Translating Barcode
Barcode ships with several community-made translations. You can switch between them using Help → Language.
If your language isn’t listed, you can add it by creating and editing your own translation file. This tutorial walks you through the workflow and a few important details to watch for.
English Translation
Barcode’s primary UI language is English. It also serves as the reference for all other translations. If something isn’t translated in your language file, Barcode will fall back to English for that item.
Exporting a Language File
To start a new translation, export an existing language file and use it as your base. Open Help → Language → Export Translation menu to see the list of available translations.
You’ll see both built-in community translations and any user translations you’ve added. Pick the closest match to use as a starting point.
After you select a translation, Barcode will show a save dialog. By default, it points to the folder Barcode uses for language files, so you can save it there. The suggested filename is based on the translation you selected.
Make sure the translation filename is unique. If another translation with the same name appears in the menu, Barcode can’t reliably tell them apart.
Editing Language Files
Once exported, open the file in a plain text editor, such as Notepad on Windows or TextEdit (set to plain text) on Mac. Avoid rich text editors like Word or Pages.
The format is simple:
block.identifier1 = User interface text 1
block.identifier2 = User interface text 2
Each line defines one UI string. The part on the left of the equals sign is the identifier for that interface element and must stay exactly as-is. The part on the right is the text you translate.
You can add empty lines to separate sections, and you can use # at the beginning of a line for comments:
# block 1
b1.id1 = ui text 1
b2.id2 = ui text 2
# block 2
b2.i1 = ui text 3
b1.i2 = ui text 4
In this example, “b1.id1” is the identifier, and “ui text 1” is the string to translate. The rest works the same way.
Translate items one by one and save often. When you’ve translated a few sections, select your translation in Help → Language menu, restart Barcode, and review the UI. Language files are loaded on startup, so you’ll need to restart the app to see updates.
Using AI for Translation
Because the translation file is plain text, you can also run it through an AI translator such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, or a similar tool.
The workflow is straightforward: export a language file, paste it into your AI tool, and ask it to translate only the text to the right of each equals sign into your target language. It also helps to mention that this is an application UI translation file and that the identifiers on the left are keys that must not be changed, so the AI can keep the structure intact and choose more natural UI wording.
You can usually get a solid first pass in a minute, then fine-tune the terms and tone manually.
Updating Translations
When Barcode is updated, the main English translation is updated as well, along with the built-in community translations.
User-made translations can’t be updated automatically, so you’ll need to refresh yours from time to time.
After installing a new version of Barcode, export your translation again, but save it under a different filename. Open the exported file in a text editor. If there are new strings to translate, they’ll appear at the top of the file, separated from the rest by a couple of blank lines.
Translate that top section, then replace your old translation file with the updated one.
Sharing Translations
If you’d like to share your translation, use Help → Language → Open Translations Folder menu item to reveal the files you created. Find your language file and send it to whoever needs it.
To install a shared translation on another machine, open the translations folder there as well and drop the file in. After that, select it in Help → Language menu and restart Barcode to activate it.
If your translation is polished and likely useful to others, feel free to send it to us and we can consider adding it to the community translation bundle shipped with the software.
More Barcode Tutorials
Installation
- Installation — how to install Barcode generator;
- License Activation — how to activate Barcode software with a license key.
Basics
- User Interface — Barcode user interface explained in details;
- Barcode Management — adding, renaming, cloning and deleting barcodes;
- Importing Barcodes — importing barcode images;
- Custom Texts — adding custom text elements to barcodes;
- Marks Panel — configuring border, margins and canvas of barcodes;
- Bar Width Reduction — adjusting barcodes to compensate for ink spread;
- Quiet Zone — making sure the barcodes can be scanned well.
EAN Barcodes
- Making EAN–13 Barcodes — standard point–of–sale barcodes;
- EAN–13 Calculator — how to compute EAN–13 check digits.
UPC Barcodes
- Making UPC–A Barcodes — learn to make UPC–A barcodes;
- Making UPC–E Barcodes — how to create UPC–E barcodes;
- UPC–A Calculator — compute check digits of UPC–A barcodes.
NDC Barcodes
- NDC Barcodes — learn about NDC barcodes and how to make them;
- NDC Barcode Check Digit Calculator — how to compute NDC check digits.
QR Code
- QR Code — how to make and configure the popular 2D barcodes;
- QR Code with Image — adding custom artwork to QR Code.
Other Barcodes
- ISBN Barcode Generator — how to make ISBN barcodes;
- BC412 Barcode — making barcodes for silicon wafers identification;
Export
- Transparent Barcodes — making barcodes with transparent background;
- PNG Barcodes — exporting barcodes to PNG format;
- Vector Barcodes — exporting barcodes to vector formats;
- Export.js — defining custom file names for exported barcodes.
Automation
- Batch Processing — how to batch–convert text data to barcodes;
- Command Line Processing — command line barcode generation.
Other
- Self–Drawing Barcode — drawing QR codes in browser with just an SVG file;
- Fake Barcodes — need a random barcode as a placeholder?
- Translation — teach Barcode to speak your language.