InfoPath Streaming Barcode Tutorial

This Microsoft InfoPath Barcode Tutorial outlines how to integrate barcode generation in InfoPath forms without installing fonts, plug-ins, or components by using the Dynamic Barcode Generator Service, which supports all popular linear barcode types,  and 2D symbols such as PDF417, MaxiCode, Data Matrix, QR-Code and more.

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  1. Open the form template (.xsn) in InfoPath Designer to set up the barcode field.
  2. Create space on the form to place the barcode image.
  3. In the Control Box on the Home Tab, select 'Picture'.
    Insert The Picture Control Into a InfoPath Form For Barcode Generation.
  4. Select 'As a Link' on the pop-up that will appear.
    Insert as a Link
    * Do not resize the Picture Control as it will alter the output of the barcode image.
  5. Click on the down arrow next to the Picture Control in the Field List on the right-hand side and select 'Properties'.
    Remove the default web address information
    If the Field List is not viewable, go to the Data Tab and click the 'Show Fields' button.
  6. Select 'Hyperlink (anyURI)' under the Data Type:
    Select Data Type
  7. Under Default Value section, Click the 'Function' button and a new screen will open
    Click the Insert Function Button
  8. This is where the users will concatenate the web address of the Dynamic Barcode Generator Service, surrounded by double quotes, and the Field Name to be barcoded. When using the free linear version, the address to use is:

    concat("https://www.bcgen.com/demo/linear-dbgs.aspx?D=", FIELDNAME)

    Click 'Insert Field or Group' and then select the field to barcode and click 'OK' three times to exit.

    Insert function to be barcoded
  9. Choose Preview and view the form to verify that the barcode appears correctly. The barcodes may take some time to appear when creating large reports because they are generated independently via the internet.
    Preview form and view barcode
  10. Print and scan the barcode to verify that the correct data is encoded. If a scanner is needed to verify barcodes, consider the IDAutomation USB Barcode Scanner.

2D Barcode Implementation

In the demo version of the Dynamic Barcode Generator Service the text of "DEMO" along with a CR and LF function will be automatically encoded in the barcode. Therefore, if symbol size is being evaluated, only the purchased version should be used. 2D barcodes may be created from the demo version of the Dynamic Barcode Generator Service by entering the web addresses below into the Formula Files as described in the tutorial:

https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingDataMatrix.aspx?D=
https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationMaxicodeImage.aspx?D=
https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingPDF417.aspx?D=
https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingAztec.aspx?D=
https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingQRCode.aspx?D=

For example, a DataMatrix barcode is easily created in Microsoft InfoPath using the web address:

concat("https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingDataMatrix.aspx?D=", EmployeeID)

Create DataMatrix Barcodes in InfoPath
NOTE: If SSL encryption is desired, change "http" to "https".

Combine Multiple Fields Into a Barcode

Using the IDAutomation Dynamic Barcode Generator Service, multiple fields may be easily combined, appended,  or delimited within a single barcode symbol by using the ApplyTilde feature. The following example encodes (Employee ID, the tab function, First Name, the return function, and Last Name) into a DataMatrix symbol.

concat("https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingDataMatrix.aspx?D=", EmployeeID, "~d009", FirstName, "~d013", LastName)


Multiple Fields Can Be Combined Into a Single Barcode
DataMatrix Barcode with tab and return encoded.

Create QR-Code vCards by concatenating the desired contact fields to encode into barcode:

concat("https://www.bcgen.com/demo/IDAutomationStreamingQRCode.aspx?D=", "MECARD:N:", LastName, ",", FirstName, ";", "TEL:", PhoneNumber, ";", "EMAIL:", Email)

meCard Function
vCard QRCode Barcode

Barcode scanned returns: MECARD:N:Jones,Joe;TEL:555-123-4567;EMAIL:joejones@sample.com

If assistance is needed, please contact IDAutomation.