Migrating from NetBarcode to IronBarcode

The Fundamental Problem

A project that starts with NetBarcode alone and then grows to require 2D formats ends up with this kind of split import:

// NetBarcode for 1D — one library, one API
using NetBarcode;
var code128 = new Barcode("12345", Type.Code128);
code128.SaveImageFile("label.png");

// QRCoder added separately for QR — second library, second API
using QRCoder;
var qrGenerator = new QRCodeGenerator();
var qrData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode("https://example.com", QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.M);
var png = new PngByteQRCode(qrData).GetGraphic(20);
File.WriteAllBytes("qr.png", png);

// NetBarcode for 1D — one library, one API
using NetBarcode;
var code128 = new Barcode("12345", Type.Code128);
code128.SaveImageFile("label.png");

// QRCoder added separately for QR — second library, second API
using QRCoder;
var qrGenerator = new QRCodeGenerator();
var qrData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode("https://example.com", QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.M);
var png = new PngByteQRCode(qrData).GetGraphic(20);
File.WriteAllBytes("qr.png", png);

Imports NetBarcode
Imports QRCoder
Imports System.IO

' NetBarcode for 1D — one library, one API
Dim code128 As New Barcode("12345", Type.Code128)
code128.SaveImageFile("label.png")

' QRCoder added separately for QR — second library, second API
Dim qrGenerator As New QRCodeGenerator()
Dim qrData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode("https://example.com", QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.M)
Dim png = New PngByteQRCode(qrData).GetGraphic(20)
File.WriteAllBytes("qr.png", png)

After migrating to IronBarcode, the same two outputs come from a single import:

using IronBarCode;

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("label.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png");

using IronBarCode;

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("label.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png");

Imports IronBarCode

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128) _
    .SaveAsPng("label.png")

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode) _
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png")

Step 1: Replace NuGet Package

Remove NetBarcode and its transitive ImageSharp dependency:

dotnet remove package NetBarcode
dotnet remove package SixLabors.ImageSharp

dotnet remove package NetBarcode
dotnet remove package SixLabors.ImageSharp

Note that SixLabors.ImageSharp may reappear in the restored package list if other packages in the project also reference it transitively. After removal, run dotnet list package --include-transitive to confirm whether ImageSharp remains and whether its commercial license condition still applies to the project.

Step 2: Add IronBarcode

dotnet add package IronBarcode

dotnet add package IronBarcode

The NuGet package name is IronBarcode; the namespace used in code is IronBarCode (note the capital C).

Step 3: Update Namespaces and Initialize License

Replace the old using directives in every file that contained NetBarcode calls:

// Remove these:
// using NetBarcode;
// using SixLabors.ImageSharp;
// using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;
// using SixLabors.Fonts;

// Add this:
using IronBarCode;

// Remove these:
// using NetBarcode;
// using SixLabors.ImageSharp;
// using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;
// using SixLabors.Fonts;

// Add this:
using IronBarCode;

Imports IronBarCode

Add license initialization once at application startup — in Program.cs, Startup.cs, or the project's entry point:

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";

Imports IronBarCode

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY"

A free trial key is available for evaluation; purchasing a license removes the trial watermark from generated barcode images.

Code128 Generation

The most common NetBarcode usage pattern translates directly to IronBarcode with a constructor-to-static-method change and a method rename.

NetBarcode Approach:

using NetBarcode;

var barcode = new Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128);
barcode.SaveImageFile("shipping-label.png");

using NetBarcode;

var barcode = new Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128);
barcode.SaveImageFile("shipping-label.png");

Imports NetBarcode

Dim barcode As New Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128)
barcode.SaveImageFile("shipping-label.png")

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("shipping-label.png");

using IronBarCode;

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("shipping-label.png");

Imports IronBarCode

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128) _
    .SaveAsPng("shipping-label.png")

The new Barcode(data, Type.X) constructor becomes BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, BarcodeEncoding.X). The SaveImageFile() method becomes SaveAsPng(), SaveAsJpeg(), or SaveAsWindowsBitmap() depending on the output format required. All available 1D barcode generation options are documented in the IronBarcode how-to guides.

EAN-13

Retail product barcode types map directly between libraries with a constant rename and a method rename.

