Chapter 3. Using the DFbarcode application
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Chapter 3. Using the DFbarcode application

Table of Contents

3.1. Creating Barcodes with DFbarcode
3.2. Creating Barcodes from the Command-line

DFbarcode creates barcodes in the same fashion as the DFdiscover plug-in for FrameMaker® (see Barcoding with the DFdiscover Plug-in for FrameMaker®). Rather than positioning the barcode on a CRF, DFbarcode saves the image of the barcode to a file or the system clipboard. The barcode can subsequently be pasted (or imported from the saved file) as a graphic image into a desktop publishing package and positioned by the user on a CRF.

Each barcode image is saved as a separate file. The use of meaningful names for the images is left to the user.

3.1. Creating Barcodes with DFbarcode

Start DFbarcode.
- For Linux users, starting DFbarcode requires a command shell. At a shell prompt, type
```
% /opt/dfdiscover/bin/DFbarcode
```
- On Windows or macOS, click (or double-click) the DFbarcode icon.
DFbarcode starts and displays the main window interface.
Specify the barcode components to be created.

The barcode graphic that is produced depends on the numeric values entered for Study, Plate, and Visit. If the value is blank, that portion of the barcode graphic will not be created. For example, in cases where the visit number is the first data field and hence is not part of the barcode, Visit value can be left blank.

The legal integer values that can be entered are:
- Study. 1 to 255, inclusive
- Plate. 1 to 500, inclusive
- Visit. 0 to 511, inclusive
Modify the label (optional).

The numeric equivalent of each barcode component should always appear below the component. In addition to the number, it is recommended to combine the number with a descriptive label. The default labels are DFdiscover # $(STUDY), Plate # $(PLATE) and Visit # $(VISIT), where $(STUDY), $(PLATE) and $(VISIT) are placeholders for the respective number. The text of any label may be edited in the dialog - it is applied, including number replacement of the placeholder, in the preview and when the barcode is created.

For the barcode labels, the font family, style, and size can be changed by selecting Edit > Fonts.... The same font styling is applied to each of the barcode labels. Changes to font styling also apply to each of the labels.

If a label is left blank (not recommended), then no label appears below that barcode component. If the number is left blank, that component of the barcode is not created.
Click Apply to create a preview of the barcode.

If it is necessary to edit the image, re-specify the component numbers and labels and click Apply again before proceeding to the next step.
Click Save to save the barcode image.

In the file selection dialog, navigate to the desired directory and provide a meaningful name, with the desired extension (BMP, PNG or TIFF), for the file and then click Save.
Click Copy to Clipboard to copy the barcode image to the system clipboard.

Once copied to the clipboard, the barcode image can be pasted in any application that supports images and clipboard operations.

Repeat this procedure as necessary to create barcodes for each CRF that requires barcoding.

	Importing barcodes
The imported barcodes will appear with the correct size so long as you adhere to the following criteria: If importing the saved image into a Word document, the document's top and side margins must be defined as 0.5 inch. If the margins are defined differently, the barcode size will be adjusted to accommodate the margin size and the result will be an incorrect placement and/or sizing of the barcode. If importing the saved image into a FrameMaker® document, the import setting must be specified at 100 dpi.

Importing barcodes

The imported barcodes will appear with the correct size so long as you adhere to the following criteria:

If importing the saved image into a Word document, the document's top and side margins must be defined as 0.5 inch. If the margins are defined differently, the barcode size will be adjusted to accommodate the margin size and the result will be an incorrect placement and/or sizing of the barcode.
If importing the saved image into a FrameMaker® document, the import setting must be specified at 100 dpi.

3.2. Creating Barcodes from the Command-line

DFbarcode can also run from the command-line if the required arguments are supplied; otherwise the tool will start in display mode.

From the command-line, enter

 % DFbarcode study_number plate_number visit_number outfile file_format (TIF|PNG|BMP)

DFbarcode creates a barcode from the provided arguments and saves it in the desired format by creating or overwriting outfile. DFbarcode outputs any error messages to the command-line.

Options.

study_number	Study number between 1-255 (required).
plate_number	Plate number between 1-500 (required).
visit_number	Visit number between 0-511 (optional).
outfile	File name where the barcode image will be saved (required).
file format	Must be one of TIF, PNG or BMP (if provided). If not specified, then output file's extension is used to determine the expected output format. If the output file extension is not supplied, or is not one of TIF, PNG or BMP, the image is created in TIFF format.

Example 3.1. Create a barcode for study 253 plate 50 and save it to plate50barcode.tif as a TIFF image

%  DFbarcode 253 50 plate50barcode.tif

Example 3.2. Create a barcode for study 253 plate 10 visit 1 and save it to plate10barcode as a PNG image

% DFbarcode 253 10 1  plate10barcode PNG

% DFbarcode 253 10 1  plate10barcode.png

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Chapter 2. Barcoding with the DFdiscover Plug-in for FrameMaker®	Home	Chapter 4. Creating Barcodes from Scratch