"Code128" barcode generator in VBA

Y

yakovleff

New Member
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
41
Office Version
  1. 2010
  2. 2007
Platform
  1. Windows
Hello All,

Since the Code93 barcode generator has been developed I've been thinking of Code128. And finally I've developed it! As before want to share it with other Mr.Excel users and Google searchers. :smile:
It was much easier and faster than Code93 as Code128 is simpler to encode and yet more powerful particularly for strings of digits.

Main features:
- Main symbology has been picked from CODE128 SYMBOLOGY;
- The sub uses Shapes collection to draw lines of a barcode instead of special fonts;
- Sub draws a barcode onto a target Worksheet from beginning position which is defined by horizontal offset (X), vertical offset (Y) measured in mm of required height in mm; bar width is defined in pt;
- Code uses "B" and "C" charsets only;
- A "tweak" for numeric strings has been implemented: If a numeric string to be encoded is of odd length the first symbol is encoded as "B"; the rest of symbols are encoded as "C". This tweak significantly reduces barcode length for a numeric string.
- 10% bars overlapping is used for drawing as this value showed the best result at scanning tests.

Weaknesses/incompletenesses:
- Code does not generate any special "instruction" symbols: symbols 95-98, 100, 102 in charset "B" and 102 in charset "C".
- Code does not check the length of the encoded string;
- A complete barcode width is not pre-calulated and drawing begins from left which can cause unexpected overhangs;
- Sub does not support a barcode inclination; just vertical orientation
- A barcode position is only correct when 100% print size is set.
- Obviously version-depended code (different versions/OSs/printers can vary the result, NOT tested).

Win 7 Ultimate, MS Office 2007 were used to develop and tests.
So, the main code is:
Code: 
<code>
Sub Code128Generate(ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single, ByVal Height As Single, ByVal LineWeight As Single, _
                  ByRef TargetSheet As Worksheet, ByVal Content As String)
' Supports B and C charsets only; values 00-94, 99,101, 103-105 for B, 00-101, 103-105 for C
' X, Y - top-left corner coordinates
' X in mm (0.376042)
' Y in mm (0.341)
' Height in mm
' LineWeight in pt

Const Tbar_Symbol As String * 2 = "11" ' termination bar
Dim WeightSum As Single
Dim CurBar As Integer
Dim i, j, k, FirstSymbol As Integer
Dim tstr2 As String * 2
Dim tstr1 As String * 1
Dim ContentString As String ' bars sequence

Dim SymbolValue(0 To 106) As Integer ' values
Dim SymbolString(0 To 106) As String * 11 'bits sequence
Dim SymbolCharB(0 To 106) As String * 1  'Chars in B set
Dim SymbolCharC(0 To 106) As String * 2  'Chars in B set

For i = 0 To 106 ' values
    SymbolValue(i) = i
Next i

' Symbols in charset B
For i = 0 To 94
    SymbolCharB(i) = Chr(i + 32)
Next i

' Symbols in charset C
SymbolCharC(0) = "00"
SymbolCharC(1) = "01"
SymbolCharC(2) = "02"
SymbolCharC(3) = "03"
SymbolCharC(4) = "04"
SymbolCharC(5) = "05"
SymbolCharC(6) = "06"
SymbolCharC(7) = "07"
SymbolCharC(8) = "08"
SymbolCharC(9) = "09"
For i = 10 To 99
    SymbolCharC(i) = CStr(i)
Next i

