Barcode

Desktop Designer supports a wide variety of 1D and 2D barcode types to be printed on labels. Each barcode type is configurable according to specific standards.

The following barcode types are available in Desktop Designer:

• 1D and 2D Barcodes

• GS1 DataBar Barcode Subtypes

In Desktop Designer, barcodes are added to a label using the barcode object. To properly encode the data and to set the barcode object properties, read the sections below. Each of these sections describes barcode object properties. To start editing them, double-click the object to open the Object Properties Window.

Barcode

Barcode Type defines the specific barcode type which should be used to encode the data.

• X dimension: width of the narrowest bar in the barcode.

• Height: barcode's vertical dimension.

• Ratio defines the ratio between the barcode's narrow and wide bar widths.

  Each barcode type's range of permitted ratios is limited by the standard. Desktop Designer only allows you to use valid ratios. By default, the ratio is set to 3. This means that the wide bar is 3 times the width of a narrow bar.

  Note

  The available ratios depend on the selected X dimension. If you are changing the X dimension, this also affects the selection of available ratios.

• Row height defines the height of a single data row in 2D barcodes. Row height is specified as a multiple over the X dimension. For example, "3x" means that the row is 3 times the X dimension.

Actual properties based on the selected printer displays the X dimension as it would appear printed on a label using the currently selected printer.

Color defines the color of the barcode.

Check Digit

Check digit is used by any scanning system to verify that the number scanned from a barcode is read correctly.

Include check digit determines if the check digit is included in a barcode or not.

• Auto-generate check digit: automatic check digit calculation.

  Note

  If the data already includes invalid check digit, Desktop Designer replaces it with a proper value.

• Verify the provided check digit: verification of the manually provided check digit. An error message appears if the check digits are incorrect.

• Display check digit in human readable: check digit included in the human readable barcode text.

Human Readable

Human Readable text displays readable barcode data content located below or above the barcode. Its role is to provide backup in case the barcode is damaged or of poor quality.

• No human readable: barcode is rendered without human readable text.

• Above barcode: human readable text is located above the barcode.

• Below barcode: human readable text is located below the barcode.

Style group allows you to set custom properties for human-readable text.

• Custom Font: enables font and font size selection. Internal printer fonts cannot be used as custom human readable font.

• Auto font scaling: If enabled (default setting), human readable text grows or shrinks proportionally along with the changing size of the barcode. To set a custom size for human readable text, disable this option and select the appropriate font size.

• Bold: makes human readable text appear bold.

• Italic: makes human readable text appear italic.

Mask group sets the format of the input data before it is displayed on a label.

• Content mask sets the format of the input data before it is displayed on a label.

• Mask character is a character used in the mask that is replaced with actual data on the printed label.

Bearer Bar

Bearer bar is a border that surrounds the barcode. Its purpose is to protect the barcode image and to enhance reading reliability.

• Fixed thickness: automatically defined bearer bar width.

• Variable thickness: user-defined bearer bar width.

• Thickness multiplier: bearer bar width factor.

• Show vertical bar: vertical bearer bars displayed or hidden.

Details

Details differ according to the barcode standards. Define the options that are given with regard to the currently selected barcode type. Details for 1D and 2D barcodes are described in dedicated sections:

• 1D barcode details

• 2D barcode details

Position

Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.

Position group defines the object's position.

• X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.

Size group sets the object's dimensions:

• Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.

• Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.

Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.

Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.

Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.

Relative Position

Relative Position options define the position of an object when label size or positions of neighboring objects are changing during the label design process.

• Enable horizontal relative position: activates horizontal relative positioning.

  • Relative to label border: the position of object is defined relative to the reference label border. Define horizontal offset for the object with regard to this border.

  • Relative to another object: the position of object is defined relative to the border of a neighboring object. Define horizontal offset for the object with regard to this object.

  • Object: selects the reference object for horizontal relative positioning.

  • Border: neighboring object's reference border or label border (if there are no other objects on the label) for horizontal relative positioning.

  • Offset: horizontal distance from label border or reference object's anchoring point.

• Enable vertical relative position: activates vertical relative positioning.

  • Relative to label border: the position of object is defined relative to the reference label border. Define vertical offset for the object with regard to this border.

  • Relative to another object: the position of object is defined relative to the border of a neighboring object. Define vertical offset for the object with regard to this object.

  • Object: selects the reference object for vertical relative positioning.

  • Border: neighboring object's reference border or label border (if there are no other objects on the label) for vertical relative positioning.

  • Offset: vertical distance from label border or reference object's anchoring point.

When designing double-sided labels, you can also take objects on the opposite side of the label as reference objects for relative positioning. In this case, objects on opposite sides move together if you change their positions.

General

General tab identifies the object and sets its status.

Name sets a unique object ID. It is used for object referencing when defining functions, variables, scripts, etc.

Description allows adding notes and annotations for an object. It provides help during the label design process.

Status group defines object visibility on print preview and on printed labels.

• Not printable: prevents the object from being printed. The object still remains visible on the print preview and affects other objects in relative positioning. This option is useful when printing on predesigned or stock-specific labels.

• Visible: if the checkbox is not selected, the object neither appears on the print preview nor on the printed label. The object is treated as if it does not exist.

• Condition: makes an object enabled (editable) if the result of the given condition is "True". This setting defines object visibility on form startup and when the connected variable's value changes.

  Tip

  Equals (=) and slashed equals (≠) signs are allowed to be used in object visibility condition. Click the Equal/Not equal button select the appropriate sign type.

Option	Print Preview	Printout	Relative positioning
Not printable (selected)	YES	NO	YES
Visible (cleared)	NO	NO	NO