IDAutomation Barcode Fonts are based on national and international standards and are available in TrueType, PostScript, OpenType or PCL LaserJet Soft Fonts on a variety of operating systems including Windows, DOS, Mac, Linux and UNIX. To print a barcode as a font, the data-to-encode must first be formatted with an IDAutomation Font Tool, which will return a text string that, when combined with the barcode font, will create an accurate barcode.

All IDAutomation Font packages are available as an online purchase, and can be downloaded immediately and up to 30 days after the order is placed. After 30 days, access to the product and priority technical support is available with the purchase of the one year Priority Support & Upgrade Subscription.

MICR and OCR Font Advantage Packages

• MICR Fonts are used on bank checks and drafts in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama, the UK and other countries to print secure characters for magnetic recognition and optical character recognition systems.
• CMC-7 MICR Fonts are similar to E-13B fonts in that they are used on bank checks and drafts to print secure characters for magnetic recognition and optical character recognition systems, but CMC-7 fonts are used mostly in Mexico, France, Spain, Brazil and other Spanish speaking countries.
• OCR Fonts are used when automated systems require a standard character shape that is defined to read text correctly without the use of barcodes. These fonts are used on bank checks, passports, serial labels and postal mail among others.
• Security Fonts are used to print secure information such as text, names and currency amounts on documents such as bank checks in a manner that cannot be easily altered, which can assist in the prevention of forgery.

Easy-to-use Self-Checking Barcode Font Packages

• Code 39 Fonts are perhaps the most common barcode type and is used in labeling for badges, inventory, industrial applications and much more. These fonts support the creation of AIM USS Code 39, ANSI, EN800, LOGMARS, LIC and HIBC barcodes.
• Codabar Fonts are used for various numeric barcoding applications such as in libraries, blood banks and parcels and was designed to be read even if printed from a dot-matrix printer. These fonts support the creation of Rationalized Codabar, USD-4, NW-7, 2 of 7 Code and other specifications based on Codabar.
• Industrial Code 2 of 5 Barcode Fonts are low-density numeric barcodes that do not require a checksum. These fonts support the creation of Code 25 and related specifications.

Barcode Font Packages that Require Check Digits

• Code 128 Fonts are high-density barcodes that encodes text, numbers, the entire 128 ASCII character set and numerous functions. Commonly used in many varied environments and scenarios. Code 128 also supports ISBT-128, GS1-128, UCC-128, EAN-128 and USS Code 128.
• GS1 DataBar Fonts are a dependable solution in POS, grocery and healthcare where items are too small for traditional barcode types. DataBar can encode information such as product weight, expiration dates, country of origin or serial numbers. This is the only symbology approved by GS1 for use in all retail checkout systems after January 1, 2010 to encode GTIN-14 numbers and is also required by the Joint Industry Coupon Committee for use in creating coupon barcodes.
• Code 11 Fonts are high-density numeric barcodes that require a checksum calculation.
• Code 93 Barcode Fonts are higher-density barcodes which require two checksum calculations and were originally designed to provide a barcode with both. These fonts support the creation of Extended Code 93 and other specifications based on Code 93.
• Interleaved 2 of 5 Fonts are numeric barcodes used to encode pairs of numbers into self-checking, high-density barcode formats. This font supports the creation of ITF-14, EAN-14, SCC-14, GTIN, DUN14 and more barcodes.
• MSI Plessey Fonts have been used mostly in libraries and retail applications.
• USPS Postnet & Intelligent Mail Fonts are used for a variety of postal procedures such as encoding zip code information, which can improve the speed, accuracy and delivery of mail. Intelligent Mail barcodes can be created with the Postnet barcode font. This package includes Intelligent Mail, Postnet, Planet, GS1-128, FIM and OCR-A barcode symbologies as used by the US Postal Service.
• Royal Mail 4-State Fonts are used for automated mail sorting and addressing by printing the postcode and Delivery Point Suffix (DPS) on letters in machine-readable format throughout the United Kingdom.
• UPC/EAN Fonts are used to encode Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN), which uniquely identify products for retail checkout or tracking purposes. These fonts support the creation of UPC, UCC, EAN, JAN, GTIN-8, GTIN-12, GTIN-13, ISBN and Bookland barcodes.

Bundled Barcode Font Advantage Packages

• TrueType Font Package for Windows includes the TrueType version of most popular linear barcode fonts as well as MICR and OCR for Windows.
• Premiere Font Package includes all linear barcode fonts as well as MICR and OCR in a variety of formats including TrueType, OpenType, PostScript and PCL.
• Universal Barcode Font Advantage is designed to support most linear barcodes as a single font on multiple operating systems and locales. Supports Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5, Postnet, Planet, MSI and Codabar.

