We previously provided a free barcode font that many of you downloaded and have been working with for your business.
However, we received your feedback that the the free font wasn’t as useful it could be, since it produced barcodes that were only machine readable (not human readable). So we set out to make a better version, and here it is.
Where can I download the inFlow Code 39 font?
All you need to do is enter your email address and we’ll send you the download link right after, along with a few helpful tips about how to use it.
If you’re interested in an in-depth look at how you can get started barcoding your small business be sure to checkout our Ultimate Barcoding Guide. It covers the code 39 font and everything else barcode related.
Why this font is special
For example, if you turned *GOINFLOW* into a barcode using our old code 39 font, the results would look like the following:
While this barcode works and is perfectly scannable, it may not be as useful as possible. For example, if you printed a bunch of barcode stickers using the old font for many different products, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish them from one another.
This is why we created our very own code 39 barcode font! Using the inFlow Code 39 Barcode Font, *GOINFLOW* now looks like this:
Ah, much better! Scanners can read the barcode and people can read the text below it—everybody wins!
While it’s a basic font, it should work for 99% of small businesses looking to implement any sort of internal barcode system. The font supports:
- letters A-Z (in caps)
- numbers 0-9
- characters (asterisk, dash and a period)
We also stress-tested the font and it seems size 24 is the minimum font size to ensure your codes will be readable when using a basic inkjet printer. We did notice, however, some codes could be read even when printed at size 16.
Just as a reminder, for your codes to work with a scanner, you have to include the * characters at the beginning and end of your barcode. This tells the scanner when to start and stop scanning.
It’s also important to note that the * characters will not appear after you’ve scanned your code. So scanning *GOINFLOW* will output the text GOINFLOW. You can even try this for yourself by printing the following out:
Can I use this barcode font to sell at retail?
This font will not work in a retail environment like at Walmart or Amazon. We recommend using our Code 39 for internal use only.
If you’re looking to get a few barcodes for use at retail, have a look at our officially licensed GTIN Barcode Shop.
We’ve partnered with GS1, the organization that manages barcodes worldwide—so when you buy from inFlow’s barcode shop you can trust that you’re getting an official, unique barcode from GS1.
How do I install the inFlow Code 39 font?
Install the barcode font in Windows
It’s really simple to install a font in Windows 7, 8, or 10. Simply double click the font file after you download it and click “install” on the next window that pops up. You can also try right clicking the “inFlow Code 39 Barcode.ttf” font file and select the install option right from that menu.
The font will be ready to use in all your programs including Microsoft Word and Excel. You usually don’t have to restart any programs or even the computer for that matter.
For other versions of Windows, you can install the font by placing the “inFlow Code 39 Barcode.ttf” file in your fonts folder. This is usually under C:WindowsFonts or C:WINNTFonts (can be reached as well by the Start Menu > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Fonts).
Install the barcode font on the Mac
For OS X 10.3 or above, all you need to do is double click the font file and click the “install font” button at the bottom of the preview.
Just like Windows, you can also place the Font file in your fonts directory. For macOS, you can place the font file under /Library/Fonts (for all users), or into /Users/Your_username/Library/Fonts (for you only).
Get software that creates barcodes for you
If you’re looking to cut out the hassle of typing out unique barcodes for your products, inFlow can help. Our inventory software can automatically generate barcodes for just the products you want, and we also offer a full-fledged label designer built in our web app. So you can generate your own unique, professional labels in just a few minutes and print them to basically any printer.
You can use your existing USB scanners with inFlow or turn your smartphones into barcode scanners to speed up work.
Ready to try inFlow out now?
Great explanation! Everyone always over complicate the explanations about bar coding. Finally someone did the opposite! Thank you for the great explanation!
Not able to install the font in my windows 7 machine , showing error “Cannot install Archon code 39 barcode.ttf does not appear to be valid font
Hi Satish
Be sure you unzip the folder before you try to install the font. Have you also tried it on another machine? Just tested it again on my Windows 10 machine and it seems to work no problem.
