ActiveBarcode
By Frank Horn & Lars Schenk
ActiveBarcode typical implementation process:
Download and Installation: Download the ActiveBarcode setup file from the official website. If provided as a ZIP archive, unzip it first. Run the installer (e.g., ActiveBarcode-Setup6.12.3.exe) and follow the installation prompts, including language selection and license agreement acceptance. Administrator rights are required for installation.
Component Selection: During installation, choose which components to install, such as the main barcode generator, Office add-ins, and ActiveX/COM controls as needed for your workflow.
Office Add-in Activation: After installation, the Office add-ins (for Excel, Word, Access) are automatically available and add a new ribbon/menu in Office applications for easy barcode integration.
Barcode Generation Setup: Open the ActiveBarcode generator or use the Office add-in. Select the barcode type, enter the data to encode, and adjust size, DPI, font, borders, rotation, alignment, and colors as needed.
Integration (Optional): For advanced use, register and integrate the ActiveBarcode ActiveX/COM component in development environments like Visual Basic, .NET, or custom enterprise applications.
Testing and Preview: Use the software’s WYSIWYG preview to ensure barcode accuracy and appearance before printing or embedding in documents.
ActiveBarcode offers extensive customization options to cater to diverse business requirements across various industries.
REST API for Cloud Integration: ActiveBarcode provides a high-performance REST API, enabling seamless integration of barcode generation into cloud applications, web platforms, and mobile apps. The API supports various barcode types and delivers outputs in SVG and PNG formats, allowing for scalable and precise barcode creation.
Developer Tools and ActiveX Control: Developers can utilize ActiveBarcode as an ActiveX control, facilitating the embedding of barcode functionality into custom applications. This allows for programmatic control over barcode properties, ensuring adaptability to specific application needs.
Microsoft Office Integration: ActiveBarcode offers add-ins for Microsoft Excel and Word, enabling users to insert and customize barcodes directly within documents. Features include linking barcodes to cell values, automatic updates based on cell changes, and design customization through a user-friendly ribbon interface.
Customization Features: Users can tailor barcodes by adjusting parameters such as size, color, rotation, and alignment. The software supports both bitmap and vector graphic outputs, ensuring high-quality barcodes suitable for various printing and display requirements.
ActiveBarcode provides a range of training and support resources to assist new users in effectively utilizing their barcode generation tools.
Training Resources:
Online Documentation: Comprehensive guides and manuals are available on their website, covering topics from basic barcode creation to advanced integration techniques.
Step-by-Step Tutorials: Detailed instructions are provided for integrating barcodes into Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint.
Developer Support: For software developers, ActiveBarcode offers extensive documentation, including examples and FAQs, to facilitate integration into custom applications using languages like Visual Basic, C#, and Delphi.
Video Tutorials: A collection of instructional videos is available on their official YouTube channel, demonstrating various features and use cases. YouTube
Support Services:
Email Support: Users can contact ActiveBarcode's support team via email for assistance with technical issues or inquiries.
ActiveBarcode, as a barcode generation and management software, incorporates several security measures to help protect data throughout its lifecycle,
Data Encryption: Barcode data can be encrypted both during transmission and at rest, using robust algorithms such as AES or RSA. This ensures that even if barcode data is intercepted or accessed without authorization, it remains unreadable without the appropriate decryption keys. Encryption is especially important when barcodes encode sensitive or personal information, such as in healthcare or retail loyalty programs.
Access Control and Authentication: Access to barcode creation, editing, and data retrieval functions can be restricted using role-based access control, ensuring that only authorized personnel can modify barcode settings, generate barcodes, or access sensitive data. Authentication mechanisms—such as passwords, PINs, or multi-factor authentication—help prevent unauthorized access to both the software and the data it manages.
Secure Data Transmission: When barcodes are used in networked environments (e.g., transmitting data from scanners to databases), secure transmission protocols like HTTPS and SSL/TLS are recommended to prevent interception or tampering during data exchange.
Data Masking and Anonymization: To further protect privacy, sensitive portions of barcode data can be masked or anonymized, such as displaying only partial account numbers or anonymizing personal identifiers, reducing the risk of exposing confidential information if a barcode is scanned by an unauthorized party.
Audit Trails and Logging: Maintaining audit trails of barcode-related activities—such as who generated or scanned a barcode, when, and for what purpose—supports transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). This helps organizations detect and investigate unauthorized access or data misuse.
Tamper-Evident and Anti-Counterfeit Features: Advanced barcodes can incorporate serialized numbers, holographic overlays, color-shifting inks, invisible inks, or digital watermarks. These features make it difficult to replicate or alter barcodes without detection, supporting product authentication and reducing counterfeiting risks.
Compliance with Data Protection Regulations: Organizations using ActiveBarcode should ensure their barcode systems comply with relevant data protection laws, such as the GDPR or CCPA, by obtaining explicit consent for data collection, minimizing data retention, and providing transparency about how barcode data is used and stored.
ActiveBarcode consistently releases updates to enhance functionality, address bugs, and expand compatibility. These updates encompass various components of the software suite, including the Barcode Generator, Barcode Object (ActiveX control), and Office Add-ins.
Update Frequency and Management:
Regular Releases: Updates are rolled out periodically, with several versions released annually. These updates introduce new features, improve existing functionalities, and resolve known issues.
Change Log Documentation: Each update is documented in a detailed change log available on the official website, outlining modifications, enhancements, and fixes implemented in each version.
ActiveBarcode offers flexible licensing options that allow organizations to scale their usage according to evolving needs.
1. License Tiers for Scaling:
Standard Edition: Designed for individual use, this license permits installation on a single computer.
Enterprise Edition: Suitable for larger setups, it covers up to 1,000 computers at a single site.
Enterprise Gold Edition: Extends coverage to 2,000 computers across all sites within one country and includes server and developer licenses.
Enterprise World Edition: Offers global coverage for organizations operating in multiple countries.
2. Upgrading Licenses: Organizations can upgrade their licenses as their needs grow. Upgrades involve paying the price difference between the current and desired license tiers. Voucher codes for upgrades are available in the customer area or can be requested via email.
3. REST API Subscription: For cloud-based applications, ActiveBarcode offers a REST API with various subscription plans. These plans can be adjusted monthly, allowing organizations to scale usage up or down as needed.
ActiveBarcode offers perpetual licenses for its software products, meaning that once purchased, the license does not expire and does not require renewal. Users can continue using the software indefinitely without additional fees.
Return Policy: ActiveBarcode does not accept returns or offer refunds for license purchases. To ensure the software meets your requirements, a free trial version is available for evaluation before making a purchase.
REST API Subscription: For users utilizing the ActiveBarcode REST API, services are offered through monthly subscriptions. These subscriptions can be terminated, renewed, or modified at any time to accommodate changing needs.
