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How to Create 2D barcodes in InDesign using Fonts

This solution explains how to create a Data Matrix barcode in InDesign using the:
1. IDAutomation Data Matrix Font & Encoder
2. IDAutomation VBA Font Encoder (included with the Data Matrix Fonts)
3. Excel
4. InDesign

A barcode font is a file that displays a barcode in text format.

A font encoder is a formula inside of an add-in, plug-in, or source code that performs a calculation to convert data into a format that the barcode font can understand. After the data passes through the font encoder, it is referred to as encoded data. The IDAutomation VBA Macros is a free font encoder that encodes data for Excel and Access.

THE PROCESS

Because IDAutomation does not have an encoder that works directly in InDesign, use IDAutomation's VBA font encoder to format the data in Excel. Save the file as a CSV and perform a data merge. Select the barcode font. With IDAutomation's tutorial steps, this solution is designed to work with all IDAutomation 2D Font Packages and the Excel Native Generator Font/Font Encoder solution.


Application: Excel, InDesign

12-17-20     4 year(s) ago    

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Ben

Best Answer

This InDesign solution picks up after Step 9 of the Data Matrix VBA in Excel solution.

Other 2D VBA solutions:
QR Code VBA Tutorial
PDF417 VBA Tutorial
Aztec VBA Tutorial

1. After installing the package, importing the VBA, and encoding the data, use the SUBSTITUTE function to convert the carriage return CHAR(13) and line feed characters CHAR(10) to visible characters prior to saving the file as a CSV. We need to replace the characters so that the CSV file is able to maintain all encoded data rows.

=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IDAutomation_DMatrix_FontEncoder(A2),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")
image
NOTE: SUBSTITUTE is used twice to convert the return and the line feed to _r or a character of your choice, preferably a character that is lowercase and will not be displayed in the InDesign report.


2. Save the file as a .csv.
image

3. Open an InDesign project. Select Window - Utilities - Data Merge.
image
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4. Choose Select Data Source.
image

The encoded data appears as:
image

5. On the left panel of InDesign, drag a text field onto the document.
image

6. Drag the merged source field to the text field.
image

7. Check the Preview check box within the InDesign Data Merge box.

8. Select Edit - Find/Change.
image

9. Select the GREP tab. In the Find what box, enter _r_r or the replacement character used from Excel. In the Change to, enter ~b~k for return and line feed.
Select Change All and choose Done.
image

10. Highlight the encoded data and select the IDAutomation2D font.
image

11. If the barcode has white horizontal lines, modify the spacing.
image
Adjust the spacing until it reaches the desired size square without spacing.

12. The 2D barcode is created.
image



QR Code Font Encoder:
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IDAutomation_QRCode_FontEncoder(A2),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")

PDF417 Formula:
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IDAutomation_PDF417(A2),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")

Aztec Formula:
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(EncAztec(A2),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")




Data Matrix Native Excel Font Option
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IDAutomation_NXLS_DataMatrix(A2,3),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")

PDF417 Native Excel Font Option
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IDAutomation_NXLS_PDF417(A2,3),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")


QR Code Native Excel Font Option
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IDAutomation_NXLS_QRCode(A2,3),CHAR(13),"_r"),CHAR(10),"_r")



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