NetBarcode Approach:

using NetBarcode;

var ean13 = new Barcode("5901234123457", Type.EAN13);
ean13.SaveImageFile("product-ean.png");

using NetBarcode;

var ean13 = new Barcode("5901234123457", Type.EAN13);
ean13.SaveImageFile("product-ean.png");

Imports NetBarcode

Dim ean13 As New Barcode("5901234123457", Type.EAN13)
ean13.SaveImageFile("product-ean.png")

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("5901234123457", BarcodeEncoding.EAN13)
    .SaveAsPng("product-ean.png");

using IronBarCode;

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("5901234123457", BarcodeEncoding.EAN13)
    .SaveAsPng("product-ean.png");

Imports IronBarCode

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("5901234123457", BarcodeEncoding.EAN13) _
    .SaveAsPng("product-ean.png")

The encoding constant names match the NetBarcode Type enum member names where direct equivalents exist. Note that UPC-A (Type.UPCA), UPC-E (Type.UPCE), ITF (Type.ITF), and MSI (Type.MSI) are not part of the NetBarcode Type enum — if those formats are required, IronBarcode supports them natively via BarcodeEncoding.UPCA, BarcodeEncoding.UPCE, BarcodeEncoding.ITF, and BarcodeEncoding.MSI.

GetImage() to ToPngBinaryData()

NetBarcode's GetImage() method returns SixLabors.ImageSharp.Image<Rgba32>, which requires explicit ImageSharp imports in calling code and ties downstream logic to the ImageSharp API. IronBarcode exposes binary and stream output methods directly on the GeneratedBarcode object, eliminating the ImageSharp dependency from calling code entirely.

NetBarcode Approach:

using NetBarcode;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;

var barcode = new Barcode("12345", Type.Code128);
Image<Rgba32> image = barcode.GetImage();

using var stream = new MemoryStream();
image.SaveAsPng(stream);
byte[] bytes = stream.ToArray();

using NetBarcode;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;

var barcode = new Barcode("12345", Type.Code128);
Image<Rgba32> image = barcode.GetImage();

using var stream = new MemoryStream();
image.SaveAsPng(stream);
byte[] bytes = stream.ToArray();

Imports NetBarcode
Imports SixLabors.ImageSharp
Imports SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats
Imports System.IO

Dim barcode As New Barcode("12345", Type.Code128)
Dim image As Image(Of Rgba32) = barcode.GetImage()

Using stream As New MemoryStream()
    image.SaveAsPng(stream)
    Dim bytes As Byte() = stream.ToArray()
End Using

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);

// Retrieve bytes directly — no ImageSharp type in calling code
byte[] bytes = barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

// Or write to a stream directly
using var stream = new MemoryStream();
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream);

using IronBarCode;

var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);

// Retrieve bytes directly — no ImageSharp type in calling code
byte[] bytes = barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

// Or write to a stream directly
using var stream = new MemoryStream();
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream);

Imports IronBarCode

Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)

' Retrieve bytes directly — no ImageSharp type in calling code
Dim bytes As Byte() = barcode.ToPngBinaryData()

' Or write to a stream directly
Using stream As New MemoryStream()
    barcode.SaveAsPng(stream)
End Using

Code that performed further ImageSharp manipulations on the Image<Rgba32> result — resizing, compositing, format conversion — will need those operations evaluated individually, as IronBarcode does not expose an ImageSharp object.

Replacing NetBarcode and QRCoder Together

Projects running NetBarcode alongside QRCoder can replace both at once. IronBarcode's 2D generation uses the same BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode method as its 1D generation; only the BarcodeEncoding constant differs. Refer to the 2D barcode generation guide for encoding options and configuration.

NetBarcode and QRCoder Approach:

using NetBarcode;
using QRCoder;

// 1D with NetBarcode
var code128 = new Barcode("12345", Type.Code128);
code128.SaveImageFile("label.png");

// QR with QRCoder
var qrGenerator = new QRCodeGenerator();
var qrData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode("https://example.com", QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.M);
var qrCode = new PngByteQRCode(qrData);
File.WriteAllBytes("qr.png", qrCode.GetGraphic(20));

using NetBarcode;
using QRCoder;

// 1D with NetBarcode
var code128 = new Barcode("12345", Type.Code128);
code128.SaveImageFile("label.png");

