BE-Code on Product Documentation

Overview

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose

BE-terna Barcode Service is a container-based middleware service that Business Central and other applications call to generate QR and barcodes and to send messages to external channels. The service can run locally on your own server or as an Azure Container Instance.

Business value

Generates more than 90 barcode types on demand, from EAN-13 and Code 128 to QR Code and GS1 variants.
Embeds barcodes seamlessly into Word layouts and reports in Business Central.
Returns barcodes as base64-encoded PNG images, so they fit into any document or portal.
Provides a single middleware for messaging channels such as Microsoft Teams, Telegram, and WhatsApp.
Runs both on-premises and in Azure as Software-as-a-Service.

Functional focus

QR and barcode generation

The BE-terna Barcode Service creates one- and two-dimensional codes for all relevant industrial and postal standards. Calls use a simple HTTP GET interface; the response carries the image directly as a base64-encoded PNG.

Setup

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose

This page walks you through the basic setup of the BE-terna Barcode Service and helps you pick the right deployment model. The service ships as a container image and runs either locally on a Windows server or as an Azure Container Instance.

Prerequisites

Access to the BE-terna Azure Container Registry becode.azurecr.io. Authentication uses tokens created in ACR. One token or password per customer.
A valid SSL certificate as a .pfx file for HTTPS delivery.
Depending on the deployment model:
- On-premises: Windows Server build 22H2 or later, at least 1 CPU core, 1 GB RAM, and 10 GB of free disk space; installed Docker Engine and Docker Compose.
- Azure: active Azure subscription, Azure CLI or Azure portal access, optionally Azure Key Vault with an Azure AD service principal for certificate management.

Recommended order

Choose the deployment model: on-premises or Azure Container Instance.
Pull the container image from the registry and start the service.
Configure the certificate and passwords.
Maintain the BE-terna Barcode Service setup in Business Central and verify the connection.

Setup building blocks

Pick a deployment model

On-premises: A good fit when you already run Windows Server infrastructure and want to host the container yourself. See Set up an on-premise container.
Azure Container Instance: A good fit when the service should run in the cloud without your own server infrastructure. See Set up an Azure Container Instance.

Authentication and passwords

Use one ACR token per customer instead of the registry admin account.
Set a strong user password for the BE-terna Barcode Service and configure the same value in the BE-terna Barcode Service setup in Business Central.
Protect the certificate path and certificate password; the certificate must be reachable inside the container at C:\certs\cert.pfx.

Verify the connection in Business Central

In the BE-terna Barcode Service setup, enter the service URL (for example https://<fqdn>:1880/becode) and the basic authentication credentials.
Use the Check connection action to send a test request to the container.

Process Notes on secure operation Key guardrails for certificates, passwords, and registry access. +

Name the certificate file exactly cert.pfx and store it in the volume mapped from the host.
Use the default demo password only for testing; always set an individual password in production.
Do not store ACR tokens in repositories or unencrypted scripts; use Key Vault or a secure variable store.
In Azure Container Instance, never expose the container publicly without HTTPS or a reverse proxy.

Set up an on-premise container

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose

This page describes the recommended approach for running BE-Code as an on-premise installation on a Windows server with Docker Compose.

Prerequisites

Windows Server build 22H2 or later with at least 1 CPU core, 1 GB RAM, and 10 GB of free disk space.
Installed and configured Docker Engine and Docker Compose.
Access to the BE-terna Azure Container Registry becode.azurecr.io; authentication uses ACR tokens, one token per customer.
A valid SSL certificate as cert.pfx in a host directory (for example C:\certs).

Recommended order

Create an application folder, for example C:\be.code.
Create the files docker-compose.yml and .env in that folder.
Fill in docker-compose.yml.
Fill in .env and set passwords.
Start the container and verify availability.

Setup building blocks

Maintain the Docker Compose file

In the application folder, create docker-compose.yml with the following content:

Set up an Azure Container Instance

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose

This page describes the recommended approach for running BE-Code as an Azure Container Instance (ACI) without your own server infrastructure. You can optionally bind the service to Azure Key Vault to manage certificates centrally.

Prerequisites

Active Azure subscription with sufficient permissions to create resource groups and Container Instances.
Azure CLI installed on your workstation, or access to the Azure portal.
Access to the BE-terna Azure Container Registry becode.azurecr.io; authentication uses one ACR token per customer.
Optional: an Azure AD service principal with access to the Key Vault and a valid SSL certificate stored in the Key Vault.

Recommended order

Sign in to Azure and to the Container Registry.
Create a resource group.
Create the Azure Container Instance.
Verify the container and set up DNS forwarding.
Test availability and configure the service URL in the BE-Code setup in Business Central.

BE-Code on Product Documentation

Overview

Purpose

Business value

Functional focus

QR and barcode generation

Setup

Purpose

Prerequisites

Recommended order

Setup building blocks

Pick a deployment model

Authentication and passwords

Verify the connection in Business Central

Set up an on-premise container

Purpose

Prerequisites

Recommended order

Setup building blocks

Maintain the Docker Compose file

Set up an Azure Container Instance

Purpose

Prerequisites

Recommended order

Setup building blocks

Sign in