Problems with Crystal Reports, Regional Settings & Code 128 Font

Question

We use the Crystal Reports Font Encoders now for years. In 2022, we purchased the package again. The Font Encoders are inserted in CR Report Custom Functions. 2 of our customers reported problems with Code 128, where the barcode becomes corrupt. We call this Report custom function (in Basic syntax): formula = IDAutomationFontEncoderCode128("LF"& {@FirmNr} & {xTKP.TDok_Cod} & ToText({xTKP.TFak_Nr},0,"","")) Under W11 Regional Format "English (Germany)" the barcode becomes corrupt: "��LF001ANG�4:�=K�" With Regional Format "Recommended [English (United Kingdom)]" the barcode is correct: "ÌLF001ANGÇ4:Â=4Î" We are here in Luxemburg. Any ideas? Patrick

debrac · Accepted Answer

Hello Patrick,

The issue you are experiencing is not a "corruption" of the barcode but rather a language incompatibility between the workstation using the software and the software itself for the Code 128 Barcode Font Package which uses the Roman character set for the encoded data and requires English as the language being used. If the workstations require languages other than English, then you will need to use our Universal 1D Barcode Font Package which does not use the Roman character set to encode the data, but rather uses a string of uppercase letters for the encoding.

You will require Developer licensing for the Universal 1D Barcode Font Package to obtain the Crystal Reports Font Formulas.

Edit to add: I see that your Code 128 was purchased in 2007 and your new purchase is for QR Code, not Code 128. QR Code already comes with Universal encoding, so that package can be used on different language workstations. Instead of upgrading your Code 128, I do recommend that you change to the Universal 1D package for Code 128 to avoid the language issues.

debrac · Answer

On both the Code 128 pages and the Universal 1D pages, there are notations that for locations outside of the USA and using different language sets, as well as on MAC computers, the character set is different, and it is therefore recommended to use the Universal font set instead of the Code 128 standard encoding.

From the Code 128 page:

If the system regional setting is not set to "English" or the 1252 Latin-1 codepage, Code 128 fonts support the following additional code pages in Windows: 1250 European, 1251 Cyrillic, 1253 Greek, 1254 Turkish, 1255 Hebrew, and 1256 Arabic. Support for other languages is provided in the Universal Font Package or the GS1-128 Font Suite.

PatSim · Answer

BTW. following your two links for Code 128 or Universal 1D, I don't explicitly see a note that one product only supports "Roman character set" and the other not?

debrac · Answer

Yes, you will need to replace the encoder and the fonts as the Universal package has its own encoders and fonts that go with it. Alternatively, you can have the users on the workstations having the problem use English, either UK or US Western, to resolve the issue.

The language issues for Code 128 standard encoding have always been present for the Roman character set, and unfortunately, IDAutomation cannot advise as to why this has become an issue now unless the users have used English UK or US Western, and they have different users using different versions of languages on their workstations. IDAutomation can only advise that using the Universal 1D encoding and fonts will resolve this language incompatibility.

PatSim · Answer

Hi Debrac,

Thanks for your reply.
What will this universal 1d barcode font package replace: both the code 128 font and its font encoder code for Crystal Reports?
We would have to replace that in all the customer reports?

It is nevertheless strange that this problem starts occuring last week. We have a lot of customers that use regional settings like "German (Luxemburg)" or "French (Luxemburg)", and they work currently without any problem. Did a windows update of W11 have an influence of this behavior?

Patrick


debrac Best Answer Hello Patrick, The issue you are experiencing is not a "corruption" of the barcode but rather a language incompatibility between the workstation using the software and the software itself for the Code 128 Barcode Font Package which uses the Roman character set for the encoded data and requires English as the language being used. If the workstations require languages other than English, then you will need to use our Universal 1D Barcode Font Package which does not use the Roman character set to encode the data, but rather uses a string of uppercase letters for the encoding. You will require Developer licensing for the Universal 1D Barcode Font Package to obtain the Crystal Reports Font Formulas. Edit to add: I see that your Code 128 was purchased in 2007 and your new purchase is for QR Code, not Code 128. QR Code already comes with Universal encoding, so that package can be used on different language workstations. Instead of upgrading your Code 128, I do recommend that you change to the Universal 1D package for Code 128 to avoid the language issues. Posted 22 day(s) ago (0) (0) Report Abuse