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Using Avery Barcode Labels with VFP
- Thread starter WIREMESH
- Start date
VFP, MS Word, and a whole host of other applications all use Windows fonts to print.
The Avery Barcode fonts are merely one set of Windows fonts which are made available to VFP (and other programs) through Windows.
If you do a Google search for "barcode fonts" on the web you will find a number of suppliers of barcode fonts - all of which are pretty comparable.
Some things to be aware of regarding barcode fonts...
Some barcode symbologies are defined such that there is a simple 1:1 character replacement where nothing more is required (e.g. Code 3-of-9)
But others are more complex - possibly integrating 2 readable characters into a single barcode 'character' (e.g. Interleaved 2-of-5).
Additionally some barcode symbologies (e.g. UPC) require the generation of a CRC check character which is typically appended at the end of the barcode string as another character. The off-the-shelf 'barcode label making' utilities typically do this work for you, but you would most likely have to do it yourself.
Lastly there is the issue of how a barcode is to be used. If it is totally for in-house use, then almost anything will work. But if it is for distribution out-of-house, you might need to take into consideration the other company's requirements. And if it is for commercial use, then there are a whole host of regulations that must be followed.
Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr
VisionQuest Consulting
Business Analyst & CIO Consulting Services
CIOServices@yahoo.com
The Avery Barcode fonts are merely one set of Windows fonts which are made available to VFP (and other programs) through Windows.
If you do a Google search for "barcode fonts" on the web you will find a number of suppliers of barcode fonts - all of which are pretty comparable.
Some things to be aware of regarding barcode fonts...
Some barcode symbologies are defined such that there is a simple 1:1 character replacement where nothing more is required (e.g. Code 3-of-9)
But others are more complex - possibly integrating 2 readable characters into a single barcode 'character' (e.g. Interleaved 2-of-5).
Additionally some barcode symbologies (e.g. UPC) require the generation of a CRC check character which is typically appended at the end of the barcode string as another character. The off-the-shelf 'barcode label making' utilities typically do this work for you, but you would most likely have to do it yourself.
Lastly there is the issue of how a barcode is to be used. If it is totally for in-house use, then almost anything will work. But if it is for distribution out-of-house, you might need to take into consideration the other company's requirements. And if it is for commercial use, then there are a whole host of regulations that must be followed.
Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr
VisionQuest Consulting
Business Analyst & CIO Consulting Services
CIOServices@yahoo.com
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