' bit sequences
SymbolString(0) = "11011001100"
SymbolString(1) = "11001101100"
SymbolString(2) = "11001100110"
SymbolString(3) = "10010011000"
SymbolString(4) = "10010001100"
SymbolString(5) = "10001001100"
SymbolString(6) = "10011001000"
SymbolString(7) = "10011000100"
SymbolString(8) = "10001100100"
SymbolString(9) = "11001001000"
SymbolString(10) = "11001000100"
SymbolString(11) = "11000100100"
SymbolString(12) = "10110011100"
SymbolString(13) = "10011011100"
SymbolString(14) = "10011001110"
SymbolString(15) = "10111001100"
SymbolString(16) = "10011101100"
SymbolString(17) = "10011100110"
SymbolString(18) = "11001110010"
SymbolString(19) = "11001011100"
SymbolString(20) = "11001001110"
SymbolString(21) = "11011100100"
SymbolString(22) = "11001110100"
SymbolString(23) = "11101101110"
SymbolString(24) = "11101001100"
SymbolString(25) = "11100101100"
SymbolString(26) = "11100100110"
SymbolString(27) = "11101100100"
SymbolString(28) = "11100110100"
SymbolString(29) = "11100110010"
SymbolString(30) = "11011011000"
SymbolString(31) = "11011000110"
SymbolString(32) = "11000110110"
SymbolString(33) = "10100011000"
SymbolString(34) = "10001011000"
SymbolString(35) = "10001000110"
SymbolString(36) = "10110001000"
SymbolString(37) = "10001101000"
SymbolString(38) = "10001100010"
SymbolString(39) = "11010001000"
SymbolString(40) = "11000101000"
SymbolString(41) = "11000100010"
SymbolString(42) = "10110111000"
SymbolString(43) = "10110001110"
SymbolString(44) = "10001101110"
SymbolString(45) = "10111011000"
SymbolString(46) = "10111000110"
SymbolString(47) = "10001110110"
SymbolString(48) = "11101110110"
SymbolString(49) = "11010001110"
SymbolString(50) = "11000101110"
SymbolString(51) = "11011101000"
SymbolString(52) = "11011100010"
SymbolString(53) = "11011101110"
SymbolString(54) = "11101011000"
SymbolString(55) = "11101000110"
SymbolString(56) = "11100010110"
SymbolString(57) = "11101101000"
SymbolString(58) = "11101100010"
SymbolString(59) = "11100011010"
SymbolString(60) = "11101111010"
SymbolString(61) = "11001000010"
SymbolString(62) = "11110001010"
SymbolString(63) = "10100110000"
SymbolString(64) = "10100001100"
SymbolString(65) = "10010110000"
SymbolString(66) = "10010000110"
SymbolString(67) = "10000101100"
SymbolString(68) = "10000100110"
SymbolString(69) = "10110010000"
SymbolString(70) = "10110000100"
SymbolString(71) = "10011010000"
SymbolString(72) = "10011000010"
SymbolString(73) = "10000110100"
SymbolString(74) = "10000110010"
SymbolString(75) = "11000010010"
SymbolString(76) = "11001010000"
SymbolString(77) = "11110111010"
SymbolString(78) = "11000010100"
SymbolString(79) = "10001111010"
SymbolString(80) = "10100111100"
SymbolString(81) = "10010111100"
SymbolString(82) = "10010011110"
SymbolString(83) = "10111100100"
SymbolString(84) = "10011110100"
SymbolString(85) = "10011110010"
SymbolString(86) = "11110100100"
SymbolString(87) = "11110010100"
SymbolString(88) = "11110010010"
SymbolString(89) = "11011011110"
SymbolString(90) = "11011110110"
SymbolString(91) = "11110110110"
SymbolString(92) = "10101111000"
SymbolString(93) = "10100011110"
SymbolString(94) = "10001011110"
SymbolString(95) = "10111101000"
SymbolString(96) = "10111100010"
SymbolString(97) = "11110101000"
SymbolString(98) = "11110100010"
SymbolString(99) = "10111011110"
SymbolString(100) = "10111101110"
SymbolString(101) = "11101011110"
SymbolString(102) = "11110101110"
SymbolString(103) = "11010000100"
SymbolString(104) = "11010010000"
SymbolString(105) = "11010011100"
SymbolString(106) = "11000111010"

X = X / 0.376042 'mm to pt
Y = Y / 0.341 'mm to pt
Height = Height / 0.341 'mm to pt

If IsNumeric(Content) = True Then  ' value is numeric
   i = 1 'symbol and weight index
   If Len(Content) Mod 2 = 1 Then 'odd
       WeightSum = SymbolValue(104) ' start-b
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(104)
      tstr1 = Mid(Content, 1, 1)
      k = 0
      Do While tstr1 <> SymbolCharB(k)
         k = k + 1
      Loop
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
      i = i + 1
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(99) 'Code-C
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(99) 'Code-C
      Content = Right(Content, Len(Content) - 1) 'cut 1st symbol
   Else 'even
      WeightSum = SymbolValue(105) ' start-c
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(105)
      i = 0
   End If
   
   For j = 1 To Len(Content) Step 2
      tstr2 = Mid(Content, j, 2)
      i = i + 1
      k = 0
      Do While tstr2 <> SymbolCharC(k)
         k = k + 1
      Loop
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
   Next j
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(SymbolValue(WeightSum Mod 103))
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(106)

   
   Else ' alpha-numeric
   WeightSum = SymbolValue(104) ' start-b
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(104)
   i = 0 ' symbol count
   For j = 1 To Len(Content) Step 1
      tstr1 = Mid(Content, j, 1)
      i = i + 1
      k = 0
      Do While tstr1 <> SymbolCharB(k)
         k = k + 1
      Loop
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
   Next j
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(SymbolValue(WeightSum Mod 103))
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(106)

End If

ContentString = ContentString + Tbar_Symbol

'Barcode drawing
CurBar = 0

For i = 1 To Len(ContentString)
    Select Case Mid(ContentString, i, 1)
    Case 0
        CurBar = CurBar + 1
    Case 1
        CurBar = CurBar + 1
' (CurBar * LineWeight) * [B]0.9[/B] -  here is 10% overlapping :-)
        With TargetSheet.Shapes.AddLine(X + (CurBar * LineWeight) * 0.9, Y, X + (CurBar * LineWeight) * 0.9, (Y + Height)).Line
        .Weight = LineWeight
        .ForeColor.RGB = vbBlack ' my Excel writes light-blue lines by default, so the color is forcibly switched
        End With
    End Select
Next i

End Sub
</code>

Barcode reading has been tested by an Android phone (Accusoft Barcode Scanner program) as well as by a PROTON IMS-3100 and a cheap Chineese (PAN.CODE A500) hardware scanners.

