Working with Barcodes

Image in a QR Code

Question Is it possible to insert an image in the QR code? Answer Although it is not possible straight away to create a QR code with an embedded image, it still might be possible to achieve thanks to the error capability feature of QR barcodes. For this workaround, you would need to create a barc...
How do I add an FNC or Function command to my barcode?

Question How can you add an FNC or Function command to your barcode? Answer FNC or Function commands are prefaced with a caret (or "wedge") symbol, that acts as an escape character: ^For example, to encode a Data Matrix barcode with a FNC+3 command, add ^3 to the beginning of the barcod...
Creating Barcodes with Keyboard Functions and Shortcuts

  There are scanners available with the ability to read keyboard functions. However, they are not read conventionally (for example, placing F5 in a barcode does not equate to pressing F5 on your keyboard). Instead, a barcode must be programmed (in a sense) to hit a series of commands whose result...
How do I add symbols to the human readable portion of a barcode only?

Question  How do I add symbols (like dashes) to the human readable portion of a barcode, without adding the symbol to the actual barcode? Answer  Check the "Character Template" option within Human Readable > Human Readable Transforms within a Barcode's Properties panel:   When adding...
How Do I Add/Remove Bearer Bars For My ITF-14 Barcode?

Question  How do I add/remove bearer bars for my ITF-14 barcode? Answer  ITF-14 barcodes printed on a label require a bigger quiet zone along the sides of the barcode and this is why the bearer bars are removed; ITF-14 labels printed on corrugate (just the packaging, no label) require less space ...
Why Am I Getting a Leading Zero When Using an Interleaved 2 of 5 Barcode in BarTender?

Question   When I am using an Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode in BarTender, I get a leading zero that isn't there. There are no Transforms added to the barcode either.   Answer Because digits are encoded by pairs, only an even number of digits can be encoded. If you create a barcode with an odd number...
Is it possible to change the GS1 separation character

Question Is it possible to change the separation character of a GS1 barcode? Answer No (only for some specific symbologies).   As you can check on the GS1 standard:https://www.gs1.org/docs/barcodes/GS1_General_Specifications.pdfPoint 7.8.3 The separator character and its value In GS1-128 symbolog...
International characters in QR codes

Question  Can I encode international characters in a QR code? Answer YES. Every barcode that you add to your template has a unique specification that defines how the barcode encodes its data. This specification, called a symbology is the encoding scheme used to express numerical and character dat...
Does BarTender support Data Matrix subdivisions?

Question  Does BarTender support subdivisions/segments on the Data Matrix symbology?  Answer  That division in the barcode occurs automatically once it reaches a certain size, and by default the Data Matrix barcode size will increase in the most efficient way depending on the data it contains. I...
Does BarTender support ISO/IEC 15434 in Data Matrix

Question  Does BarTender support ISO/IEC 15434 in Data Matrix Answer  Since 10.1, BarTender supports 2 IEC 15434 macros (5 and 6 but not all) in Data Matrix and Micro PDF417.
Can You Add a Horizontal Tab in a Barcode?

Question  Can You Add a Horizontal Tab in a Barcode? Answer  Yes, if the barcode supports a second Data Source. More Information (Optional) Open the Barcode properties by right clicking on it and selecting properties Figure A) Add a Second Data Source to house the Horizontal Tab Figure B) Cli...
How do I change the Code Set for a Code 128 Barcode

Question The Code Set determines how information will be encoded into a Code 128 barcode. Some users may need to override BarTender's default behavior and specify exactly how the data is encoded. Answer You can manually choose the Code Set for any Code 128 barcode. To do this: Add a Code 128 bar...
Controlling visibility of barcode human readable (Video - 0:30)

  Applies to: BarTender 2016, v10.1, 10.0 Overview BarTender can control the visibility of individual data sources in the human readable portion of a barcode with a setting in the barcode properties.     Human readable visibility options The following options are available when setting t...
Barcode width jumps when re-sized

Overview The X-dimension setting of a barcode specifies the width of the barcode; this, in fact, adjusts the number of dots a printer uses for the width of the narrowest element of the barcode. As a result, all other bars of greater width grow in ratio to the narrowest bar as you expand the barco...
When scanning a barcode + and 0 are scanned

Overview When a barcode is scanned it may appear there are extra characters added such as +'s or 0's in between the characters in your barcode. Symbologies like the code 39 family of barcodes encode in the ascii character set. If your scanner is not configured to properly handle or depict full as...