FileMaker Pro Barcode FAQ & Tutorial

Want to add bar codes to FileMaker Pro? We created this bar-code tutorial to help FileMaker users integrate bar code automation into existing FileMaker applications, reports, forms and databases. Once setup, the barcode may be viewed and printed from a PC or Macintosh as long as the barcode font is installed on each system.
Our barcode products may be integrated into FileMaker by the following methods:

  1. Using self-checking fonts such as Code 3 of 9 and Codabar.

  2. Inserting tabs and returns between fields into self-checking font barcodes.

  3. Using the IDAutomation.com Barcode Plugin for FileMaker with barcode fonts that require check digits such as Code 128, POSTNET, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC-A, EAN-13, EAN-8 or MSI. 

  4. Encoding EAN-128 or UCC-128 barcodes with the IDAutomation.com Barcode Plugin.

  5. Encoding tabs and returns between multiple fields into a single Code 128 barcode.

  6. Common Problems and Solutions.

User Comments

"We just purchased the product.. I am using your fonts with FileMaker and doing a software inventory for the Government.  It works great and I have found it very easy to set up..  Thanks again" - David Sinclair, APV4 Contractor (FPI)

Method 1 - using Self Checking Fonts, MICR and OCR fonts

Self Checking Barcode Fonts, MICR and OCR fonts are compatible with FileMaker and may be used with ease. To use a self checking font such as Code 39 (AKA code 3 of 9), you need to insert a "*" before and after the data encoded. Therefore, if you encode TEST3OF9 in a barcode, you would need to display the text *TEST3OF9* in a field with the Code 39 font selected.

In this example, we add a dynamic Code 39 barcode field to a FileMaker ID name badge database. The barcode is created when this field is included on a form or report and the proper barcode font is selected for it.

  1. First, you must install one of our Code 39 font packages. We recommend the Code 39 Font Advantage Package because this package includes fonts for the PC and Macintosh.

  2. In this example, the Employee ID field is the one we want to include in the barcode. NOTE: The field type must be "Text" for any field you are creating a barcode for.
    In this example, the Employee ID field is the one we want to include in the barcode. NOTE: The field type must be "Text" for any field you are creating a barcode for.

  3. Choose File - Define Fields. For the field name choose "Barcode" and for the field type choose "Calculation", then choose Create.
    Choose File - Define Fields. For the field name choose "Barcode" and for the field type choose "Calculation", then choose Create.

  4. In the "specify calculation" field, enter "*" & Employee ID & "*" so that the asterisk is appended to the beginning and ending of the "Employee ID" field that is required for a Code 39 barcode. Choose OK and then Done. The new field has now been created.
    The asterisk is appended to the beginning and ending of the "Employee ID" field that is required for a Code 39 barcode.

  5. With the database form open, choose View - Layout Mode. Choose Insert - Field and select the field named "Barcode" from the list of fields and choose OK. After the barcode field appears on the form, you will need to drag the edges of it to make it larger so the barcode can fit on it. NOTE: If you fail to make this field large enough, the barcode will only display a rectangle instead of a barcode.
    NOTE: If you fail to make this field large enough, the barcode will only display a rectangle instead of a barcode.

  6. With the "Barcode" field selected, choose Format - Fonts and choose one of our Code 39 Fonts. In this example, we choose the IDAutomationHC39S font which is a "human readable" font provided in our Code 39 Font Advantage Package. In this example, we also choose "align center" so the barcode will appear in the middle of the field and we change the font size to 14 so it can be easily scanned.
    With the "Barcode" field selected, choose Format - Fonts and choose one of our Code 39 Fonts.

  7. Now, when you choose View - Browse you will see a barcode in the form. After the form is printed, the bar code can be scanned.
    When you choose View - Browse you will see a barcode in the form. After the form is printed, the bar code can be scanned. The same process may be used to create a barcode on a custom report.

  8. The same process may be used to create a barcode on a custom report. In this example, we open the "Exposition Name Tag" report in "Layout Mode", add the barcode field below and change the font of the barcode field to the IDAutomationHC39S barcode font.

Method 2 - Combining multiple fields in a single barcode

With Code 39, you can also easily add tabs between two fields in a single barcode (in extended39) for example enter:
"*"& DataField1  & "$I" & DataField2 & "*"
in the specify calculation field (see method 1 step 4 above).

Method 3 - using the bar code plug-in with our barcode fonts.

LICENSE NOTICE: You may incorporate this plug-in component in your application only if you own a valid license from Idautomation.com, Inc. for the associated font. Redistribution of our fonts and components requires a Developer License.

If you need to print Code 128, Postnet, Planet, Interleaved 2 of 5, ITF, UPC-A, EAN-13 or EAN-8 you will need to use our barcode font plug-in for FileMaker with our barcode fonts. In this example, we will create a Code 128 barcode in a custom FileMaker report. Our plugin was tested with FileMaker 5.5 and 6.0, but it should work in other versions as well.