Hope it would be of any help to anybody. :smile:
Would be helpful for me if you comment this thread when using it in your apps.

Regards,
Yakovleff
 
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Hi, I signed up to this website just to post correction about
VBA Code: 
CharIndex = CharIndex + 1
to realize that you have already corrected it. I found your old code on stack Exchange.

I converted a code slightly so that it draws rectangles instead of lines. Group of rectangles can be resized and it won't change the info. It then converts it to vector image which is much lighter for excel to operate.

Thanks a lot @yakovleff
 
Upvote 0
Hello. Thanks for your feedback. So the code seems to live its own life as i never posted it to stack exchange.
smartyPants said:
It then converts it to vector image which is much lighter for excel to operate.

Thanks a lot @yakovleff
Click to expand...
Yes, i was quite neglectful to share the code with errors. Sorry again.
Would you share your variation to have better view on how else shapes can be handled for this purpose?
 
Upvote 0
@yakovleff
It was project on upwork, I wrote this before applying for that project. I was pretty successful but I was too late to apply for this job. :confused: I'm still looking for freelance work in excel VBA.
Anyway, Here's a first snippet of your brilliant code which I modified. I used it to return barcode info like "1010101". There's no drawing from this function. Not much else has changed here.

VBA Code: 
Public Function ContentStringGenerator(content As String) As String
    ' Supports B and C charsets only; values 00-94, 99,101, 103-105 for B, 00-101, 103-105 for C
    
    Dim WeightSum As Single
    Const XmmTopt As Single = 0.351
    Const YmmTopt As Single = 0.351
    Const XCompRatio As Single = 0.9


    Const Tbar_Symbol As String * 2 = "11"
    Dim CurBar As Integer
    Dim i, j, k, CharIndex, SymbolIndex As Integer
    Dim tstr2 As String * 2
    Dim tstr1 As String * 1
    Dim ContentString As String ' bars sequence
    Const Asw As String * 1 = "A" ' alpha switch
    Const Dsw As String * 1 = "D" 'digital switch
    Const Arrdim As Byte = 30


    Dim Sw, PrevSw As String * 1  ' switch
    Dim BlockIndex, BlockCount, DBlockMod2, DBlockLen As Byte


    Dim BlockLen(Arrdim) As Byte
    Dim BlockSw(Arrdim) As String * 1


    Dim SymbolValue(0 To 106) As Integer ' values
    Dim SymbolString(0 To 106) As String * 11 'bits sequence
    Dim SymbolCharB(0 To 106) As String * 1  'Chars in B set
    Dim SymbolCharC(0 To 106) As String * 2  'Chars in B set


    For i = 0 To 106 ' values
        SymbolValue(i) = i
    Next i


    ' Symbols in charset B
    For i = 0 To 94
        SymbolCharB(i) = Chr(i + 32)
    Next i


    ' Symbols in charset C
    SymbolCharC(0) = "00"
    SymbolCharC(1) = "01"
    SymbolCharC(2) = "02"
    SymbolCharC(3) = "03"
    SymbolCharC(4) = "04"
    SymbolCharC(5) = "05"
    SymbolCharC(6) = "06"
    SymbolCharC(7) = "07"
    SymbolCharC(8) = "08"
    SymbolCharC(9) = "09"
    For i = 10 To 99
        SymbolCharC(i) = CStr(i)
    Next i


