A barcode represents data through parallel lines that are of different widths and spacing. The most common use of barcodes is for inventory management. But, barcodes are crucial for streamlining data entry with accuracy in Excel.
Some people find it difficult to create barcodes in Excel, so we have created this ultimate guide that will give you all the information related to creating barcodes in Excel.
What are Excel Barcodes?
We all have seen barcodes, which are essentially rectangular or square images that comprise a series of white spaces and parallel black lines of different widths that can be scanned to get data.
Typically, barcodes are applied to products as a way to quickly extract data for instant identification. Some of the typical uses of barcodes include the following:
Barcodes are used in retail stores on products.
Barcodes are an essential part of the buying process.
In warehouses, barcodes are used to track inventory.
Barcodes are part of invoices to help with accounting.
What are the different types of barcodes?
Here are the different types of barcodes:
Code 39
Code 39 is one of the oldest barcodes that is commonly found in electronics, government, and healthcare. Code 39 is essentially 1D, lineal, and an alphanumeric code.
Code 128
Code 128 is a compact barcode that is commonly used on packaging and global shipping applications.
Code I 2 of 5 (Interleaved)
This barcode is a common part of the warehouse, manufacturing, and distribution. This barcode only includes numbers that are paired to generate a symbol.
EAN – International Article Number
Universities, libraries, and booksellers specifically use these barcodes for tracing books. EAN refers to 13-digit codes that are generated from the ISBN (International Standard Book Numbers) to track each book.
The Functions and Benefits of Using Barcodes in Spreadsheets.
Here are some benefits of using barcodes in spreadsheets:
Accuracy: If you opt to create barcode in Excel, you will be relying on a barcode to process data accurately as compared to the data that you enter manually. Manually-entered data is always prone to error.
Instant Availability: Another benefit of using barcodes in spreadsheets is the instant speed with which you can process data and access the information in real-time.
Simplicity: In a warehouse setting, employees can immensely benefit from using barcodes with minimum required training.
Cost-Efficient: Barcodes are essentially low-cost implementation, and it is easy and quick to create barcode in Excel.
How to Generate Barcodes in Microsoft Excel (Step-by-Step)
Let us have a look at two ways to create barcode in Excel:
Online Barcodes Generator
Using a barcode generator is a great option for creating a barcode. You can generate different barcode types for your files and documents through your web browser.
You can use a free online barcodes generator to create barcode in Excel:
Follow the below-given steps:
Suppose you want to sign a PDF document with an EAN13 barcode.
Step 1: Choose the barcode type from the list.
Step 2: Enter your specific barcode data in the next field.
Step 3: Click on the “Generate” button.
Step 4: Proceed to download the barcode and the signature as an image, or you can add the signature to your file.
Create Barcodes with Formula
You can opt for creating barcodes with the formula with the below-given steps:
Step 1: To create barcode in Excel, make sure that the codes are formatted as “text” in the column.
Step 2: Add brackets to the existing code by clicking on the target cell, which is C3 in the example.
Step 3: Proceed to enter the “=” sign, a quotation mark, an opening bracket, and a quotation mark again. Add an “&” and add the cell containing the code, B3. Add another “&” and then close the closing bracket in quotation marks.
It will look like this:
Press Enter.
Step 4: This is the background on which the barcode will be based.
Step 5: Proceed to copy the function to the rest of the rows in the bottom right corner.
Step 6: Change the font in the column barcode to the font “IDAutomationHC38M.”
Step 7: This is how to create a barcode in Excel with a formula.
How to Create Barcode without Font in Excel
It is possible to create barcode in Excel without font. Follow the below steps to create barcode in Excel without font:
Step 1: Download an “Add-in.”
Step 2: Install the “Add-In” on your computer.
Step 3: After completing the installation process, select the “barcode panel.” A file will appear on the right side of the Excel sheet.
Step 4: Choose the cell where you want to create a barcode in Excel.
Step 5: Navigate to the “Barcode” drop-down box to choose the desired barcode type. Proceed to type the value in the “Date box.”
Step 6: Adjust the barcode height and width in the “size” section.
Step 7: Proceed to click on the option of “Insert Barcode.”
Free Office Suite for Word, Excel, PowerPoint ——WPS Office
To avoid all the complexities of Microsoft Excel, you can switch to a better free alternative Office Suite – WPS Office. WPS Office offers the same applications as Microsoft Office, such as PPT, Word, and Excel.
The primary reason to create barcodes in Excel with WPS Office is that it is a cost-free option with some great tools and features that no other Office Suite offers, including thousands of free and paid versions of Excel, Word, and PPT templates.
What is WPS Office?
The primary functions of WPS Office are spreadsheet, Word, presentation, and PDF, which are essentially free alternatives to Excel, PPT, Adobe, and Word. You can avail of this Office suite without registration and advertisements.
You can avail of the rich functions and features that this Office suite has to offer, including the following:
Rich Template Store - It contains free and paid templates for PPT, Excel, and Word.
WPS AI – It is similar to Microsoft Copilot and can help you boost work efficiency by becoming your work assistant.
Amazing Features – You can avail of rich functions, including the following:
Screen recording
File Repair
Smart forms
Resume assistants
Supports Multi-Person Collaboration – You can edit and work on the same document anytime, anywhere.
Supports Multiple Platforms – WPS Office supports Android, iOS, Linux, and Mac.
WPS Spreadsheet – A Professional Data Analysis Tool You Need
You can use WPS Spreadsheet to create barcode in Excel. This free data analysis and management tool has a lot to offer, including free templates that will help you assess personal and business finances, manage charts, create invoices, and track budgets.
Here are some of the potential benefits of the WPS Spreadsheet that you can immensely benefit from:
Free Templates
You can avail of the free and paid templates that you can download, customize, and download for your personal and official use. You can avail all sorts of templates, including templates for the following categories:
Personal Budget
Project Planning
Balance Sheet
Scheduling Tasks
Calendar
The free templates and charts will allow you to assess and visualize your data with ease.
Compatibility Guaranteed
With WPS Spreadsheet, you won’t have to worry about compatibility as this Office Suite is compatible with various formats, including Microsoft Office, enabling you to create an Excel barcode.
WPS Office is also compatible with LibreOffice Calc, OpenOffice Calc, and Google Sheets. You can also edit Excel files with WPS Office on mobile devices, computers, and web pages.
Make the Most of WPS Excel
WPS is the best choice if you want to remove the first character in Excel. For the following reasons:
Data Cleaning
Substring Extraction
Data Transformation
Improved Data Manipulation
Now, you can download WPS for free. Get it and use it!
FAQs
Why is the barcode font not scanning in Excel?
The most common reasons for the barcode not to scan in Excel include the following:
Missing/ incorrect start
Missing/ incorrect stop
Missing/ incorrect digit
What is the readable barcode font for Excel?
Following is the list of readable barcode font formulas for Excel for the barcode 128 Auto:
Barcode | Excel Formula | Parameters | Barcode Fonts |
|---|---|---|---|
Code 128 Auto | AeroCode128Auto | Parameter 1 | FontCode128H1 |
WPS Office – A Free Alternative to Microsoft Office
Suppose you want to create barcode in Excel. In that case, you can opt for WPS Office, which is a great alternative to Microsoft Office – but – it is available for free and provides great productivity tools that enable users to streamline their workflow and boost productivity.
WPS Office has a user-friendly interface compatible with all Microsoft Office formats. It supports multiple languages and enables cloud storage integration. Download WPS Office now!
