Bar codes can be used for a variety of business functions--from tracking inventory and clients to organizing letters and equipment. Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Publisher, has the ability to generate bar codes for a variety of uses, including Universal Product Codes, International Standard Book Numbers and postal service. Generating these bar codes in Microsoft Publisher is a well-organized and convenient process using the Barcode Generator for Microsoft Office. The Barcode Generator for Microsoft Office works with Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007 and is compatible with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 and Vista.
Step 1
Start up Microsoft Excel and prepare your data. This will include all the pertinent information you wish to associate with the bar code. You will also need to create a column for your bar code data. This is simply a code that will translate into a bar code and act as a reference point for that specific row of data.
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Step 2
Highlight all of the data in the bar code column and in the "Custom Toolbar" of Excel; click on "Settings," and choose the appropriate bar code type. You will also need to click on the drop-down box below "Convert To" and select "Image File." At this point, click "Generate Now."
Step 3
Save your data and close Excel; then open Publisher.
Step 4
Select the appropriate label size in Publisher once it starts. This selection will be based on the labels the bar codes will be printed on.
Step 5
Click "Tools," then "Mailing and Catalogs" and then "Mail Merge," at which point you will select "Picture Field" to insert the bar code. You can also select any of the data from your Excel spreadsheet to accompany the bar code, such as other product or lot information.
Tip
When creating the bar code labels in Publisher, include at least one bit of relevant information on the label, such as the product type or even name. This will help avoid confusion if you are printing bar codes for different purposes.