FAQs: Printing Barcodes Using the Create Valid Barcode IDs Report with Barcode Font

Steps for Printing Barcode Labels Using the Create Valid Barcodes IDs Report with Barcode Font

If a staff workstation has a barcode font installed that understands the algorithm of your library’s barcodes, you can use the Label Designer wizard and the Create Valid Barcode IDs report to print a sheet of barcodes for both user and item IDs.

SirsiDynix does not supply the barcode font. It is your responsibility to obtain an appropriate font that matches your barcodes. For example, IDAutomation.com supplies the Code 39.TTF font.

The SirsiDynix Symphony Label Designer wizard functionality offers the option of selecting a font to use for label printing. If the intent is to generate and print a sheet of barcodes using a font such as IDAutomation Code 39, please note that you may need to work with the font provider and the manufacturer of your scanner to determine the exact label template settings, such as font size and preceding/trailing characters.

To print barcode labels

Install the appropriate barcode label font on the staff workstation.

Select the delivered Barcode template or follow the steps for the Label Designer wizard to create a barcode label template.

When creating the template, in the Label Designer Label Template window, click the Font button, and select the font for printing item barcodes, such as Code 39.TTF.

In the Label pane, be sure to select Barcode ID as the Value to print on the label. Also, the font may require that you enter start/stop characters. For example, Code 39 font can use an exclamation point as the start/stop characters.

Click OK to save the template.

In the Administration report group select the Create Valid Barcode IDs report.

On the Barcode tab, make the following selections.

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Select the Barcode Subformat used by your library.

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Type the Barcode Prefix.

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Select the Number of Barcodes to generate.

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Type the starting Significant Digits.

On the Label tab, select the barcode label template created in the preceding steps.

Run the report to create a sheet of barcodes for printing.

In the Label Designer, fonts are specific to one label. If you assign the IDAutomation Code 39 font to a label, you will find that, although the font can print text, it does not include all lower and uppercase characters, and so it is not particularly useful for printing text. For example, the font will not print an uppercase W, lower case j, h, and others. If you want to add text and a barcode to one physical label, the flexibility of the Label Designer can be used to create a template that will solve this problem.