How do I test barcodes?

[dpdoug]

I am a newby at this barcoding and I'm having trouble getting any results at all. I've tried all sorts of fonts that I downloaded from the internet and experimented with them, but I can't get any of them to work.

First, I need a font that will create barcodes for almost any alpha or numeric character, uppercase and lowercase plus ",.$()-'#%&"

I was told that 3 of 9 would work, but I haven't been getting any of them to work. I know you have to have a start and end character which is usually * or ! depending on who creates the font -- sometimes it's Ì.

The way that I have been testing it is to put some text string into notepad and start and end it with the correct characters, print it out and then try to scan it.

I have been able to scan a barcode successfully of an item that I bought at the supermarket OK, but when I try to do my own, I get nothing.

Can anyone help me with this?

1) Where can I get a font that works?

2) How can I test it so that I can successfully incorporate it into my program?

3) Do I have to print on a special type of paper?

Thanks for the help

David

 

[dpdoug]

By the way, the scanner I'm using to test with is an HHP model IT3800 by Hand Held Products, Inc.

Is there anything I have to do to program it to use any certain font or anything like that?

 

[67peshawar294]

dpdoug,
1. Try this url for some free modules and barcodes fonts.

http://grandzebu.net/informatique/codbar-en/codbar.htm

Some of the documentation is in French amd English. Jean-Marie is a super guy. I found the UPC-A code needed a little tweaking for Access. I didn't try 3of9 or 128. If your scanner has a "Keyboard wedge you should be able to scan any barcode into any application in Windows.

2. Assuming you have a keyboard wedge (and you have the manual for your scanner) try scanning the "default barcode". That will revert to the factory settings and should allow 128, 3of9, UPC-A, EAN-13 and Codeabar(?)
You should be able to scan any item that has a barcode on it. Products have UPC-A, books have UPC-A +2, or +5 It is hard to find the others, except most UPS packages have 128 on them.(I think)

3. I use a HP600 printer and have no trouble with printing or scanning the result UPC-A's. I use the normal setting on print setup and regular copy paper. We do have some paper that is brighter and seems to give a cleaner result but the copy paper still works excellent. We also have a laser printer that "REALLY" give clean results.

Best of luck and if you find the fonts and modules useful, don't forget Jean-Marie's piggybank.
jim

 

[chaosinc]

i have to think that the scanner you are using is set to a different font than the one you are trying to scan.

set the font on your scanner with the users manual that came with your scanner.

knoweldge is power, spread the power

 

[SmokeEater]

One of the important things to remember is to keep enough "white space" at the ends of the barcode.