Creating barcodes

AFP Editor lets you create barcodes in AFP files.

The barcode must be in a consistent position on every page and must be a consistent size. If text, an image, or another barcode already exists in the area where you want to create a barcode, first hide the area so that the existing text, image, or barcode does not print.

To determine the exact origin and size of the barcode area, work from a copy of the sample AFP file printed on the production printer. Measure where you want to place the top-left corner of the barcode area (X and Y positions) on the printed page from the top-left corner of the logical page. For BCOCA barcode objects, also measure the width and height of the area.

Note: In AFP Visual Environment you can display measurement units in inches or millimeters. To change the measurement unit, click View ⇒ Units.
To create a barcode:
  1. In AFP Visual Environment, open a sample AFP file.
  2. If the file does not contain page groups or index tags for variable values (such as ZIP Codes) that you want to use in barcode data, use AFP Indexer to create page groups and index tags.
  3. Click Mode ⇒ AFP Editor.
  4. Navigate to the page where you want to create the barcode:
    • To place a barcode on the same page in every page group, navigate to that page in any page group.
    • To place a barcode on multiple pages (for example, on even pages in every page group), navigate to one of the pages in any page group.
  5. Position your cursor at a corner of the barcode area. While pressing the left mouse button, draw a box the approximate size of the barcode area. You can draw a horizontal, vertical, or square box.

    In a later step, you can specify the exact position and size of the barcode area.

  6. Right-click anywhere in the AFP file and click Create barcode.

    You see the Create Barcode window.

  7. On the Type tab, type a name for the area, select the type, and specify other properties.

    For a description of the fields, see the information center topic about the Type tab.

  8. On the Data tab, specify the data to be encoded in the barcode symbol.

    For a description of the fields, see the information center topic about:

    • Data tab for Code 39, Data Matrix, Interleaved 2-of-5, PDF417, POSTNET, and QR Code barcodes

    • Data tab for IMBs

  9. On the Position tab, specify the exact origin and size of the barcode area, the orientation of the barcode symbol within the area, and on which pages to place the barcode in each page group.

    For a description of the fields, see the information center topic about the Position tab.

  10. Click OK.

    If you have more than one barcode defined, you might see the Create Conditions between Definitions window. Click Yes if you want to create a condition for determining which barcode is used, and then click OK.

    If you created an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB), POSTNET, or QR Code barcode, you see the barcode symbol in the AFP file. If you created a Code 39, Data Matrix, Interleaved 2-of-5, or PDF417 barcode, you see a box surrounding the barcode area with the title of the barcode area in the orientation that you selected for the barcode symbol.

    Note: If you created a text IMB but do not see the barcode symbol, identify the resource directory that contains the AFP IMB font to AFP Visual Environment (Resources ⇒ Specify Resource Directories). The AFP IMB font (character set C0XMUS23) is installed in the install_directory/resources directory.
  11. If you see an error message, the barcode is not created in any page group. In addition, no other barcodes, hidden areas, or text masks are created. If the Create Barcode window is open, correct the barcode properties. If the Create Barcode window is already closed, click Tools ⇒ Modify Definitions to correct the properties.

    (In the Modify and Delete Definitions window, Red x image identifies the barcode with the error.)

    If you included index tag values in the barcode data and the error message indicates that barcode data is too long or contains characters that are not valid, you might need to modify the index tag to correct the problem.

In this section:

  1. Type tab
    On the Type tab, you specify the name of the barcode area, the type of barcode that you want to create, and the properties of the barcode.
  2. Data tab for Code 39, Data Matrix, Interleaved 2-of-5, PDF417, POSTNET, and QR Code barcodes
    On the Data tab, you specify the data that AFP Editor encodes in the barcode symbol for Code 39, Data Matrix, Interleaved 2-of-5, PDF417, POSTNET, and QR Code barcodes.
  3. Data tab for IMBs
    On the Data tab, you specify the data that AFP Editor encodes in the barcode symbol for Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMBs).
  4. Position tab
    On the Position tab, you specify the exact origin (top-left corner) and size (width and height) of the barcode area, and the orientation of the barcode symbol within the barcode area. You can also specify on which pages in each page group to place the barcode.
Parent topic: Editing AFP files