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Oracle Reports Barcode Font Tutorial & Integration Guide

This IDAutomation tutorial is designed for implementing barcodes in Oracle Reports with the IDAutomation PL/SQL Barcode Library and IDAutomation barcode fonts. The barcode library is a PLL file that formats data from fields in the report to the barcode fonts, to create a correct barcode. The library contains functions for Code 128, Code 39, GS1, Codabar, UCC/EAN 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC and EAN barcodes.

IDAutomation also provides the Java Barcode Package, which is easier to implement in Oracle Reports for versions 9i, 10g and above. Additionally, the Java Package is much easier to use in Unix and Linux environments. Additional options are also provided at IDAutomation's Barcode Integration Guide and Tutorial for Oracle Reports.

Oracle Barcode Font Implementation Tutorial

Step 1 - Install the Barcode Fonts

IDAutomation offers a wide variety of barcode fonts for various purposes. If in doubt about which to use, IDAutomation recommends using Universal Barcode Font with the Code 128 function. To install IDAutomation's barcode fonts on Windows for Oracle Reports, run the INSTALL.EXE file included in the font package or follow the font installation procedures. Because of the complexities and several different distributions of Unix and Linux systems, IDAutomation does not provide installation assistance for Unix and Linux systems. However, IDAutomation does provide two sets of installation instructions that may help as a guide:

IDAutomation recommends using the Java Solution if possible for Unix and Linux environments.

Step 2 - Oracle Reports Barcode PLL Library Installation

This PLL library is compatible with any version of Oracle Reports that supports attached libraries. The IDAutomation.pll was developed and tested against Reports 6i and the IDAutomation_Universal.pll is compatible with 10g and above. If used in the database itself, then the version of the database would be any version that supports PL/SQL. PL/SQL source code is also provided for advanced Oracle developers in the IDAutomation.pkg file. Watch the How to create a barcode in Oracle Reports video.

Open Oracle Reports Builder.
Open the report rdf file that will contain the barcodes.
Select the attached libraries option.
Press the create button (Green Plus symbol) on the left toolbar.
In the dialog box, select the File System radio button, click on the Browse button.
Download the Oracle Barcode Library Package which contains the IDAutomation.pll and IDAutomation_Universal.pll files. After decompressing, save these files to an appropriate directory.
Select the IDAutomation.pll or the IDAutomation_Universal.pll file and choose the Attach Button. If in doubt about which to use, IDAutomation recommends using the IDAutomation_Universal.pll file with the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font.
A dialog box will appear asking to remove the path. If "Yes" is selected, the PL/SQL library will need to be re-attached to the report every time the report is opened. If "No" is selected, it will always look for the path in the same location. It is preferable to leave the library in the same directory as the report.
The barcode functions in the library are now ready to be used in the report. After the library is attached, the Object Navigator should look similar to the screen shot below; which shows the attached IDAutomation_Universal.pll:

Step 3 - Setup the Function Call with the Appropriate Barcode Font

IDAutomation's barcode library contains many function calls for linear barcodes as described in the method table. Add a Formula Column to the report by using the Data Model option of the Report Layout, clicking the Formula Column button on the toolbar, and sizing the column in the layout area.
The properties of the newly added Formula Column need to be adjusted to call the PL/SQL function from the IDAutomation.pll library. Access the property page for the Formula Column by selecting the Formula Column and pressing the F4 key. The following window will appear:
Adjust the following properties:
Name - Choose a descriptive name for the Formula Column because the columns will need to be referenced when designing the layout of the actual report.
Datatype - This must be selected as Character from the drop-down menu.
Width - Ensure the width of the field is large enough to hold all characters for the encoded data.
Click on the PL/SQL Formula button within the Property Inspector to call the appropriate barcode function. The following screen should appear:
At the cursor, insert the appropriate function call. This function will add the appropriate start and stop characters, encode the data (if necessary) and add the check sum character (if required).
Please note in the above example, that a constant value (Code128Test) was passed into this function, the appropriate character field may be substituted from the database, if necessary.
Click Close in the above window and ensure the report has been saved.
To add this Formula Column to the report, switch to Paper Layout mode for the report and add a Field object to the report by clicking the appropriate item in the toolbar and dragging into position on the report.
Once the Field has been added to the report, it needs to be linked to the Formula Column that was created earlier. To link the Field to the Formula Column, select the field and hit the F4 button to bring up the Property Inspector for the Field. The Property Inspector should look similar to the following:
Adjust the following properties:
Name - Choose a descriptive name for the field (optional)
Source - Select the name of Formula Column that was created earlier (required)
Modify the font of the field to the appropriate barcode font according to the function chart.

