Excel Code 39 Generator Data Encoding Tutorial

Summy:

Barcode Code 39 (also known as "Code 3 of 9", "USS Code 39", "Code 3/9", "USD-3", "Alpha39", "Type 39") is a barcode symbology that can encode uppercase letters (A through Z), digits (0 through 9) and a handful of special characters like the $ sign.

Excel Code 39 is a Code 39 generation Add-In running on Microsoft Office Excel, which is a reliable barcode component to generate and output Code 39 barcodes on Microsoft Office Excel 365/2019/2016/2013. 50+ barcode property options are valid to stream high-quality Code 39 barcode images with setting customized color, size, image, text, etc.

Code 39 barcode supports two data mode: Standard mode and Full ASCII mode. Each mode supports different character set encoding.

Code 39 barcode standard mode supports 43 characters, including

• Numeric digit: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
• Uppercase letters (A - Z)
• Special characters: - (Dash), $ (Dollar), % (Percentage), (Space), . (Point), / (Slash), + (Plus)
• Start/Stop character

In Code 39 Excel barcode settings panel, you need choose barcode Barcode Type value "CODE 39"

Code 39 supports encoding the full 128 character ASCII character set in accordance with ISO 646 IRV.

In Code 39 Excel barcode settings panel, you need choose barcode Barcode Type value "CODE 39 EX"

Code 39 barcode does not include a checksum or check digit by default.

In certain applications, they may use the modulo 43 (MOD43) check character as a check digit.

You could learn Code 39 module 43 check digit algorithms here:
How to calculate Code 39 check digit?

To apply check digit in Code 39, you need check option "Add checksum char" in tab "1D Barcode".





Once you have enabled the check digit in Code 39, the check sum digit character will be automatically calculated and display with Code 39 HRI (human-readable interpretation)

You can hide the check digit in barcode HRI, by disable the option "Display checksum char" in tab "1D Barcode".

Code 39 uses asterisk character (*) as Start and Stop characters, and it should not be part of the Code 39 barcode data. If you use any barcode scanner devices to scan, read Code 39, the scanner will not include the Start and Stop characters in scanned barcode data message.

You can show or hide the start and stop characters (*) in Code 39 HRI. By default, Excel Code 39 generator will automatically display the start and stop characters (*) in Code 39 barcode label image.

To hide the start and stop characters, you need un-check the option "Show start stop (*)" in tab "1D Barcode".

In the following content, we will show how to create a column of Code 39 barcodes based on the data from the other column in Excel document.

The use case is from one of our customers. He needs print labels added to a pallet on an A4 sheet. Each A4 sheet will be printed with a Code 39 barcode with unique data.

Each Code 39 barcode has a 9 digits product ID followed by a suffix which indicates the pallet number. For example product id "300160101" has 3 pallets, they will generate three Code 39 barcodes for the product, "300160101/1", "300160101/2" and "300160101/3".

Here is a sample Excel document which includes product list and each product number of pallet.

1. We have manually created the complete Code 39 barcode data list in column "Barcode Data", based on data from column "Product ID" and column "Number of Pallet". You can also use VBA macro code to create barcode data dynamically.
   
   
2. Modify the following Code 39 options:
   In tab "Barcode Size":
       Bar width (X) to 6
       Text margin to 12
   In tab "1D Barcode":
       Font size to 16
   Click button "Update" to get a Code 39 barcode template. All Code 39 barcodes generated in column "Code 39 Barcode Label" will use the same barcode options with the template barcode.
   
   
3. Now we will create list of Code 39 barcode labels in column "Code 39 Barcode Label", which are based on the data from column "Barcode Data". You can view the details about bulk barcode generation here:
   How to create multiple or bulk barcodes in Excel document?