How to Create a Scannable Barcode: A Comprehensive Guide

Barcodes have become indispensable in modern operations, streamlining processes from retail transactions to inventory management. These machine-readable codes, represented by a series of lines and spaces, are scanned to quickly access information. Understanding how to create a barcode is a valuable skill for businesses and individuals alike. This guide will explore various methods to easily generate your own scannable barcodes.

Simple Methods to Generate Barcodes

Here are several straightforward methods to create barcodes, catering to different needs and technical skills:

1. Creating Barcodes Online for Business Use

For businesses requiring barcodes for product identification and inventory, online barcode generators offer a quick and efficient solution.

Steps for Online Barcode Generation:

1. Obtain a UPC/ISBN Identification Number: For product barcodes, you’ll need a unique identifier. For retail products in the US, this is typically a UPC (Universal Product Code). Books require an ISBN (International Standard Book Number).
2. GS1 US for UPC: Visit barcode.gs1us.org to apply for a UPC barcode if you are in the US and need a GS1-compliant barcode.
3. ISBN.org for ISBN: If you need an ISBN for a book, go to ISBN.org to acquire one.
4. Utilize an Online Barcode Generator: Once you have your UPC or ISBN, use an online barcode generator website. Many free and paid options are available by searching “online barcode generator”. Simply input your number into the generator, select the barcode type (usually Code 128 for general purposes or EAN for international retail), and download your barcode image.

2. Generating Barcodes in Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel, with the help of a barcode font, can be transformed into a barcode generator, particularly useful for creating barcodes for internal inventory or asset tracking.

Steps for Excel Barcode Creation:

1. Open Excel and Access VBA Editor: Open Microsoft Excel, navigate to the “Developer” tab. If you don’t see it, you may need to enable it in Excel Options > Customize Ribbon. Click on “Visual Basic” to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor.
2. Import Macro File: In the VBA Editor, go to “File” > “Import File”.
3. Select Macro File: Import a pre-downloaded barcode macro file. You can find free barcode macro files online by searching for “Excel barcode macro”. These files often come in .bas format. Once imported, the macro will appear under “Modules” in your VBA project.
4. Return to Worksheet: Close the VBA Editor to return to your Excel worksheet.
5. Enter Data and Barcode Formula: In cell A1 (or any cell), type the number or data you want to convert into a barcode. In cell B1 (or the adjacent cell), enter the formula =Code128(A1). (Note: “Code128” is an example; the exact function name might vary depending on the macro you imported, refer to the macro’s instructions). Press “Enter”.
6. Apply Barcode Font: Select cell B1 where the formula is. Change the font of this cell to a barcode font. You’ll need to install a barcode font on your system first. Search for “free barcode font Code 128” online, download, and install it. After installing, the barcode font should appear in Excel’s font dropdown menu. Select it.
7. Barcode Displayed: The number in cell B1 should now be displayed as a scannable barcode. You can drag the formula down to create barcodes for multiple data entries in column A.

3. Creating Location Barcodes with QR Code Generators

For creating barcodes that link to specific locations, QR codes are an excellent choice. These are commonly used for check-ins, location tagging, or providing location-based information.

Steps for Location Barcode Generation:

1. Open Google Maps: Go to Google Maps in your web browser (maps.google.com).
2. Find the Location: Search for the location for which you want to create a barcode. If it’s a business with a Google Business Profile, search for the business name.
3. Share and Copy Link: Once you’ve found the location on Google Maps, click the “Share” button. In the share dialog, select “Copy link” to copy the location’s URL to your clipboard.
4. Open QR Code Generator: Go to a QR code generator website like qr-code-generator.com or similar.
5. Paste Location Link: In the QR code generator, paste the copied Google Maps link into the URL field. The website will automatically generate a QR code.
6. Download QR Code: Download the generated QR code image. This QR code, when scanned, will direct the scanner to the Google Maps location you specified.

4. Using Createbarcodes.com for Custom Barcodes

Createbarcodes.com is a dedicated online service for generating various types of barcodes with customization options.

Steps for Createbarcodes.com:

1. Visit Createbarcodes.com: Go to createbarcodes.com in your web browser.
2. Follow the Barcode Wizard: The website provides a barcode wizard to guide you through the creation process. Select the type of barcode you need (e.g., Code 128, QR Code, etc.) and the data you want to encode.
3. Customize and Generate: Follow the steps in the wizard to customize your barcode, such as size, resolution, and data.
4. Download Barcode: Once you’ve configured your barcode, generate and download the digital barcode image.
5. Personal Use Application: For personal inventory or organization, you can assign names and serial numbers to items on the site to generate individual barcodes for each item. Print and attach these barcodes to your items for easy tracking.

5. Creating Barcodes on Android with a Barcode Generator App

For on-the-go barcode creation directly from your smartphone, barcode generator apps are readily available for Android devices.

Steps for Android Barcode Generator App:

1. Download Barcode Generator App: Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone and search for “barcode generator”. Install a highly-rated barcode generator app (e.g., “Barcode Generator” by Simple Design Co.).
2. Open App and Add Code: Open the installed barcode generator app. Look for a “+” icon, usually located at the bottom right, to create a new barcode. Tap this icon.
3. Select “Add Code”: You’ll typically see options like “Scan Code” and “Add Code”. Choose “Add Code” to manually create a new barcode.
4. Choose Barcode Type: Select the type of barcode you want to create. Options usually include QR Code, Data Matrix, Code 128, and others.
5. Select QR Code and Content Type (Example): For this example, choose “QR Code”. Then, you’ll be presented with QR code content types like “Text”, “URL”, “Email”, “Phone Number”, “SMS”, “WiFi”, etc.
6. Enter Data: Select the desired content type (e.g., “Email”) and enter the relevant information (e.g., the email address).
7. Generate QR Code: Tap the checkmark icon, usually at the top right, to generate the QR code.
8. Barcode Displayed: The generated QR code will be displayed on your screen. You can usually save it as an image to your phone’s gallery or share it directly.

These methods provide a range of options for creating scannable barcodes for various applications. Choose the method that best suits your needs and technical comfort level. Whether for business inventory, product labeling, location sharing, or personal organization, creating barcodes is now an accessible and efficient process.