Barcode Types - Code-128

(sample)

A multi-level bar code developed by Computer Identics Corp. in 1981, named for being able to symbolize 128 characters in full-ASCII.

In other bar codes, one character can express one type of data. In CODE-128, through the selective use of the start character, one character can express three types of data in any position.

Selective Start Characters

Start Code - A	=	following characters are expressed using full-ASCII.
Start Code - B	=	following characters are expressed as a 1-digit alpha-numeric or a mark.
Start Code - C	=	following characters are expressed as a 2-digit number.

Change in Data Content By Start Character

[example of change in data content by its start character]

Code Set Character

Code - A	:	changes the type of following characters to full-ASCII.
Code - B	:	changes the type of following charactesr to 1-digit alpha-numeric.
Code - C	:	changes the type of following characters to 2-digit numbers.

Shift Character

alters only the following single character from A --> B, B --> C, or C --> A, then back to the original type code.

Function Character

a character for special definition; for example, by inserting FC1 after the Start-code character, it indicates that the data is coded in the UCC/EAN-128 format.
(See UCC/EAN-128)

With its flexible functionality, it has been adopted as worldwide-common supplemental code for physical distribution.

Summary of Code-128 Symbol

Character Set

Start Character :	START CODE A,B,C
Non-Data Character :	FNC 1,2,3,4
Code-Set Character :	CODE A,B,C SHIFT
Data Character :	ASCII 128 characters
Stop Character :