Barcode Image Intrepretation method

[QC2015]

I would like to take a bar code image file in a .jpg format and return a text value via a subroutine or function in VBA.

Any help would be greatly appreciated in terms of code snipets, weblinks and/or reference libraries.

 

[Macropod]

the code required for that can be simple - or complex - depending on the kind of barcode used. For an idea of what's involved, go to: Linear & 2D Barcode FAQ Index | IDAutomation and look up the kind of barcode you're working with.

 

[QC2015]

Thank you for the reply. I should have specified 1D barcode, specifically Code 39. So to amend the text above.


I would like to take a 1D, Code 39 bar code image file in a .jpg format and return a text value via a subroutine or function in VBA.


Thank you for your help. Cheers

 

[Macropod]

If you use a barcode scanner and set it for Code 39 (or Code 3of9) you should be able to scan the barcode straight into Excel. Do note that jpg images are far from ideal for this, due to compression artefacts that are liable to occur within the barcode. If you want to actually read and parse the jpg file in VBA, that adds a whole load of extra complexity.

 

[QC2015]

I do have a barcode scanner and it easily scans the barcode straight into Excel. I could talk about potential application but it will add levels of confusion that do not solve my issue. What I am looking for is as below:

"I would like to take a 1D, Code 39 bar code image file in a .jpg format and return a text value via a subroutine or function in <acronym title="visual basic for applications" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); cursor: help; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">VBA</acronym>."

I do realize there is compression artifacts in most image types. The root of the question is what mechanism can I use to make the interpretation.

 

[Macropod]

If you're wedded to jpg processing, you will have to sort out how to identify from the jpg data where the barcode scan begins and ends, how to recognise differentiate the wide & narrow bars from compression artefacts, plus decode the bar sequence. The last part is quite straightforward but you have some major hurdles to overcome before you get there.

PS: Kindly don't PM me again for help about this: keep your posts in the public forum where they belong.
Please read our policy on NOT using Private Message system to request specific assistance, in rule #4: http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/board-announcements/99490-forum-rules.html

 

[QC2015]

I am not wedded to jpg processing. I only mentioned jpg as it is the first file type I thought of. The file type can be anything that I can capture and save which I think is anything. These are issues I am not aware about as I am starting from scratch. If a GIF, of TIFF or PNG is better, I am open to anything. The description of the title simplifies what I am looking for to its most basic form

Barcode (Type 39) Image (Whatever one works) Intrepretation (processing) method

Also: Sorry about the PM, this is my first thread on here. Cheers

 

[Macropod]

There are plenty of free utilities/libraries for this. Using one of those would be far simpler than creating your own. See, for example:
Read Barcodes from TIF & JPG Files Shell and 'C' API's. Barcode Types Include Code-25, Code-39, Code128, EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A and UPC-E
Barcode Recognition SDK for C++,VB,.NET
Bytescout BarCode Reader is a freeware utility to read barcode from image file (JPG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, PDF) | ByteScout
Excel VBA Macro - bardecode.com

See also: Reading Barcodes from an Image - III - CodeProject