Obtain a TrueType (.ttf) Code 39 font. (Many versions are available for free under open-source licenses).
Code 39 is the standard for many Department of Defense (LOGMARS) applications. Final Tips for Success
To make a barcode scannable, you must place an asterisk at the beginning and the end of your data. For example, if you want to encode the ID "PART123," you must type it as before applying the font. The scanner uses these asterisks to know where the barcode starts and ends; without them, the scanner will simply ignore the code. Code 39 vs. Code 128: Which should you use? code39 fonts
In the early days of computing, generating a barcode required specialized software that converted data strings into complex graphical vector commands. The advent of barcode fonts simplified this process significantly. A Code 39 font is a specific type of typeface where the glyphs (visual representations of characters) are replaced with the specific bar and space patterns required by the Code 39 specification.
Additionally, the reliance on human intervention for the start and stop characters can lead to user error. If a user fails to type the enclosing asterisks, the barcode will not scan. Conversely, if the user uses a standard font to type the data and accidentally leaves a section in a Code 39 font, the text will become an unreadable series of lines. Obtain a TrueType (
Simple ID numbers for gym or library cards.
A critical component of the Code 39 specification is the asterisk (*). In this symbology, the asterisk serves exclusively as the start and stop character. It frames the data, signaling to the scanner where the barcode begins and ends. This feature allows Code 39 to be bi-directional, meaning it can be scanned left-to-right or right-to-left. Final Tips for Success To make a barcode
Code 39 is a variable-length barcode symbology that can encode , including: Uppercase letters (A-Z) Numbers (0-9) Special characters (-, ., $, /, +, %, and space)
The Code 39 font is more than a piece of technology; it is a philosophy of robust, accessible design. By encoding logic directly into a typeface, it allowed non-specialists—from warehouse clerks to librarians—to generate scannable codes without expensive hardware or complex software. While newer symbologies offer greater density and error correction, Code 39 remains the trusted standard where reliability, ease of printing, and alphanumeric support are needed, and where a few extra inches of label space are a small price to pay. In a world racing toward 2D codes and RFID, the quiet endurance of Code 39 is a testament to the power of "good enough" engineering—a set of bars and spaces that, for nearly five decades, has simply worked.
Understanding Code 39 Fonts: The Versatile Standard for Inventory and Beyond
This implementation bridges the gap between human-readable text and machine-readable code. However, it introduces a unique software requirement: the "start" and "stop" characters. Because a keyboard lacks a dedicated key for the barcode-specific asterisk function, the user must manually append asterisks to the data string before and after the desired text (e.g., DATA ). When rendered in the Code 39 font, these asterisks appear as the leading and trailing guard bars, creating a scannable barcode.