Oracle Reports Barcode Font Functions
The methods listed below are only to be used with IDAutomation.pll and the appropriate barcode font. IDAutomation strongly recommends using the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font with the appropriate Universal Function when generating Code 128 or Interleaved 2 of 5 barcodes.
Function	Font to use	Notes
Code128(DataToEncode, ReturnType)	IDAutomationC128 *	This is a "Code 128 Auto" function that will automatically encode text data from ASCII 1 to ASCII 127. IDAutomation recommends using the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font with the Universal Font Methods in the following situations: When the IDAutomationC128 font is used outsize of the USA, to avoid language and locale incompatibilities. When creating barcodes for GS1-128 (UCC/EAN 128) or when encoding FNC1 or FNC2 functions. When it is necessary to encode functions such as the return or tab. It may be necessary to use the optional ReturnType for special purposes: (Data, 0) formats barcode output string for the Code 128 barcode fonts. (Data, 1) returns the human readable data. (Data, 2) returns only the check digit.
Code128a(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationC128 *	Formats output to the Code 128 barcode fonts, character set A.
Code128b(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationC128 *	Returns codes formatted to the Code 128 character set B. Formats output to the Code 128 bar code fonts.
Code128c(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationC128 *	This code128 function "interleaves" numbers into pairs for high density.
I2of5(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationI25 * or IDAutomationHI25 *	This function "interleaves" numbers into pairs for high density without check digits and formats the return string to the Interleaved 2 of 5 fonts.
I2of5Mod10(DataToEncode, ReturnType)	IDAutomationI25 * or IDAutomationHI25 *	(DataToEncode, 0) performs the mod10 checksum calculation for increased accuracy and formats the return string to the Interleaved 2 of 5 fonts. (DataToEncode, 1) returns the human readable data with the MOD10 check digit included. (DataToEncode, 2) returns the MOD10 check digit.
* When using the IDAutomationC128 or IDAutomationI25 fonts outside of the USA or for GS1-128, IDAutomation recommends using the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font with the appropriate Universal Function to avoid language and locale incompatibilities.
Code39Mod43(DataToEncode, ReturnType)	IDAutomationC39 or IDAutomationHC39	(DataToEncode, 0) performs the mod43 checksum calculation for increased accuracy and then formats the output to print using Code 39 fonts. The mod43 checksum is usually required for LOGMARS and HIBC applications. (DataToEncode, 1) returns the human readable data with the check digit included. (DataToEncode, 2) returns only the check digit.
Code93(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationC93	Formats the output to print with the 2 required check digits using Code 93 fonts.
Codabar(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationCB	Formats the output to print using Codabar fonts.
EAN13(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationUPCEAN	DataToEncode is a number string of 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 or 18 digits with or without a check digit, add-ons are supported. Formats output to the UPC/EAN barcode font.
EAN8(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationUPCEAN	DataToEncode is a number string of 7 or 8 characters (EAN-8 without the check digit). Formats output to the UPC/EAN barcode font. Entering incorrect data will create a barcode containing all zeros.
Postnet(DataToEncode, ReturnType)	IDAutomationPOSTNET or IDAutomationPLANET	Enter a single string of Zip, Zip + 4 or Zip + 4 + Delivery Point or any number of digits for the planet code. The DataToEncode must be a number and can include dashes and spaces. (DataToEncode, 0) formats output to the POSTNET barcode fonts. (DataToEncode, 1) returns the human readable data with the check digit included. (DataToEncode, 2) returns only the check digit.
