Yes, you can use barcodes in CR. I use Code39 (3 of 9). You can google for barcode truetype fonts. Some are free and some will need to be purchased.
Once you find the one you need you will, of course, need to install it on any PC/Server which will be executing the reports.
When designing/creating a report you will then just use it like any other font; i.e, add the field to the report, and set the font to the newly installed barcode font.
Tip -- I place a 2nd copy of the field in a human readable font directly below or beside the barcode font. I supress this unless there are printing/viewing issues. I can then easily toggle the supression to see the actual data entered in the field.
-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros