Plessey: Used for catalogs, store shelves, inventory UPC: Used for North America retail EAN-UCC: Used for international retail Codabar: Used for libraries, blood banks, airbills Code 39: Used for various purposes Code 128: Used for various purposes Code 11: Used for telephones Code 16K: 1D version of Code 128. QR Code: Public domain code from Nippon Denso ID Systems. Has the ability to encode Japanese Kanji and Kana characters. [4] X Research source

Many different kinds of information can be included in your barcode, but generally this information pertains to: identification, tracking, and inventory. [5] X Research source Consistent formatting will help make the translated information easier to read, and will make human processing of barcode information more efficient. “Alphanumeric” refers to a system that uses both letters and numbers. [6] X Research source

For example, you might search, “barcode string builder code 128. " Some symbologies may use other inputs than simple alphanumeric. Do an online search of your chosen symbology to find how to convert your data to a suitable barcode format. [7] X Research source

Always exercise caution when downloading anything from the Internet. There is always the risk that you may get a virus or some other kind of malware.

For the purposes of offering a guided example, this process will be outlined with the barcode add-in StrokeScribe, which is available to individual users for free. To access StrokeScribe’s interface, click on the “Insert” tab, then click the “Insert Object” button and select “StrokeScribe Document” from the list provided.

Continuing with the guided example, you should right-click the barcode image after selecting “StrokeScribe Document” and from the following menu choose StrokeScribe Control → Properties. Be sure that your barcode reading software/equipment has the capability of reading the symbology you have chosen for your code. Some common symbologies: UPS, Code 39, Code 128, QR

In the guided example, after clicking “Properties” you should see the Control Properties window, in which you can type your data to be converted into barcode by the “Text” field, and you can select your symbology with the “Alphabet” dropdown menu.

For the guided example, you only need to click Ok to insert the image. To make the barcode a floating image, right click it, select “Format Object,” and change the text wrapping under the “Layout” tab. Right-click the barcode, select the “Format Object” option, and click the Layout tab in the following menu. This should list different styles in which your barcode will be wrapped with in-document text.

To complete the guided example, use the manipulator boxes to adjust width and height until it is positioned and sized best for your purposes.