Abstract: A method and system for reading encoded information from conventional bar codes and from hand-encoded barcodes is provided. The method and system include processing which eliminates false spaces and bars in conventional pre-encoded printed barcode formats as well as those in hand-encoded barcode formats. A pre-printed barcode form containing a plurality of bars and spaces representing the elements of a character code is used in which at least one of the bars is designed to be modified by hand to represent the encoded character. A barcode reader system scans the barcode and processes the scanned barcode symbol into decoded form. A barcode label for encoding a multi-character string readable by a barcode reader is also provided which includes a plurality of data lines which contains barcode readable start and stop codes unique to each data line and a barcode readable digit form located between the start and stop code of each data line.