ASP page hangs when calling Encode function of a trial version PDF417/DataMatrix Font Encoder

Products: Morovia PDF417 Fontware, DataMatrix Fontware
Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows NT; Windows 2003 Server
Programming Language: ASP

Description

You are evaluating our PDF417/DataMatrix Fontware. Now you want to use it in an ASP page. After you configure the DCOM security (article:Q10028) the encoder object has been successfully created. However, no any results come out in the browser - the execution hangs at the the Encode function.

Cause

The trial version of PDF417/DataMatrix Encoders append "DEMO" text to the data encoded. The result barcode produced is a scanner-readable two-dimensional barcode. To remind that the version used is actually a trial version, a reminder message box pops up every time the encode function is called. This reminder message box does not cause any problem for interactive users since the it appears on the local window station. The user can view it and can dismiss it by pressing the OK button. However, when you create the object within an ASP page, the message box lives in a window station invisible to the interactive user. Since nobody is able to view this message box and press OK button, the ASP page hangs at this point.

Solution

This behavior is by design. To allow potential customers evaluate the ASP usage, we created DLLs with message box removed. The new DLLs have the same functionality but no message box will ever pop up. You do need to keep in mind that you are using a trial version, which appends "DEMO" text to the data encoded. Since other applications, such as Encoder GUI, crystal report UFL and Microsoft Office samples internally call this encoder DLL, the message box will no pop up in these applications either.

This behavior does not exist in retail version.