Barcodes in PDF - Different size on different systems

rbuser

Hello,

We have a software that uses ReportBuilder (currently V15.04 - there was
no time to upgrade to a newer version yet) to create PDF files from a
record that uses a lot of barcodes.

Our problem is that these barcodes are not the same (horizontal) size if
they are generated on different systems. On some systems the barcodes
are smaller on the horizontal axis and that causes problems with some
barcode scanners our customer uses.

On Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 there is no problem, all
barcodes have the same horizontal size. However our customer uses the
same software on a system with Windows Server 2008 and the generated
barcodes are smaller the on other systems.

Question: Can the operating system influence the way the barcodes are
converted to PDF? Are there other resources that may cause this effect
(different user accouts, locale settings or whatever)?

If it helps i can provide the RAF file and some of the resulting PDF
files from that RAF file as examples.

Best regards,
Ralf

nicocizik

Hi Ralf,

In ReportBuilder barcodes are rendered as metafiles, then those
metafiles are exported to file. My guess is that your Win Server OS
does not have a printer installed. This will force RB to use the screen
to render the barcode metafile which can affect sizing.

It is on our todo list to give control over the resolution of the
(virtual) screen printer used when no printer is installed.

Currently you can try installing a printer driver on your server machine
as the default and see if that helps the issue.

rbuser

Hi Nico,

According to our customer there is the "Microsoft XPS Writer" installed on that
system and is set as default printer.

Is such a "pseudo" printer enough for the PDF generation or would it be better
to install a driver for a real printer on that system?

Ciao,
Ralf


Am 23.06.2016 um 17:24 schrieb Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors):

nicocizik

Hi Ralf,

The XPS printer should be sufficient to create accurate barcode output.

How are your customers viewing the PDF? Are they scanning the barcodes
on screen or are they printing from PDF then trying to scan?

Have your customer print to the XPS printer and see if the barcodes are
scan-able from there using the XPS viewer. This way we will know if the
issue is PDF specific or happening across devices.

rbuser

Hi Nico,

The barcode that was created on that system is really too small (it can bee seen
because there is a box just above the barcode. On other systems that box is
exactly the same width as the barcode. On that system the box is about 5mm wider
than the barcode. Ot san be seen with the naked eye on screen and if the PDF was
printed.

Our customer has printed the PDF on another sytem befpre trying to scan it from
paper (not scanned it from screen).

Ciao,
Ralf


Am 24.06.2016 um 17:15 schrieb Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors):

rbuser

Hi Nico,

I have sent some screenshots of the barcodes to your support mail
address. These images show how the barcodes are supposed to look like
(generated on another system) and how they actually look on the system
where our customer has those problems.

Ciao,
Ralf