Native JavaScript AJAX Barcode Generator User Manual & Tutorial
Patent Pending

INDEX:

• Order Now
• Online Demo
• Product Overview
• Tutorial
• Properties and Symbology Options
• Support
• Other barcode software products
• If a scanner is needed to verify barcodes, IDAutomation offers several affordable, easy-to-use scanner kits.

The Native JavaScript AJAX Barcode Generator is a script file that may be easily inserted into HTML and AJAX applications to create bar code images for display in HTML or text objects. Once implemented, no other components or fonts need to be installed to create barcodes; it is the complete barcode generator.

The Native Barcode Generator supports the following symbologies:

• Codabar
• Code 39
• Code 128 Auto
• Code 128 UCC/EAN
• Code 128, Sets A, B and C
• Interleaved 2 of 5
• MSI
• Postnet
• PDF417 (in 2D version)
• Data Matrix (in 2D version)

Installing the Native JavaScript Barcode Generator is a fairly easy process. Several generators are provided for different bar code types.

1. Extract the files from the package.
2. Several generator files are provided for different bar code types. Use the file that represents the barcode type that is needed. If in doubt, IDAutomation recommends choosing Code 128 Auto, which is in the file named IDAutomation_JavaScriptBarcode_C128.js.
3. Open the HTML document or application where the barcode is to be integrated.
4. Add the following line at the top of the file just before the </head> line to load the appropriate JavaScript file:
   <script language="JavaScript" src="IDAutomation_JavaScriptBarcode_C128.js"></script>
5. Add a script where the barcode is to appear in the HTML document or text object, which is the file name without the ".js":
   <script type="text/javascript">
   document.write(IDAutomation_JavaScriptBarcode_C128(DataToEncode))
   </script>
6. Modify "DataToEncode" to equal what is to be encoded in the barcode. This may be accomplished with a variable or a dynamically generated webpage.
7. Print the result to verify that the barcodes are created properly and that they can be read with a scanner. If a scanner is needed to verify barcodes, IDAutomation offers several affordable, barcode scanner kits.
8. Additional properties may be modified if necessary.
9. Print the result to verify barcodes are being properly created. Ensure the object has been sized properly to contain the entire barcode. If the width of the barcode is larger then the area for it, several white lines will appear.
   
10. It is normal to view some horizontal lines and distortion of the barcode on the screen because of low screen resolution. However, the barcodes should be accurate when printed.
    
    If white lines appear after printing, select a mono-spaced font such as Courier New or Lucida Console at 3 to 5 points for the text field where the barcode image is returned. Additionally, the line spacing property may need to be adjusted to equal .8 or .9 lines.

All functions listed below are provided as a single JavaScript file preceded with IDAutomation_JavaScriptBarcode_.

• Additional properties may be modified if necessary as a parameter; for example:
  IDAutomation_JavaScriptBarcode_C128("12345678",8,4,true)
• For all functions below, the data type returned is a string formatted for HTML and the input type for DataToEncode is a string.
• To return the barcode image only without HTML formatting commands, set XDimensionPoints to equal "0" and select a unicode mono-spaced font such as Courier New or Lucida Console at 3 to 5 points for the text field where the barcode image is returned.

Description of the parts of the functions:

• DataToEncode - This string value represents the data being encoded.
• BarHeight - The height of the bars in the symbol; default = 8, which is about .3 inches or 1 CM. The approximate height is determined with the following formula:
  Height in Inches = (Font Size) * (BarHeight) * 0.015
  Height in CM    = (Font Size) * (BarHeight) * 0.04
• XDimensionPoints - The X dimension or barcode width is determined by setting the point size. The point size must be small, generally 3 to 5 points. The default setting is 4 points. When XDimensionPoints equals "0", only the barcode image is returned without any HTML formatting. When this is the case, the portion of the document where the image is placed must have a unicode mono-spaced font selected with the appropriate point size setting.

