My name is Pete Draigh. I work for a regional auditing company and do all of our software and data-driven web development using mostly SQL Server, ASP, and a little Access. This article is about a solution I worked out to dynamically generate a bar code based on the value of an ID field in a database. It would be useful in a situation where users need to enter information into a system, be presented with a summary 'this-is-what-you-entered' page that they can then print and can be tracked later with the barcode. Similar to what many shipping companies such as Fedex use when you use their program to generate an airbill. I'd welcome any feedback at pdraigh@businessstrategy.com.
The problem was to translate a value such as '123456' into a barcode. We use the Code 39 barcode for several things we do at our company. I wanted to put that barcode on a web page so that the user could print out a web page containing that barcode and later, we could use that barcode in the indexing process in our imaging system. Most users have a Code 39 font installed on their system for other purposes, but I didn't want to rely on them having it. I wanted to generate it in the web page and have that be independent of the browser/client computer, etc.
My solution was to create GIF files for each supported character in the the Code 39 set. I got a sample for each character and then I created each character and tested it with our scanner software to make sure it was interpreted correctly. Then to represent the database value as a barcode in my ASP page, I simply loop through each character in the field value with an <IMG SRC="..."> tag to replace the character with the character's bar code GIF. Simple, and doesn't require anything on the client machine.
The code is a simple loop:
Response.write "<IMG SRC=""asterisk.gif"">"
'Code 39 barcodes require an asterisk as the start and stop characters
For x = 1 to len(rst("field1"))
response.write "<IMG SRC=""" & mid(rst("field1"),x,1) & ".gif"">"
Next
Response.write "<IMG SRC=""asterisk.gif"">"
Make sure you have a GIF for each barcode and you modify the IMG tags for the correct directory, filename, etc. You can also change the WIDTH and HEIGHT attributes of your IMAGE tag to make the barcode display larger or smaller on your page. Not a real complex solution, but sometimes the simpler, the better.
|
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
More Database Code Articles
More By aspfree  developerWorks - FREE Tools!
|
This demonstration gives you an overview of IBM® Rational® Build Forge Express Edition, a global offering that provides a framework to automate and execute software processes. Rational Build Forge provides a software assembly line that can support all of your tools, technologies, and platforms so you can achieve a repeatable, reliable, and traceable build and release process.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
This whitepaper presents the benefits of successfully introducing static analysis into your organization using IBM Rational Software Analyzer. Additionally, it identifies some common pitfalls that can hinder the effective use of static analysis tooling as well as presents 10 simple strategies designed to help you quickly realize the value of static analysis using Rational Software Analyzer.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Listen to this webcast to get an overview of Info 2.0 and a technical demo of how to quickly build an enterprise mashup. IBM's Info 2.0 technology leverages emerging Web 2.0 technologies such as mashups, feeds, AJAX, and JSON in order to simplify assembly of information using feeds and services. Come learn about the technical elements of Info 2.0 including the Feed Generation framework, Mashup Engine, and mashup assembly components. Learn how to pull information from databases, departmental information, and the Web to create mashups critical to your company’s success. We will also discuss best practices to help you get started.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Join this Rational Talks to You teleconference on December 6 at 1:00 pm ET to participate in an agile application development discussion and get your questions answered on using IBM Rational Method Composer in a distributed environment.Get your questions answered!
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) Express Edition offers outstanding online transaction processing (OLTP) database performance, while helping to simplify and automate many of the tasks associated with deploying databases for small business applications. IDS 11 further extends the ease of management and applications integration with the Admin API and Scheduler, high availability with Continuous Log Restore for backup server recovery in case of a primary server failure, and column level encryption to protect personal and company private data.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Visit IBM developerWorks to try the IBM SOA Sandbox for process. The SOA Sandbox for process focuses on providing a trial environment with the necessary tooling and components required to gain a better understanding of business processes and how to best improve existing business processes to derive value quickly.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
As businesses grow increasingly dependent upon Web applications, these complex entities grow more difficult to secure. Most companies equip their Web sites with firewalls, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and network and host security, but the majority of attacks are on applications themselves – and these technologies cannot prevent them. This paper explains what you can do to help protect your organization, and it discusses an approach for improving your organization’s Web application security.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Join this Rational Talks to You teleconference, to hear how Enterprise Generation Language (EGL) eliminates the need for tedious and error-prone low level coding, so developers can focus on business requirements. EGL extends the Rational software development platform with a simplified programming language that enables developers who have little or no experience with Java, Web technologies or Service Oriented Architecture, to create enterprise-class applications and services quickly and easily. It also allows developers who may have little or no mainframe programming experience to quickly create traditional mainframe components.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
The discipline of assembling and delivering software is maturing beyond standard developer-centric compile/test software builds. The end-to-end software development lifecycle is emerging as the new focus moves “Beyond the Build.” Join this on demand webcast to learn about methods for streamlining software delivery and key capabilities of the IBM Rational Build Forge framework for automating build and release management in environments of any size.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
With IBM Rational Systems Development Solution, you can deliver products faster with higher quality. Within this kit, Read the “Model Driven Systems Development” white paper to see how to improve product quality and communication. Then check out the rest of the e-Kit to learn more about important topics that can affect the success of any software project through customer examples, tutorials, informative Webcasts, and best practices for designing, building and managing systems. From start to finish, at every stage in your projects, Rational Systems Development Solution can help your company reach its full potential.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
All FREE IBM® developerWorks Tools!
| |
/ 15 
