How to Print Barcodes in Crystal Reports with VB.NET

What Are the Methods for Printing Barcodes in Crystal Reports?

Two primary approaches exist for adding barcodes to Crystal Reports: font-based methods and SDK solutions.

Font-based methods require installing special barcode fonts (True Type fonts) in your fonts folder and using formulas or a User Function Library (UFL) to encode data. While this approach works, it often involves complex encoding formulas, limited barcode format support (such as Code 39 or data matrix), and potential font rendering issues across different printers and systems, as discussed in Microsoft's documentation on font rendering.

SDK-based solutions provide a more robust alternative. These libraries generate barcode images programmatically, offering better reliability, extensive format support, and easier implementation. IronBarcode exemplifies this modern approach, allowing developers to generate barcodes as images that integrate seamlessly with Crystal Reports through standard database fields or DataTable objects. This method ensures consistent rendering across all platforms and eliminates font dependency issues when printing a barcode in a Crystal Report using VB.NET.

How Do I Set Up IronBarcode for VB.NET?

Setting up IronBarcode in your VB.NET project requires minimal configuration. First, install the library through NuGet Package Manager by running:

Install-Package BarCode

Alternatively, use the Package Manager UI in Visual Studio to search for and install "IronBarcode". Once installed, import the namespace in your VB.NET code:

Imports IronBarCode

Imports IronBarCode

Ensure your project targets .NET Framework 4.0 or higher, or any version of .NET Core/.NET 5+. IronBarcode works with all Crystal Reports versions that support image fields, making it broadly compatible with existing projects. For detailed setup instructions, refer to the IronBarcode documentation.

Download IronBarcode today to start creating professional barcodes in your Crystal Reports.

How Can I Generate Barcodes and Store them in a Database?

Creating barcodes with IronBarcode and storing them for Crystal Reports involves generating the barcode image and saving it to your database using a new OleDbConnection or SqlConnection. Here's a complete example:

Imports IronBarCode
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Module BarcodeGenerator
    Sub CreateAndStoreBarcode()
        ' Generate a Code128 barcode
        Dim myBarcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("PROD-12345", BarcodeWriterEncoding.Code128)
        ' Add readable text below the barcode
        myBarcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode()
        ' Resize to appropriate dimensions and adjust font size
        myBarcode.ResizeTo(400, 150)
        ' Connect to your database (example uses connection string)
        Using connection As New SqlConnection("YourConnectionString")
            ' SQL command to post barcode data
            Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("INSERT INTO Products (ProductCode, BarcodeImage) VALUES (@Code, @Image)", connection)
            ' Add parameters
            cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Code", "CUSTOMER-12345")
            cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Image", myBarcode.BinaryStream)
            ' Execute the command
            connection.Open()
            cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        End Using
    End Sub
End Module

Imports IronBarCode
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Module BarcodeGenerator
    Sub CreateAndStoreBarcode()
        ' Generate a Code128 barcode
        Dim myBarcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("PROD-12345", BarcodeWriterEncoding.Code128)
        ' Add readable text below the barcode
        myBarcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode()
        ' Resize to appropriate dimensions and adjust font size
        myBarcode.ResizeTo(400, 150)
        ' Connect to your database (example uses connection string)
        Using connection As New SqlConnection("YourConnectionString")
            ' SQL command to post barcode data
            Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("INSERT INTO Products (ProductCode, BarcodeImage) VALUES (@Code, @Image)", connection)
            ' Add parameters
            cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Code", "CUSTOMER-12345")
            cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Image", myBarcode.BinaryStream)
            ' Execute the command
            connection.Open()
            cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        End Using
    End Sub
End Module

Imports IronBarCode
Imports System.Data
Function CreateBarcodeDataTable() As DataTable
    Dim dt As New DataTable()
    dt.Columns.Add("ProductCode", GetType(String))
    dt.Columns.Add("Barcode", GetType(Byte()))
    ' Add table row for each product
    Dim row As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
    row("ProductCode") = "PROD-12345"
    ' Create barcode on-the-fly and convert to binary
    Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("CUSTOMER-12345", BarcodeWriterEncoding.Code128)
    barcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode()
    barcode.ResizeTo(400, 150)
    row("Barcode") = barcode.BinaryStream
    dt.Rows.Add(row)
    Return dt
End Function

