I am attempting to create a UPS tracking number barcode. I located a previous post about the same topic, but when I did the suggested fix, my barcode does not scan. This barcode consists of a Code 128 Barcode that Starts in Subset A for first part of barcode, then shifts over to Subset C for the remaining characters after the alpha character.

EXAMPLE:
Code 128:
(SUBSET A) '1Z' (SUBSET C) '1238331212341234'

The suggestion in the previous post said to do the below by adding the ^099 after the Z.

The string should read
Quote:
='1Z'+'^099'+'1238331212341234'

When I do this, my barcode still does not scan. Am I missing something? Do I need to check add start/stop characters or select check sum? I am not sure why it won't scan or what I am missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Aimee

Aimee,

In PlanetPress Design Version 7.4 and under, check if you have, in the Object Inspector of the Document, UseOldBarcode. If you do, remove it.

It could also be the Code 128 reader you are using that doesn't like the subset change. Try to read your Code 128 with another reader.

There are freeware available that will read a barcode on a pdf file, such as bcTester(please be aware that this is not an Objectif Lune product).

Regards,
JF

Thanks, JFlair. I like the bcTester, very cool. I still am not sure what I am doing wrong with the barcode. bcTester won't even read it. Thanks again for your help.

Has anyone had to design a UPS barcode using PlanetPress?

aoneil,

Which barcode are you referring to? There are many UPS barcodes.

Regards,
Raphaël Lalonde Lefebvre

Sorry about that!! It is the tracking number barcode.

Thanks!

I assume you mean the code 128?

I see, reading the rest of the thread, that you want to insert control characters in your barcode. This can be tricky, but last time I had to deal with this, the way we did it was to create a new barcode 128, use Subset C, and have the option "UCC/EAN 128 prefix" checked. Then you use a custom data selection that can include control characters, like ^102, ^099, etc... If you're still on 7.4, make sure the UseOldBarcode option mentionned in the post above is turned OFF, or it will not work.

Note that you also have to consider your barcode reader's ability to interprete the control characters. If it doesn't have that capability, then it will not work no matter what.

Regards,
Raphaël Lalonde Lefebvre

When I use the ^099 in my data selection to switch to subset C, it literally adds that to the barcode data... so that when it scans it shows ^099 within the data. Is that correct? I am on version 7.5

=('\205'+@(28,1,3))+'^099'+@(28,4,18)

Is this not possible in Planet Press?

I believe it's done the correct way, though you also have to take into consideration your barcode scanner's capability. Can your scanner actually interprete these codes correctly? Are you able to read other barcodes that contains such control characters?