Barcode as a image

[Former Member]

Hi people.

Could you someone help me with the trouble about BAR code generator in Crystal reports ?

I'm using Azalea barcode fonts and everything is working just fine when the reports are exported in PDF format.

Unfortunately, the barcode solutions is only FONT so the trouble comes with export into RTF editable format.

If the exported document is opened on other computer (where azalea font are not instaled, or on customer side , f.e. the output is a contract doucument), the barcode with contract number is broken.

I think, there is only one possible solutions - to generate barcode into an image.

Do you know how to solve this? Is there any solution witch could provide barcode as an image into reports?

Thx for anything.

Karel

[ido_millet · Accepted solution]

Here is an image showing how a Crystal Report formula expression can set the location of an image to a URL call, returning a map or a QR code via a Google API: 2013-09-02_1529 - IdoMillet's library

Here is a blog about this technique: http://kenhamady.com/cru/archives/2493

You can find barcode image APIs on the web.

But before you pursue that direction, there are free barcode fonts out there, so why not deploy them to the other machines that need to render the file?

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Ido.

Thx for quite quick responce.

Deploy of barcode font is possible only localy, but not globaly because of customers. I can not imagine, that salesrep will distribute font together with contract document .

The contract is printed on our side finally, but still this could be a problem. Salesper see on his computer barcodes, but customer NOT. Missunderstanding is on the way

I will try investigate your idea. It seems feasible to me.

Thank you very much.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Karel,

The problem is those Azalea barcodes are licensed and CR does not embed licensed fonts into RTF documents.

Check this page out: Embedding Fonts in a Document (Microsoft Word)

and the RTF standards:

Rich Text Format (RTF) Version 1.5 Specification

If the Font owner does not allow it then CR can't when exporting. But I'm not sure if we even check that property when exporting to RTF.

So why not simply use PDF files?

Did more digging, right click on the Azalea font and select Properties and the Details tab:

Notice its embeddability is set to Preview/Print. Means Azalea will not allow CR to embed the font into an RTF document.

With Ariel bold you can embed it:

But I'll check with R&D and see if this is something we can enable for RTF format.

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Don.

Thank you for your post.

You are right with PDF format.

Yes, we are use it as much as possible.

But still exists situations where the editable format is simply needed.

If salesrep generate RTF file he has to delete broken BARcodes afterwards... because of lack of Azalea font. As you wrote, quick solution is to find the redistributable barcode font.

Let me know, if you find it.

PS: I'm focused on Ido's method currently.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Karel,

Sorry not my job to find a barcode font you can use for free...

Good luck

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Don.

Sure it is not

Thank you anyway for your posts.

Take care yourself.

Karel