    ' bit sequences
    SymbolString(0) = "11011001100"
    SymbolString(1) = "11001101100"
    SymbolString(2) = "11001100110"
    SymbolString(3) = "10010011000"
    SymbolString(4) = "10010001100"
    SymbolString(5) = "10001001100"
    SymbolString(6) = "10011001000"
    SymbolString(7) = "10011000100"
    SymbolString(8) = "10001100100"
    SymbolString(9) = "11001001000"
    SymbolString(10) = "11001000100"
    SymbolString(11) = "11000100100"
    SymbolString(12) = "10110011100"
    SymbolString(13) = "10011011100"
    SymbolString(14) = "10011001110"
    SymbolString(15) = "10111001100"
    SymbolString(16) = "10011101100"
    SymbolString(17) = "10011100110"
    SymbolString(18) = "11001110010"
    SymbolString(19) = "11001011100"
    SymbolString(20) = "11001001110"
    SymbolString(21) = "11011100100"
    SymbolString(22) = "11001110100"
    SymbolString(23) = "11101101110"
    SymbolString(24) = "11101001100"
    SymbolString(25) = "11100101100"
    SymbolString(26) = "11100100110"
    SymbolString(27) = "11101100100"
    SymbolString(28) = "11100110100"
    SymbolString(29) = "11100110010"
    SymbolString(30) = "11011011000"
    SymbolString(31) = "11011000110"
    SymbolString(32) = "11000110110"
    SymbolString(33) = "10100011000"
    SymbolString(34) = "10001011000"
    SymbolString(35) = "10001000110"
    SymbolString(36) = "10110001000"
    SymbolString(37) = "10001101000"
    SymbolString(38) = "10001100010"
    SymbolString(39) = "11010001000"
    SymbolString(40) = "11000101000"
    SymbolString(41) = "11000100010"
    SymbolString(42) = "10110111000"
    SymbolString(43) = "10110001110"
    SymbolString(44) = "10001101110"
    SymbolString(45) = "10111011000"
    SymbolString(46) = "10111000110"
    SymbolString(47) = "10001110110"
    SymbolString(48) = "11101110110"
    SymbolString(49) = "11010001110"
    SymbolString(50) = "11000101110"
    SymbolString(51) = "11011101000"
    SymbolString(52) = "11011100010"
    SymbolString(53) = "11011101110"
    SymbolString(54) = "11101011000"
    SymbolString(55) = "11101000110"
    SymbolString(56) = "11100010110"
    SymbolString(57) = "11101101000"
    SymbolString(58) = "11101100010"
    SymbolString(59) = "11100011010"
    SymbolString(60) = "11101111010"
    SymbolString(61) = "11001000010"
    SymbolString(62) = "11110001010"
    SymbolString(63) = "10100110000"
    SymbolString(64) = "10100001100"
    SymbolString(65) = "10010110000"
    SymbolString(66) = "10010000110"
    SymbolString(67) = "10000101100"
    SymbolString(68) = "10000100110"
    SymbolString(69) = "10110010000"
    SymbolString(70) = "10110000100"
    SymbolString(71) = "10011010000"
    SymbolString(72) = "10011000010"
    SymbolString(73) = "10000110100"
    SymbolString(74) = "10000110010"
    SymbolString(75) = "11000010010"
    SymbolString(76) = "11001010000"
    SymbolString(77) = "11110111010"
    SymbolString(78) = "11000010100"
    SymbolString(79) = "10001111010"
    SymbolString(80) = "10100111100"
    SymbolString(81) = "10010111100"
    SymbolString(82) = "10010011110"
    SymbolString(83) = "10111100100"
    SymbolString(84) = "10011110100"
    SymbolString(85) = "10011110010"
    SymbolString(86) = "11110100100"
    SymbolString(87) = "11110010100"
    SymbolString(88) = "11110010010"
    SymbolString(89) = "11011011110"
    SymbolString(90) = "11011110110"
    SymbolString(91) = "11110110110"
    SymbolString(92) = "10101111000"
    SymbolString(93) = "10100011110"
    SymbolString(94) = "10001011110"
    SymbolString(95) = "10111101000"
    SymbolString(96) = "10111100010"
    SymbolString(97) = "11110101000"
    SymbolString(98) = "11110100010"
    SymbolString(99) = "10111011110"
    SymbolString(100) = "10111101110"
    SymbolString(101) = "11101011110"
    SymbolString(102) = "11110101110"
    SymbolString(103) = "11010000100"
    SymbolString(104) = "11010010000"
    SymbolString(105) = "11010011100"
    SymbolString(106) = "11000111010"


    X = X / XmmTopt 'mm to pt
    Y = Y / YmmTopt 'mm to pt
    Height = Height / YmmTopt 'mm to pt


    If IsNumeric(content) = True And Len(content) Mod 2 = 0 Then 'numeric, mode C
       WeightSum = SymbolValue(105) ' start-c
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(105)
       i = 0 ' symbol count
       For j = 1 To Len(content) Step 2
          tstr2 = Mid(content, j, 2)
          i = i + 1
          k = 0
          Do While tstr2 <> SymbolCharC(k)
             k = k + 1
          Loop
          WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
          ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
       Next j
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(SymbolValue(WeightSum Mod 103))
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(106)
       ContentString = ContentString + Tbar_Symbol

    Else ' alpha-numeric

       ' first digit
       Select Case IsNumeric(Mid(content, 1, 1))
       Case Is = True 'digit
          Sw = Dsw
       Case Is = False 'alpha
          Sw = Asw
       End Select
       BlockCount = 1
       BlockSw(BlockCount) = Sw
       BlockIndex = 1
       BlockLen(BlockCount) = 1 'block length



       i = 2 ' symbol index

       Do While i <= Len(content)
          Select Case IsNumeric(Mid(content, i, 1))
          Case Is = True 'digit
             Sw = Dsw
          Case Is = False 'alpha
             Sw = Asw
          End Select

          If Sw = BlockSw(BlockCount) Then
             BlockLen(BlockCount) = BlockLen(BlockCount) + 1
          Else
             BlockCount = BlockCount + 1
             BlockSw(BlockCount) = Sw
             BlockLen(BlockCount) = 1
             BlockIndex = BlockIndex + 1


