How to Use the Barcode Printer

AccuArk's Barcode Printer is a built-in tool that lets you generate, preview, and print barcodes in 11 different formats. Whether you need retail UPC labels, internal tracking codes, or QR codes for smartphone scanning, this tool handles it all from a single screen.

Opening the Tool

To open the Barcode Printer, navigate to Tools > Barcode Printer from the main menu bar. This tool requires the TOOL_USE_PRINTERS permission. If you do not see the Barcode Printer option in the Tools menu, contact your administrator to have this permission assigned to your role.

Entering Barcode Text

At the top of the Barcode Printer form, you will find a text field where you enter the text or number you want to encode. Type or paste your content into this field. The barcode preview on the right side of the form updates in real time as you type, so you can immediately see what the generated barcode will look like.

The text you enter must be valid for the selected barcode format. For example, UPC_A requires exactly 12 digits, while CODE_128 accepts any ASCII characters. If the text is not valid for the chosen format, the preview will display an error or a blank barcode.

Choosing a Barcode Format

The format dropdown offers 11 barcode types, organized into three categories. Selecting the right format depends on your use case.

Linear (1D) Barcodes

Linear barcodes encode data in a series of vertical bars of varying width. They are read by laser barcode scanners and are the most common type in warehouses, shipping, and manufacturing.

• CODE_128 — The most versatile 1D barcode. It supports all 128 ASCII characters, including letters, numbers, and special symbols. CODE_128 produces compact barcodes and is the recommended default for general-purpose labeling, shipping labels, and internal tracking. If you are unsure which format to use, start with CODE_128.
• CODE_39 — An alphanumeric barcode that supports uppercase letters A through Z, digits 0 through 9, and a handful of special characters (dash, period, space, dollar sign, forward slash, plus, and percent). CODE_39 is widely used in the automotive and defense industries. It produces wider barcodes than CODE_128 for the same data, so it requires more label space.
• CODE_93 — A higher-density version of CODE_39 that encodes the same character set in less horizontal space. CODE_93 achieves this by using a more efficient encoding scheme with two check characters. It is commonly used in logistics and postal applications where label space is limited.

Retail Barcodes

Retail barcodes are standardized formats used on consumer products. They encode numeric data only and follow strict length requirements enforced by international standards organizations.

• EAN_13 — The 13-digit European Article Number. This is the standard barcode format for retail products sold worldwide. EAN_13 barcodes appear on virtually every product sold in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The first two or three digits identify the country of origin, followed by the manufacturer code, product code, and a check digit.
• EAN_8 — An 8-digit compact version of EAN_13. EAN_8 is designed for products with very small packaging where a full EAN_13 barcode would not fit, such as individual candy bars, lipstick tubes, or small cosmetic items.
• UPC_A — The 12-digit Universal Product Code. UPC_A is the standard retail barcode format in the United States and Canada. It encodes a manufacturer prefix, a product number, and a check digit. Nearly every product sold in North American retail stores carries a UPC_A barcode.
• UPC_E — A compressed 6-digit version of UPC_A. UPC_E is used on very small items where a full UPC_A barcode is too large. The encoding compresses a standard UPC_A number by suppressing trailing zeros in the manufacturer and product codes.

2D Barcodes

2D barcodes encode data in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, allowing them to store significantly more information than 1D barcodes. They are read by camera-based scanners and smartphone cameras.

• QR_CODE — A square matrix code that can encode URLs, plain text, contact information (vCards), email addresses, Wi-Fi credentials, and more. QR codes are easily scanned by any smartphone camera, making them ideal for customer-facing applications such as product pages, marketing materials, menus, and event tickets.
• DATA_MATRIX — A compact 2D barcode designed for marking very small items. DATA_MATRIX codes are widely used in the electronics industry (on circuit boards and components), healthcare (on surgical instruments and medication), and aerospace (on small parts). They can encode up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters in a very small footprint.
• PDF_417 — A stacked linear barcode that can encode large amounts of data (up to 1,850 text characters). PDF_417 is used on government-issued ID cards, driver's licenses, shipping labels, and airline boarding passes. It is technically a 2D barcode but is read by standard laser scanners in addition to camera scanners.
• AZTEC — A compact 2D barcode that does not require a surrounding white space (quiet zone), making it efficient for small labels. AZTEC codes are commonly used on airline and rail boarding passes, transit tickets, and event tickets.

Quick Reference: Which Format to Use

Printing

Once you are satisfied with the barcode preview, press Ctrl+P or use the Print option from the menu bar to open the standard Windows print dialog. From the print dialog, you can:

• Select your target printer from the list of installed printers
• Set the number of copies
• Choose page range if printing a multi-label grid layout
• Adjust printer-specific settings such as paper tray, print quality, and orientation

The printed output matches exactly what you see in the preview panel on the right side of the form. If you need to adjust fonts, colors, or label layout before printing, see the companion article on customizing barcode labels.