2D Barcode Font Packages

• Aztec Barcode Fonts encode letters, numbers, text, photos and actual bytes of data including Unicode and extended characters.
• PDF417 Barcode Fonts are used to encode large amounts of text and data that can withstand damage without loss of data due to its' use of Reed Solomon error correction. This package also supports the creation of MacroPDF, Truncated PDF and MicroPDF417.
• Data Matrix Barcode Fonts are popular, area efficient 2D barcodes that can encode large amounts of data such as letters, numbers, text and small photos.
• QR-Code Barcode Fonts are used in mainstream marketing and smart phone applications and can store large amounts of data, images and web addressed which can be loaded from a smart phone.
• MaxiCode Barcode Fonts are international 2D barcodes used by UPS on shipping labels for worldwide addressing and package sortation.

IDAutomation Barcode Font Encoder Tools

Using IDAutomation fonts in conjunction with their free barcode font tools is an easy way to automate the process of adding start and stop codes and calculating check digits for barcode fonts that require them. The following barcode font tools may be used royalty-free with the purchase of a licensed IDAutomation barcode font.

• Active Reports: This tutorial is available to help users of Data Dynamics add barcodes to ActiveReports.
• ActiveX Barcode DLL: This Unicode compatible Windows ActiveX COM DLL can be easily integrated into ActiveX compliant applications or development environments for barcode automation purposes.
• Crystal Reports Barcode Font Formulas: These allow distribution of a barcoded crystal report without a UFL.
• Crystal Reports UFL: A User Function Library for barcoding in Crystal Reports.
• C++ header file
• ANSI C source code
• C# class file for Visual Studio .NET
• Check Digit Calculator and Printing Application with Visual Basic and FoxPro Source Code works to create a string that will generate a valid barcode when combined with IDAutomation Barcode Fonts.
• FileMaker Pro Barcode Plug-In for Windows and Mac
• FoxPro Program Module and Source Code
• Microsoft Office Macros and VBA for Access, Excel and Word includes a plug-in module and examples for automating the printing of barcodes in Word, Excel and Access. VBA source code is also provided for programmers.
• Microsoft Reporting Services is a custom assembly that formats the data to be used with the IDAutomation fonts.
• Native Windows Barcode DLL has no COM dependencies.
• LotusScript Functions for Lotus 123, Lotus Notes, Domino, Lotus Approach and SmartSuite.
• Java Source Code
• Appleworks for Mac
• 4th Dimension 4D for Mac
• OMIS 4GL for Mac
• Oracle PL/SQL Barcode Library for Oracle Reports.
• PowerBuilder Source Code
• StarOffice Barcode Add-In for Calc spreadsheet or Adabas database.
• If the above tools are not helpful and the client creates the code in another programming language, IDAutomation provides a function list and source code that can be easily converted.
• Visual Basic 6 Barcode Module
• Visual Basic .NET Module

NOTE: The IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font uses a different set of font tools.

IDAutomation Fonts Technical Support

To learn more about barcode technology, read the IDAutomation Barcoding for Beginners Tutorial.

• Font Installation Procedures
• Font Problems and Solutions
• Font Tools Support Home
• Technical Support Home

Barcode Video Tutorials

• Create a Barcode in Excel Training Video
• Create a Barcode in Excel 2007 Training Video
• Create a Barcode in Oracle Reports Training Video
• Create Data Matrix Barcodes in Word Training Video
• Encode Data using the Online Encoder Training Video
• Programming the SC5USB Scanner Training Video
• Complete Video Library

Barcode Scanners

IDAutomation offers several types of barcode scanners and readers including:

• IDAutomation SC5 USB Barcode Scanner for $119
• IDAutomation Wireless Barcode Scanner for $299
• IDAutomation 2D Barcode Scanner with PQA for $299

For other models of CCD, laser and image readers in keyboard wedge, RS232 and USB versions, please view the Scanner Index: USB | Linear CCD | Linear Laser | Linear + PDF417 | 2D Imagers | Omni-Directional | Wireless | RFID | Portable Memory | Wands | Verifiers | Slot Readers | Check Readers | ID Security Devices

Free Barcode Downloads

• IDAutomation has a Free Code 39 Barcode Font for printing numeric barcodes.
• Download free evaluation versions of barcode software products from the IDAutomation Product Index. Most are fully functional.
• Free Barcode Label Design Application, which is an easy-to-use WYSIWYG Barcode Label Printing Software application that prints Code 39 and Extended Code 39 barcodes, text and graphics.
• Free .NET Barcode Forms Control supports Code 39 and Extended Code 39 barcodes and includes a VB.NET example.
• The Linear Java Barcode Servlet allows the creation and saving of barcode JPEG images to a local hard drive, or imports them to other software free. These Web pages are also helpful for troubleshooting purposes. IDAutomation has the following 2D barcode servlets online:
  • Aztec Barcode Servlet
  • MaxiCode Barcode Servlet
  • PDF417 Barcode Servlet
  • Data Matrix Barcode Servlet
• Free Dynamic Barcode Generator Service creates high quality images in GIF or JPEG format that are stored on IDAutomation servers or may be streamed to an application. Implementation in HTML is as easy as using the IMG tag or accessing a URL in any operating system. User Manual and Tutorial