          End If

          i = i + 1
       Loop



       'encoding
       CharIndex = 1 'index of Content character
       SymbolIndex = 0

       For BlockIndex = 1 To BlockCount ' encoding by blocks


          If BlockSw(BlockIndex) = Dsw And BlockLen(BlockIndex) >= 4 Then ' switch to C
             Select Case BlockIndex
             Case Is = 1
                WeightSum = SymbolValue(105) ' Start-C
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(105)
             Case Else
                SymbolIndex = SymbolIndex + 1
                WeightSum = WeightSum + SymbolIndex * SymbolValue(99) 'switch c
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(99)
             End Select
             PrevSw = Dsw

             ' encoding even amount of chars in a D block
             DBlockMod2 = BlockLen(BlockIndex) Mod 2
             If DBlockMod2 <> 0 Then 'even chars always to encode
                DBlockLen = BlockLen(BlockIndex) - DBlockMod2
             Else
                DBlockLen = BlockLen(BlockIndex)
             End If

             For j = 1 To DBlockLen / 2 Step 1
                tstr2 = Mid(content, CharIndex, 2)
                CharIndex = CharIndex + 2
                SymbolIndex = SymbolIndex + 1
                k = 0
                Do While tstr2 <> SymbolCharC(k)
                   k = k + 1
                Loop
                WeightSum = WeightSum + SymbolIndex * SymbolValue(k)
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
             Next j

             If DBlockMod2 <> 0 Then ' switch to B, encode 1 char
                PrevSw = Asw
                SymbolIndex = SymbolIndex + 1
                WeightSum = WeightSum + SymbolIndex * SymbolValue(100) 'switch b
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(100)

                'CharIndex = CharIndex + 1
                SymbolIndex = SymbolIndex + 1
                tstr1 = Mid(content, CharIndex, 1)
                k = 0
                Do While tstr1 <> SymbolCharB(k)
                   k = k + 1
                Loop
                WeightSum = WeightSum + SymbolIndex * SymbolValue(k)
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
                CharIndex = CharIndex + 1
             End If


          Else 'alpha in B mode
             Select Case BlockIndex
             Case Is = 1
             '   PrevSw = Asw
                WeightSum = SymbolValue(104) ' start-b
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(104)
             Case Else
                If PrevSw <> Asw Then
                   SymbolIndex = SymbolIndex + 1
                   WeightSum = WeightSum + SymbolIndex * SymbolValue(100) 'switch b
                   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(100)

                End If
             End Select
             PrevSw = Asw

             For j = CharIndex To CharIndex + BlockLen(BlockIndex) - 1 Step 1
                tstr1 = Mid(content, j, 1)
                SymbolIndex = SymbolIndex + 1
                k = 0
                Do While tstr1 <> SymbolCharB(k)
                   k = k + 1
                Loop
                WeightSum = WeightSum + SymbolIndex * SymbolValue(k)
                ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
             Next j
             CharIndex = j


          End If
       Next BlockIndex
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(SymbolValue(WeightSum Mod 103))
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(106)
       ContentString = ContentString + Tbar_Symbol

    End If
    
    ContentStringGenerator = ContentString
End Function

Below code is used for drawing. It draws the shapes of barcode then renders it to vector image and deletes the old shapes. Being an image it can be moved and resized. It's lighter for excel to handle too. It will not work on older versions of office. About the image, it's a vector image hence doesn't get pixelated and needs extremely little space compared to jpg.

Also I added 'quite zone' according to code128 protocols (as stated on wiki). Although I suppose it's not necessary and most don't follow it.

VBA Code: 
Option Explicit

'you call this, it's the main worker here. content is the barcode data. r is cell address where you want your bar code to appear
Sub mainBarCoder(content As String, ByVal r As Range, Optional ByVal barHeight As Integer = 20, _
                            Optional fontSize As Integer = 7, _
                            Optional sideMargin As Integer = 10)
    Dim data As String
    data = ContentStringGenerator(content)
    
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim k As Integer
    Dim shapeArr() As String 'to store all the names of the new shapes
    Dim sh As Worksheet
    Set sh = r.Worksheet
    
    k = Len(data)
    
    ReDim shapeArr(0 To k + 1)
    
    'creating the white background
    shapeArr(0) = sh.Shapes.AddShape(msoShapeRectangle, _
        r.Left, r.Top, k + (2 * sideMargin), barHeight + fontSize + 3).Name
    
    With sh.Shapes.Range(shapeArr(0))
        .Fill.Visible = msoCTrue
        .Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(255, 255, 255)
        .Line.Visible = msoFalse
    End With
    
    'actual barcode maker
    Dim l As Integer
    Dim startPos As Integer
    For i = 1 To k
        startPos = i
        l = 1
        Do While i <> k And Mid(data, i, 1) = Mid(data, i + 1, 1) 'checking for continus block
            l = l + 1
            i = i + 1
        Loop
        
