Code 39 Barcode Add-In for Microsoft Word

Generate, insert linear and 2D barcodes for Microsoft Word

Add high quality Code 39 barcode images in Word documents with this add-in

Seamlessly integrate into Microsoft Office Word 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007 versions
No programming skills are required when users operate this mature add-in
Users do not need to know the latest Code 39 barcode specifications
Industry standards of Code 39 are pre-configured in the barcodes
Barcode fonts are not required in the creation of Code 39 barcodes
The created Code 39 barcodes are compatible with all printers
Easy to insert Code 39 barcodes in Word in the highest possible quality

How to create Code 39 barcode in Microsoft Word documents?

Download Code 39 Barcode Generator Word Add-in
Install Code 39 add-in to insert, print Code 39 barcodes in Office Word files
Step by Step Guide

Introduction of Code 39 Barcode Add-In for Word

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Code 39 Barcode Add-In for Word is an advanced barcode add-in which can make Code 39 barcodes generation in Word documents as easy as clicking a button. No barcode fonts are needed and users who do not know programming skills can operate this mature plugin freely.

Code 39 Word Barcode Add-In is not the only one product provided by OnBarcode.com. Many other linear and 2D barcode Add-Ins for Word are also supported, such as Code 128 Barcode Add-In, EAN-8 Barcode Add-In, UPC-A Barcode Add-In, QR Code Barcode Add-In, Data Matrix Barcode Add-In, PDF417 Barcode Add-In, etc.

Draw Code 39 barcodes in accordance with the latest Code 39 barcode specification.
Either high-resolution printers or low-resolution printer can print the created barcodes.
Various properties of the generated Code 39 barcodes can be adjusted easily.
Automatically and the start/stop character (*) of Code 39 in barcode generation.
Four Code 39 image rotation choices are available: 0, 90, 180, 270 degrees.
The Code 39 check digit and quiet zones are added by this mature plugin automatically.
Capable of inserting high quality Code 39 barcodes into serial letters.
Be able to generate Code 39 barcode labels in Microsoft Word documents.

Insert Code 39 Barcodes in Word

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How to Insert a Code 39 Barcode in Word

Go to "Add-Ins" tab and click "Create Barcode" to activate "Barcode Settings" panel on the right. Then select "CODE 39" in "Barcode Type" and input valid data in the text box of "Data". Lastly, click "Generate" button and a required Code 39 barcode is created.

How to Customize Code 39 in Word Add-In Setting Panel

In "Barcode Settings" panel, rich parameters of Code 39 are provided for users to customize Code 39 barcodes according to different requirements. Specially, the parameter of "Wide to narrow bar ratio (N)" with valid value from 2.0 to 3.0 inclusive is used to adjust the proportion of the wide bar to narrowest one. Additionally, "I" refers to the space between characters of Code 39 whose value is the multiple of the bar module (X). Its valid value is from 1.0X to 5.3X inclusive.

Code 39 Barcode Data Characters Encoding in Microsoft Office Word Application

Here we provides a structured, step-by-step guide to encoding data, adjusting dimensions, customizing text, and configuring bar styles for Code 39 (a widely used linear alphanumeric barcode symbology) within the Microsoft Office Word Application using a professional barcode generator add-in.

Code 39 Standard Mode

The standard mode of Code 39 supports a defined set of characters for basic encoding in the Microsoft Office Word Application.

Supported characters include:

Numeric digits (0 - 9)
Uppercase letters (A - Z)
Special characters: dash (-), dollar sign ($), percent (%), space, point (.), slash (/), plus (+)
Start and stop characters

In the Barcode Settings pane of the Microsoft Office Word Application, set the Barcode Type property to CODE 39.

The add-in generates a valid standard Code 39 barcode in the active Word document.

Code 39 Full ASCII Mode

Code 39 Full ASCII (an extended encoding mode) supports all 128 ASCII characters for expanded data representation.

In the Word barcode add-in interface, set the Barcode Type property to CODE 39 EX.

The encoder supports full ASCII character encoding in the generated Code 39 barcode within the Word document.

Code 39 Maximum & Minimum Character Size

The official Code 39 specification does not define fixed minimum or maximum data lengths.

However, many barcode scanners refuse to read Code 39 barcodes with fewer than 4 characters by default.

Note: Adjust your scanner configuration in advance to avoid scanning failures for short Code 39 barcodes in the Microsoft Office Word Application.

Code 39 Barcode Check Digit

The Code 39 check digit is optional and calculated using the Mod 43 algorithm for data validation.

Follow the steps below to apply Code 39 checksum character.

In the Microsoft Office Word Application, navigate to the 1D Barcode tab in the barcode property panel.
Enable the Add checksum char property.
Click the Update button.

The barcode image is updated with a check digit (such as "$") automatically appended.

Note: Disabling the check digit requires unchecking the same property and refreshing the barcode in Word.

Hide the checksum character from the printed Code 39 HRI (text label below the barcode).

Code 39 Barcode Dimension Size in Microsoft Office Word Application

Using the Word barcode add-in, you can fully configure dimension and layout properties for Code 39 barcodes.

