[LEGACY] Linear and 2D Bar Coding with DesignMerge
This article describes the process of creating variable Linear and 2D bar codes with DesignMerge software for ADOBE INDESIGN 2021 AND OLDER VERSIONS OF THE SOFTWARE. The article includes a video tutorial that describes the entire bar code creation process, including the process of styling and sizing linear bar codes to fit within a specified area.
CHECK YOUR INDESIGN VERSION
The instructions presented here are for Adobe InDesign 2021 and OLDER versions of the software. If you are running a newer version of Adobe InDesign, please click here to visit the updated Bar Code Documentation on this site.
BAR CODE TRAINING VIDEO
The following training video starts with a brief introduction to bar coding in general, followed by several in-depth examples that take you through the process of creating and styling both Linear and 2D bar codes.
BAR CODE RESOURCES
Please use the table below to access the documentation and the fonts required for the DesignMerge Linear or 2D Bar Code modules.
GS1 DATA MATRIX SUPPORT
The updated 2D bar code font now supports the production of GS1 Data Matrix bar codes. GS1 bar codes of this nature must be encoded by including an FNC1 character at the start of, and at various other points in the data (depending upon the specific data format you wish to encode). To encode an FNC1 character using the 2D bar code module, use the "~1" character string. This set of two characters will automatically be encoded as an FNC1 character when the bar code is generated.
The 2D Bar Code Module also supports a few other special encoding characters that can be embedded directly in your data, or set by a Rule. Following is a list and brief explanation of these characters.
| QRCODE AND DATA MATRIX BAR CODES | |
|---|---|
| Character Sequence | Description |
| ~1 | Encodes the FNC1 character used for GS1 Application Identifiers. |
| ~d### | Encodes the specific character of decimal value ###. For example, to encode a Tab character, use ~d009, and for a return character, use ~d013. |
| ~m## | Adds a Mod 10 checksum to the encoded data where ## represents the number of chars preceding the tilde. This is required to calculate the Mod 10 check digit. |
| ~f## | Adds a Mod 43 checksum to the encoded data where ## represents the number of chars preceding the tilde. This is required to calculate the Mod 43 check digit. |
| PDF417 BAR CODES | |
|---|---|
| Character Sequence | Description |
| ~### | Encodes the specific character of decimal value ###. For example, to encode a Tab character, use ~009, and for a return character, use ~013. |
EAN-8 BAR CODE SUPPORT
The Linear Bar Code Module release for InDesign 2021 now supports the generation of variable EAN-8 bar codes using the DesignMerge Keyword Link feature. In order to support EAN-8 bar codes, you must install a new font that is designed only for EAN-8 bar codes. This font may be utilized on a royalty-free basis in conjunction with our DesignMerge software products only. To install this new font, click the link in the above table to download the Linear Bar Code Fonts package from our web site.
Inside of the folder will be a sub-folder named Barcode_EAN8. There are five Open Type fonts included:
IDAutomationUPCEANL.otf
IDAutomationUPCEANM.otf
IDAutomationUPCEANS.otf
IDAutomationUPCEANXS.otf
IDAutomationUPCEANXXS.otfWhen you apply the font in InDesign, you may choose any of the above fonts. The only difference in these fonts is the size/height of the resulting bar code. Note that the height of any bar code can be easily adjusted using the InDesign vertical scale feature that is available on the Character panel in InDesign (Window > Type & Tables > Character). Please see the video above for more details on how to style and size linear bar codes.
To use this new linear bar code in a variable data job, you create a Keyword Link named "_BARCODE_EAN8_". This is the same method you have been using for other linear bar codes with DesignMerge software. This barcode format is also now supported in the Bar Code Utility, which is available under the DesignMerge > Options > Linear Bar Code Module > Bar Code Utility… menu.
EAN-8 Data Limitations
The EAN-8 bar codes are limited to 7 digits of data. If your data already contains an 8th digit (which is the check digit character), this will be stripped and recalculated by DesignMerge software. Data with >8 characters will result in an error.