        If CInt(Mid(data, i, 1)) Then
            shapeArr(i) = barDrawer(r, startPos, CInt(Mid(data, i, 1)), l, barHeight, sideMargin)
        End If
    Next i
    Dim grp As Variant
    
    shapeArr(UBound(shapeArr)) = textBoxDrawer(content, r, barHeight, k, fontSize)
    
    'grouping all shapes into one unit
    Set grp = ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(shapeArr).Group
    
    'This renders barcode shapes into a vector image
    grp.Copy
    r.Select
    sh.PasteSpecial Format:="Picture (Enhanced Metafile)", Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False
    grp.Delete
    
End Sub

'This draws the barcode shapes
Private Function barDrawer(r As Range, X As Integer, ch As Integer, blockLength As Integer, _
                            barHeight As Integer, sideMargin As Integer) As String
    Dim sh As Shape
    Set sh = ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddShape(msoShapeRectangle, r.Left + sideMargin + X, r.Top + 3, blockLength, barHeight)
    sh.Fill.Visible = msoCTrue
    sh.Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(0, 0, 0)
    sh.Line.Visible = msoFalse
    sh.Placement = xlMove
    barDrawer = sh.Name
End Function

'this draws text box under the barcode
Private Function textBoxDrawer(content As String, _
                                r As Range, _
                                highFromTop As Integer, _
                                length As Integer, _
                Optional ByVal fontSize As Integer = 7) As String
                
    Dim textBox As Shape
    Set textBox = r.Worksheet.Shapes.AddShape(msoShapeRectangle, _
        r.Left + 10, r.Top + highFromTop + 3, length, fontSize + 2)
        
    With textBox
        With .TextFrame2
            .TextRange.Font.Size = fontSize
            .VerticalAnchor = msoAnchorMiddle
            .HorizontalAnchor = msoAnchorCenter
            .MarginBottom = 0
            .AutoSize = msoAutoSizeShapeToFitText
            .MarginTop = 0
            
            With .TextRange
                
                With .Font
                    .NameComplexScript = "Arial"
                    .NameFarEast = "Arial"
                    .Name = "Arial"
                    .BaselineOffset = 0
                    .Spacing = 4
                
                    With .Fill
                        .Visible = msoTrue
                        .ForeColor.RGB = RGB(0, 0, 0)
                        .ForeColor.TintAndShade = 0
                        .ForeColor.Brightness = 0
                        .Transparency = 0
                        .Solid
                    End With
                End With
                .Characters.Text = content

            End With
        End With
        
        .Fill.Visible = msoFalse
        .Line.Visible = msoFalse
    End With
    textBoxDrawer = textBox.Name
End Function

Finally you can call mainBarCoder sub to do your work like this.

VBA Code: 
Sub test()
     Call mainBarCoder("Hello World!", Range("B4"), 30, 10)
End Sub


Everything was written from experimental perspective. I haven't tested it for any commercial application. So there's the disclaimer.
If you go through the code then kindly critique.


11.jpg
 
Upvote 0
smartyPants said:
It was project on upwork, I wrote this before applying for that project.
...
Everything was written from experimental perspective. I haven't tested it for any commercial application. So there's the disclaimer.
If you go through the code then kindly critique.
Click to expand...
Hello,
Thanks for sharing. I expect it can be useful for someone.
I consider your code as quite brilliant one as I myself am not so versed in VBA object model as it's not for my living. So I am a kind of amateur.
Wish you good luck!
 
Upvote 0
yakovleff said:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing. I expect it can be useful for someone.
I consider your code as quite brilliant one as I myself am not so versed in VBA object model as it's not for my living. So I am a kind of amateur.
Wish you good luck!
Click to expand...
You're being modest. I couldn't have started on this project without your code.
 
Upvote 0
yakovleff said:
Hello All,

Since the Code93 barcode generator has been developed I've been thinking of Code128. And finally I've developed it! As before want to share it with other Mr.Excel users and Google searchers. :)
It was much easier and faster than Code93 as Code128 is simpler to encode and yet more powerful particularly for strings of digits.

Main features:
- Main symbology has been picked from CODE128 SYMBOLOGY;
- The sub uses Shapes collection to draw lines of a barcode instead of special fonts;
- Sub draws a barcode onto a target Worksheet from beginning position which is defined by horizontal offset (X), vertical offset (Y) measured in mm of required height in mm; bar width is defined in pt;
- Code uses "B" and "C" charsets only;
- A "tweak" for numeric strings has been implemented: If a numeric string to be encoded is of odd length the first symbol is encoded as "B"; the rest of symbols are encoded as "C". This tweak significantly reduces barcode length for a numeric string.
- 10% bars overlapping is used for drawing as this value showed the best result at scanning tests.

