GLM Label (Change Barcode Font)

[former_member791119]

I am a novice to SAP and GLM but I have been brought into a project trying to get Code128 barcode font printing onto a label.

Situation is that our organization has merged with a division of another that is using GLM. From what I understand we have copied their SAP system into a test environment (TE01) so we can verify that we can replicate the services provided by the other organization.

I've found this regarding fonts in GLM:

1. Acquire a registered font for your bar code and install it.

2. Write your own conversion program (ABAP function module) that adjusts the values. The interface must correspond to the function module C128_DUMMY_CONVERSION_METHOD.

3. Use the function module C128_DUMMY_CONVERSION_METHOD as the method for the corresponding symbol in the template (expansion mode M) or in the symbol definition.

4. Format the symbol in the template with the corresponding font.

We have 1-3 completed (we are using the other organization's C128 function as we have that copied into TE01. But our consultants created the WWI server from 'scratch' (not based upon other organization's WWI server).

We are testing the printing and, after installing the same fonts the other organization said they purchased, we are not getting any barcodes.

We attempt to edit the template and noticed that the barcode font name shown on the screen (in the symbol I believe it's called) is not the name of any of the fonts we've purchased. The second organization is, unfortunately, not cooperating very much with our team. There is nobody on our team that has used this process so we are not certain what is missing.

We know the font name doesn't match because in Design mode, we highlight the text in front of the call to the C128_conversion_method specified, and change the font which we don't have to one of them we just purchased. Our GLM person then tries to save this change and preview the label, we get nothing but the text value retrieved (no barcode, just the letters and what looks like some char in the front "|" and something I don't recall at the end. This is probably the indicator that the information is for a code128 barcode. I believe that indicates that it is being processed by the C128 function properly, but I am not 100% certain.

When our GLM person goes back to the template, our change of the font was not saved. The name is still the name of the old, original, barcode (again, which we don't have).

Another point is, a business user from the second organization's division that we are merging with *CAN* preview the barcode with the old font name (he had the fonts installed on his PC by the second organization).

So, sorry for the long post but I don't know enough to know what isn't necessary, what I would like to do is find a way, using the GLM templates/symbols or other necessary element(s), to change the barcode being referenced to one that we have.

As I said, I'm a noobie, but our GLM people might understand how I can get to specific documentation or references. We appreciate any assistance as we are under the deadline for testing of Jan 28, 2022.

Thank you

Todd

[former_member791119]

I should mention that the barcode fonts the second organization used may have been a much older version that what we just purchased, so they may have different names.

We've messaged that organization to see if that is the case and whether the old fonts (with the same name) are available.

Right now, we have to come up with a plan to use what we have until fonts with the same name are sent to us.

The second organization said no other fonts were installed for barcodes, none from other vendor(s) or free versions.

[Mark-Pfister · Accepted solution]

Hi Gary,

Welcome to the SAP Network - and the folks having fun with WWI 😉

Could you edit your post - or add a comment - and add some screenshots from the WWI Template? You need to make sure that the carriage return symbol:

is formatted with the right font as well.

We attempt to edit the template and noticed that the barcode font name 
shown on the screen (in the symbol I believe it's called) is not the 
name of any of the fonts we've purchased. <br><br>

When our GLM person goes back to the template, our change of the font 
was not saved. The name is still the name of the old, original, barcode 
(again, which we don't have).

The WWI Template needs to show the font that you want to use - without that, it will not work.... Can you make other changes to that WWI Template and the changes are persisted?

Other things to check:

1. Is the value that you try to get represented by the bar-code determined/has a value. Try printing it without a bar-code conversion.
   Set a break-point in your copy of C128_DUMMY_CONVERSION_METHOD and see if there is any data.
2. You would need to make sure that the WWI Sever and the frontend PC that you are using to edit the templates have that exact same barcode font installed.
3. Ensure that the WWI Version you have installed locally on the PC and on the WWI Server is using the same WWI Version
4. Make sure that the newly set-up WWI Server for printing GLM labels is actually used when printing labels.

Hope that helps

Mark

[former_member791119 · Accepted solution]

This is the template we are using: (attachment 1)

We see the ZLBBARC001 highlighted and the current font is Code 128AB. When we highlight like this and change the font to one Code128 fonts we installed (Code128AB b).

After changing the font to a barcode we have installed (Code128AB b)

[former_member791119 · Accepted solution]

After trying to preview the new font specification, it fails on the screen (just shows the data). Then when she goes back into the editor she sees that the font was set back to the original Code128AB font:

Though, when we changed the font to another (3 of 9 Barcode), the barcode appeared in the editor AND it allowed us to save the template with the 3 of 9 Barcode font. When she closed and opened it 'stuck'.

[former_member791119 · Accepted solution]

When she changes from Code128AB (original font) to the Code128AB b (new font) and saves she gets no errors:

[former_member791119 · Accepted solution]

When she tries to preview the label by entering a Barcode 1 parameter

She sees this:

it appears that the |Testä1237~ is a formatted string (from the Code128 function) that isn't using the newly specified Code128AB b font. So, she goes back to the template and the font is still the original Code128AB font.

[former_member791119 · Accepted solution]

crikey, I wonder if it's a font installation issue. Our Basis team did this for us, so I will have to speak with them.

1. The location to change the font should be in the designer, I believe so with this discussion (I was hoping that)

2. I'm sorry for bothering with an issue that doesn't seem to be GLM at all (since we can save as a 3 of 9 Barcode, just none of the new ones). She did find one that saved just now (Code128AB d). Thanks for the discussion, it forced us to slow down and organize what we knew.

So sorry to bother. I did learn where barcodes are applied.

Thank you for quick response, we appreciate it.

[Mark-Pfister · Accepted solution]

Hi Gary,

I hope you were able to get the issue resolved!

If yes, please set the question to closed..

Best

Mark

[former_member791119]

Yes, we were able to assign a barcode font to the template and actually produce the label properly. So the real issue is resolved.

But, we were NOT able to do so with the initial two fonts we tried to use before me seeking help. The second organization used the Code128AB font and, from the same vendor, we have Code128AB a, b, ..., f. While I was documenting what we had tried and asking for help here, I asked Mindy to try other fonts. I had her try to use the 3 of 9 Barcode font and it was able to be saved. Huh? So we worked our way through the various fonts for the Code128AB set. A did not save, neither did b and c. We were able to apply and save the Code128AB d font as well as the e but not the f variety. So 'what' we were doing was the proper way, but the font wasn't cooperating and until asking here if we were trying to apply the font correctly, we didn't what was going on.

I do not have a clue as to why that is and we've been in contact with our Basis team and they do not know. We've uninstalled the fonts and then reinstalled them but none of us can explain it. Right now, it's on the back burner as we have to update the rest of the templates using the "d" version of our Code128AB.

Thank you again for your help! We appreciate it.

[former_member791119]

I thought of that after posting. I'm having the GLM person here take screenshots showing the template, symbol, and the current font name (Code128AB). Then another showing us highlighting the information and applying the font we do have (Code128AB a).

She mentioned that she can get to that this afternoon, so coming soon.