How to Print Bar Codes

• There are many different software options for printing bar codes in documents and labels, including some methods that are free. As well, there are different bar code symbologies to choose from. A symbology can be thought of as the bar code "font", some of which are more suitable to one purpose or another. For example some symbologies will encode numbers only, but not letters or punctuation. The most elementary numeric symbology is "3 of 9" (Code 39), but it can make for a rather wide bar code if you are encoding more than 15 or so numbers. An efficient commonly used symbology is Code 128.
• An example Google search for "bar code print" is: http://www.google.com/search?q=bar+code+print
• Here is a website that offers a free Windows Font for Code 39: http://www.squaregear.net/fonts/free3of9.shtml  It works simply by installing a Windows font, (open your Fonts folder in Windows Control Panel, then click File>Install New Font) so it's easy to use and versatile. Refer to the text file in the download that explains how to use it. Be sure to read the warning about using it in Microsoft Word. It's very easy to use in Windows WordPad, which is a simple program that works fine for basic bar code printing tasks. To use this free font, just type in the numbers that you want to bar code, preceded and followed by an asterisk, e.g. "*0837437*". Then mark the whole sequence, including the leading and trailing asterisks, but excluding any leading and trailing spaces or punctuation, and change the font to "Free 3 of 9". Changing the font point size will make the bar code graphic larger or smaller.
• We sell an elementary version of the "NiceLabel" bar code printing software. It can print the most common symbologies. We use it to ink-jet print our product labels on Avery 8160 address label paper:

   "NiceLabel" bar code printing software: $20

• You can buy serialized bar code tags that are rugged and weatherproof. There are many companies in this business. You can probably find one near you. Look for a company that makes and sells "Asset Tags".  A Google search for "asset tag bar code" will yield many results.  Some of our customers have used asset tags made by CAMCODE: http://www.camcod.com/asset/fixed.asp