> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.taltech.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Barcode ActiveX Microsoft Word add-ins

> Install the Barcode ActiveX macros for Word 97/2000 that turn selected text, mail merge fields, and labels into barcodes.

[Download the Word 97/2000 Template](https://www.taltech.com/files/ActiveX_Macros.exe) that will allow you to install all of the macros described below:

## Convert selected text to a barcode (TextToBarCode)

This macro converts any selected text to a barcode.

To convert selected text to a barcode:

* Choose the font size equivalent to the height that you want your barcode to be. There are 72 points per inch, therefore if you want a one-inch barcode, change the font size to 72. Note: if the font size is less than 18, a quarter inch high barcode will be produced.
* Run the TextToBarCode macro by clicking on the small barcode icon in the Word toolbar or by selecting the “AXTextToBarCode” macro from the “Tools” menu.

## Prompt for a barcode message (PromptForBarCode)

This macro pops open a dialog box asking you to enter a barcode message, and choose other settings for your barcode. After you enter in the message, the dialog box disappears and a barcode is inserted in your document wherever the cursor is.

## Adding barcodes to labels or a mail merge document in Word (MergeBarCodes)

This macro searches through a document and converts any text that has been formatted with any of the installed barcode styles to a barcode. When you install the barcode macros, you will be prompted to select the barcode styles that you would like to use. Each style represents a different type of barcode that you can create. Please refer to the on-line help file to learn more about all the different types of barcodes that you can create with the TAL Barcode ActiveX.

This macro is ideal for use with mail merge documents. When you create your main “merge document” with the mail merge tool in Word, select any “Insert Fields” or static text that you want converted to a barcode and change its style to any of the installed barcode styles. Next, run your mail merge and merge to a “New Document”. Finally, run the MergeBarCodes macro to fill in barcodes in the resulting merged document.

The barcode styles must be applied to the merge template prior to the actual merge between the template and the merge data. The template and the data must be merged to a new document.

Note: Since Word styles apply to an entire line or cell, ensure that each piece of information that you want barcoded is alone on a separate line, or in separate cells of a table.

## Barcode label generator (MakeBarCodeLabels)

This macro uses the label tool in Word along with the TAL Barcode ActiveX to create barcode labels using almost any label stock available for both dot matrix and laser printers. This macro allows you to create single labels, multiple labels with the same barcode on each label or multiple labels with incrementally numbered barcodes.

This is a very powerful macro with many options and it is also a great example of what you can do with Word and the TAL Barcode ActiveX control.

[Use Excel or Access as the source for your Label Documents](https://support.taltech.com/barcode-activex/skip-used-mailing-labels-and-print-duplicates.md)

In the AXNewMacros Module you will find some sample code which demonstrates how to take data from an Access database or an Excel spreadsheet and use it to create barcodes on a labels document in Word.

**Note:** All of these macros are also available for B-Coder Pro.


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