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Barcodes in PDF - Different size on different systems

edited June 2016 in Devices
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

Comments

  • edited June 2016
    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.

    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited June 2016
    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):
  • edited June 2016
    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.

    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited June 2016
    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):
  • edited June 2016
    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
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