Using the BarTender Bar Code Tool. Overview: This tutorial will show you how to use the Bar Code tool in the BarTender software.

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1 Overview: This tutorial will show you how to use the Bar Code tool in the BarTender software. The Bar Code tool has several options available, most of which you will not use. Given the industries we see with our customer base, there but a few bar codes that will be applicable. They are the ITF-14, the Interleaved 2 of 5, the GS1-128, the UPCA and the Code 39. We will focus on those codes in detail in individual tutorials and limit this tutorial on how the tool works. The ITF-14, (Fig. 1) and Interleaved 2 of 5, (Fig. 2) bar codes are standard shipping container outer shipping codes. They will consists of your GTIN manufacturing number, a product number and check digit. Generally speaking you will be using one of these codes almost exclusively. The ITF-14 is essentially an I - 2 of 5 barcode with bearer bars and has become the norm for outer case identification. See tutorial BT 017, Formatting the ITF-14 and I 2 of 5 Bar Codes. The UPCA, (Fig. 3) bar code is a retail bar code designed to be scanned at the point of purchase. It is not unusual to see this code used in conjunction with the ITF-14 for Big Box applications where case lots may be sold and require a scan at the register. See tutorial BT 018, Formatting the UPCA Bar Code. The GS1-128, (Fig. 4) bar code is a complex bar code designed to carry additional information associated with traceability. To do this, it incorporates industry dictated Application Identifiers that define specific informations such as best buy dates, production dates, batch numbers etc. Currently we see this code used in the Fresh Produce Industry s Traceability Initiative and in the Yum Brands fulfillment requirements. See tutorial BT 016, Formatting the GS1-128 Bar Code. Some companies will also use a plain code 128 for internal routing of product. The Code 39, (Fig. 5) is a military spec bar code. It is used buy companies packing products for the military. See tutorial BT 019, Formatting the Code 39. ITF - 14 Fig. 1 Interleaved 2 of 5 Fig. 2 1 UPCA Fig. 3 GS1-128 Fig. 4

2 Code 39 Fig Begin by clicking on the Bar Code icon on the toolbar, (Fig. 6) to bring up the Select Bar Code window. (Fig. 7) Common Bar Codes will be defaulted in the left hand pane. The browse pane is located in the upper right hand portion of the window. Use the scroll bar to locate the type of bar code you are looking for and click on it to display that code in the lower display pane. Once found, click the Select button to load the cursor and click the layout to place the code. (Fig. 8) Double click on the bar code to bring up the Properties Menu. (Fig. 10) Fig. 6 Once you have created bar codes, clicking the bar code icon will generate a list of the most recently used bar codes. (Fig. 9) Clicking on a code listed there will load the cursor and once you click on the layout, it will display that barcode in a defaulted state. If the type of bar code you are looking for is not listed select the More Bar Codes command to take you back to the Select Bar Code menu. There you will be able to browse to the type of barcode you are looking for, load the cursor and click the layout to deploy. Fig. 7 Fig. 9 2 Fig. 8

3 2. The Properties opens on the Symbology and Size tab. (Fig. 10) The type of bar code may be changed in the drop down menu at the top right marked Symbology. 3. In the Dimensions section, click on the hand icon to bring up the Bar Code X Dimension menu. (Fig. 11) This menu allows you to set the size of your bar code and make critical adjustments to the bar width and bar space. Check the Lock the X Dimension at the target setting box and the mils setting as shown. As mils go for the ITF-14 and I 2 of 5, a 40 mil bar code is equal to a 100% bar code and the general rule of thumb is you want to use a bar code as close to 100% as possible because it maximizes your chances of successful scans. This will be real estate driven so if you do not have the space on the bag or box to use a 40 mill code, this is where you make it smaller by reducing the mil size. Some codes like the GS1-128 and the Code 39, cannot be more than 20 mils or they will be out of spec. All of these settings will be discussed at length in the individual tutorials. Fig. 10 The Manual Bar/Space setting is critical in producing readable bar codes. Anytime you print directly on a corrugated case or a kraft bag, with any kind of technology, ink drops into the substrate and spreads via capillary action through the fibers of the bag or the box. This is known as Ink Dot Gain. As the printed bars spread, they can over come the spaces and make the code unreadable. To prevent this and compensate for this phenomena, we make an adjustment to the bar width and space by reducing the bar width and increasing the bar space equally. This amount can vary depending on the type of code but a setting of 2 is pretty much standard. Click OK to return to Properties. 4. The Ratio setting will depend on the type of bar 3 Fig. 11 code and the height will again depend on real estate, with the general rule of thumb being 1.25 in height is better. Choices are available for Symbology Specific Options like inclusion of a Check Digit and or settings for the Bearer Bars. If the selections are greyed out, it means they are not available for that type of code or are already defaulted into the code. Click on the Human Readable tab.

4 5. On the Human Readable Tab, (Fig. 12) Visibility choices here determine if the human readable shows up or not with the bar code in addition where and how you wish it to display. If Symbology Specific options are available, they will display. A Character template will let you determine the spacing between the characters in the human readable. The template uses a question mark to represent a character and a space bar to create a space. Click the Font tab. 6. The Font tab lets you select the Font Typeface and size you wish to use. This will vary with bar code types and recommendations are made in the individual tutorials. There is nothing for us on the Border tab so click the Position tab. Fig The position tab is an optional feature that lets you locate the barcode using x - y coordinates based on a changeable reference point, set a rotation and lock the bar code in place. It can also simply be click dragged to a location. Click the number string under Data Source. 8. The Data Source, (Fig. 15) will default at Embedded Data which means the data is manually entered by highlighting the number string and entering your numbers. Unless you are looking to tie into a data base, this is all you need to do. Click Close to display the properly formatted bar code on the layout. (Fig. 16) Fig Fig. 14

5 9. Once the bar code has been created, not only will it show up on the recently used list associated with the bar code tool, but you can also make it a component which means that you no longer have to go through the structuring process again, simply edit the data with the data editor. With the bar code selected, right click and select the Create Components command. (Fig. 17) This will add the bar code to the Components pane and let you name it for easy identification. (Fig. 18) A simple double click or a click drag will place the bar code on the layout. Once on the layout click the Data Edit tool and then the bar code to bring up the Modify Embedded Data editor. (Fig. 19) Enter the new code and click OK, you are done. Fig. 15 Fig. 16 Fig. 18 Fig Fig. 19