scaning barcodes

[kderhami]

Is there any way to scan barcodes into inventory lists, so to help us in making inventories or ordering easier???

[bpcomp]

May barcode scanners that hook up to a computer are just a special keyboard and interpret the bar code into text. Should be fairly straight forward to use them for inventory.

[wjstarck]

Are you planning to scan existing bar codes that a manufacturer has on an item?

Then as bpcomp said you would just need a barcode scanner. Make sure it's USB. Symbol (oops, looks like they were acquired by Motorola http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/ ... e+Scanning) makes the best ones. Wasp also makes fairly decent stuff. Less rugged than Symbol, but much less expensive too. Fry's usually has all-in-one kits from Wasp that come with a scanner and let you create your own barcodes too.

If all the barcodes you want to scan look like those in the supermarket (rectangular with thin and thick lines) then you'll want a scanner that can do Code 128 (most will). If the barcodes look like the ones FedEx or UPS use, then you'll need a scanner that does 2D barcodes which are called DataMatrix. Datamatrix barcodes can just hold a lot more data in a smaller area.

This website sells addins for Word which allow you to generate your own barcodes:

http://www.idautomation.com/font-encode ... cel-addin/

[hoavm]

Or you want to print barcode as well???

[bpcomp]

To print your own bar codes for free there are several options. One of them is to use Libre Office and this extension. http://extensions.libreoffice.org/exten ... er/barcode
Then lay them out on an avery label template.