Adding barcodes to your reports (or just about any document) may seem like a daunting task at first, but it is actually quite easy. First, you will need to download the Free 3 of 9 True Type Font.

Once you have downloaded and installed the font, it will be available in all applications that support True Type Fonts, such as Crystal Reports, MS Word, etc. In order to use this font, there are a couple things to keep in mind:

All Code39 barcode data MUST be encapsulated within a pair of asterisks (*). This allows barcode readers to identify the beginning and the end of the barcode data. For example, if you wanted to represent the number 123 as a Code 39 barcode, you would need to type in *123*. Assign the Free 3 of 9 font, set the font size to resize the barcode, and you are ready to go.

In Crystal Reports, this can be a little tricky, but a quick formula will add the asterisks to your data. For example, if you have a text field (command.text1) in your report that you want represented as a barcode, then you could assign the following Display String formula to insert the asterisks:

“*” + {Command.text1} + “*”

Note: above formula uses Crystal Syntax.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is that standard Code 39 barcodes should not include any spaces or special characters.

Most barcode scanners support Code39 barcodes, but I happen to be using a Unitech HT 580