  1. Install the appropriate barcode font on your system. Refer to the installation instructions in your font package for these instructions. Our plug-in supports our Postnet, Code 39, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, and UPC/EAN barcode font packages. If you are unsure which one you need, we recommend the Code 128 Barcode Font Advantage Package because it is the most efficient barcode type that can encode all letters and numbers.
  1. If FileMaker is running, exit FileMaker. Start FileMaker, open your database and choose Edit - Preferences - Application.
    Start FileMaker, open your database and choose File - Edit Application.
  2. Choose the Plug-Ins tab and make sure the IDAutomation.com Barcode plugin is selected.
    Choose the Plug-Ins tab and make sure the IDAutomation.com Barcode plugin is selected.
  3. The plug-in will create formulas you can use in calculated fields, that will create a text string, that when displayed or printed with our barcode font, will create a correct barcode. The text string includes all required start, stop and check characters. To create a field for a bar-code, choose File - Define Fields.
    o create a field for a bar-code, choose File - Define Fields.
  4. In the Barcode Field box type a name for the field you are creating. In this case we type Barcode128. Choose Calculation in the "Type" box and choose Create.
  5. In the View drop down box, choose External Functions and select the function beginning with IDAu that formats the data for your type of barcode font. In this case we select the IDAu-Code128 function because we are using a code 128 font. After we select or double click the function a formula appears in the formula box. Next, we replace the parameter word in the formula with the field we want encoded in the barcode. In this case, we choose the Employee ID field and it appears in the formula. Select TEXT in the Calculation Result drop down box and choose OK.

     
  6. Choose View - Layout Mode and choose the report or form you wish to add the barcode to. In this example, we open the "Exposition Name Tag" report in "Layout Mode", choose Insert - Field and add the Barcode128 field to the report. You may also wish to place "human readable" text below the barcode, this is done by simply adding the field that is encoded below the barcode as in this example:
  7. Now that we have the field in the report, choose View - Browse Mode to make sure the data is being pulled from the fields and properly formatted to the barcode font. You should see that some strange characters have been appended to the beginning and ending of the data from the field - this is normal. Sometimes the data has to be formatted so much it appears to be scrambled. This is normal for Code 128 and Interleaved 2 of 5 when numbers need to be compressed within the barcode.
  8. Change the font of the barcode field to the appropriate barcode font, in this case, we select the IDAutomationHC128S font which is Code-128 with a height of "S". After the report is printed, the bar code can be scanned.
  9. If you need to encode UCC/EAN-128 barcodes such as SCC-14 or SSCC-18 in your output, you must use the Code 128 auto function and enter an ASCII 202 character before each application identifier (AI). For example, the UCC number of (8100) 712345 (21) 12WH5678 should be entered as: E8100712345E2112WH5678. The human-readable text for these barcodes can also be included by creating another field (here we call it Barcode128HR) and selecting the plugin function of IDAu-Code128HR. Be sure to select TEXT in the Calculation Result drop down box.
    defining the field to use for UCC/EAN-128 barcode human readable text.
    You must use a text font for this field and it will format the text for most defined AIs.

  10. If you wish to insert tabs or returns between fields into Code 128 barcodes, you should not use the auto function, but one of the pre-defined methods for character sets A, B or C. For example, the following formula encodes two fields with a tab function between them and a return function at the end:
    External("IDAu-Code128b", (Employee ID& "?i" & Business Name & "?m"))

LICENSE NOTICE: You may incorporate this plug-in component in your application only if you own a valid license from Idautomation.com, Inc. for the associated font. Redistribution of our fonts and components requires a Developer License. The barcode fonts are available here.

Our barcode plug-in contains the functions for linear barcodes described in the table below:

Method Name Method Description
Code128( ) If you are not sure which Code 128 set is for your application, then use this one. This is a "Code 128 Auto" function that will automatically encode any data from ASCII 0 to ASCII 127. It will automatically switch to character set C for numbers also.
To encode alpha-numeric UCC/EAN-128, ASCII 202 or character E is entered as the FNC1 before each AI. For example, the UCC number of (8100)712345(21)12WH5678 should be entered as: E8100712345E2112WH5678.
Code128a( ) Use the characters from set B to print characters not on the keyboard; the scanner will scan characters from set A.
Code128b( ) Returns codes formatted to the Code 128 character set B. Formats output to the Code 128 barcode fonts.
Code128c( ) This code128 function "interleaves" numbers into pairs for high density.
Code128HR( ) Returns the human readable version of the data used in the Code128( ) method.
I2of5( ) This function "interleaves" numbers into pairs for high density without check digits and formats the return string to the Interleaved 2 of 5 font.
I2of5Mod10( ) Performs the mod10 checksum calculation for increased accuracy and formats the return string to the Interleaved 2 of 5 font. MOD 10 checksums are required by USPS for special services and for SSC-14 when using Interleaved 2 of 5 for that purpose.
Code39( ) Formats the output to print using Code 39 fonts.
Code39mod43( ) Performs the mod43 checksum calculation for increased accuracy and then formats the output to print using Code 39 fonts. The mod43 checksum is usually required for LOGMARS and HIBC applications.
Codabar( ) Formats the output to print using Codabar fonts.
EAN13( ) Enter EAN-13 with or without a check digit, add-ons are supported. If a check digit is passed in it is ignored, recalculated, and added to the encoded output.  Formats output to the UPC/EAN barcode font.
EAN8( ) Enter exactly 7 characters (EAN-8 without the check digit). Formats output to the UPC/EAN barcode font.
Postnet( ) Enter a single string of Zip, Zip + 4 or Zip + 4 + Delivery Point. The input for this method must be a number and can include dashes and spaces.
UPCa( ) Enter UPC-A with or without a check digit, add-ons are supported. Formats output to the UPC/EAN barcode font.

The Macintosh version of this plug-in was ported by Thomas Jenkins www.backofficeware.com.

Common Problems and Solutions:

Barcode Barcode Fonts

Business Software

MS Excel Spreadsheets, Add-ins, Templates

Barcode Printers

Barcode Scanners

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