Barcode Information from Palco

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Barcode Information

Listed below are samples and brief descriptions of many of the most widely used barcode symbologies.

I 2/5

The barcode Interleaved 2/5 allows use of the full numeric character set, and different start and stop patterns.

Interleaved 2/5 symbols always contain an even number of digits. Each Interleaved 2/5 symbol consists of a leading quiet zone, a start pattern, symbol characters representing the data, a stop pattern and a trailing quiet zone. Each symbol is formed from a series of one or more data character pairs. Each pair is coded into a series of five bars and five spaces with the bars representing the more significant digit of the pair while the white spaces represent the less significant digit. Since Interleaved 2/5 symbols are created from data pairs, the number to be encoded must have an even number of digits. Should a number containing an odd number need to be encoded, a leading zero must be added. Special start and stop patterns are necessary to identify the leading and trailing ends of the barcode symbol. Quiet zones are spaces preceding the start pattern and following the stop pattern.

Code 128 is capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters, plus all 128 extended ASCII characters and 4 non-data function characters. It allows numeric data to be represented in a compact, double-density mode, two data digits for every symbol character.
Each Code 128 symbol uses 2 independent self-checking features, character checking via parity and a modulo 103 check character. This minimizes the possibility of reader substitution errors.
Special start and stop patterns are necessary to identify the leading and trailing ends of the barcode symbol. Quiet zones are spaces preceding the start pattern and following the stop pattern and are also a part of each symbol.

UPC-EAN

UPC and EAN are barcode symbologies with a character set consisting of the numeric characters 0-9 and a check digit.
The UPC A format support 11 characters plus a check character, the UPC E format supports 5 characters plus a check character, the EAN 13 format supports 12 characters plus a check character, and the EAN 8 format supports 7 characters plus a check character.
Special start and stop patterns are necessary to identify the leading and trailing ends of the barcode symbol. Quiet zones are spaces preceding the start pattern and following the stop pattern and are also a part of each symbol.

Code 39

The barcode Code 39 allows use of the full alphanumeric character set, a unique start/stop character and 7 additional characters. Each Code 39 symbol consists of a leading quiet zone, a start symbol character, symbol characters representing the data, a stop symbol character and a trailing quiet zone.
Each Code 39 symbol consists of a series of symbol characters, each represented by 5 bars and 4 intervening spaces. Characters are separated by an “intercharacter gap”.
The unique start and stop character is used to identify the leading and trailing ends of your barcode symbol. Quiet zones are spaces preceding the start character and following the stop character.

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