Sunavin Free Commercial Online 1D Barcode Generator

Whether you need barcodes for product labels, shipping labels, shelf tags, pharmaceutical labels, food packaging, or any other type of label, our online barcode generator allows you to create them quickly and efficiently. Our development team has worked hard to make it user-friendly, and if you’re unsure how to use it, simply scroll down to read our usage instructions.

I. Free Commercial Online 1D Barcode Generator

II. Sunavin Free Commercial Online 1D Barcode Generator: User Guide

Welcome to the Sunavin Free Commercial Online Barcode Generator. This guide will walk you through how to effectively use the tool, including tips and precautions to ensure you generate the best barcode for your specific needs.

Step 1: Input Barcode Text

Enter Barcode Data:

In the input field labeled “Enter one or more barcodes, one per line,” type the text or numeric data you wish to convert into a barcode. You can enter multiple barcodes, each on a new line.

Best Practices:

• For numeric barcodes (e.g., UPC, EAN), ensure you input only numbers.
• For alphanumeric barcodes (e.g., CODE128, CODE39), you can use both letters and numbers.
• Input multiple barcode values by entering them line by line. Each line will generate a separate barcode.

Example:

If you’re generating a barcode for product code “Sample1234,” enter that exactly in one of the lines.

Tip:

Double-check your input data before generating the barcode, as any mistakes will reflect in the final barcode output. In case of an invalid input, the tool will notify you, and an error file will be created in the output.

Step 2: Select Barcode Type

Choose Barcode Type:

From the dropdown menu, select the appropriate barcode format for your application. Each barcode standard has specific data rules that must be followed to generate a valid barcode. Below is a breakdown of the supported barcode standards and the corresponding data requirements.

Supported Barcode Standards:

• CODE128 (auto, A, B, C):

  • CODE128 auto: Automatically chooses the best encoding (A, B, or C) based on the input data.
  • CODE128 A: Supports uppercase letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), and control characters (ASCII 0-95). Control characters include spaces, special symbols (e.g., !, @, #), and non-printable characters like tab and newline.
  • CODE128 B: Similar to CODE128 A, but with support for both uppercase and lowercase letters (A-Z, a-z) along with numbers (0-9) and special characters (ASCII 32-127). It is useful for text data that includes mixed-case letters.
  • CODE128 C: Numeric-only encoding, designed for efficiently encoding long strings of numbers. It compresses numeric input into a compact representation, with each pair of digits (00-99) encoded as a single byte. The input length must be even; if the string has an odd number of digits, it may need to be padded.
  • Data Type:
    • A: Uppercase letters, numbers, control characters.
    • B: Uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, special characters.
    • C: Numeric-only (must be even-length).
  • Recommendation: CODE128 is highly flexible and can handle almost any type of alphanumeric data. Use CODE128 auto for general purposes, where the tool selects the most efficient encoding.

• EAN13:

  • A 13-digit numeric barcode used globally in retail.
  • The first 12 digits represent the product code, while the 13th digit is a check digit calculated using a mod-10 algorithm to ensure data integrity.
  • Data Type: Exactly 13 numeric digits (0-9). The first 12 digits are entered by the user, and the tool automatically calculates and appends the check digit.
  • Recommendation: Suitable for retail products sold globally. It’s often found on consumer goods and groceries.

• EAN8:

  • A compact version of EAN13, using 8 numeric digits.
  • The first 7 digits are the product code, and the 8th digit is a check digit calculated using a mod-10 algorithm.
  • Data Type: Exactly 8 numeric digits (0-9). The first 7 digits are provided by the user, and the last digit is calculated automatically.
  • Recommendation: Best for smaller retail items where space is limited.

• UPC-A:

  • A 12-digit numeric barcode commonly used in North America.
  • The first 11 digits represent the product code, and the 12th digit is a check digit calculated using a mod-10 algorithm.
  • Data Type: Exactly 12 numeric digits (0-9). The user enters 11 digits, and the last digit is automatically calculated.
  • Recommendation: Ideal for products sold in retail environments in the U.S. and Canada.

