Example for Using Barcode ActiveX with Excel

Click here to download a working Excel Spreadsheet example.

One important prerequisite to being able to import metafiles is that you must have a Windows metafile graphics import filter installed for MS Office. When you install Microsoft Office (or just Microsoft Excel), you are given the choice of installing using either a “Typical Installation”, a “Custom Installation” or a “Minimum Installation”. To install the Windows metafile graphics import filter, you must choose “Custom Installation” and then select the Windows metafile Graphics import filter option in the Graphics Import section of the Microsoft Office setup program.

To check if you already have the Windows metafile graphics import filter installed, or to install it, perform the following steps:

1. Insert the MS Office CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive and run the program: SETUP.EXE located in the root directory of the drive.
2. Select “Add/Remove” from the main setup menu.
3. Highlight the “Converters and Filters” option in the list of installation options and click the button labeled “Change Options”.
4. Highlight the “Graphics Filters” option in the list and click the button labeled “Change Options”.
5. In the bottom of the list that appears, make sure that the option “Windows Metafile Import” is checked.
6. If the option is already checked then you already have the Windows metafile graphics import filter installed and you can click the “Cancel” button until you are returned to the main setup menu where you can click the “Exit Setup” button to exit.
7. If the “Windows Metafile Import” is not checked then select it and click the OK button until you are returned to the main Setup Options list where you can click the “Continue” button to complete the installation. After the Setup program has completed installing the Windows Metafile Graphics Import filter, Excel will be able to import standard Windows metafiles stored on disk.

After the Setup program has completed installing the Windows Metafile Graphics Import filter, Excel will be able to import standard Windows metafiles stored on disk.