UPCa(DataToEncode)	IDAutomationUPCEAN	DataToEncode is a UPC-A number string of 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 or 17 digits with or without a check digit, add-ons are supported. Formats output to the UPC/EAN barcode font.
Oracle Reports Universal Barcode Font Functions
The methods listed below are only to be used with IDAutomation_Universal.pll* and the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font Advantage™.*
Function	Font to use	Notes
Code128(DataToEncode, ApplyTilde)	IDAutomation_Uni	The recommended and primary Code 128 function that automatically encodes all text from ASCII 1 to ASCII 127. This method contains many options for encoding GS1-128 and includes tilde options to encode functions such as tabs and returns.
Code128A(DataToEncode)	IDAutomation_Uni	Formats output to set A of Code-128. Use caution with this option because any lowercase character creates a function. Use the letter "i" for a tab and "m" for a return. For most purposes, it is better to use the C128() function instead of this one.
Code128B(DataToEncode)	IDAutomation_Uni	Formats output to Code-128, character set B. For most purposes, it is better to use the C128() function instead of this one.
Code128C(DataToEncode)	IDAutomation_Uni	This code128 function "interleaves" even numbers into pairs for high density. An even number of digits is required. For most purposes, it is better to use the C128() function instead of this one.
Code39(DataToEncode, N_Dimension, IncludeCheckDigit)	IDAutomation_Uni	Formats the output for bar-coding in Code 3 of 9 with the universal font. A MOD 43 checksum will be calculated if IncludeCheckDigit is true.
Codabar(DataToEncode, N_Dimension, StartChar, StopChar)	IDAutomation_Uni	Creates Codabar (aka NW7) with the universal font. StartChar and StopChar are also required as the start and stop characters. Valid start and stop characters are A, B, C and D.
I2of5(DataToEncode, N_Dimension, IncludeCheckDigit)	IDAutomation_Uni	This function "interleaves" numbers into pairs for high density without check digits and formats the return string to the universal font. An even number of digits is required. A MOD 10 checksum will be calculated if IncludeCheckDigit is true.
Planet(DataToEncode, IncludeCheckDigit)	IDAutomation_Uni	NOTE: Because this bar-code type has a specific height requirement, this function only works with the XS, S or M size of the Universal Font. XS is the normal version, S has the bars narrow by 10% and the M font has the bars narrow by 20%. DataToEncode is a single string of Zip, Zip + 4 or Zip + 4 + Delivery Point. A MOD 10 checksum will be calculated if IncludeCheckDigit is true.
Postnet(DataToEncode, IncludeCheckDigit)	IDAutomation_Uni	NOTE: Because this bar-code type has a specific height requirement, this function only works with the XS, S or M size of the Universal Font. XS is the normal version, S has the bars narrow by 10% and the M font has the bars narrow by 20%. DataToEncode is a single string of Zip, Zip + 4 or Zip + 4 + Delivery Point. A MOD 10 checksum will be calculated if IncludeCheckDigit is true.

Description of the Parts of the Functions:

DataToEncode - this is a string value that represents the data being encoded.
N_Dimension - determines the width of the wide bars which is a multiple of the X dimension. Valid values are 2, 2.5 and 3. The default is 2. The X dimension is determined by the font point size.
IncludeCheckDigit - a Boolean value that determines whether a check digit should be automatically calculated and included for the DataToEncode.
ApplyTilde - If the ApplyTilde option is set to True, characters following the tilde may be used to perform additional calculations or encode ASCII characters directly.

LICENSE NOTICE: This component may be incorporated in the application only if there is a valid license from IDAutomation.com, Inc. for the associated barcode font. Redistribution of IDAutomation's fonts and components requires a Developer License.