Which free ad free barcode {scanner,identifier,generator} app do you use

[Andy Burnelli]

Which free ad free barcode {scanner,identifier,generator} app do you use
(and more importantly so we can learn from you) what do you look for?

In a recent thread, Steve helpfully noted that barcode scanner apps can do
a. Scanning an existing barcode
b. Identifying the type of barcode
c. Generating a new barcode

Where two of those tasks I've never done, so that's why I'm asking for help
& advice from the Usenet team, where some members know a lot more than I do.

SCANNING:
I had previously installed from my Aurora Google Play Store client search:
*Barcode Scanner*, by Cognex (4.5 rated) <https://cmbdn.cognex.com/>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manateeworks.barcodescanners>
Which apparently supports the following formats:
*Aztec* === on or off (default = off)
*Codabar* === on or off (default = off)
*Code-11* === on or off (default = off)
*Code-25* === on or off (default = off)
*Code-39* === on or off & additional settings (default = on)
*Code-93* === on or off (default = off)
*Code-128* === on or off & additional settings (default = on)
*Data Matrix* === on or off (default = on)
*DotCode* === on or off (default = off)
*GS1* DataBar (RSS) === on or off & additional settings (default = on)
*MaxiCode* === on or off (default = off)
*MSI* Plessey === on or off (default = off)
*PDF417* === on or off & additional settings (default = on)
*Postal* Codes === on or off (default = off)
*QR* code === on or off & additional settings (default = on)
*UPC* & *EAN* === on or off & additional settings (default = on)

IDENTIFYING:
Steve suggested this app, for example, for _identifying_ the barcode type:
*Barcode Scanner*, by ZXing (3.9 rated)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.zxing.client.android>
Which apparently supports the following formats:
1D Product === on or off (default = on)
1D Industrial === on or off (default = on)
QR Codes === on or off (default = on)
Data Matrix === on or off (default = on)
Aztec === on or off (default = off)
PDF417 (beta) === on or off (default = off)

Although this appears to be an "enhanced" version from the same ZXing outfit
*Barcode Scanner+ (Plus)*, by Sean Owen (of ZXing Team)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.srowen.bs.android>
Which apparently supports the following formats:
1D Product === on or off (default = on)
1D Industrial === on or off (default = on)
QR Codes === on or off (default = on)
Data Matrix === on or off (default = on)
Aztec === on or off (default = off)
PDF417 (beta) === on or off (default = off)
NFC === on or off (default = on)

GENERATING:
A search of the Google Play Store repository using stringent Aurora filters
for highly rated oft-downloaded gsf-free apps came up with more, such as:
*Barcode Generator*, by Aeiou (4.4 rated)
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blogspot.aeioulabs.barcode>
Which apparently supports the following formats:
QR Code
DataMatrix
Codabar
Code39
Code128
EAN-8
EAN-13
UPC-A
ITF
PDF417
And which is capable of using your default scanner or the ZXing scanner.

Each has extensive settings (you have to look to see, as I was amazed at the
detail because most of the terminology I had never heard of before today).

Which free ad free barcode {scanner,identifier,generator} app do you use
(and more importantly so we can learn from you) what do you look for?
--
It's ok if nobody knows more than I do, but in this question, I don't know
anything, so I would hope someone out there knows a LOT more than I do.

[YK]

Take a picture of the barcode and store that picture in your encrypted
wallet. The picture will have the numbers. Don't know about the type though.

[sms]

On 2/25/2022 11:38 AM, YK wrote:

<snip>

> Take a picture of the barcode and store that picture in your encrypted
> wallet. The picture will have the numbers. Don't know about the type
> though.

That works, but it's better to generate the Bar Code image and create a
digital version of a card then use this app
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=color.dev.com.tangerine>
to place it in your Google Pay Wallet. I've done this for things like my
library card and Costco Card (you can use the Costco App as well, but I
like to have all the cards in one place). For the iPhone the equivalent
app, though not as good, is
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pass2u-wallet-cards-coupons/id1142473931>.

Often, the hardest part of generating a Bar Code is figuring out the
type of bar code being used since there are so many, and trial and error
can be very time consuming. This app
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.zxing.client.android>
identifies the bar code then you can use a web-based bar code generator.

Google Pay Supported Bar Codes: Aztec, Code 39, Code 128, EAN-13, PDF
417, QR, UPC-A
Pass2Pay Additional Bar Codes: Codabar, Data Matrix, EAN 8, ITF 14, UPC E

Apple Wallet Supported Bar Codes: Aztec, Code 128, PDF417, QR
Pass2U Paid Version Additional Bar Codes: Code 39, Code 93, Code 39, Mod
43, EAN 8, EAN 13, UPC E

If a company or other entity wanted to allow users to directly add a
card to Google Pay or Apple Wallet it would have to use one of the
officially supported Apple Wallet or Google Pay bar codes.