bar code generation

anyone have any experience

[jamie]

i've just seen a few php barcode generation classes, and the demos appear to work very well.

* does anyone here already generate their own barcodes using php?

* and if so, can normal A4 paper be used to print one out - e.g. a sales confirmation voucher which the customer prints out at home?

thanks

[digitalv]

I don't know if this will help or not, but the way I've seen this done in ASP is by using a component that creates graphics from text. You just use a "barcode font" with the component and your GIF or JPEG output will be whatever you typed in the barcode font. All you need is the barcode font installed on the server.

[jamie]

hi digitalv,

it's not so much the mechanics of creating it (there both freeware and pay-for scripts available).

it's more a question of whether customer joe bloggs with his 6 year old HP 620 Deskjet can print it out effectively enough for it to be scannable :)

thanks for input though, i didn't realise there was a barcode font. sounds like a very easy way to do it!

[digitalv]

The barcodes I've seen are readable even on old printers, but just incase just put the number you've barcoded somewhere on the page too... always leave manual entry options open :)

[Mr Bo Jangles]

I'm utilizing a completely web based solution (Perl) from barcodemill.
It produces an image that then doesn't rely on any fonts on the user's computer. Works very well.

[jamie]

thanks both of you, that's really encouraging - this could open up a really interesting market to us :-)

gonna download a trial version and get testing on various printers!