How to Create Code 128 Barcodes from Excel

When Code 128 is a good fit for Excel data

Code 128 is a general-purpose linear barcode that can encode letters, numbers and several special characters. That flexibility makes it useful for internal identifiers that do not need to be retail GTINs: SKUs, serial numbers, asset tags, bin IDs and similar operational values.

Do not confuse ordinary Code 128 with GS1-128. GS1 documents GS1-128 as a subset of the more general Code 128 symbology that uses FNC1 and GS1 Application Identifiers. If a logistics partner explicitly asks for GS1-128, a generic Code 128 image is not automatically equivalent.

Prepare the Excel workbook before generating

A clean workbook reduces ambiguity and protects the exact identifier that should be encoded. BarcodeBatch automatically detects the likely value column, so a clear header is more useful than a complicated sheet layout.

• Use one item per row and one barcode value per cell.
• Use a clear header such as Barcode Value, SKU, Serial Number or Product Code.
• Keep Product Name in a separate optional column when you want readable file names or context.
• Store identifiers as text if they contain leading zeros or can be mistaken for numbers, dates or scientific notation.
• Remove accidental blank rows and avoid merged cells in the barcode-value area.

Generate the Code 128 batch step by step

Open Excel Bulk, select the .xlsx file and let BarcodeBatch detect the worksheet and likely columns. Choose Code 128 Auto, review the preview, then generate the batch. The current V1 workflow supports up to 1,000 data rows per worksheet and keeps processing in the browser.

The returned XLSX contains an embedded Barcode Image column and the ZIP contains one PNG for each valid generated row. That gives you both a spreadsheet-friendly result and separate image files for labels or other systems.

Preserve the exact Code 128 value

For internal identifiers, whitespace, case and leading zeros can be meaningful. BarcodeBatch follows a no-mutation rule: it does not silently trim, pad, truncate or change case. That means the spreadsheet must already contain the value you actually intend to encode.

Excel itself can transform identifier-like values. Microsoft recommends treating codes as text when leading zeros or long digit strings must remain unchanged. Check the underlying cell value before a large generation run.

Test a sample before printing or importing

A barcode can render correctly and still be wrong for the receiving workflow if the source data, label size or expected symbology is wrong. Scan a representative sample with the same scanner or application that will be used in production.

• Confirm the decoded text exactly matches the source cell.
• Test short and long values from the workbook.
• Include values with letters, numbers and leading zeros when those occur in real data.
• Confirm the receiving system expects ordinary Code 128 rather than GS1-128 or another format.