Imports IronBarCode
Imports System.Data
Function CreateBarcodeDataTable() As DataTable
    Dim dt As New DataTable()
    dt.Columns.Add("ProductCode", GetType(String))
    dt.Columns.Add("Barcode", GetType(Byte()))
    ' Add table row for each product
    Dim row As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
    row("ProductCode") = "PROD-12345"
    ' Create barcode on-the-fly and convert to binary
    Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("CUSTOMER-12345", BarcodeWriterEncoding.Code128)
    barcode.AddBarcodeValueTextBelowBarcode()
    barcode.ResizeTo(400, 150)
    row("Barcode") = barcode.BinaryStream
    dt.Rows.Add(row)
    Return dt
End Function

How Do I Display Barcodes in Crystal Reports?

Once barcodes are stored in your database, displaying them in Crystal Reports follows standard image field procedures:

1. Open Crystal Reports and create a new report or open an existing one

2. In Field Explorer, right-click "Database Fields" and select "Database Expert"

   

3. Connect to your database and select the table containing barcode images
4. Drag the barcode image field onto your report design surface
5. Resize and position the field as needed

Your report designer should look similar to this:

For dynamic barcode generation during report runtime, modify your DataTable or database query to generate barcodes on-the-fly:

Function GetReportData() As DataTable
    Dim dt As New DataTable()
    dt.Columns.Add("ProductCode", GetType(String))
    dt.Columns.Add("Barcode", GetType(Byte()))
    ' Add table row
    Dim row As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
    row("ProductCode") = "CUSTOMER-12345"
    ' Create barcode on-the-fly and convert to binary
    Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("CUSTOMER-12345", BarcodeWriterEncoding.Code128)
    row("Barcode") = barcode.BinaryStream
    dt.Rows.Add(row)
    Return dt
End Function

Function GetReportData() As DataTable
    Dim dt As New DataTable()
    dt.Columns.Add("ProductCode", GetType(String))
    dt.Columns.Add("Barcode", GetType(Byte()))
    ' Add table row
    Dim row As DataRow = dt.NewRow()
    row("ProductCode") = "CUSTOMER-12345"
    ' Create barcode on-the-fly and convert to binary
    Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("CUSTOMER-12345", BarcodeWriterEncoding.Code128)
    row("Barcode") = barcode.BinaryStream
    dt.Rows.Add(row)
    Return dt
End Function

This approach generates barcodes dynamically when the report loads, eliminating the need to pre-store images in the database. You can also convert reports to PDF using Crystal Reports export features. For more information about Crystal Reports data sources, see SAP's Crystal Reports documentation.

What Are Common Issues and Solutions?

Several issues may arise when implementing barcodes in Crystal Reports using VB.NET:

• Blurry barcodes: Enhance resolution with myBarcode.ResizeTo() with larger dimensions.
• Scanning problems: Ensure adequate white space around barcodes or include asterisk markers for Code 39.
• Database connection issues: Check your new OleDbConnection or new OleDbDataAdapter parameters. Ensure proper dataset binding.
• Data type issues: Always use image or varbinary(max) fields for storing barcode binary data.
• Barcodes not displaying: Verify that the Crystal Reports viewer has proper permissions to access the database, DataTable, or file resources.
• System issues: Ensure all required DLLs are installed, and your project references the correct IronBarcode DLL.
• Font or printer problems: Confirm True Type fonts are installed in the fonts folder and configured for your printers.

For additional troubleshooting support, visit the IronBarcode troubleshooting guide.

Conclusion

Implementing barcodes in Crystal Reports using VB.NET and IronBarcode offers a reliable and straightforward solution for report enhancement. This SDK-based approach eliminates font dependencies while offering extensive customization options. Whether using a database or a DataTable, you can implement professional barcodes, including data matrix, Code 39, and other formats in your Crystal Reports application.

Start implementing barcodes in your project today by downloading IronBarcode's free trial to explore its full capabilities for printing barcodes in Crystal Reports using VB.NET.