Custom Function Implementation for FileMaker Native Barcode Generator

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Tutorial

This tutorial is for the linear version of the Native Generator product which is a set of FileMaker Custom Functions that generate barcodes in form and report fields from an already installed system font. This product uses patented Unicode Image technology and is compatible with FileMaker 12 & up on Windows, Mac, and iOS.

Native Generator Custom Functions are only provided for:

  • Codabar
  • Code 128
  • Code 39
  • Code 93
  • GS1-128
  • ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5)
  • MSI

All other versions of the Native Generator should refer to the Object Implementation User Manual. Other symbologies cannot be provided as custom functions because of code limitations.

Portions of this product utilize IDAutomation Patent 7,637,436. Databases containing this object may only be distributed outside the licensed organization with the purchase of a Developer License.

  1. Extract the files from the Native Barcode Generator package. Products for this tutorial are located in the "Custom Function Implementation" folder of the compressed file.
  2. Start FileMaker Pro Advanced. The advanced version is necessary to embed the custom functions in the database.  Open the database that is to generate the barcode and choose File - Manage Custom Functions. (How to enable Advanced Features beginning with version FileMaker 17.)
    File - Manage Custom Functions
  3. Choose Import and then select the FileMaker database file that was extracted in Step 1.
  4. Select one function, then press Ctrl-A and the space bar to select the remaining functions. It is necessary to import all of the functions from the database because several of the functions depend on others to be present. Note: Failure to import all functions in this step will result in empty fields instead of barcodes.
    Selecting custom barcode functions.
  5. Choose File - Manage - Database to create a calculated field that will contain the generated barcode. Name the field to be the same as the related function name, without the underscores. In this example, the field will be named IDAutomationNatCode128 and it will call the IDAutomation_Nat_Code128 function. For the field type, choose Calculation and choose Create.
    Creating the Code-128 calculated field.
  6. In the specify calculation dialog, change the calculation result to text, choose the appropriate function from the list on the right, and replace DataToEncode with the field that needs to be encoded in the barcode and enter a number for BarHeight such as "8" that determines the height of the barcode.
    Specifying the calculation for Code128.
    Optional: The DataToEncode parameter may be changed to a formula that appends text to a field or combines multiple fields. For example:
    IDAutomation_Nat_C128( "PREFIX" & Field1 )
    or IDAutomation_Nat_C128( Field1 & "," & Field2 )
  7. Open the FileMaker database file that was extracted in Step 1. Change to Layout Mode and copy the example barcode field to the clipboard and paste it into the database that will generate the barcode.
    Change to Layout Mode and copy the example barcode field to the clipboard and paste it into the database that will generate the barcode.
  8. Right-click on this field and choose Specify Field; choose the calculated field created in Step 5, in this case, it is IDAutomationNatCode128.
    Select the Code128 field.
     
  9. Size the field so it will completely contain the desired barcode.
  10. Click on the field and open the Inspector Window, by going to View - Inspectors - Inspector:
    • In the Appearance section, verify the font selected is a mono-spaced system font such as Courier New, Lucida Console, or Consolas, and the Font Size is 4 points. Note: Courier New is the preferred font to use for linear barcodes and Consolas is the preferred font to use for 2D Matrix barcodes.
    • In the paragraph section verify the Line Spacing Height is a height of 0.99. If the barcodes will be displayed on mobile devices with FileMaker Go, set the Line Spacing Height to .95 to reduce horizontal white lines that could appear in the barcode.
    • Verify the Alignment is centered so that an appropriate amount of white space appears around that barcode.
      Verify the Alignment is centered
      The default point size of 4 generates a barcode X dimension at 16 mils in size. If it is necessary, the point size may be changed according to the following chart.
    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
    Note: If the font drop-down box does not contain small sizes, the size must be manually typed in.
    Preview Custom Function Code 128 File

  11. Optional: If a text interpretation of the barcode is needed, it is suggested to place the appropriate field directly above or below the field that will contain the barcode. To automatically generate the human-readable field for GS1-128, create another calculated field as noted in step 5 with the IDAutomation_Nat_Code128HR function.
    Create another calculated field as noted in step 5 with the IDAutomation_Nat_Code128HR function.
  12. Save and view the form or report. Verify that the barcode symbol is being generated properly on all devices. In some cases, horizontal lines may appear in the barcode because of low screen resolution. However, the printed barcodes should be accurate without any visible lines. An adjustment to the line spacing property mentioned in Step 10 should resolve horizontal line issues. If a scanner is needed to verify printed barcodes, IDAutomation offers several affordable USB barcode scanners.
    Barcode result on the FileMaker Report.Barcode generated on iPhone with FileMaker Go.