Is there an accompanying dll for Archon code 39? I’d like to use this with Crystal Reports, but CR requires a dll file.
I’m sorry Bill, I’m afraid we do not have an accompanying .dll. Our code 39 font is just the .ttf file we’ve linked to on Download.com.
I’m trying the 3 of 9 barcode with the following value:
GA25894AX15 817155-885504
The ” is a segment seperator, but it is creating a space in the barcode. Any ideas to work around this?
Hi Scott,
I gave this a try and it looks like it’s creating a separator in the barcode because ” is not one of the supported characters in that font set. Our Code 39 font only has the letters A–Z and the numbers 0–9, so using any symbols other than those would result in a break in the barcode. If you wanted to use a space separator and maintain the barcode, you’d have to choose one of the characters provided in our font set. Sorry about that!
Could you please tell me if the Archon Code 39.ttf Font is free to use or is there a trial period on it if downloaded.
Hi Terry, our barcode font is completely free to download and use.
HI
THANK YOU SO MUCH.. I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS ONLY
bar code got generated but not able to scan
what t do for scannable
Hi Menaka,
Hmm, this barcode font is definitely scannable on any 1D scanner. If you’re having trouble with it, I’d suggest trying to make the barcode a bit bigger, or make sure that your barcode is printed out (some scanners aren’t able to scan screens).
How to get the free ebook on barcoding setup..
Link doesn’t download anything.
Thanks,
Antoine
Hi Antoine, sorry about that, something is up with the link. I’ll email you a copy of the book today.
can not find the download when I click link
Hi KB, hmm I just tested our links again and they worked for me in Google Chrome. Here’s the exact link I used to download our font: https://download.cnet.com/Free-Archon-Code-39-Barcode-Font-for-Business/3001-2190_4-75994173.html?spi=fa0a5e70c8e84e0232e3faed09a7e6c0&dlm=0
I think this font is great, but could use just one adjustment.
for the asterisk barcode character (start/stop) to be full height and not show the actual ‘*’
So as to sandwich the rest of the barcode characters in a bookend
Halo Sir,
I have used Arcon 39 code font in NOTEPAD and printed it. But it is not scanned. What can i do to solve this problem ?
Thanks.
Hi Anant, hmm, that’s strange. If you’ve printed the CODE 39 font onto paper, it should work immediately with any scanner that recognizes 1D codes. If it doesn’t, we’d suggest increasing the font size and trying again, or scanning from a closer or farther distance from the paper.
Hi this is Nancy I have been using you program for over a year, I am ready to implement the wireless scanner, my question is !!! why do I need a computer instead of a table. the irrigation room is outside the office but we have Wi-Fi connection.
second question is which wireless scanner do you recommend that is comparable
with your program….I was shopping in Amazon too many choices, not clear what to get…
Thanks
Hi,
I really like the idea of the font with the corresponding number below. Thank you for this.
I’m having a little trouble with it, however. If I print at 24 pt, I can scan fine. IF I print at 15 or 16 pt, it doesn’t print correctly. I thought maybe it was a scanner limitation as it doesn’t scan at all on the smaller size. If I scan, enlarge and reprint the original prints, I get a correct scan with the enlarged 24 pt, but the smaller font when enlarged prints a false reading.
For example, 12345 prints correctly from the 24 pt print – whether I scan the original size or the enlarged size. When scanning the 15.5 pt print, it gives me nothing at original size and 5581 when enlarged. I can send you a scan of the original print made at 1200 dpi, if you like. Hopefully this helps someone.
Kind wishes,
WMT
hi I downloaded the font my question is how do I get rid of the plus icon in the number so that all the numbers are displayed?
Hi Ray, this font doesn’t support a symbol. However, it does have an asterisk (*) at the beginning and end. These are required for the font to be scannable.
Hi I wanted to know if you have a font that allows the two side digits to be on right and left side of barcode it looks like this image below
Hi Reg, if you’re referring to the two asterisks at each end of the barcode, those will have to stay in place for the barcode to be scannable. The text below is really just for people to read — the 1D barcode (the vertical lines above) are what the scanner actually scans.