Weaknesses/incompletenesses:
- Code does not generate any special "instruction" symbols: symbols 95-98, 100, 102 in charset "B" and 102 in charset "C".
- Code does not check the length of the encoded string;
- A complete barcode width is not pre-calulated and drawing begins from left which can cause unexpected overhangs;
- Sub does not support a barcode inclination; just vertical orientation
- A barcode position is only correct when 100% print size is set.
- Obviously version-depended code (different versions/OSs/printers can vary the result, NOT tested).

Win 7 Ultimate, MS Office 2007 were used to develop and tests.
So, the main code is:
Code: 
<code>
Sub Code128Generate(ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single, ByVal Height As Single, ByVal LineWeight As Single, _
                  ByRef TargetSheet As Worksheet, ByVal Content As String)
' Supports B and C charsets only; values 00-94, 99,101, 103-105 for B, 00-101, 103-105 for C
' X, Y - top-left corner coordinates
' X in mm (0.376042)
' Y in mm (0.341)
' Height in mm
' LineWeight in pt

Const Tbar_Symbol As String * 2 = "11" ' termination bar
Dim WeightSum As Single
Dim CurBar As Integer
Dim i, j, k, FirstSymbol As Integer
Dim tstr2 As String * 2
Dim tstr1 As String * 1
Dim ContentString As String ' bars sequence

Dim SymbolValue(0 To 106) As Integer ' values
Dim SymbolString(0 To 106) As String * 11 'bits sequence
Dim SymbolCharB(0 To 106) As String * 1  'Chars in B set
Dim SymbolCharC(0 To 106) As String * 2  'Chars in B set

For i = 0 To 106 ' values
    SymbolValue(i) = i
Next i

' Symbols in charset B
For i = 0 To 94
    SymbolCharB(i) = Chr(i + 32)
Next i

' Symbols in charset C
SymbolCharC(0) = "00"
SymbolCharC(1) = "01"
SymbolCharC(2) = "02"
SymbolCharC(3) = "03"
SymbolCharC(4) = "04"
SymbolCharC(5) = "05"
SymbolCharC(6) = "06"
SymbolCharC(7) = "07"
SymbolCharC(8) = "08"
SymbolCharC(9) = "09"
For i = 10 To 99
    SymbolCharC(i) = CStr(i)
Next i

' bit sequences
SymbolString(0) = "11011001100"
SymbolString(1) = "11001101100"
SymbolString(2) = "11001100110"
SymbolString(3) = "10010011000"
SymbolString(4) = "10010001100"
SymbolString(5) = "10001001100"
SymbolString(6) = "10011001000"
SymbolString(7) = "10011000100"
SymbolString(8) = "10001100100"
SymbolString(9) = "11001001000"
SymbolString(10) = "11001000100"
SymbolString(11) = "11000100100"
SymbolString(12) = "10110011100"
SymbolString(13) = "10011011100"
SymbolString(14) = "10011001110"
SymbolString(15) = "10111001100"
SymbolString(16) = "10011101100"
SymbolString(17) = "10011100110"
SymbolString(18) = "11001110010"
SymbolString(19) = "11001011100"
SymbolString(20) = "11001001110"
SymbolString(21) = "11011100100"
SymbolString(22) = "11001110100"
SymbolString(23) = "11101101110"
SymbolString(24) = "11101001100"
SymbolString(25) = "11100101100"
SymbolString(26) = "11100100110"
SymbolString(27) = "11101100100"
SymbolString(28) = "11100110100"
SymbolString(29) = "11100110010"
SymbolString(30) = "11011011000"
SymbolString(31) = "11011000110"
SymbolString(32) = "11000110110"
SymbolString(33) = "10100011000"
SymbolString(34) = "10001011000"
SymbolString(35) = "10001000110"
SymbolString(36) = "10110001000"
SymbolString(37) = "10001101000"
SymbolString(38) = "10001100010"
SymbolString(39) = "11010001000"
SymbolString(40) = "11000101000"
SymbolString(41) = "11000100010"
SymbolString(42) = "10110111000"
SymbolString(43) = "10110001110"
SymbolString(44) = "10001101110"
SymbolString(45) = "10111011000"
SymbolString(46) = "10111000110"
SymbolString(47) = "10001110110"
SymbolString(48) = "11101110110"
SymbolString(49) = "11010001110"
SymbolString(50) = "11000101110"
SymbolString(51) = "11011101000"
SymbolString(52) = "11011100010"
SymbolString(53) = "11011101110"
SymbolString(54) = "11101011000"
SymbolString(55) = "11101000110"
SymbolString(56) = "11100010110"
SymbolString(57) = "11101101000"
SymbolString(58) = "11101100010"
SymbolString(59) = "11100011010"
SymbolString(60) = "11101111010"
SymbolString(61) = "11001000010"
SymbolString(62) = "11110001010"
SymbolString(63) = "10100110000"
SymbolString(64) = "10100001100"
SymbolString(65) = "10010110000"
SymbolString(66) = "10010000110"
SymbolString(67) = "10000101100"
SymbolString(68) = "10000100110"
SymbolString(69) = "10110010000"
SymbolString(70) = "10110000100"
SymbolString(71) = "10011010000"
SymbolString(72) = "10011000010"
SymbolString(73) = "10000110100"
SymbolString(74) = "10000110010"
SymbolString(75) = "11000010010"
SymbolString(76) = "11001010000"
SymbolString(77) = "11110111010"
SymbolString(78) = "11000010100"
SymbolString(79) = "10001111010"
SymbolString(80) = "10100111100"
SymbolString(81) = "10010111100"
SymbolString(82) = "10010011110"
SymbolString(83) = "10111100100"
SymbolString(84) = "10011110100"
SymbolString(85) = "10011110010"
SymbolString(86) = "11110100100"
SymbolString(87) = "11110010100"
SymbolString(88) = "11110010010"
SymbolString(89) = "11011011110"
SymbolString(90) = "11011110110"
SymbolString(91) = "11110110110"
SymbolString(92) = "10101111000"
SymbolString(93) = "10100011110"
SymbolString(94) = "10001011110"
SymbolString(95) = "10111101000"
SymbolString(96) = "10111100010"
SymbolString(97) = "11110101000"
SymbolString(98) = "11110100010"
SymbolString(99) = "10111011110"
SymbolString(100) = "10111101110"
SymbolString(101) = "11101011110"
SymbolString(102) = "11110101110"
SymbolString(103) = "11010000100"
SymbolString(104) = "11010010000"
SymbolString(105) = "11010011100"
SymbolString(106) = "11000111010"

