Using Excel and Bartender software to create barcode

Many organizations create barcodes by using Excel because it's an easy-to-use tool that everyone is familiar with. However, in practical, especially for businesses that need to use a large number of barcodes, several problems often arise that hinder smooth workflow, such as:

• There is no barcode font installed on the computer Excel does not have a built-in barcode font; the font needs to be installed before the data will display as normal numbers.
• Incorrect barcode encoding formula Some barcode types require start/stop characters, such as Code39, which requires * surrounding the data. Without this, the barcode reader will not be able to read it.
• Choosing an unsuitable barcode type Excel does not control barcode standards, it has resulted in failed scans or incorrect data.
• Non-standard barcode size Excel is a spreadsheet program not designed for barcodes; problems may arise such as barcodes that are too narrow or too close together.
• Corrupted barcodes When printed, the barcodes may be corrupted due to low resolution or incorrect scale, and the label printer may not support the font.
• Not supporting the GS1 standard
• Difficult to manage large amounts of data leads to a high error, such as duplicate data, discontinuous numbering control, and errors from file editing, because Excel lacks a serial number system, barcode database, print automation, and template control.

These problems can be solved when using barcode label software such as BarTender, which is the most efficient method. It allows you to create internationally standardized barcodes, control barcode size and quality, connect to databases, and use with label printers. Importantly, it can be used with Excel by storing product code data in Excel and then using BarTender to retrieve the data to create barcode labels via the Database Connection function. This allows for accurate and rapid printing of large quantities of barcodes or sequential numbering.

Workflow:

• Prepare the Excel data file (Data Source) Create an Excel file where the first row contains headers, such as product code, product name, and price. Ensure there are no merged cells and always close the Excel file before connecting.
• Connect the database in BarTender
  - Open BarTender, go to the File menu, and select Database Setup.
  - In the Setup window, select Microsoft Excel and click Next.
  - Click Browse to select the Excel file.
  - Select the sheet containing the desired data and ensure that "First row contains headers" is selected. Click Next until you reach the last page, then click Finish.
• Link data to labels
  - On the label design page, right-click the object (Text or Barcode) you want to change.
  - Double-click the object, select the Data source tab, and then select Data field.
  - Select the column headers from Excel that you want to display.
• Preview and print View a preview of the output in the Print Preview menu to check for accuracy before printing

Advantages of using BarTender label management software:

• Reduce errors: Direct data retrieval, eliminating the need for manual entry item by item.
• Easy to use: BarTender offers a wide variety of label templates.
• Flexible: Supports serial numbering and easy barcode format changes.

In addition, BarTender is compatible with SQL, Excel, Access, JSON, and CSV, making it a suitable standard method for organizations requiring speed and efficiency. With user-friendly tools and smart templates, design labels flexibly for practical use, from small businesses to large enterprises, helping to improve the efficiency of inventory and production with precision.