Printing barcodes and reading

Hello,

I have searched the forums and found multiple listings about barcodes. I have downloaded several barcode fonts and have printed them out in different sizes but my scanner will not read them. My scanner will however read barcodes from retail packages so it seems to be working.

Is the problem that I am printing the barcodes out on my HP deskjet inkjet printer? Should I be printing on a laserjet?

There is a free font at moneterysoft.com that I am using.

By the way, is there a way to code a barcode inside the project itself without using a font?

Thanks!

Not all barcode readers will read all styles of barcodes. For example a barcode reader may be able to read UPC-A: but not be able to read a 3 of 9 barcode. If you are able to read barcodes from retail packages your reader prolly just supports Numeric-Only UPC-Based Symbologies Find out what Symbologies your reader can handle.

As long as the inkjet is a good one and is not causing the bars to bleed you might be ok, but generally a Laserjet is the way to go if you need to get consistant results. Good paper helps too.

Yes there is a way to print a barcode not using fonts. Search google, there are a number of free vb controls that print barcodes out there. I'm not sure if they have caught up with .net though.

Thanks!

Actually, my scanner will read another 3 of 9 font that I have. It must be something with that monterey font. I like the monetery because it also displays the text...but...if it won't read then what's the point. It is also likely that if I had a new scanner it might pick it up better.

Thanks again!

There really isn't that much to scanners reading barcodes. I am assuming you are using a handheld device. If that is the case, all the scanner has to do is have a line of bars the width of a laser beam that are valid. It's probably not the scanner if it reads a 3 of 9 BC ok. I would bet it is the font you are using. If you want the text to Display below it, I would just print it there manually.

I found this, it may help you test barcodes with a software reader. I've never used it but it may be worth a shot
http://www.tasman.co.uk/netbars/readme.html