How do I generate a code for a barcode?

If it is for your use only or within the businesses that you control, or in other words a “Closed Environment” then effectively you can make the number up. However, do think about what you want to encode, as this will affect the symbology (made up of black and white bars) that you can use and the amount of space that the barcode will take up on your item. For more information on Symbology choice look at my article on Barcode Symbologies.

If you are applying the barcode onto your product for “others” to use, then the format/symbology the barcode will use will probably be dictated to you by your 3rd party. If you are looking to supply your product to be sold through the retail trade, i.e. shops, the chances are you will need to register your company with the GS1 organization and request a supplier number together with a range of product codes against which you can register your products. For more details about GS1 and retail barcodes see my article on Barcodes for Retail

How you generate the code depends on your chosen code and the software system you are using. For example,

   - barcodes for Code 39 can be produced using a '3 of 9' font from Microsoft Word.

   - if you have a barcode label package such as BarTender or Enlabel this will help you design a barcode label for your products and propagate the label field.