dLSoft Newsletter - December 1998 Contents dBarcode updates Creating barcodes through batch files Pasting into Word-97 Sample applications Internet sites -------------------------------------- 1. dBarcode updates dBarcode-32, dBarcode-2D, dBarcode-32 Developers Kit and dBarcode-2D Developers Kit have now reached version 5.0. The major changes are in the Developers Kits, which now include DLL calls which enable barcode metafiles to be created directly from within Visual Basic programs - sample applications and source code provided for VB 5 (we will provide additional ones for VB 6 on the support page soon). Also graphic file production is now handled within the DLL - and so is available with any programming system which can make DLL calls. Version 5 maintains full compatibility with version 4 BUT the OCX and OLE server included with version 5 must be used with the version 5 DLL - they will not work with earlier versions. This is because although the previous calls have remained unchanged in name, the entry points in the DLL are different - so source code making calls to the DLL must be relinked with the updated .LIB file provided. As a result all the 32 bit Kit sample files on the support page of our web site have been updated and many will not function with earlier versions. If you require the older files these are still available in the ARCHIVE directory of our ftp site (ftp.dlsoft.com/ftp/). Users who purchased any of the above products after July 1st 1998 should find that their licence files are still functional. (if not please e-mail us with your existing licence code or original order date and we will send you new codes). Users requiring updates to the multiuser versions purchased after July 1st 1998 should e-mail us with the licence code number to receive a replacement product. -------------------------------------- 2. Creating barcodes through batch files A number of users have requested information on creating many barcodes using a batch process rather than having to sit in front of a machine entering codes and saving files. We have therefore placed a simple Visual Basic program and its source code in a self-extracting EXE file (DBCBAT.EXE) on our support page to solve the problem. The progam reads a text file containing details of the barcode images to be created, makes calls to dBarcode-32 Pro, creates the barcode images in named files, and then exits. The program may be run from a command prompt in Windows 95 or NT. -------------------------------------- 3. Pasting into Word-97 Some users of the dBarcode-32 standard edition have been disturbed by the fact that when they paste a barcode image into Word-97 it does not go where they expected, but floats over the page in the middle of the screen. There are two solutions: a) Use Paste Special and uncheck the "Float over text" check box in the Paste Special dialog, or b) Place a text box (with no border) where you wish to insert the barcode, put the cursor in the text box, and then choose Paste. Either will place the barcode where the cursor was positioned. If you have an alternative solution to Microsoft's improved Pasting action, please let us know so we can pass it on. -------------------------------------- 4. Sample applications In addition to the samples provided with our products a number of additional sample applications are available from the Support page on our web site. Recent additions include: DBCBAT - a simple program which may be called from the command line to read a text file containing parameters and to create barcode images, either as WMF, BMP or PCX files. VC32 - a Visual C++ 5 project illustrating calls to the dBarcode-32 DLL VC2D - a Visual C++ 5 project illustrating Bar2Dm calls to the dBarcode-2D DLL VC2D - a Visual C++ 5 project illustrating Bar2Dh calls to the dBarcode-2D DLL VCDEMO - a Visual C++ 1.5 project illustrating calls to the dBarcode-16 DLL VBD32 - a Visual Basic 5 project, illustrating direct calls to the dBarcode-32 DLL VBD2D - a Visual Basic 5 project, illustrating direct calls to the dBarcode-2D DLL Crystal Reports 6 Barcode designer component - illustrating the creation of a barcode image from a database field. VB3DEMO - a Visual Basic 3 project illustrating calls to the dBarcode-16 VBX Other sample appplications are added from time to time, and if you have a suggestion about a sample you would find useful please let us know. -------------------------------------- 5. Internet sites Our internet sites are now: WWW.DLSOFT.COM, mirrored at BARCODE.DLSOFT.COM (which may give faster access) The dLSoft ftp download sites are FTP.DLSOFT.COM/FTP/ and FTP2.DLSOFT.COM/FTP/ The former should give the fastest response!! ------------------------------------ End To be removed from the mailing list at any time just e-mail to IMAILSRV@DLSOFT.COM with the message UNSUBSCRIBE DLNEWS your_email_address as the message body. Previous issues of the newsletter may be obtained from the link on the What's New page on our web site. DL Technology PO Box 9, Buckhurst Hill, Essex IG9 5BE, UK Fax: (44) (0) 181 502 9037 E-mail: DLTech@DLSoft.com Web: www.dlsoft.com