Adjustable Properties

Auto resize: Enables automatic optimization of bar width and height
Unit of Measure: Supports PIXEL, CM, or INCH
Image width and height: Total dimensions of the barcode graphic
Bar width (X): Width of the narrowest bar module
Bar height (Y): Vertical height of barcode bars
Wide-narrow ratio (N): Ratio of wide bars to narrow bars (valid range: 2.0 - 3.0)
Intercharacter gap (I): Space between character bar modules
Text margin: Spacing between bars and human-readable text
Quiet zone margins (left, right, top, bottom): Minimum width = 10X

Modify values in the Barcode Size tab of the Word add-in panel. The Code 39 barcode updates with the specified dimensions in the Word document.

Note: The wide-narrow ratio must stay between 2.0 and 3.0. Values outside this range produce invalid barcodes.

Print Code 39 with Customized Barcode Text in Word

This section covers displaying, hiding, and styling HRI (Human Readable Interpretation) text for Code 39 barcodes.

Show or Hide Check Digit in HRI

You can include a check digit in the barcode structure but hide it from the visible text.

Go to the 1D Barcode tab in the Word add-in panel.
Uncheck Display checksum char.
Click Update.

The check digit remains in the barcode but does not appear in the text label.

Show or Hide Start/Stop Characters

Code 39 uses asterisks (*) as default start and stop characters.

In the 1D Barcode tab, toggle the Show start stop (*) property.

Asterisks appear or disappear from the HRI text in the Word document.

Show or Hide Barcode Text Label

You can fully disable the text below the Code 39 barcode.

Under Barcode text style in the 1D Barcode tab, uncheck Display barcode text.

The barcode appears without any accompanying text in the Word document.

Customize Barcode Text Style

The Word barcode add-in supports full text styling customization.

Select a font family from the Font dropdown.
Set font style (e.g., Bold) and text color (e.g., Red).
Click Update.

The Code 39 barcode text updates with the new style in the Word document.

Set Custom Text Font Size

Select the target Code 39 barcode in the Word document.
In the Barcode Size tab, uncheck Auto resize barcode text.
In the 1D Barcode tab, set font size to 9 or another desired value.
Click Update.

The barcode text displays at the specified font size.

Code 39 Bar Style in Microsoft Office Word Application

Wide-Narrow Bar Ratio (N)

Code 39 uses two bar widths: narrow and wide.

In the Bar Style group under the Barcode Size tab, adjust the Wide-narrow ratio (N).Valid values range from 2.0 to 3.0.

Bar proportions update visibly in the generated Code 39 barcode.

Width of Intercharacter Gap (I)

The intercharacter gap is the space between bar modules of separate encoded characters.

Minimum gap = X (narrow bar width)
Recommended maximum = 3X

Modify the I value in the Bar Style group.Supported range in the Word add-in: 1.0 to 3.0.

Spacing between barcode characters updates accordingly in the Word document.

Note: Excessively large gaps may cause scanning errors in printed Word documents.

Common Asked Questions

What is the use of Code 39 barcode?

Code 39, also known as Code 3 of 9, is the first barcode symbology to encode both numbers and letters (Upper case letters only). It is most commonly used in the inventory, government, military, automotive and electronics industries.

Using Word barcode generator add-in freeware, you can create, print, and insert Code 39 barcodes in RDLC report designer, and preview them in Microsoft Word documents.

What is the difference between barcode 39 and barcode 93?

Bath Code 39 and Code 93 are linear (1d) barcode formats. Code 93 is an updated version of Code 39. Code 93 is a higher-density barcode type compared to Code 39. Using Word barcode generator add-in freeware, you can create both Code 39 and Code 93 in Microsoft Word documents.

What is the difference between Code 39 and Code 128 barcodes?

Bath Code 39 and Code 128 are linear (1d) barcode symbologies. Code 128 requires a compulsory checksum digit. If the Code 128 barcode is damaged, it may still be scannable. Code 39 checksum is optional. If the Code 39 barcode without checksum is damaged, it won't be scannable. Using Word barcode generator add-in freeware, you can create both Code 39 and Code 93 in Microsoft Word documents.

Can Code 39 barcode encode lowercase letters in Word documents?

Code 39 barcode standard version does not support lowercase letters encoding, it supports uppercase letters only. However the Code 39 extended version does. OnBarcode Word Barcode Generator add-in does support both Code 39 standard and extend versions. You can quickly draw, print and insert Code 39 with uppcase and lowercase letters in Microsoft Office Word documents.

What is the minimum size for Code 39 barcode?

The recommended minimum height for Code 39 manual scanning is 5.0mm or 15 % of Code 39 width (excluding quiet zones), whichever is greater.

Code 39 barcodes need meet the following barcode dimension size requirements.

X (X): the mimumum bar width (X module) is defined by the application specification.
Y: the minimum height is 5.0mm or 15% of symbol width (excluding quiet zones), whichever is greater.

You can generate and customize Code 39 barcode size through Word add-in property pane in Microsoft Word applications.

What is the ratio of narrow to wide bars in Code 39 barcode?

The valid wide bar vs narrow bar ratio of Code 39 barcode is from 2 to 3 inclusive. By default, the RDLC barcode software will apply bar ratio as 3. You can print and customize the Code 39 in Word documents through property N in Microsoft Word application add-in pane.