Microcom LDSII User Manual
Page 82
Bar Codes
Chapter 5
66
LDSII Programming Guide - 880015-0123
5.2
Linear Bar Codes
This section provides information regarding the different requirements of the linear bar
codes. Unless stated otherwise in the descriptions below, the printer will automatically
generate the necessary check digits when required.
5.2.1
Codabar (Rationalized)
Codabar is a variable length linear symbology that is commonly used in libraries, blood
banks, and in the air parcel business. Codabar is capable of encoding the 16 following
characters: 0123456789-$:/. + and the four start/stop characters ABCD. This symbol uses
2:1, 3:1, 4:2, 5:2, and 8:3 ratios, which may be entered in the AI parameter.
CI text equivalent codes: @codabar
5.2.2
Code 128 (Manual Compression)
The Code 128 bar code is a variable length, high density, alphanumeric symbology that is
extensively used worldwide. This bar code uses three subsets (A, B, and C) which allows
for the encoding of the full 128 ASCII character set along with special control codes. This
bar code uses manual compression, which provides full control by manually shifting
between the available subsets using the special function access codes. The codes (#n) are
placed within the data string to access the desired functions listed in the table below.
Code
SUBSET A
SUBSET B
SUBSET C
#0
FNC3
FNC3
N/A
#1
FNC2
FNC2
N/A
#2
SHIFT
SHIFT
N/A
#3
CODE C
CODE C
N/A
#4
CODE B
FNC4
CODE B
#5
FNC4
CODE A
CODE A
#6
FNC1
FNC1
FNC1
#7
START
N/A
N/A
#8
N/A
START
N/A
#9
N/A
N/A
START
##
#
#
N/A
Table 13
Code 128 Special Function Access
When using manual compression the printer defaults to subset B if no start code is defined.
The printer will also not attempt to compress the data unless subset C is used. Once in
subset C the user must send the appropriate code (#n) to return to either subset A or B.