Generate Libre Barcodes
How to generate barcodes with a libre font and then mail merge the barcodes to letters using Mail Merge add-on?
This article describes how to create barcodes with a libre barcode font and then merge the barcodes to letters using Mail Merge add-on.
Mail merge libre barcodes to letters
Step 1: Create mail merge template
Type the Google Docs mail merge template. For example, tickets for a music conference are being created here.
Step 2: Start Mail Merge add-on
Start Mail Merge add-on by clicking on Extensions > Mail Merge > Start to open the Mail Merge sidebar.
Step 3: Select source data
From the Mail Merge sidebar, click on Open Spreadsheet, and then select the Google Sheets data file that is going to be used to mail merge to Gmail.
Step 4: Select Google sheet
From the Sheet drop-down menu, select the tab in the Google sheet that is going to be used to mail merge to Gmail.
Step 5: Check source data
Make sure the first row in the Google sheet contains column names (Name, Address, Email, etc.). These column names are used as *|merge fields|* in the Google Docs mail merge template.
To be able to mail merge to Gmail, at least one row of data is needed under the column names.
The Barcode column should contain the barcode source data.
The Barcode Label column contains a formula that adds an * before and after the barcode value. This formula format is required to create barcodes that can be scanned by barcode readers.
Step 6: Insert and format *|merge fields|*
Insert *|merge fields|* into the Google Docs mail merge template by clicking in the desired location within the template, selecting a field from the Merge Field drop-down menu, and clicking on Add. Repeat this step for all required *|merge fields|*.
Format the *|merge fields|* as required.
*|Merge fields|* are the column names found in the first row of data in the Google sheet.
Step 7: Download Libre Barcode 39 Text font
Download Libre Barcode 39 Text font if it is not available by clicking on More fonts from the Font drop-down menu.
Type libre barcode, select the font you want to use, and then click on OK. Here, we are using Libre Barcode 39 Text font.
Step 8: Apply Libre Barcode 39 Text font
Highlight the *|Barcode Label|* merge field, and then select Libre Barcode 39 Text font to convert the *|Barcode Label|* merge field into a barcode.
NOTE: The following steps 9-11 are optional to remove default page breaks, to fit multiple tickets instead of one ticket per page.
Step 9: Open Options dialog box
Click on Options to open the dialog box.
Step 10: Remove page break
Select No from the Add Page Break drop-down menu to remove default page breaks.
Step 11: Save preferences
Click on Save to apply the changes.
Step 12: Mail merge tickets
Select Letters from the Merge To list, and then click on Merge to begin the mail merge process to generate libre barcodes in tickets.
Step 13: Check merged tickets
Check merged tickets to make sure they appear correct.
