The Barcode tool allows you to add a barcode linked to a dynamic field. You can configure colors, symbologies such as Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 39, Code 128A, UPC-A, and more.

Barcodes are commonly used in ID card systems to encode data for fast and reliable scanning. Different barcode formats serve different use cases depending on the type of data, available space, and scanner capabilities.

Understanding Barcode Formats

Barcodes fall into two main categories: 1D (Linear) and 2D (Matrix).

• 1D Barcodes use lines and spaces of varying widths to represent data. They are typically used for numeric or alphanumeric values such as IDs or serial numbers. Examples include Code 128, EAN-13, and UPC-A.
• 2D Barcodes encode data both horizontally and vertically, allowing significantly more information to be stored in a compact area. The most common 2D barcode is the QR Code.

QR Codes

QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are widely used when more data needs to be encoded in a small space. Common use cases include:

• URLs to link to websites or online portals.
• Contact information such as vCards.
• Event access and ticket validation.
• System identifiers for access control or automation.

Choosing the Right Barcode

Selecting the appropriate barcode type depends on your project requirements:

• Data type – Use 1D barcodes for simple values and QR Codes for structured or longer data.
• Available space – QR Codes are better suited for limited space.
• Scanner compatibility – Ensure your scanners support the selected barcode format.

Best Practices

For reliable scanning, follow these recommendations:

• Leave sufficient margin around the barcode to act as a quiet zone.
• Use high-contrast colors, such as black on white.
• Test barcodes with your scanners before production.
• Size the barcode appropriately for the expected scanning distance.

Barcode Integration

Barcodes, including QR Codes, can be added directly to your designs in Designer. This allows you to encode essential data for fast scanning and integration with access control, attendance, or tracking systems.

Supported Barcode Types

The following barcode formats are supported:

Format Name	Description	Type
CODABAR	Codabar (rationalized) - numbers and A B C D - $ : / . +	varchar
CODE 11	Digits 0–9 and the dash character	decimal
CODE 128 (default)	Code 128 is a high-density linear barcode symbology for alphanumeric or numeric-only barcodes. It can encode all 128 ASCII characters. It generally results in more compact barcodes than other methods like Code 39, especially when the texts contain mostly digits.	varchar
CODE 128 A	Code 128A - upper case, numbers, punctuation and control characters	varchar
CODE 128 B	Code 128B - upper and lower case, numbers and punctuation	varchar
CODE 128 C	Code 128C - numbers only	decimal
CODE 39	Code 3 of 9 (also called Code 39) - numbers, upper case, and - . * $ / + %	varchar
CODE 39 EXTENDED	Extended 3 of 9 (also called Extended Code 39) - full ASCII character set	varchar
CODE 93	Code 93 - numbers, upper case, and - . * $ / + %	varchar
EAN-13	13-Digits UPC-Based Extension - numbers only	decimal
EAN-2	2-Digits UPC-Based Extension - numbers only	decimal
EAN-5	5-Digits UPC-Based Extension - numbers only	decimal
EAN-8	8-Digits UPC-Based Extension - numbers only	decimal
Interleaved 2 of 5	Interleaved 2 of 5 - numbers only	decimal
MSI	Variation of Plessey code	decimal
PHARMACODE	Pharmaceutical Binary Code	decimal
PHARMACODE TWO-TRACKS	Pharmaceutical Binary Code - 2 Tracks	decimal
PLANET	The Postal Alpha Numeric Encoding Technique	decimal
POSTNET	Postal Numeric Encoding Technique	decimal
RMS4CC	Royal Mail 4-state Customer Code	varchar
Standard 2 of 5	2 of 5 - numbers only	decimal
UPC-A	UPC-A - numbers only (11 numbers and a check digit)	decimal
UPC-E	UPC-E - numbers only - used for zero-compression UPC symbols.	decimal