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Meadows Publishing SolutionsSee below for details on the new/updated bar code fonts for DesignMerge software
DesignMerge software provides support for two add-on modules for producing variable Linear and 2D bar codes. For users of these packages, we have added a few new features in the InDesign 2021 version of DesignMerge that require an update to the fonts you are currently using. Please see below for details.
The DesignMerge 2D Bar Code Module release for InDesign 2021 requires the installation of an updated 2D bar code font. The 2D bar code font may be utilized on a royalty-free basis in conjunction with our DesignMerge software products. The new 2D bar code font may be downloaded from our web site by clicking the link below.
Click Here to Download the New 2D Bar Code Font
Please be sure to install the font version that is compatible with your version of Adobe InDesign, as indicated by the name of the folder in the download.
The updated 2D 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 in the data. For the DesignMerge 2D Bar Code Module, FNC1 is represented by either ‘~1’ or in the data string.
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. |
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. To install this new font, click the link below to download the Linear Bar Code Fonts package from our web site.
Click Here to Download the Linear Bar Code Fonts
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.otf
When 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).
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.
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.
If you need assistance, please feel free to open a support ticket on the Meadows web site at www.meadowsps.com/support.
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