// QR with QRCoder
var qrGenerator = new QRCodeGenerator();
var qrData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode("https://example.com", QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.M);
var qrCode = new PngByteQRCode(qrData);
File.WriteAllBytes("qr.png", qrCode.GetGraphic(20));

Imports NetBarcode
Imports QRCoder

' 1D with NetBarcode
Dim code128 As New Barcode("12345", Type.Code128)
code128.SaveImageFile("label.png")

' QR with QRCoder
Dim qrGenerator As New QRCodeGenerator()
Dim qrData = qrGenerator.CreateQrCode("https://example.com", QRCodeGenerator.ECCLevel.M)
Dim qrCode As New PngByteQRCode(qrData)
File.WriteAllBytes("qr.png", qrCode.GetGraphic(20))

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

// 1D — same API as 2D
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("label.png");

// QR — change the encoding constant, nothing else
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png");

// Additional 2D formats available with no further imports
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("01034531200000111719112510ABCD1234", BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix)
    .SaveAsPng("pharma-label.png");

using IronBarCode;

// 1D — same API as 2D
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("label.png");

// QR — change the encoding constant, nothing else
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png");

// Additional 2D formats available with no further imports
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("01034531200000111719112510ABCD1234", BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix)
    .SaveAsPng("pharma-label.png");

Imports IronBarCode

' 1D — same API as 2D
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345", BarcodeEncoding.Code128) _
    .SaveAsPng("label.png")

' QR — change the encoding constant, nothing else
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode) _
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png")

' Additional 2D formats available with no further imports
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("01034531200000111719112510ABCD1234", BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix) _
    .SaveAsPng("pharma-label.png")

Adding Reading Capability

If the project also used ZXing.Net for reading, that dependency can be removed alongside NetBarcode. IronBarcode's BarcodeReader handles images and PDF documents with automatic format detection.

ZXing.Net Approach:

using ZXing;
using ZXing.Common;
using ZXing.Rendering;

var reader = new BarcodeReaderGeneric();
reader.Options = new DecodingOptions { TryHarder = true };

// Bitmap loading and format-specific handling required before decode call

using ZXing;
using ZXing.Common;
using ZXing.Rendering;

var reader = new BarcodeReaderGeneric();
reader.Options = new DecodingOptions { TryHarder = true };

// Bitmap loading and format-specific handling required before decode call

Imports ZXing
Imports ZXing.Common
Imports ZXing.Rendering

Dim reader = New BarcodeReaderGeneric()
reader.Options = New DecodingOptions With {.TryHarder = True}

' Bitmap loading and format-specific handling required before decode call

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

// Read from an image file — automatic format detection
var imageResults = BarcodeReader.Read("shipping-label.png");
foreach (var r in imageResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}");
}

// Read from a PDF document — no separate PDF library needed
var pdfResults = BarcodeReader.Read("supplier-invoice.pdf");
foreach (var r in pdfResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {r.PageNumber}: {r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}");
}

using IronBarCode;

// Read from an image file — automatic format detection
var imageResults = BarcodeReader.Read("shipping-label.png");
foreach (var r in imageResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}");
}

// Read from a PDF document — no separate PDF library needed
var pdfResults = BarcodeReader.Read("supplier-invoice.pdf");
foreach (var r in pdfResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {r.PageNumber}: {r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}");
}

Imports IronBarCode

' Read from an image file — automatic format detection
Dim imageResults = BarcodeReader.Read("shipping-label.png")
For Each r In imageResults
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}")
Next

' Read from a PDF document — no separate PDF library needed
Dim pdfResults = BarcodeReader.Read("supplier-invoice.pdf")
For Each r In pdfResults
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {r.PageNumber}: {r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}")
Next

Full documentation for reading options is available in the read barcodes from images guide, covering speed tuning, multi-barcode detection, and image correction settings.

Issue 1: ImageSharp Transitive Dependency Remains After Package Removal

Problem: After running dotnet remove package NetBarcode, dotnet restore shows SixLabors.ImageSharp still present in the dependency tree because another package in the project also references it.

Solution: Run dotnet list package --include-transitive to identify which package is still pulling in ImageSharp. If it is only NetBarcode, removing the explicit package reference and restoring should clear it. If another package is responsible, that package's ImageSharp dependency and its commercial license condition remain in scope independently of the NetBarcode removal.

dotnet list package --include-transitive | grep -i imagesharp

dotnet list package --include-transitive | grep -i imagesharp

Issue 2: Image Type Cannot Be Resolved After Removal

Problem: After removing the SixLabors.ImageSharp package, any variable declared as Image<Rgba32> or parameter typed as SixLabors.ImageSharp.Image<Rgba32> produces a compile error because the type is no longer available.