• UPC-E:

  • A compressed version of UPC-A, designed to encode data more compactly for smaller packages.
  • It reduces the number of digits by removing unnecessary zeros, but represents the same 12-digit product code as UPC-A.
  • Data Type: 6 or 8 numeric digits (0-9). The user typically provides 6 digits, and the remaining data is derived or compressed by the tool.
  • Recommendation: Use this for small products with limited space on packaging.

• CODE39:

  • Supports uppercase letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), and a limited set of special characters (e.g., -, $, %, /, space). Each character is represented by a series of five bars and four spaces.
  • Data Type: Alphanumeric (A-Z, 0-9) and limited special characters. It’s more flexible but less dense than CODE128, meaning the barcodes generated are typically larger.
  • Recommendation: CODE39 is widely used in logistics and inventory tracking, especially in industries like automotive and defense.

• ITF14:

  • A 14-digit numeric barcode, used primarily for shipping and product cartons.
  • The 14th digit is typically a check digit calculated using a mod-10 algorithm.
  • Data Type: Exactly 14 numeric digits (0-9). The first 13 digits are provided by the user, and the last digit is generated as a check digit.
  • Recommendation: Ideal for outer packaging and shipping cartons, ensuring that large quantities of products can be tracked during transit.

• ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5):

  • Numeric-only barcode that encodes digits in pairs. It’s a high-density barcode suitable for encoding long numeric strings, but the length of the data must be even.
  • Data Type: Numeric-only (0-9), even-length input. For odd-length data, an extra zero may be added to make it even.
  • Recommendation: Useful in industries like logistics and warehousing for labeling bulk items.

• MSI:

  • A numeric barcode commonly used in inventory systems.
  • It typically includes a mod-10 or mod-11 checksum to validate the data.
  • Data Type: Numeric-only (0-9), variable length, often with checksum validation.
  • Recommendation: MSI is popular in warehouses and supply chain management for tracking items.

• MSI10, MSI11, MSI1010, MSI1110:

  • These are variations of the MSI barcode that incorporate different checksum calculations:
    • MSI10: Uses a mod-10 checksum at the end of the data.
    • MSI11: Uses a mod-11 checksum.
    • MSI1010: Applies two mod-10 checksums for extra data validation.
    • MSI1110: Uses a mod-11 followed by a mod-10 checksum.
  • Data Type: Numeric-only (0-9), with the appropriate checksum depending on the variant.
  • Recommendation: These are useful when enhanced data validation is needed, particularly in high-security inventory systems.

• Pharmacode:

  • A numeric barcode used in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • It is designed to be read in both directions, which is critical for ensuring accuracy in medication packaging.
  • Data Type: Numeric-only (0-9), with variable length.
  • Recommendation: Pharmacode is specifically designed for use in pharmaceutical packaging, ensuring the correct identification of drugs and medical supplies.

Tip:

Make sure the input data conforms to the rules for each barcode type. For instance, UPC and EAN require exact lengths and numeric data, while CODE128 and CODE39 are more flexible, allowing both letters and numbers. Invalid inputs will either cause errors or produce invalid barcodes.

Step 3: Customize the Barcode

You can further adjust the appearance and functionality of your barcode to match your specific needs.

Barcode Dimensions

• Line Width:
  • This controls the thickness of the barcode lines. Adjust using the number input box.
  • Suggested Settings:
    • Thin lines (value of 1) are ideal for small, high-density barcodes.
    • Thicker lines (value of 3-4) work better for large or low-resolution printing where fine details may get lost.
• Height:
  • Set the height of the barcode (default: 100 pixels).
  • Tip: For small labels, reduce the height, but ensure it’s still scannable by your barcode readers. Taller barcodes are generally easier for scanners to read.
• Margin:
  • Controls the whitespace around the barcode. This is critical for ensuring scanners can easily detect the barcode boundaries.
  • Tip: A minimum margin of 10 pixels is recommended for clarity, but you can adjust it depending on the label size.