Looking for a 3 of 9, human readable, that will also support the / character. I have seen this referred to as 3 of 9 extended, human readable. Do you have this in your product line??
Hi!
I love your Archon Code 39 Barcode font. However, in Adobe Illustrator I cannot get it to work. It shows up in the font list but it doesn’t convert the text to the Archon font. Do you have a fix for this?
Thanks,
Braxton Bliss
Hi,
Curious if you can provide the font family value for this font? Trying this font out as a plugin and need font-family value for global.css.
Thanks!
Sorry Deren, looks like my initial reply didn’t go through. We do not have any font family values for this font, it’s just provided as-is.
Hi I have just installed the Archon 39 barcode font for Mac and I have even added the font in Microsoft office compatible option but still the font is not visible in excel. Will appreciate if you can helo me in this matter urgently.
Hi Aayush, sorry, we don’t provide technical support for this CODE 39 font, but I did do a quick test just to check.
I uninstalled the font and then reinstalled it using the link on this page. It’s a .ttf file.
I made sure that the Archon Code 39 Barcode font appeared in Font Book on my Mac.
It didn’t appear the first time I installed it, but then I dragged and dropped it into Font Book and that worked.
Once that was done I was able to use the font in my copy of Excel (it appears in the font list there, too).
How du I use space in the barcode e.g. *NO 1*
Sorry Pernille, spaces are not supported in this font. Adding a space would end the current barcode.
What character is used to code a space?
Hi Scott, I don’t think our font supports any spaces. The reason being that spaces will end the current barcode. The hero image for this post would actually be four different barcodes, for example.
Hi, Just wanted to thank you for your code 39 font I downloaded. That was a great help.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!! Today I am chasing a squirrel…ie, I have been determined to catalog my home library of over 1000 books, and many don’t have barcodes. In the absence of my dh (darling husband) to mock my nerdiness, I was searching for a way to make and print barcodes on my tiny (cute!) little barcode scanner (ordered when he wasn’t looking) and I found your site, after a few other failed attempts – they were WAY beyond my level of tech understanding – no matter how big of a nerd my husband insists I am.
Thank you for making this SO EASY!
Hello,
I’d like to ask. My barcode scanner can read these three: JAN, EAN, UPC.
Does this mean it’s unable to scan the free code 39 barcode font?
Do I have to set it up somehow? Please help
Hi Asma, in my experience so far, the scanners that can scan UPC and EAN can also scan the CODE39 and CODE128 barcodes.
I’d say the easiest way to find out is to just install the font, print it out on a piece of paper, and scan it. It should take under 3 or 4 mins to try.
Can this font display the 3of9 barcode WITHOUT the human readable information below it?
Is there a similar font available for code 128, which is scannable and has the test underneath?
Hey Daz Y,
Thanks for reading. To answer your question there may be code 128 fonts available but we haven’t yet created one ourselves. We are however in the process of creating a barcode generator that is capable of generating all different types of barcodes including code 128. The tool will be completely free to use just like our code 39 font. If you want to stay up to date on our future releases you can subscribe to our content newsletter on this page.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Jared
Hi I am unable to scan as well, i have enlarged and printed but no luck?
Hey Liesl,
I’m sorry you’re having trouble scanning the font. Did you use asterisks on either end of the code? Forgetting to use these symbols is the most common problem we find people have when using the barcode font. I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jared
Buen dia, una consulta cuando escaneo me sale un carácter delante, una b, porque puede ser ejemplo.
*139* –> b139
Gracias.
Hola Claudio,
Gracias por leer. Lamento que tengas problemas con la fuente del código de barras. Esta es la primera vez que escuchamos que alguien tiene este problema. ¿Está utilizando inFlow para escanear códigos de barras?
Salud,
Jared
Hola Jared,
Gracias por la pronta respuesta, el error se resolvió, era un tema del lector, tenía activado enviar ID-ON la letra que identifica el código de barra usado en el codigo que estoy leyendo.
SaludosClaudio