X = X / 0.376042 'mm to pt
Y = Y / 0.341 'mm to pt
Height = Height / 0.341 'mm to pt

If IsNumeric(Content) = True Then  ' value is numeric
   i = 1 'symbol and weight index
   If Len(Content) Mod 2 = 1 Then 'odd
       WeightSum = SymbolValue(104) ' start-b
       ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(104)
      tstr1 = Mid(Content, 1, 1)
      k = 0
      Do While tstr1 <> SymbolCharB(k)
         k = k + 1
      Loop
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
      i = i + 1
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(99) 'Code-C
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(99) 'Code-C
      Content = Right(Content, Len(Content) - 1) 'cut 1st symbol
   Else 'even
      WeightSum = SymbolValue(105) ' start-c
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(105)
      i = 0
   End If
  
   For j = 1 To Len(Content) Step 2
      tstr2 = Mid(Content, j, 2)
      i = i + 1
      k = 0
      Do While tstr2 <> SymbolCharC(k)
         k = k + 1
      Loop
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
   Next j
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(SymbolValue(WeightSum Mod 103))
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(106)

  
   Else ' alpha-numeric
   WeightSum = SymbolValue(104) ' start-b
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(104)
   i = 0 ' symbol count
   For j = 1 To Len(Content) Step 1
      tstr1 = Mid(Content, j, 1)
      i = i + 1
      k = 0
      Do While tstr1 <> SymbolCharB(k)
         k = k + 1
      Loop
      WeightSum = WeightSum + i * SymbolValue(k)
      ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(k)
   Next j
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(SymbolValue(WeightSum Mod 103))
   ContentString = ContentString + SymbolString(106)

End If

ContentString = ContentString + Tbar_Symbol

'Barcode drawing
CurBar = 0

For i = 1 To Len(ContentString)
    Select Case Mid(ContentString, i, 1)
    Case 0
        CurBar = CurBar + 1
    Case 1
        CurBar = CurBar + 1
' (CurBar * LineWeight) * [B]0.9[/B] -  here is 10% overlapping :-)
        With TargetSheet.Shapes.AddLine(X + (CurBar * LineWeight) * 0.9, Y, X + (CurBar * LineWeight) * 0.9, (Y + Height)).Line
        .Weight = LineWeight
        .ForeColor.RGB = vbBlack ' my Excel writes light-blue lines by default, so the color is forcibly switched
        End With
    End Select
Next i

End Sub
</code>

Barcode reading has been tested by an Android phone (Accusoft Barcode Scanner program) as well as by a PROTON IMS-3100 and a cheap Chineese (PAN.CODE A500) hardware scanners.

Hope it would be of any help to anybody. :)
Would be helpful for me if you comment this thread when using it in your apps.

Regards,
Yakovleff
Click to expand...

Hello, i'm pretty new to VBA and macro in Excel but the code for the barcode generator would help me a lot in my job. I can not figure out how to start the macro, can someone help me? :) you would help a lot. Thanks in advance :)
 
Upvote 0
DavidHajdarovic said:
Hello, i'm pretty new to VBA and macro in Excel but the code for the barcode generator would help me a lot in my job. I can not figure out how to start the macro, can someone help me? :) you would help a lot. Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
Hello, scroll the thread up to find the latest download links. There are some using tips on the beginning. Or just push alt + F11 and run the macro. Use Google for help ?
 
Upvote 0
brilliant, guys, I've been searching for a long period for some useful barcode generator and this is exactly what i needed, thank you all so much!
 
Upvote 0
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