Creating GS1-128 Symbols

IDAutomation includes the capability in this product to create barcodes and HR text for GS1-128 (UCC/EAN128) symbols with the built-in ApplyTilde feature which is enabled by default. The following describes the changes required to implement GS1-128. This GS1-128 symbol example is created from 18 digits of numbers in the GS1DataField field.

  • Add in the application identifiers with tilde commands. The result line should be similar to the following:

    IDAutomation_Nat_C128( "~202" & GS1DataField )
  • If it is desired to place parenthesis in the correct locations of the text interpretation, the IDAutomation_Nat_C128HR function may be used as a calculated field. For example:

    IDAutomation_Nat_C128HR( "~202" & GS1DataField )
  • A GS1 MOD10 check digit may also be calculated within the barcode. For example, a GS1-128 symbol with 17 digits of numbers in the GS1DataField field could be created with the following formula:
    IDAutomation_Nat_C128( "~202" & GS1DataField & "~m17" )

    Additionally, the HR field may also be created:
    IDAutomation_Nat_C128HR( "~202" & GS1DataField & "~m17" )

Functions of the Linear Barcode Generator

DataToEncode is the only required parameter in the functions provided. Optional parameters are separated with the pipe "|" character and may be appended to the DataToEncode, for example, IDAutomation_Nat_C39("TESTDATA" & "|3" ; 8)

Linear Barcode Custom Functions
IDAutomation_Nat_C128 (DataToEncode | optional ApplyTilde ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_C128a (DataToEncode ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_C128b (DataToEncode ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_C128c (DataToEncode ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_C39 (DataToEncode | optional N_Dimension ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_C39M43 (DataToEncode | optional N_Dimension ; BarHeight)
This function is Code 39 with the check digit included.
IDAutomation_Nat_C93 (DataToEncode ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_Codabar (DataToEncode | optional N_Dimension | optional startchar | optional stopchar ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_I2of5 (DataToEncode | optional N_Dimension ; BarHeight)
IDAutomation_Nat_I2of5M10 (DataToEncode | optional N_Dimension ; BarHeight)
This function is ITF with the check digit included.
IDAutomation_Nat_MSI (DataToEncode | optional N_Dimension | optional IncludeCheckDigit ; BarHeight)

Description of the Properties of the Functions:

  • DataToEncode
    This is a string value that represents the data being encoded.
  • BarHeight
    The height of the barcode. The recommended default is 8. The approximate height is determined with the following formula: 
      Height in Inches = (Font Size) * (BarHeight) * 0.012
      Height in CM    = (Font Size) * (BarHeight) * 0.03
  • 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
    Determines whether a check digit should be automatically calculated and included for the DataToEncode. Valid values are 0 (false) and 1 (true). Default = 0 for Code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5.
  • ApplyTilde
    If ApplyTilde is set to 1 (true), the default value, the tilde will be processed. Set this to 0 (False) to disable this feature.

Technical Support

Priority phone, email, and forum support are provided up to 30 days after purchase. Additional priority phone, email, and forum support may be obtained if the Priority Support and Upgrade Subscription is active.

Common Problems and Solutions:

  • If the barcode is truncated, looks corrupted, or does not appear completely, resize or increase the width of the field.
    Corrupted barcode caused from a field that is not wide enough.
  • If the resulting symbol contains boxes instead of a barcode, it is because the process used does not completely support Unicode characters. Usually, this is caused by processes that create PDF documents.
    The resulting symbol contains boxes instead of a bar-code...
  • If horizontal lines appear in the printed barcode, check the text format and decrease the Line Spacing Height to 0.95 or less. However, it is normal for horizontal lines to appear on the screen because of the low screen resolution.
  • If the barcode field is empty, ensure all functions were imported from the database as described in step 4.
  • If scanning problems are encountered with small barcode sizes, verify a printer of 300 DPI or greater is being used. An X dimension of 16 MILS or greater should be used with low-resolution thermal 203 DPI printers. IDAutomation also offers many barcode fonts that print well to low-resolution thermal printers. Additionally, verify the scanner being used can read small barcodes.
  • If barcodes do not scan at the default settings, check to make sure that the barcode type is enabled in the scanner and that there is sufficient white space surrounding the barcode. Additional solutions are provided in the Barcode will not scan KB article.
  • Additional problems and solutions are provided at IDAutomation's barcode font troubleshooting site and by searching resolved public forum threads.

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