Home: Products: Code 39 Barcode Fonts: Code 39 Barcode Fonts Name and Application Data :

Code 39 Barcode Fonts Name and Application Data

Normal and Human Readable Version of Code 39 Barcode

IDAutomation barcode fonts use short names for cross-platform compatibility and several other reasons. This may cause confusion for some users because it may not be evident which font to use. Below IDAutomation has outlined the font names and purpose.

Home | Specifications | Download Demo

Code 39 Barcode Font Specifications and Font Name Descriptions

The X dimension (width of the narrow bar) is listed below for various point sizes. The N Dimension (narrow to wide ratio) is 3:1 which is recommended by international standards. If an N dimension of 2 or 2.5 is desired, IDAutomation also offers the Universal Barcode Font Advantage™, which offers additional N Dimensions of 2:1 and 2.5:1 and is designed to create multiple barcode types as a single font.

IDAutomation’s advanced Code 39 barcode fonts have been designed to print dependably at six points or greater, provided that the scanner can read the symbol. IDAutomation has been able to dependably scan this font with the IDAutomation USB Barcode Scanner when printed at six points on a 600 DPI laser printer.

Point Size	Approximate X dimension (1 mil = .001")
48	.102 cm	40 mil
36	.076 cm	30 mil
32	.069 cm	27 mil
30	.064 cm	25 mil
28	.058 cm	23 mil
24	.051 cm	20 mil
20	.043 cm	17 mil
18	.038 cm	15 mil
16	.033 cm	13 mil
12	.025 cm	10 mil
8	.018 cm	7 mil
6	.013 cm	5 mil
* To print at a different X dimension, find the point size that has the X dimension closest to what is needed and use the formula below to find the point size needed: 12 * (X dimension needed) / (X dimension at 12 points) = (point size) For example, to obtain an X dimension of 12 mils, the point size should be 14: 12 * 12 / 10 = 14

NOTICE: When using a printer with less than 600 DPI, the following point sizes should be used to create accurate barcodes:

203 DPI Printer (thermal printer)	300 DPI Printer
6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36...	4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36...

Code 39 Font Names and Purpose

Twenty different versions of the Code 39 barcode fonts are provided to support human readable versions and different width and height requirements. The last character in the Code 39 barcode font name determines the height of the barcode with the shortest being "XS" and the tallest being "XXL". Because each single font can be printed at various point sizes, there are several combinations of heights and widths that can be produced. The length of any barcode can be determined by multiplying the X dimension by the number of characters and then by 16. For example, 10 characters at 12 points should be about 1.28" long because .008 * 10 * 16 = 1.28. The start and stop characters should be included in these calculations. (click here to view font names prior to July, 2003)

Font name of purchased version	Font name of eval version*	Font height at 12 points*
Code 3 of 9 Fonts with text below the barcode:
IDAutomationHC39XS	IDAutomationSHC39XS	1/8" (.125") or .3cm
IDAutomationHC39S	IDAutomationSHC39S	1/4" (.25") or .6cm
IDAutomationHC39M	IDAutomationSHC39M	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
IDAutomationHC39L	IDAutomationSHC39L	1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
IDAutomationHC39XL	IDAutomationSHC39XL	7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
IDAutomationHC39XXL	IDAutomationSHC39XXL	1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm
Code 3 of 9 Fonts with no text below the barcode:
IDAutomationC39XS	IDAutomationSC39XS	1/8" (.125") or .3cm
IDAutomationC39S	IDAutomationSC39S	1/4" (.25") or .6cm
IDAutomationC39M	IDAutomationSC39M	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
IDAutomationC39L	IDAutomationSC39L	1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
IDAutomationC39XL	IDAutomationSC39XL	7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
IDAutomationC39XXL	IDAutomationSC39XXL	1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm
Extended Code 3 of 9 Fonts with text below the barcode:
IDAutomationXHC39XS		1/8" (.125") or .3cm
IDAutomationXHC39S		1/4" (.25") or .6cm
IDAutomationXHC39M	IDAutomationSXHC39M	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
IDAutomationXHC39L		1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
IDAutomationXHC39XL		7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
IDAutomationXHC39XXL		1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm
Extended Code 3 of 9 Fonts with no text below the barcode:
IDAutomationXC39XS		1/8" (.125") or .3cm
IDAutomationXC39S		1/4" (.25") or .6cm
IDAutomationXC39M	IDAutomationSXC39M	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
IDAutomationXC39L		1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
IDAutomationXC39XL		7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
IDAutomationXC39XXL		1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm

* Measurements are approximate and were measured when printed at 12 points which should work for most scanners. Measurements for Human Readable fonts do not include the text below. At 12 points, the X dimension is about 8 mils. To print at a different height, find the font that has the height closest to what is needed, use this formula to find the point size to print the font at that height: 12 * (height wanted) / (height at 12 points) = (point size converted to integer) As an example, if IDAutomationHC39L is used to print the height at about .75" tall, the font needs to print it at 18 points because: 12 * .75 / .5 = 18

Font names used prior to July, 2003

Twenty different versions of the Code 39 barcode fonts are provided to support human readable versions and different width and height requirements. The last character in the Code 39 barcode font name determines the height of the barcode with the shortest being "a" and the tallest being "f". Because each single font can be printed at various point sizes, there are several combinations of heights and widths that can be produced. The length of any barcode can be determined by multiplying the X dimension by the number of characters and then by 16. For example, 10 characters at 12 points should be about 1.28" long because .008 * 10 * 16 = 1.28. The start and stop characters should be included in these calculations.

Font name of purchased version	Font name of eval version*	Font height at 12 points*
Code 3 of 9 Fonts with text below the barcode:
AdvHC39a	SAdHC39a	1/8" (.125") or .3cm
AdvHC39b	SAdHC39b	1/4" (.25") or .6cm
AdvHC39c	SAdHC39c	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
AdvHC39d	SAdHC39d	1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
AdvHC39e	SAdHC39e	7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
AdvHC39f	SAdHC39f	1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm
Code 3 of 9 Fonts with no text below the barcode:
AdvC39a	AdvC39a	1/8" (.125") or .3cm
AdvC39b	AdvC39b	1/4" (.25") or .6cm
AdvC39c	AdvC39c	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
AdvC39d	AdvC39d	1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
AdvC39e	AdvC39e	7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
AdvC39f	AdvC39f	1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm
Extended Code 3 of 9 Fonts with text below the barcode:
ExtHC39a		1/8" (.125") or .3cm
ExtHC39b		1/4" (.25") or .6cm
ExtHC39c	SEXTH39C	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
ExtHC39d		1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
ExtHC39e		7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
ExtHC39f		1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm
Extended Code 3 of 9 Fonts with no text below the barcode:
ExtC39a		1/8" (.125") or .3cm
ExtC39b		1/4" (.25") or .6cm
ExtC39c	SEXTC39C	13/32" (.4") or 1cm
ExtC39d		1/2" (.5") or 1.5cm
ExtC39e		7/8" (.88") or 2.2cm
ExtC39f		1 5/16" (1.31") or 3.4cm

* Measurements are approximate and were measured when printed at 12 points which should work for most scanners. Measurements for Human Readable fonts do not include the text below. At 12 points, the X dimension is about 8 mils. To print at a different height, find the font that has the height closest to what is needed, use this formula to find the point size to print the font at that height: 12 * (height wanted) / (height at 12 points) = (point size converted to integer) As an example, if IDAutomationHC39L is used to print the height at about .75" tall, the font needs to print it at 18 points because: 12 * .75 / .5 = 18

Over 70% of Fortune 100 companies use IDAutomation's products to automate their businesses.