How To Make Code 128 Barcodes A, B & C in Excel

by Nate Schubert

Microsoft Excel is one of the most common programs used to create barcodes with fonts, mainly because Excel is such a versatile application that can increase efficiency in virtually any industry. Because of this, many barcode software companies have created various components to generate barcodes in Excel, and the most preferred IDAutomation Products are indicated in the Excel Barcode Integration Guide.

Our most popular tool to create barcodes from fonts in icrosoft Excel is the Barcode Add-In for Microsoft Excel. This is an excellent tool which makes barcode generation in Excel very easy. This tool can be used to generate a range of linear barcodes like Code 39, Code 128 Auto, UPC, Intelligent Mail, and more powerful 2D barcodes like Data Matrix, QR Code, PDF417 in addition to others.

One drawback of the Barcode Add-In, however, is that it is not capable of generating Code 128 subsets A, B or C. While the customers who require these particular subsets are certainly not in the majority, we want to be sure that all IDAutomation customers have equal access to guidance in terms of barcode generation. For this reason, we have created three video tutorials to demonstrate how to generate Code 128 A, Code 128 B and Code 128 C barcodes using another of our tools, IDAutomation Barcode Macros and VBA Functions, in conjunction with Excel 2010.

Below you can find each of the three video tutorials in alphabetical order, of course! Please let us know via the comments under this article if you have any specific comments or questions, as we are happy to assist!

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One-Click Label Printing - 100% Online

What is TFORMer Online?

TFORMer Online is a completely web-based label printing system. Standard industry labels (e.g. VDA, AIAG, GTL, GS1, Odette, Caterpillar Shipping Labels, ...) are generated as high quality PDF-files which can be printed immediately. Variable label data (like descriptions, SSCC, EAN codes, article numbers, etc) is either entered manually directly with the browser or provided via Google Docs spreadsheets.

Available Label Printing Services

TFORMer Online supports three methods for online label printing. Regardless of the method used, you need to validate your email-address. You will receive a confirmation email which contains a passkey.

1. Single Label Printing
   
   This variant is the ideal solution for low-volume, ad-hoc label printing. Just enter the label data and generate the corresponding PDF.
   
   
2. One-Click Label Printing
   
   A single click prints multiple labels with data stored in a Google docs spreadsheet (batch printing). One-click label printing can be embedded into your web-sites easily. For more detail see below.
   
   IMPORTANT: disable your popup-blocker!
   
   
   
   When using this method, TFORMer Online creates a Google docs spreadsheet and shares it with your Google docs account. You are completely free to edit the label data before printing.
   Please note: The specified email address must be associated with your Google docs account. Your data is safe, TFORMer Online has no access to your Google account - only the spreadsheet is shared with you.
   
   
3. Supplier Labeling
   
   Use this option to provide your suppliers an affordable centrally hosted label printing system with their individual data (e.g. for printing your company specific shipping labels). By sharing the TFORMer Online account (email address + passkey) with your partners they are immediately able to print labels. The data used for printing is completely under the control of the supplier, the label template is controlled by the owner of the TFORMer Online account.
   

One-Click Label Printing Parameters

TFORMer Online suggests HTML code for the One-Click Label Printing Button, just visit http://labels.tec-it.com to retrieve the code for the printing button. The behavior of the button can be parametrized:

• allowtransparency
  Standard iframe parameter, may be "true" or "false"
• frameborder="0"
  Standard iframe parameter
• id="OneClickPrinting"
  Standard iframe parameter, you are free to choose the ID of the button
• scrolling="no"
  Standard iframe parameter, please do NOT change
• src="http://labels.tec-it.com/External/OneClick.aspx?PARAMETERS"
  The URL used to control the label generator, the parameters may be changed to meet your needs:
• labelid=VDA+4902+DE
  The label which should be generated, the name is suggested by TFORMer Online
• tablename=(1)_Automotive_VDA_4902_(Version_4)_VDA_4902_DE
  The name of the Google docs spreadsheet. This name is suggested by TFORMer Online but you may use every suitable spreadsheet name.
• email=support@tec-it.com
  The email-address used for the TFORMer Online account, this email address must be associated with a Google Docs account.
• LANG=en
  The language used for the one-click button, the language code is suggested by TFORMer Online.
• outputtype=pdf
  The output type used for the generated labels, the output type is suggested by TFORMer Online.
• outputsize=A5|landscape
  The output size (paper format) used for the generated labels, it is suggested by TFORMer Online.
• result=popup
  The delivery type of the result. You may need to disable pop-up blockers.
• style="height: 150px; overflow: hidden; width: 300px;"
  The style of the button. You can specify a custom height and width.

Need More Information?

We are glad for any feedback. Just contact us in case of questions or for commercial use.

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Barcoding For Beginners

by Nate Schubert

For the past several decades, the role of barcode technology in our daily lives has helped to increase efficiency, save time and lower costs in a variety of ways. Whether using a barcode scanner to check out items at a grocery store, or scanning membership cards for special discounts and savings, barcodes have operated mainly in the background to make our lives easier. But what do we really know about this quiet, but powerfully efficient technology?

Like any technology, barcoding can get pretty complicated. There are dozens of barcode symbologies set forth by various industry organizations, and a seemingly endless number of ways in which barcode technology can be utilized for maximum benefit. Most informational websites contain a lot of the information you need, but the wording is sometimes so technical that it can be difficult to make any sense of it.

For years, IDAutomation has been working to make barcode technology easier to understand. We do this through clarification of the content on our website and assistance via online chat. Most recently, we have been creating a series of Barcode Teacher video tutorials that focus on describing various aspects of barcode technology both visually and audibly so that more people can understand it.

Please take some time to watch our latest video below, which touches on the basics of barcoding for beginners. For a more detailed version, please visit our Barcoding For Beginners tutorial.

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Space Character Added To Code 39 Fonts

by Nate Schubert

In an effort to listen to and resolve the concerns of our customers, IDAutomation has recently updated it's Code 39 Barcode Font Advantage Package that allows encoding of the space bar character. Previously, encoding a space character could be accomplished by typing the = sign. While it's true that the update seems to just replace one key with another, the ability to encode a space character is not something that comes easily to the encoding process.

With this latest update, it is now possible to simply press the space bar and trust that that space character will encode with no additional effort on your part. While pressing the = sign may have been simple, the new release allows you to not have to remind yourself that the space bar is encoded differently and this should speed up the overall process of creating your own barcodes.

You can purchase a license to the IDAutomation Code 39 Fonts online if you do not currently own one. If you do currently own a license to this product, and your purchase is more than 30 days old, you may receive access to this latest version with the purchase of the one year Priority Support & Upgrade Subscription.

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TSC To Exhibit Newest Label Printers At LogiMAT

Date: 8-10. February 2011
Place: New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre, Stuttgart, Germany
Hall: 3
Booth: 335

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Announcement of Taipei Office Relocation

TSC Auto ID Technology Co., a leading innovator in the design and manufacturing of label printers, will be relocating its Taipei office as of January 29th, 2011. This new office will now represent TSC Auto ID as its global headquarters and provide much needed space for expansion needs. For relevant information, please see below:

Address: 9F., No.95, Minquan Rd., Xindian Dist., New Taipei City 23141, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

New Phone & Fax Numbers: +886-2-2218-6789 (phone); +886-2-2218-5678 (fax).
All extensions remain the same.

Office Hours: 9am – 6pm (with break from 12:30 – 1:30)

Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you to our new home

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Enabling The Print Quality Assessment Feature

by Nate Schubert

One of the most popular 2D Barcode Scanners we offer at IDAutomation is the 2D Barcode Scanner With PQA. Competitively priced at just $299, this barcode imager can dependably read many different linear, 2D and postal barcode types such as Code 128, Intelligent Mail, Data Matrix, QR Code and more.

One of the most attractive features of the IDAutomation 2D Barcode Scanner is the Print Quality Assessment Feature, or PQA, which verifies and grades several attributes of a 2D or postal barcode symbol. With PQA enabled, simply scan the barcode by positioning the scanner directly over the barcode approximately 5 inches away as any other angles or distances may incorrectly lower the grade in terms of height, width and bar gap. You can find an example of the type of output you can expect to receive from a PQA scan.

For a demonstrational video tutorial about how to enable the PQA for the IDAutomation 2D Barcode Scanner, please watch below.

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How To Create a Code 39 MOD 43 Check Digit

by Nate Schubert

This new IDAutomation Video Tutorial demonstrates how to use the Modulus 43 calculation to derive the check character, which is a character based off of a calculation of the data to ensure that the data has been correctly entered. The check character usually appears at the end of the data value and is also known as checksum or check digit.

Most scenario's that call for Code 39 barcodes will not require a manual calculation of the MOD43 check digit because IDAutomation provides different barcode font encoder tools to automatically format the start, stop and check characters of this barcode font type. To manually calculate the check digit, follow the simple steps outlined in the Code 39 Barcode FAQ under MOD43 Check Character Calculation Examples. For a full video demonstration, please see below.

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