"Wikipedia" encoded in Code 128-B

Code 128 is a very high-density barcode symbology, used extensively world wide in shipping and packaging industries. GS1-128 (formerly known as UCC/EAN-128) is one of its variants. It is used for alphanumeric or numeric-only barcodes. It can encode all 128 characters of ASCII and is also capable of encoding two numbers into one character width, called double density. This feature is evidence of it being designed to reduce the amount of space the bar code occupies, to address the ever-increasing needs of item catalogs. Each printed character can have one of three different meanings, depending on which of three different character sets are employed. Code 128 is the major component of the labeling standard for GS1-128 (formerly known as UCC/EAN-128), used as product identification for container and pallet levels of retail markets. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1160x717, 6 KB) Summary Wikipedia encoded as Code 128b by GNU barcode. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1160x717, 6 KB) Summary Wikipedia encoded as Code 128b by GNU barcode. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Damaged package The Panama canal. ... Packaging is the enclosing of a physical object, typically a product that will be offered for sale. ... GS1-128 is the GS1 implementation of the Code 128 barcode specification. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... There are 95 printable ASCII characters, numbered 32 to 126. ... GS1-128 is the GS1 implementation of the Code 128 barcode specification. ...

Specification

A Code 128 barcode will have six sections:

• Quiet Zone
• Start Character
• Encoded Data
• Check Character
• Stop Character
• Quiet Zone

The check character is calculated from a modulo 103 calculation of the weighted sum of all the characters.

Subtypes

Code 128 barcodes may be generated specifically as 128A, 128B, 128C. It is possible to change between each subtype at anytime within a barcode.

• 128A - 0-9, A-Z, ASCII control codes, special characters
• 128B - 0-9, A-Z, a-z, special characters
• 128C - 00-99 (double density encoding of numeric only data)

History

Code 128 was developed in the early 1980s to address the increasing capacity of electronics and tracking needs for inventory. It has since been widely adopted by industry, and several barcode topologies have been based on it. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

External links

• Code 128 specification at OpenBarcode.org
• Free font and encoder.
• Tutorial with examples on Code 128 generation.
• GNU Barcode Free (libre) software capable of generating most varieties of barcode.
• GS1 (formerly EAN & UCC) Overview of GS1 organisation and the Code 128 applications it supports.
• The Barcode FAQ