 6.0 does not work with TrueDoc fonts and there are no plans to implement the technology in Netscape 6.0.

Two products are available that embed TrueType fonts into TrueDoc format: BitStream's Web Font Maker and HexMac Typograph. The following are samples of IDAutomation fonts that were embedded into this web page with the trial version of Bitstream's WebFont Wizard. This application has been discontinued; however, BitStream has two new products in Font Fusion and TrueDoc. Using these tools, IDAutomation fonts may be embedded in the HTML codes and applications according to the IDAutomation Font License Agreement.

Click here for an implementation example that creates a code 39 barcode.

Microsoft has created a dynamic embeddable font format for the Internet called OpenType. Unfortunately, this only works with Internet Explorer 4.0 and above. Bugs may be found in the font converter such as the inability to convert extended characters like ASCII 159 that is used as the space character in IDAutomation Code 128 barcode fonts. On the positive side though, it works with the latest version of Internet Explorer (unlike TrueDoc, which does not work with Netscape 6.0).

Microsoft provides a free tool called "Microsoft Web Embedding Fonts Tool" (WEFT), that lets site designers create embeddable OpenType fonts from TrueType fonts that are linked to their Web pages. The font objects are compressed and subsetted so that they contain only the characters used by a particular site or page. For more information on this technology, please visit Microsoft's guide to implementing fonts on web pages.

NOTE: These WEFT fonts can only be viewed with Internet Explorer 4 and above.

OpenType MICR: A12389B

For more information, please visit the Internet & Web Page Barcode Implementation FAQ and Tutorial.

Because of the lack of support in Netscape 6 with TrueDoc, IDAutomation recommends using Internet Explorer and OpenType for web page font embedding. A good tutorial on embedding fonts in web page font embedding that covers both OpenType and TrueDoc. Please contact the appropriate vendor for any questions regarding these embedding technologies. For more information on OpenType, please visit Microsoft's guide to implementing fonts on web pages.

For technical support of internet fonts, contact the vendor of the product used to convert the fonts into web fonts. Users of Bitstream's Web Font Maker may click here for technical support.

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