Barcode in C#

How to Proceed
How to Add the Barcode Generator into a C# Project
How to Save a Barcode Image into a File in C#
How to Create a Report-like Printable Page with a Barcode in C#
Vector-based Barcode Printing in C#
Related Tutorials

Here we will show how to create barcode images in GIF/BMP/JPG formats and how to create a printable report-like page that contains a barcode with StrokeScribe barcode generator in a C# application.

How to Proceed

Download and install the barcode generator;
Create a C# console application;
Add a reference to the StrokeScribeClass into your project;
Paste one of the following code samples into the project.

How to Add the Barcode Generator into a C# Project

1. Execute Project->Add Reference from the Visual Studio menu:

2. Go to the COM tab and select the StrokeScribe Class.

Adding a reference to the barcode generator

The console application, by default, doesn't have a reference to the System.Drawing namespace - you need to add it manually. This reference is required to test the barcode printing example.

Adding a reference to the Drawing namespace

How to Save a Barcode Image into a File in C#

The application creates a barcode with the width:height proportion of 2:1.

The BitmapW property returns the minimum picture width in pixels that fits the barcode.

For best looking barcode images images, always set the image width as a multiple of the value reported by the BitmapW.

1. Paste the following code into your project:

using STROKESCRIBECLSLib;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            StrokeScribeClass ss = new StrokeScribeClass();
            
            ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.CODE128;  // Or enumAlphabet.EAN13 or enumAlphabet.CODE39
            ss.Text = "123ABCDEF";  // Any text to encode in the barcode
            
            int width = ss.BitmapW;  // The minimum barcode width in pixels
            int rc = ss.SavePicture("code128.bmp", enumFormats.BMP, width*2, width); // The barcode W:H ratio of 2:1. Each bar has the width of 2px.
            if (rc != 0)
                System.Console.Write(ss.ErrorDescription);
        }
    }
}

2. Build and run your application.

3. Look for the code128.bmp in the project folder. The barcode will look as shown on the picture:

Making Picture Files of 2D Barcodes

For 2D barcodes (QR COde, Data Matrix, PDF417), use the following code:

ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.QRCODE;
int rc = ss.SavePicture("qrcode.jpg", enumFormats.JPG, ss.BitmapW, ss.BitmapH); //A QR CODE image with 1x1 pixel modules

ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.PDF417;
int rc = ss.SavePicture("pdf417.gif", enumFormats.GIF, ss.BitmapW, ss.BitmapH);

Making Vector-based drawing of Barcodes

For vector based barcode pictures in EMF/WMF formats, you may specify any values for width and height.

WMF format uses TWIPs (1440 per inch):

ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.QRCODE;
int rc = ss.SavePicture("qrcode.wmf", enumFormats.WMF, 1440, 1440); //1x1 inch QR CODE

EMF accepts millimeters:

ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.DATAMATRIX;
int rc = ss.SavePicture("datamatrix.emf", enumFormats.EMF, 10, 10); //10x10mm. DATA MATRIX

How to Create a Report-like Printable Page with a Barcode in C#

This C# application prints a page with a barcode on the system's default printer. Barcodes are created as raster pictures.

This method is useful when printing barcode labels on a thermal transfer printer.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Printing;
using STROKESCRIBECLSLib;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static private void PrintPage(object sender, PrintPageEventArgs ev)
        {
            ev.HasMorePages = false;

            StrokeScribeClass ss = new StrokeScribeClass();
            ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.CODE128;
            ss.Text = "ABCDEF123";

            stdole.StdPicture olepicture;
            olepicture = ss.GetPictureHandle(enumFormats.BMP, ss.BitmapW*3, ss.BitmapW);  //A barcode with width:height ratio of 3:1

            if (ss.Error!=0)
            {
                Console.Write(ss.ErrorDescription);
                return;
            }
        
            Image img;
            img = Image.FromHbitmap((IntPtr)olepicture.Handle);

            ev.Graphics.DrawImage(img, ev.MarginBounds.Left, ev.MarginBounds.Top);
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            PrintDocument pd = new PrintDocument();
            pd.PrintPage += new PrintPageEventHandler(PrintPage);
            pd.Print();
        }
    }
}

Vector-based Barcode Printing in C#

We modified the previous example to print barcodes as vector graphics.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Printing;
using System.IO;
using STROKESCRIBECLSLib;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static private void PrintPage(object sender, PrintPageEventArgs ev)
        {
            ev.HasMorePages = false;

            StrokeScribeClass ss = new StrokeScribeClass();
            ss.Alphabet = enumAlphabet.QRCODE;
            ss.Text = "ABC";

            dynamic arr = ss.GetPictureArray(enumFormats.WMF, 1440, 1440); //1440 twips = 1 inch

            if (ss.Error != 0)
            {
                Console.Write(ss.ErrorDescription);
                return;
            }

            MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(arr);

            Image img;
            img = Image.FromStream(ms);

            ev.Graphics.DrawImage(img, ev.MarginBounds.Left, ev.MarginBounds.Top);
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            PrintDocument pd = new PrintDocument();
            pd.PrintPage += new PrintPageEventHandler(PrintPage);
            pd.Print();
        }
    }
}

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