CorelDRAW X3 Bar code wizard

[THaK]

I'm a Senior Graphic Artist in a Publication Services group of a telecommunications manufacturer and have used Corel since v4! Up til now, I've had NO PROBLEM with X3.

However, my usually reliable Bar Code Wizard has switched the font from Times New Roman (a serif font) to OCR-B 10 BT (a sans serif font).

I've searched the Help file for several variants of "Bar Code" to no avail.

Any ideas?
THaK

 

[attrofy]

I am guessing you have pre-existing barcodes that are not converting properly? I just ran a sample barcode, and had about 7 Times New Roman fonts to choose from (Baltic, CE, CYR, Turkey, etc). Is it possible that in your previous versions, you had a font that is now not installed in the current version - or that one of the font sets was removed?

Or are you saying that the default font has changed in the wizard?

One thing that should work is to try creating a new barcode - set the statistics as needed, then once the barcode is created, go to Tools > Save Settings As Default.

In my test, this changed the default font in the wizard. I am not sure how it will effect previously created barcodes - it should have no effect on them.

 

[THaK]

Thanks for your quick response... I have created bar codes in the past with no problem. This morning's attempt to create a new bar code is the first problem I've had with it.

I haven't changed any settings. I checked all the settings in the wizard as well as in Options. The bar code generates; it's the font that doesn't match the previous sets which were created with Times New Roman.

Advice, suggestions, aspirin?
THaK

 

[attrofy]

So if I understand correctly, it is only with new barcodes you are having the problems - not pre-existing barcodes?

And even when you select the Times New Roman font from the drop down, it is still inserting a different font in the text portions?
And if so, changing the drop down font, and Saving the Default settings didn't change the default font for you?

There is a section in the barcode help that tells you changing the Advanced features in the Industry Standards settings will allow pre-printed check digits, non-scanned codes, etc. I had a hard time finding this section, but it appears on the second page of the wizard there is an advanced button. It didn't give many options, but it may have been because of the bar code I chose (Code 128). I see in choosing different Bar Codes, the advanced options change. It is possible there is something in there that is changing your settings.

If you followed the above steps for changing the default font, and this is indeed creation of a new barcode (and not editing an existing barcode or layout) and it isn't working properly, I would contact Corel's Tech support. It sounds like something might be wonkey with your installation. You could always do the F8 at start-up to restore defaults and see if that helps, or reinstall and see if it makes a difference.

 

[attrofy]

Upon further experimentation, it appears you are using the UPC(A) & UPC(E) Barcodes. I am not having any luck changing the font on that setting either. I haven't installed the SP1 release yet, but I did se they made some changes for transparent backgrounds in TIFF files - which has sort of been a standard for a while. I didn't specifically see anything else that stood out - but I wasn't looking either. A call to their tech support might still be a good idea. Even if there is nothing they can do about it, there might be a revision in the works.

 

[THaK]

It is only with new bar codes that I am having this problem.

The wizard no longer gives me a choice of fonts. The font drop-down is greyed out with OCR-B 10 BT as the only choice, no matter which bar code type I choose.

I've checked out every bar code and every setting as well as checked every text setting under CorelDRAW's Options button. I can find no way to change the font.

 

[attrofy]

I found the same thing. I found two or three editable bar codes. Code 128 was the one I started with, as that is what we used to use. I see many of the barcodes have pre-determined different fonts are for different bar codes.

I see one option available to you, and that is to convert all pre-existing barcodes to X3 - that will make them all OCR-B 10 BT - at least they will all match then, and be helpful for future editing. Of course, this may take some doing if you have many barcodes. A VBA script or macro might be in order.

 

[THaK]

Not an option. The previous bar codes have already been approved as is. It takes "an act of Congress" to get them to change their minds. I'll check with Unleashed.com. Thanks for trying.
THaK

 

[attrofy]

already been approved as is. It takes "an act of Congress" to get them to change their minds.

Oh my - I've been there and done that - best of luck to you - sounds like you are going to need it.