Barcode creation using Excel

[griffsme]

Hi all,
First time user so be kind. Using Excel 2007.
I need to print off a list of part numbers with barcodes printed beside them to remove manual data logging by assembly operators. Probably a bsic problem but would appreciate some help.

I want to get an Excel file to print off a barcode which reads PLAT_GENERATION
Column A contains data *PLAT_GENERATION* (using stars so that barcode will read it)
Column B = Column A, except I have it formatted to font 3 of 9 Extended
When I print off the page and scan the barcode, the readout I get says
PLAT%OGENERATION
What am I doing worng? Why is the underscore changing to %O

 

[Ralajer]

Welcome to the board griffsme,

I am not a barcode expert but I read the Wikipedia entry Code 39.

Based on the information you provided there is nothing wrong on the Excel end. Code 39 only supports 43 characters A-Z, 0-9, *, -, $, %, ., /, +, and space. The 3 of 9 Extended font can display the Full ASCII but that method requires two characters to represent characters beyond the 43. So '_' is represented by %O (see table for other conversion). You can consider alternatives to the underscore such as a dash or space, though it might not feasible to change everything. This is just a wild guess but the reader might have a setting to turn on full ASCII translation.

 

[TechnicalSwordsman]

griffsme,

You could use a Code 39 Font:
http://www.idautomation.com/fonts/code39/

You can create barcodes in Excel 2007 using this format

If column A1 -A500 contained part numbers. For example
A1 is 12345
A2 is 23489
...
A500 is 95867

then in Column B1 you could use the formula
= "*" & A1 & "*"
and when you hit return, your data in B1 will look like: *12345*

The asterisks on the left and right of your data is required for Code 3 of 9.

Once your data is formatted this way, you can apply the Code 3 of 9 barcode font and get a scannable barcode

You can drag B1 down to B500 to quickly populate the rest of your values.

Hope this helps.

 

[griffsme]

Thanks TS,

Worked a charm.