 |
The following example MS Access function demonstrates how to fill up
a picture field (an OLE object field) in an MS Access database table with
bar codes.
The function reads through the entire table and takes the source text
for each bar code from a text field named "BarCodeText" and
passes it to B-Coder. Next, it generates the bar code and saves the resulting
bar code to disk as a .wmf (Windows MetaFile). Finally it inserts the
image into the picture field named "BarCodePicture" in the same
record as each "Barcode.txt" field.
The function below assumes that a table named "table1" is available
that has at least two fields, one being a text field named "BarCodeText"
(containing our source bar code text data) and another empty OLE object
field named "BarCodePicture" (the destination for all bar code
graphics).
After you get all your bar codes into your Access table as picture objects,
you can print them in reports or however you want. Since this procedure
also places the bar codes into the table as Windows MetaFiles instead
of as bitmaps so you will get a much higher resolution printout and each
graphic will use much less space in your database.
Function BarCodes ()
Dim Total As Long, Chan As Long, I As Long
Dim BCDirectory As String, MyTable As String
Dim MyBarCodeTextField As String, MyBarCodePictureField As String
BCDirectory = "C:\B-Coder3" ' Directory where B-Coder lives
MyTable = "table1" ' Name of Access table containing
bar code data
MyBarCodeTextField = "BarCodeText" ' Field name containing
the text for all bar codes
MyBarCodePictureField = "BarCodePicture" ' Name of the
OLE (Picture) object field
' where bar codes are to be inserted
On Error Resume Next
Chan = DDEInitiate("B-Coder", "System") ' Establish
link.
If Err Then ' If error occurs, B-Coder isn't running.
Err = 0 ' Reset the error
I = Shell(BCDirectory + "\B-Coder.exe", 7) '
and launch B-Coder.
If Err Then Exit Function ' If another error occurs
then exit.
Chan = DDEInitiate("B-Coder", "System")
' else Establish link and continue.
End If
DDEExecute Chan, "[MESSAGEWARNINGS=OFF]" ' Turn off B-Coder
warnings
DDEExecute Chan, "[PRINTWARNINGS=OFF]"
DoCmd.OpenTable MyTable, A_NORMAL ' Select our Access table
' Note: The syntax for all DoCmd statements in this function is correct
for Access 97/2000.
' If you are using Access 2.0, change the period after all DoCmd statements
' to a single space character. i.e. DoCmd OpenTable MyTable, A_NORMAL
Total = DCount("*", MyTable) ' How many data records
in the table?
DoCmd.GoToRecord A_Table, MyTable, A_FIRST ' Go to the first record
in the table
For x = 1 To Total ' Loop through each record
DoCmd.GoToControl MyBarCodeTextField ' Select message
text field
DoCmd.DoMenuItem A_FORMBAR, A_EDITMENU, A_COPY, , A_MENU_VER20
' Copy to clipboard
DDEExecute Chan, "[Paste/Build/Copy]" '
Pass it to B-Coder & build a bar code
DoCmd.GoToControl MyBarCodePictureField ' Select the
bar code picture field
DoCmd.DoMenuItem A_FORMBAR, A_EDITMENU, A_PASTE, , A_MENU_VER20
' Paste in the bar code image
DoCmd.GoToRecord A_Table, MyTable, A_NEXT ' Goto next
record
Next ' Loop through all records
DDETerminate Chan ' Terminate the DDE link - all done!
End Function
|
 |