Colors and Text Display

• Background Color:
  • You can choose any background color for your barcode using the color picker (default: white).
  • Recommendations:
    • For best results, keep the background white or light-colored to ensure good contrast with the barcode lines.
• Line Color:
  • Select the line color for the barcode (default: black).
  • Tip: Always aim for high contrast between the barcode lines and the background. Black lines on a white background offer the best readability for most scanners.
• Display Text:
  • Toggle whether the human-readable text (the text encoded in the barcode) should appear below the barcode.
  • Tip: It’s recommended to show the text unless space is limited or there’s another way to view the encoded data.

Text Alignment and Font

• Text Alignment:
  • You can align the text left, center (default), or right below the barcode.
  • Tip: Centered alignment often looks best for retail and product barcodes, while left or right alignment can be used for specific design preferences.
• Font:
  • Choose a font for the barcode text (default: Monospace).
  • Tip: Monospace is recommended because it provides even spacing, making it easier to read the barcode data. If design is important, you can select fonts like Serif or Sans-serif.
• Font Style:
  • You can choose normal, bold, italic, or bold italic styles for the barcode text.
  • Tip: Stick to normal or bold for clarity, as overly stylized text can reduce readability.

Text Size and Margin

• Font Size:
  • Adjust the size of the barcode text (default: 20).
  • Tip: A font size between 14-20 is usually ideal for labels. However, you can decrease the size if you need to fit more information into a small space.
• Text Margin:
  • Set the vertical distance between the barcode and its text.
  • Tip: A margin of 0 to 10 pixels is typically enough. Negative margins may overlap the text with the barcode, which could make it harder to read or scan.

Step 4: Generate the Barcode

Automatic Generation:

The barcode will be generated and updated automatically as you adjust the settings (such as barcode type, size, and color). Make sure that your input data and the selected barcode format are correct before finalizing the barcode. The preview will reflect your settings in real time, allowing you to verify the output.

Error Handling:

If your input is incompatible with the selected barcode type, an error message will appear:
“Invalid input. Please enter valid characters for the selected barcode type.”
This typically happens when trying to input letters into a numeric-only format (such as UPC, EAN), or if the length of the input does not match the required length for the chosen format. Ensure that your data conforms to the character and length requirements of the barcode type you’ve selected (refer to Step 2 for detailed input rules).

Step 5: Download the Barcode

Download Options:

After customizing your barcode, you can download it in various formats by clicking the respective download button. The available formats are:

• PNG
• JPG
• SVG
• GIF

Single-line Input:

• If you’ve entered only one line of barcode data, the barcode will be displayed in the preview, and you can download it in the selected format by clicking the appropriate button.

Multi-line Input (Batch Download):

• If you’ve entered multiple lines of barcode data, only the first barcode will be displayed in the preview. However, when you download, the tool will generate barcodes for each line of input and package them into a single ZIP file.
• Error Handling:
  • If any line contains unsupported data or is formatted incorrectly, instead of generating a barcode, the tool will create a text file (.txt) indicating the error.
  • The name of this error file will follow the format lineNumber_invalid.txt, where lineNumber is the position of the invalid input in your list.
  • Inside the file, the invalid input will be written along with a message explaining the error. The file’s name will also contain the invalid data for easier identification, following the format lineNumber_invalidData.txt.
  • For example, if the 5th line of your input contains the text “Sample@123”, which is invalid for the chosen barcode type, the tool will generate a file named [email protected] with a message indicating the error.

Best Practices:

• Verify Data: Double-check your barcode inputs to avoid invalid entries. For batch processing, review the generated ZIP file to ensure all barcodes were correctly created and note any error files that point to problematic input lines.
• Error Management: The error text files provide a clear reference to the exact line and invalid input, making it easy to identify and correct issues for future barcode generation.

