Step-by-Step: Creating Code 128 Barcodes with BarCodeWiz Fonts

Step-by-Step: Creating Code 128 Barcodes with BarCodeWiz Fonts

What you need

• BarCodeWiz Code 128 fonts (installed on your computer)
• Microsoft Word or Excel (or any application that supports TrueType/OpenType fonts)
• A text string to encode (e.g., product SKU)
• Optional: BarCodeWiz add-in or barcode font utility for checksum/formatting

Steps (Word or Excel)

1. Install fonts
   • Download and install the BarCodeWiz Code 128 font package; right-click the .ttf/.otf files and choose “Install” (Windows).
2. Prepare the data
   • Decide the exact text to encode (letters, numbers, special characters). Code 128 supports the full ASCII set using appropriate code sets.
3. Apply required encoding/guard characters
   • Code 128 requires start character, checksum, and stop character. If you use BarCodeWiz’s encoder/add-in it will handle these automatically. If you manually format, use BarCodeWiz’s provided encoding tool or follow their encoding table to add start, compute checksum, and append stop.
4. Enter the encoded string
   • In your document or spreadsheet cell paste the encoder output (not the plain data).
5. Select the BarCodeWiz Code 128 font
   • Highlight the encoded string and set the font to the installed BarCodeWiz Code 128 font. Adjust font size so barcode bars are wide enough for your scanner.
6. Adjust spacing and quiet zones
   • Ensure there’s enough white space (quiet zone) on both sides—typically 10× the narrow bar width. In Word/labels, add margin space or extra characters as needed.
7. Test-scan the barcode
   • Print a sample on the intended material and scan with your barcode scanner or smartphone app. Verify it reads the original data exactly.
8. Troubleshoot if unreadable
   • Increase font size or DPI, ensure high-contrast printing, confirm correct encoding (start/checksum/stop), and reprint on suitable media.

Quick tips

• Use BarCodeWiz’s encoder/add-in to avoid manual checksum errors.
• For high-volume printing, use a dedicated label printer and set resolution to at least 300 DPI.
• If scanning fails, verify the scanner supports Code 128 and is configured for the correct symbology.

Example (conceptual)

• Plain data: 12345
• Use BarCodeWiz encoder → Encoded string: (start + data + checksum + stop)
• Paste encoded string into cell, apply BarCodeWiz Code 128 font, print, scan.

If you want, I can generate an encoded example for a specific string (e.g., “12345”) using BarCodeWiz formatting.