Library barcodes: How to generate barcode images from id numbers?

Library barcodes: How to generate barcode images from id numbers?
I have scanned the barcodes for all my library patrons into a text file. Here is what it looks like:

03404500074263 frish_katie_l
03404500001555 schmidt_john_jacob_j
03404500002191 smith_denaiah

(The number is the barcode id number for a library card, and the name, following the space, is the holder of that library card.)

What I need to do is generate a directory of images, where each image file is an *image* of the library barcode for each patron. So I need to end up with this:

C:\library_patrons\…
…frish_katie_l.jpg
…schmidt_john_jacob_jingleheimer.jpg
…smith_denaiah.jpg

Here is an example picture of a library barcode, FYI:
libraries.idaho.gov/files/Image1.preview.png

Is there any open source, free, or even pay-software available so I can do this? I have hundreds of students, so it really needs to be able to process a text-file (or spreadsheet or whatever) of a BUNCH of barcode ids. But failing that possibility, software that handles one id at a time is okay.

A second related question: I have found some “barcode” information on the web, but I don’t know what “type” or “format” these library barcodes are, so I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for, or what software requrements I…well…require. What type or format are these barcodes?

Thanks for any advice. I need it. :’ )

Best answer:

I’m not sure why you want to create a bunch of images. If its to print them out at some point then don’t use jpg to store them. The normal thing to do with barcodes is just print them out using a barcode font.

All you do is get a barcode font installed on your machine, then highlight the barcode number in a program that supports fonts (Word, Excel, etc) and change the font to the barcode font. When you print it out on paper it will be scannable.

If you use a raster image format like jpg, more than likely you wont be able to scan it after printing, not to mention there would be a bunch more steps involved just to get it into an image format.

Here’s a link to a free barcode font that I’ve used on many different pieces of software in the past:

squaregear.net/fonts/free3of9.shtml

One more thing, I’ve noticed that in every situation if I want to get a barcode to scan with a handheld scanner I have to surround the number with asterisks. In other words, if the code is 12345, then you have to store it as *12345*, and change that to the barcode font and print it. Without the asterisks it wont scan, at least in my experience.

Tags: Barcode, barcodes, from, generate, images, library, numbers

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