Data Capture Tab - Barcode Fields

Online Template Builder gives you the capability to generate many types of barcodes.

 

The following types are supported:

• QR Code

• Datamatrix

• PDF417

• 3 of 9

• 128

• 128a

• 128b

• 128c

• USPS: POSTNET

• USPS: Intelligent Mail

• USPS: Planet

• UPC-A

• UPC-A +2

• UPC-A +5

• UPC-E

• UPC-E +2

• UPC-E +5

After you have defined an input field as a Barcode in the Field Type tab, the options displayed in the Data Capture tab will depend on what you select from the “Data for this field will come from” menu in the Field Type tab. However, the options are the same (and function the same way) as we covered for a field type of: Text.

 

Please refer Chapter 12 - Field Setup: Data Capture for Text Fields for details on how to complete the prompts for Barcodes in this area. 



Q & A:

Is an Intelligent mail barcode formed using Digits (36 numberic) or Alpha (75 alpha) characters?

Intelligent Mail (aka OneCode), it is formed solely with digits 0-9. The data length must be exactly 20, 25, 29, or 31 digits.

No letters, spaces or punctuation are allowed. Only numeric digits 0-9.

If you would like to experiment with how Online Template Builder will react to OneCode inputs, here is a test template:

http://client.edocbuilder.com/iframeClient.aspx?docCode=910a44df-b450-4f58-8a51-346fe55510d0&docPwd=12280fab-2f91-4b48-92f1-dd3183b9f4dd&postbackURL=close&addToCartButton=Finished+Editing&cancelButton=Cancel+Order&approveWhenDone=true&RadUrid=f6e6837b-2a2f-4e74-98e0-30ac08965136

 

Is a check digit added to a USPS PostNet barcode?

For POSTNET, a check digit will automatically be added. The data length must be exactly 5, 6, 9, or 11 digits, excluding the checksum digit which is added automatically by the software. If you are uploading a data file for VDP use, you must make sure the field does not include the check digit, or the data will be truncated to a 5 digit zip code.

No letters, spaces or punctuation are allowed. Only numeric digits 0-9.

If you would like to experiment with how Online Template Builder will react to various entries for POSTNET and OneCode inputs, here is a test template:

http://client.edocbuilder.com/iframeClient.aspx?docCode=910a44df-b450-4f58-8a51-346fe55510d0&docPwd=12280fab-2f91-4b48-92f1-dd3183b9f4dd&postbackURL=close&addToCartButton=Finished+Editing&cancelButton=Cancel+Order&approveWhenDone=true&RadUrid=f6e6837b-2a2f-4e74-98e0-30ac08965136

 

Adding a vcard to a QR code

Scannable business card

What is a QR Code?
A QR Code is a type of two dimensional barcode, like the one in this picture:


Many smartphones can scan these codes using their cameras and free apps. The codes can either contain URLs that will take you directly to a website, or else they can contain contact information that will go right into your phone's addressbook.

What is a vCard?
vCard stands for "Virtual Business Card". It is a data format that packages up addressbook information, like a person's name, title, organization, mailing address and telephone numbers. It

can be attached as a file to emails, or downloaded from a web page, or encoded into a QR code. It is an older standard than the QR code, but the two work very well together.

How are they used together for a scannable business card?
When a QR Code that contains vCard information is printed on a business card, a person can scan it with their smartphone, and it immediately becomes a contact in their addressbook. No manual typing is needed.

How can I do this with an Online Template Builder template?
Set up your master PDF as you normally would, with all the regular fields for displaying name, address, etc. Then add an additional, fairly large, square field to hold the QR code.

Important: for the QR code to work with the widest variety of smartphone apps, you should have separate first and last name fields.

We will assume you have named your fields this way:

phFirstname, phLastName, phCompanyName, phTitle, phAddressOne, phAddressTwo, phCity, phState, phZip,
phPhone, phTelephoneExt, phFax, phCell, phEmail, phWebsite, QRCode

In eDocBuilder, create your template and upload the master PDF. Format all the normal, visible fields as you ordinarily would. Then open the QRCode field. In the Field Type tab, select "Barcode" and "Static text or field scripting":



In the Format tab, select QR Code, and the color you want the code to be. The default is black:



In the Field Scripting tab, select "Html Markup", and enter this script. If there are fields you are not using, leave those lines out of the script:

BEGIN:VCARD
N;CHARSET=utf-8:@PhLastName@;@PhFirstName@
FN;CHARSET=utf-8:@PhFirstName@ @PhLastName@
ORG;CHARSET=utf-8:@phCompanyName@
TITLE;CHARSET=utf-8:@Title@
TEL:@phPhone@ {{x@phTelephoneExt@}}
TEL;CELL:@phCell@
TEL;FAX:@phFax@
EMAIL;INTERNET;CHARSET=utf-8:@phEmail@
ADR;CHARSET=utf-8:;@PhAddressTwo@;@phAddressOne@;@PhCity@;@PhState@;@PhZip@;USA
URL;CHARSET=utf-8:@PhWebsite@
VERSION:2.1
END:VCARD

 

Note: Do not copy and paste this script directly from your web browser into Online Template Builder, as the formatting used to display it in your browser will also be copied and will make your script work incorrectly. Please first paste the script into a plain text editor (such as Notepad). Then copy the script from the plain text editor and paste it into the Field Scripting tab of your field in Online Template Builder.


Previous Chapter:  Chapter 13 - Field Setup: Data Capture for Image Fields


Next Chapter: Chapter 15 - Field Setup: Format - General