Barcode (code 39) is not working

OL Connect Professional Designer
1

Hi,

We have tried hard to insert the barcode (code 39) to our print contexts. However, the barcode on the generated PDF file is not working at all with cashier scanner. Do we need a special scanner for the PDF file? Our current scanner has been working fine with the AFP printouts and I am wondering if it is still working for the PDF file generated with Planet Press designer.

Appreciate any idea and suggestions !

John

2

Hi John,

this should work with your cashier scanner. When you print the PDF from Acrobat, be carefull to keep the original size of the page. If not, it could be reduced and barcode no more readable.

You can also try to read it with a smartphone to check if it’s correctly made.

Maybe your scanner needs that you change the barcode module width or the inter character gap. Try to modify a bit those values and check if the scan is better.

Yann

3

Thanks Yann for the response.

The code 39 type string (like *51504719150000000233859) we are pulling out from our backend is generated with other application. I was just trying to plug it in to the Planet Press designer. I am wondering if I could use the INSERT to plug in an existing barcode. is the INSERT trying to generate a new barcode or just plug in an existing barcode?

John

4

John,

INSERT will generate a new barcode. This will be based on the data field you selected when clicking on insert barcode.

Yann

5

Thanks Yann.

Is there any way to plug in an existing barcode?

John

6

Do you mean you have already the image of the barcode?

If so you can insert dynamic images.

Yann

7

Nope, Yann, I meant I had a barcode 39 type string like 51504719150000000233859 fro each bill generated by a SQL stored procedure. The roll_number and balnaceAmount have been embedded in that string.

John

8

Ok. You cannot use * as data to generate the barcode because Code 39 don’t accept it, see Code 39 - Wikipedia.

  • character is automaticaly added in the barcode itself. To have the right result, just use “51504719150000000233859”.

Yann

9

You’re correct, Yann, the * character should be trimmed from the original string. But I run into another problem. The amount is showing up always as zero. It seemed to me that the amount 233859 should not be the data type of string.

Thanks,

John

10

Never mind, Yann. We got barcode fully working.

Again, thank you very much for your help!

11

Hi,

May I ask How did you make it work?

I’m having the same issue, the stings is AB1CD, but the scanner shows something like " J/AB1CD/J1"

and when I remove the asterisk it reads " AB1CDK"

I don’t know what is the issue here

12

Hi,

You cannot use * as data to generate the barcode because Code 39 don’t accept it, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_39. * character is automaticaly added in the barcode itself.

If you get an extra character on the string readed, this is because you must have selected to add a checksum. You can select IGNORE for the checksum to have the result you want to.

13

Hi thanks for your answer.

Well yeah , I figured that out. I managed to make the extra character goes away by simply ignoring the Checksum when creating the barcode.

cheers