I need a barcode scanning and printing solution (including both
hardware and software).  I need to be able to generate a barcode
representing a 20-digit string, display it as a .gif image on my
website (for the user to print and attach to the outside of the
packaging of an item they are mailing to me).  When the item arrives,
I need to be able to scan this barcode (using a handheld scanner), and
then print a label with the same barcode, to affix to the item inside
the packaging (for tracking purposes).   Can anyone advise of a
commercial barcode software package and compatible printer + scanner
hardware that can satisfy this need?

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Request for Question Clarification by webadept-ga on 16 May 2006 12:10 PDT

Hi Leeannd, 

I want to make sure that I'm answering this for you correctly. You
have made some specifications in your question that are perhaps not
really required, and make the answer a bit difficult to produce. For
example you have the requirement of a GIF image so the customer can
print the barcode. The LZW compression algorithm was covered by U.S.
Patent 4,558,302, owned by Unisys Corporation. When CompuServe first
developed the GIF format, they did not know that LZW was covered by a
patent. In December 1994, after Unisys discovered the use of their
compression, and announced; all commercial programs capable of
producing GIF files would be required to pay a license fee to Unisys.

By this time, GIF was in such widespread use that most companies
producing these programs had little choice but to pay. This led to the
creation of PNG and the resurgence of JPEG as popular web graphic
formats.

What that means in regard to your answer is that the web server you
choose to run your program on would be required to purchased the
license rights for the GIF library for you to create GIFs on your web
page. I'm betting that you really don't care that it is a GIF, you
just want the barcode image so the customer can print the barcode with
their package slip...

There are several ways to produce the barcode on your webpage, for
example a quick demo is at http://www.glennhefley.com/barcode/  for a
20 digit, just type in 20 digits. If that is basically what you are
looking for, then your needs are certainly met by many possibilities.

Please get back to me so that I can finish your answer. 

Thanks, 

webadept-ga