  Point Size	Approximate X Dimension
  2	08 Mils
  3	12 Mils
  4	16 Mils
  5	20 Mils
  6	24 Mils
  7	28 Mils
  8	32 Mils

• N_Dimension - Determines the width of the wide bars, which is a multiple of the X dimension. Valid values are 2 and 3. The default is 2.
• IncludeCheckDigit - A Boolean value that determines whether a check digit should be automatically calculated and included for the DataToEncode.
• ApplyTilde - In Code 128 AUTO and UCC128, if the ApplyTilde option is set to True, the tilde will be processed and allow the following encoding options:
  • ASCII characters: The format ~ddd may be used to specify the ASCII code of the character to be encoded. For example, if entering the following text in the Data field: 66~02977 it will actually encode 66GS77 where GS is a delimiter ASCII 29 character. Other commonly used ASCII codes are ~009 for a tab and ~013 which is a return function. To encode other functions, please refer to IDAutomation's ASCII chart.
  • Encoding UCC/EAN-128: To encode alpha-numeric UCC/EAN128, the character must be set to "AUTO" for automatic. Then, ASCII 202 or character Ê is entered as the FNC1 before each AI and the required start C is included automatically. For example, the UCC number of (8100)712345(21)12WH5678 should be entered as: Ê8100712345Ê2112WH5678. In most cases, the AI's will be properly represented in the human readable text. If the parenthesis is not around the correct number for the AI, enter the following extended ASCII character as the FNC1 for the correct number of digits in the AI:
        ASCII 212 = 2 digits    ASCII 215 = 5 digits
        ASCII 213 = 3 digits    ASCII 216 = 6 digits
        ASCII 214 = 4 digits    ASCII 217 = 7 digits
    For example, to encode (1277)56, enter Ö127756. For more information, please refer to the UCC/EAN 128 section of IDAutomation's Code 128 FAQ
  • Create a Mod 10 Check digit: To create a Mod 10 check digit for xx number of characters, add the following to the DataToEncode: ~mnn (where nn is a 2 digit number representing the number of characters preceding the tilde in which to base the Mod 10 calculation). The additional MOD 10 check digit is commonly used in UCC or EAN barcode types. For example, setting the DataToEncode property to Ê4021234567890123456~m16 will cause a mod 10 check digit to be created based on all 16 characters before the tilde. The human readable text and scanned data will display as (402)12345678901234560. The final 0 is the mod 10 check digit and replaces ~m16.
  • FNC2: When necessary, the FNC2 character may be inserted into the DataToEncode string by using ASCII 197. For example; Å8012349091. IDAutomation's SC5USB Scanner can be programmed to hold the barcode starting with the FNC2 in memory and only transmit it to the computer after scanning a barcode containing the FNC1.

Common Problems and Solutions:

• If scanning problems are encountered, verify a printer of 600 DPI or greater is being used. A large point size such as 5 points must be used with low-resolution printers. IDAutomation also offers many barcode fonts that print well to low-resolution printers.
• When not being used in HTML applications, the barcode image may be displayed in a text box or field. In this case, the font selected for the text object should be "Courier New", "Lucida Console" or another mono-spaced unicode font at 3 to 5 points.
• Ensure the barcode can fit in the object. If the width of the barcode is larger then the object, several white lines will appear.
  
• Some web browsers such as Opera may not allow very small font point sizes to be used. Therefore, the barcode image for these browsers will be displayed at the smallest allowed size, usually 8 points. Additional height and width may be needed to properly display images in this situation. This does not appear to be an issue with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Netscape browsers.
• Additional problems and solutions are provided at IDAutomation's support site and by searching resolved public help desk issues. Priority phone, email and help desk support is provided up to 30 days after purchase. Additional priority phone, email and help desk support may be obtained if the Priority Support and Upgrade Subscription is active.

IDAutomation.com also provides several other barcode products for easy integration with Web Applications. A few of these products include:

• ActiveX Controls - easy to use plug-ins for Internet Explorer.
• ASP. NET Barcode Web Controls - creates bar-codes in .NET web applications.
• Hosted Barcode Services - allow dynamic creation of barcodes without installing any software.
• Java Servlets and Applets - create barcodes for the web on any operating system.

Additional products that may be of interest:

• Native Barcode Generator for Microsoft Access
• Crystal Reports Barcode Integration

If a scanner is needed to verify barcodes, IDAutomation also provides several hand-held USB scanners.

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