Solution: Replace each usage with the appropriate IronBarcode output method. If the variable was used to obtain bytes, replace with .ToPngBinaryData(). If it was written to a stream, replace with .SaveAsPng(stream). If it was saved to a file, replace with .SaveAsPng(path).

// Before — requires SixLabors.ImageSharp reference
Image<Rgba32> img = barcode.GetImage();
img.SaveAsPng(stream);

// After — no external image type required
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream);

// Before — requires SixLabors.ImageSharp reference
Image<Rgba32> img = barcode.GetImage();
img.SaveAsPng(stream);

// After — no external image type required
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream);

' Before — requires SixLabors.ImageSharp reference
Dim img As Image(Of Rgba32) = barcode.GetImage()
img.SaveAsPng(stream)

' After — no external image type required
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream)

Issue 3: v1.8 Breaking Change Context

Problem: Codebases that were written against NetBarcode before v1.8 may have GetImage() calls that stored the result without explicit typing, relying on the pre-v1.8 internal return type. These calls may already be broken after a NetBarcode update, independently of the IronBarcode migration.

Solution: Use the IronBarcode migration as an opportunity to resolve any pre-existing v1.8 breakage at the same time. All GetImage() call sites should be located with a project-wide search and replaced with the appropriate IronBarcode output method during the migration pass. The grep commands in the migration checklist below identify these locations.

Pre-Migration

Audit all NetBarcode usage before making any changes:

grep -r "using NetBarcode" ./src
grep -r "new Barcode(" ./src
grep -r "Type\.Code128\|Type\.EAN13\|Type\.Code39\|Type\.EAN8" ./src
grep -r "Type\.Codabar\|Type\.Code93" ./src
grep -r "SaveImageFile(" ./src
grep -r "GetImage(" ./src
grep -r "using SixLabors\.ImageSharp" ./src
grep -r "Image<Rgba32>" ./src

grep -r "using NetBarcode" ./src
grep -r "new Barcode(" ./src
grep -r "Type\.Code128\|Type\.EAN13\|Type\.Code39\|Type\.EAN8" ./src
grep -r "Type\.Codabar\|Type\.Code93" ./src
grep -r "SaveImageFile(" ./src
grep -r "GetImage(" ./src
grep -r "using SixLabors\.ImageSharp" ./src
grep -r "Image<Rgba32>" ./src

• Identify every file that requires a using directive change
• Note all GetImage() call sites and how the returned Image<Rgba32> object is used downstream
• Check whether QRCoder or ZXing.Net are present and can be removed in the same pass
• Run dotnet list package --include-transitive to document the current ImageSharp dependency state before removal
• Obtain an IronBarcode license key (a free trial key is available without purchase)

Code Update

1. Run dotnet remove package NetBarcode
2. Run dotnet remove package SixLabors.ImageSharp if not used by other packages
3. Run dotnet add package IronBarcode
4. Add IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY"; at application startup
5. Replace using NetBarcode; with using IronBarCode; in each affected file
6. Remove using SixLabors.ImageSharp;, using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;, and using SixLabors.Fonts; from all files
7. Translate each new Barcode(data, Type.X) call to BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, BarcodeEncoding.X) using the API mapping table
8. Replace SaveImageFile() with SaveAsPng() or the appropriate format-specific method
9. Replace GetImage() calls with ToPngBinaryData(), SaveAsPng(), or SaveAsPng(stream) as appropriate
10. If removing QRCoder: replace QRCodeGenerator + PngByteQRCode chains with BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
11. If removing ZXing.Net: replace reader setup with BarcodeReader.Read(path)

Post-Migration Testing

• Build the project and confirm zero compile errors
• Run existing unit tests against generated barcode output
• Visually verify barcode images for correct symbology and legible content
• Verify QR code output if that format was added during migration
• Test reading functionality if barcode scanning was added
• Run dotnet list package --include-transitive to confirm ImageSharp is no longer present if it was removed
• Validate that the license key initialization runs before the first barcode operation