Step 6: Additional Tips and Precautions

Cross-Platform Compatibility:

Barcodes may render slightly differently depending on the device or scanner being used. To ensure consistent readability, test your generated barcodes across various devices and scanners. Some older devices may not handle certain barcode types (e.g., newer formats like CODE128) as effectively.

Simplicity and Readability:

While customization options (such as color and text alignment) can enhance barcode appearance, they may also impact readability. Stick to high-contrast color schemes (e.g., black lines on a white background) and avoid overly decorative fonts to ensure optimal scanning performance. Always keep readability as a priority over aesthetic customization.

Test Before Mass Use:

Before using your barcodes in production or on a large scale, it’s essential to print a sample and test it using your intended barcode scanners. This will ensure that the barcode is readable in your specific environment and that the input data corresponds correctly to the generated output.

Batch Processing Precautions:

When generating barcodes in batch mode (with multiple lines of input), the tool only displays the first barcode for preview but generates all barcodes in the background. Ensure that each line of input adheres to the correct format for the selected barcode type.

• If any input is invalid, the tool generates a .txt file in the ZIP package with an error message. The file name reflects the line number and the invalid data, making it easy to identify and fix errors. For example, if line 3 contains an invalid input like “Sample@123,” a file named [email protected] will be generated to indicate the error.

Input Validation:

Always validate your input to ensure that it meets the character and length requirements of the selected barcode type. For example:

• UPC and EAN only accept numeric inputs.
• CODE128 can handle both letters and numbers. Incorrect input formats will trigger the error-handling mechanism, producing an error file in batch downloads.

III. FAQs

1. Is the Sunavin Barcode Generator free to use?

Yes, the Sunavin Barcode Generator is completely free. You can use it anytime to generate the barcodes you need without any limitations.

2. Can I use the Sunavin Barcode Generator for commercial purposes?

Yes, the Sunavin Barcode Generator is free for both personal and commercial use. Whether you need barcodes for product labels, inventory management, or other business purposes, the tool is available for all your needs.

3. Why am I seeing the message “Invalid input”?

The “Invalid input” message appears when the data you entered is not compatible with the selected barcode type. For example, entering letters in a numeric-only barcode format, such as UPC or EAN, will trigger this error. Ensure that your input matches the data requirements for the barcode type you’re generating.

4. What is the recommended barcode size for printing?

For most standard printing purposes, a line width of 2-3 pixels and a height of 100-120 pixels will result in a scannable barcode. However, you can adjust these dimensions based on your label size or other needs. Always test your barcode before mass production to ensure that it can be scanned correctly.

5. What color combinations work best for barcodes?

High contrast is essential for barcode readability. The most reliable color combination is black lines on a white background. Avoid using light colors for the barcode lines or background, as barcode scanners may not detect them properly.

6. How can I ensure my barcode is scannable?

To ensure that your barcode is scannable:

• Use a high-contrast color scheme.
• Maintain sufficient margins around the barcode for easier scanning.
• Test your barcode on various scanners, especially if you’ve customized dimensions or colors, to confirm that it works consistently.

Final Words

We developed the Sunavin Barcode Generator as a completely free tool with the hope of supporting small businesses just getting started. Whether you need barcodes for product labels, inventory management, or shipping, this tool is designed to help you meet your needs at no cost. For businesses with more complex barcode requirements—such as those selling on Amazon, operating large-scale retail, or adhering to strict industry standards—you might want to explore paid solutions like Bartender or other professional barcode generators for enhanced features and compliance.

If you encounter any issues while using the tool or have suggestions for improvement, we’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section.

Lastly, a quick introduction to Sunavin: we are one of China’s leading barcode manufacturers, suppliers, and a one-stop printing solution provider. We proudly partner with renowned brands like Zebra, TSC, Avery, and Datamax to supply a full range of barcode printers, barcode scanners, original and compatible printheads, thermal transfer ribbons, thermal paper and labels, and printer accessories. We offer competitive prices on top-quality products. Reach out to us for all your barcode hardware needs, and let us help you streamline your business operations with reliable, cost-effective solutions.