Excel FAQ

I created a document with the barcode object, saved it and then closed it. The next time I open it, I cannot change the barcode object.

This has something to do with the security settings of your Office, Excel, Access or Word installation.
The ActiveX component is blocked by the security settings when opening the file.
You can change this by openning the document from a trusted location:

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button and then click on the Options button.
2. Click Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings, and then click Trusted Location.
3. Add the path of your document file to the trusted locations.

Why can't I change the barcode, move it or resize it?

To be able to edit the barcode object, you must activate the design mode.
Use this button to switch to design mode:

Then you'll be able to change the barcode by clicking the barcode with the right mouse button.

How to place a barcode automatically in a document using a VBA macro?

We have an extensive documentation to show how to use the barcode object with VBA..

How can change the text of the barcode with a VBA macro?

Use the following command to change the text of a barcode:

ActiveDocument.Barcode1.Text = "12345"

We have an extensive documentation to show how to use the barcode object with VBA..

How to place the barcode into a cell.

Excel cannont place a object into a cell. However, you can position the barcode object exactly over a cell, which has the same effect. You can do this manually, using the Add-In or use a macro:

  ' get cell size
  MyHeight = Range(CurrentCell).Height
  MyWidth = Range(CurrentCell).Width
  MyTop = Range(CurrentCell).Top
  MyLeft = Range(CurrentCell).Left
  
  ' extend cell height to 30px, change if you like
  Range(CurrentCell).RowHeight = 30

  ' embed the control at the cell location
  ActiveSheet.OLEObjects.Add(ClassType:="ACTIVEBARCODE.BarcodeCtrl.1", Link:=False _
     , DisplayAsIcon:=False, Width:=MyWidth, Height:=30, Top:=MyTop, Left:=MyLeft).Select

We have an extensive documentation to show how to use the barcode object with VBA..

How to enter control codes, e.g. Return when using Excel with the barcode object?

Using the barcode object, you can capture control codes directly by the corresponding ASCII character.
So, you can create that character directly in Excel. To do this, use the function CHAR() within a cell.
To map a Return (ASCII 13) the cell content might look like this:

="Any kind of Text"&CHAR(13)

Read on to find out more information on using control characters in barcodes.

You must replace the CHAR function with the translation that matches your language if you are not running Excel in English:
English: CHAR
Czech: ZNAK
Danish: TEGN
German: ZEICHEN
Spanish: CARACTER
Finnish: MERKKI
French: CAR
Hungarian: KARAKTER
Italian: CODICE.CARATT
Norwegian: TEGNKODE
Dutch: TEKEN
Polish: ZNAK
Portugese: CARÁCT
Russian: СИМВОЛ
Swedish: TECKENKOD
Turkish: DAMGA

How can I link a cell to the barcode object so that the barcode always encodes the value of that cell?

Open the Excel properties dialog for the barcode. In the properties dialog you can see the object name of the barcode object. Below that are the properties of the object with the property "LinkedCell", which allows linking the barcode with the content of a cell.
Enter the desired cell here (e.g. Z3S17, which corresponds to row 3, column 17).
Now the barcode is linked to the content of this cell: If this cell content changes, the barcode is automatically updated.

Hint: Use the Add-In to achieve this more easily.

How can I get a date in the form 05/19/08 (DD.MM.YYYY) displayed in the barcode instead of the number 39587?

If you enter the date directly into a cell, enter the following formula:

="19.05.08"

If the date is the result of a calculation, use use the following formula into another cell and link the barcode object to that cell:

=TEXT(B9;"TT.MM.JJJJ)"

B9 is the reference cell for the date and you must adapt it accordingly.

I get security messages when opening Word or Excel documents under office 2003. How can this be avoided without lowering the security level?

Unfortunately, there is no such elegant solution for Office 2003 as for later versions with trusted locations. Nevertheless, it is possible to stop the query in general for ActiveX controls in Office 2003, by inserting a key into the Windows Registry. Note, that this solution is not only for ActiveBarcode but for all ActiveX controls.
The registry entry reads:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Common\Security]
"UFIControls"=dword:00000001

We recommend to perform a backup before you change the registry.