Printing Code 39 Bar Codes in Access
When you need to print Code 39 barcodes from within a Microsoft Access database, you can make it easy by using Azalea’s free barcode.dll along with our Code 39 TrueType fonts. Our barcode.dll adds the start and stop bars to your input string and then it maps the output into our fonts’ character set. To make a Code 39 barcode, you’ll need to use the our DLL because you cannot simply format a chunk of text in a bar code font and create a scannable bar code symbol. Azalea’s DLL will do all of the heavy lifting for you and make it effortless.
1. Download barcode.dll and save it into your\WINDOWS\SYSTEM or \WINNT\SYSTEM32 directory, as appropriate. Then you’ll want to download C39sampleinput.mdb, our sample database. Open Microsoft Access.
2. In Access, open the database window; then click “Modules”.
Close this database and make sure you remember its path and then open the database with your information that you need to barcode.
3. Import your Code 39 functions by opening your database and attaching C39sampleinput.mdb. Open the File menu and select Get External Data/Import. Enter the path to the C39sampleinput.mdb database.
4. The “Import Objects” window will then open. Enter the path to the C39sampleinput.mdb sample database. In the “Import Objects” window, click the “Modules” tab, highlight “C39” and then click “OK”.
5. Choose “Queries”. Double click “Design view”. Select the table you wish to print bar codes from. Click “Add” and then “Close”.
6. Double-click on the field that contains your input data to be converted into a Code 39 barcode. Uncheck the “Show” check box, as we just want the bar code.
7. Right-click on the first row field and select “Build”.
8. In the Expression Builder left pane, expand “Functions”, Expand “C39sampleinput”; on the right pane, select “AzaleaCode39”. Note: While this example refers to Code 39, the same holds true for Code 39 ASCII.
9. Replace “InputString” with the name of the input data field that you intend to convert. (in our example, “C39SampleInput” without the quotes). Click “OK”. Save and name your query. Choose your entire query field, go to File >Format>Fonts and then select an Azalea Code 39 font and then set the point size.
10. Run the query; double-click the name of your query in the main database window. Check your output…if the output result differs or you see boxes or odd characters, please send a screenshot to technicalsupport at azalea dot com and we’ll be happy to help you get it sorted out.