IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font Advantage ™ User Manual

The Universal Barcode Font Advantage™ is a single font that generates multiple barcode types. It is also designed to be compatible with multiple operating systems and language settings, including Double Byte versions of Windows.

Index:

• Features
• Installation Instructions
• Font Encoders and Font Tools
• Encoder Source Code
• Implementation Tutorials
• Distribution with an Application
• Specifications
• Font Functions
• Troubleshooting Procedures
• Component API

After installing the universal font, the appropriate Font Encoder (or font tool) should be implemented.

To Install the Package in Windows:

Run the INSTALL.EXE setup utility. This utility will install the most commonly used fonts and encoders.

Installing the fonts on Macintosh OS X:

Run the IDAutomation Universal Font for MAC.mpkg setup utility. The TrueType fonts will be installed in the Library/Fonts folder. The complete package, including the additional fonts and examples, will be found in an IDAutomation folder under Applications.

Installing PCL Fonts:

To obtain information about installing PCL fonts, refer to the PCLinfo.html document provided in the PCL folder of the package.

Installation Procedures for Linux, Unix and Other Systems:

The Universal Barcode Font Advantage requires the use of a Font Encoder (or font tool) to convert the data being encoded into a unique string of text, so that when it is combined with IDAutomation's universal bar code font, it will create a correct barcode. If the following Font Encoders cannot be utilized, several other options are available.

Encoder Source Code Availability

The source code listed is provided with all purchases. Additionally, source code to any single font encoder is available with the purchase of an Unlimited Developer License and a signed Source Code Agreement.

Advanced programmers that have an understanding of how Windows DLLs work should only use the API of the Native Windows DLL. For all other purposes, it is suggested to use other Font Tools. The Native Windows DLL does not return a string value. The return value must be passed as a variable by reference. That being said, there are a few differences between the Native Windows DLL and the functions listed. The differences are as follows:

• The function names all begin with IDAutomation_Universal_ instead of IDAutomation_Uni_.
• Return value - The functions return 0 for success or a non-zero value if the function fails.
• Output - This string value will be populated by the DLL with the encoded data.
• Output size - This integer value is populated by the DLL with the number of pertinent characters. It may be necessary to use this with the VB mid function.

For example, in the General Declarations, in a separate module of a VB application or Excel spreadsheet VBA editor, the function needs to be defined:

Private Declare Function IDAutomation_Universal_C128 _
Lib "IDAutomationNativeFontEncoder.dll" _
((ByVal D2E As String, Byref tilde As long, _
ByVal out As String, _
ByRef iSize As long)) As Long

Public Function IDAutomation_Uni_C128(DataToEncode As String, Optional applyTilde As Boolean = False) As String
Dim myOut As String 'Variable to be populated by DLL function with formatted data
Dim iSize As long 'The size of the formatted data. Also, populated by the DLL
Dim lRetVal As Long 'Return value of the function. Will be zero if successful
Dim long_AT As Long 'Variable to be passed to DLL determining if tilde processing should be done. Must be a long data type for DLL to accept
Dim Data As String 'Data to encode
Data = "Testing"
myOut = String(250, " ") 'The output variable needs to be sized to hold the data. The DLL can not dynamically size a variable
iSize = 0
If applyTilde = True Then
 L_AT = True 'Can be implicitly converted to a long
Else
 L_AT = False
End If
'Call the function, passing in the data to encode, a Boolean deciding if tilde processing should be used,
'The output variable, and the variable that will be populated with the size
lRetVal = IDAutomation_Universal_C128(Data, L_AT , myOut, iSize)
'Write out the output string, taking only the number of characters necessary from the defined string
Debug.Write = Mid(myOut, 1, iSize)
End Function

An Excel example is provided and is located in the Examples folder of the ZIP file.

Implementation of the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font Advantage ™ is accomplished with IDAutomation's Font Tools. Implementation tutorials are provided in each of these packages, with the only difference being that the functions in the font tools are preceded with IDAutomation_Uni_.

After purchasing a Developer License, the font files and font tools may be distributed with an application royalty-free according to the License Agreement.

NOTE: Redistribution of IDAutomation fonts and components requires a Developer License.

The X dimension (the width of the narrowest bar in the symbol) is listed below for various point sizes. IDAutomation's Universal Barcode Fonts have been specially designed to be able to produce dependable barcodes when printed at large and small point sizes. For example, the IDAutomation USB Barcode Scanner dependably reads this font when printed as small as 6 points.

When using a printer with less than 600 DPI, print at the following point sizes to create accurate barcodes:

Several versions are provided to support different width and height requirements. The last characters in the font name determines the height of the barcode with the shortest being "XXS" and the tallest being "XXL". Because each single font may be printed at various point sizes, several combinations of heights and widths may be produced.

The following functions defined below all return data formatted to IDAutomation's Universal Barcode Font and are available in many of the Font Tools. All the functions listed below are preceded with IDAutomation_Uni_. The data type returned is a string and the input type for DataToEncode is a string.

Description of the parts of the functions:

• DataToEncode - This string value 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 - In Code 128 AUTO, if ApplyTilde is enabled, the tilde will be processed and allow several encoding options.

The following may be performed on a Windows PC to verify that the font is working properly.

1. Install the package on a Windows PC by running the Install.exe file.
2. After installation, reboot the PC to ensure the font will be recognized by the application.
3. Open the Excel example provided with the package, which is an icon located in Start - Programs - IDAutomation Universal Font Advantage - Excel Example.
4. Change the text in cell A11 from SC4341207504 to TEST and press enter. Be sure to enter the data in all UPPERCASE.
5. Change the font in cell B11 to the Arial font.
6. The text data in cell B11 should be exactly EBDEKACECEICEKAFADGIAH.
7. This text, when combined with the universal font, will create a correct barcode.
8. After the font in cell B11 is changed to the IDAutomation Uni XS font, a correct barcode will be created.
9. Print and test decoding the symbol with a barcode scanner.

If the font works properly in Excel as mentioned above, it is installed properly and the Windows DLL is formatting the data properly for the font. To troubleshoot any existing problems further, refer to IDAutomation's Font Problems and Solutions site.

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