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2d Barcode Issue

Former Member
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I'm developing a bar code solution using the PDF417 barcode inside the crystal. When I create my string (300+ characters) I’m using a formula inside of crystal. The Input String value is a formula made of several other formulas, each formula being a specified value (order number, qty, date codes, etc.) .

When i test the bar code i put my input string formula on the label to confirm the data is correct, and it is. The input string shows the correct formatting and proper string length, however when I scan the bar code there are several (20 to 30) additional characters, these are always numbers. I've found that this happens when converting a number field to text and using it in the Input String. OrderHed.Number03 is the field being converted, this is in conjunction with Epicor version 8 (vantage) using Crystal xi r2.

I've found that the number field that is converted to a string will show all the numbers except the last number, and in the place of the last number is a 20 to 30 digit long string of numbers. for example if the string is 000740564 when I scan the bar code the value will be 000740560000022246866666666666666668248510000 with many extra digits on the end replacing the last correct digit.

i have everything set to auto pretty much inside the PDF417 code converter.

Has anyone else encountered this issue, any idea as to what could remedy this. I've tried the following:

Making the bar code larger
making the bar code smaller
changing the font size
scanning with several different apps and phones

I’ve tried declaring it a string a couple different ways I’ll outline below, the field is OrderHed.Number03, so I’ll use that in my example. These are in crystal's syntax:

ToText(OrderHed.Number03,0,"")
Cstr(OrderHed.Number03,0,"")
Declared a string var and made the value a string variable and tried to insert it.
Created a second formula that calls the first and convert that to a string
Putting ToText() around all the formulas in the input string formula
Putting ToText() around just the OrderHed.Number03 formula inside the input string formula


Something i have found is that if i put a character at the beginning of the string, meaning if the string is 000740564 and i add an "A" in front of the string so it is A000740564 then it will scan correctly without the extra numbers. If i put the 'A" at the end of the string then it will still put all the extra digits in then the "A". So it appears putting the "A" in the front fixes the extra digit issue but can't be used as i need a specific number of characters for each value and adding an extra character would defeat the purpose of this bar code. i did try some other things with this though and none worked, like:

Adding the "A" then trimming it out using the Right() function in crystal
Adding the "A" then using the Replace() function to make it a "" value
Adding a "" value to the beginning of the number value
Combining the formula into another formula that is a string, so a string is at the beginning, this still gives me the extra digits.


This has been a real head scratcher. The issue is when converting a Number field to a string value inside a formula inside crystal i get extra digits that should not appear in the text. Any information would be appreciated.

Accepted Solutions (1)

Accepted Solutions (1)

Former Member
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I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to respond to my issue.

Although the only way that i was able to resolve it was by using a different PDF417 encoder. For some reason the one that i was using kept throwing back a bunch of errors and was the root of the issue.

Again thank you all for the responses.

Answers (2)

Answers (2)

Former Member
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Chance   

Your problem is based in the way the barcode reader is interpreting the string you are presenting to it

the string being formatted needs to incorporate the all the right stop and start codes and Check codes as well as the characters that are the intended output    ( and each barcode format is different )  You can't  just format the string alone.

    please review the following   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF417

make sure you understand how the string needs to be generated so that the barcode reads it in the intended manner.   

former_member183750
Active Contributor
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Hi Chance

You will have to contact Epicor as the version of CR is a special OEM build for them and they support it.

BTW., CR XI R2 has been out of support for three years or so - perhaps time to ask Epicor if they are using a later version of CR in some of their updates?

- Ludek

Senior Support Engineer AGS Product Support, Global Support Center Canada

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Former Member
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Ludek,

For the current version of Epicor that we are using (Vantage 8). Crystal Reports XI R2 is the recommended version of CR to be using.

-Chance

former_member183750
Active Contributor
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Still, check with Epicor please.