ID Innovations Bar code Mini Decoder - Manual (Page 33)

Appendices
33
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Encodable Character Set Entire 128 ASCII character set
Extended ASCII character set
Four non-data function characters
Data Character Density 9.1 CPI
18.2 CPI (numeric only)
(based on X = 0.010 (0.25 mm))
Non-Data Overhead Equivalent to 3.18 alphanumeric
characters
Symbol Length Variable
Check Digit One, Mandatory (Modulo 103)
Special Features FNC 2 Message Append
FNC 3 Reader Initialization
FNC 4 Extended ASCII
Code 128 Characteristics
Code 128 is a bar code symbology capable of encoding the full 128 ASCII character set, the extended ASCII character set, and
four non-data function characters. It allows numeric data to be represented in a compact double-density mode, with two data
digits for every symbol character. Each character is made up of 3 bars and 3 spaces for a total width of 11 modules. Each bar
or space (element) may consist of one to four modules.
Code 128 has three different character code subsets A, B, and C. The valid characters for each of the code subsets are
outlined in the following table:
Code Subset Valid Characters
A All of the standard upper case alphanumeric keyboard
characters together with the ASCII control characters
(i.e. ASCII character values 0-95) and four special
function codes ( FNC 1 - FNC 4).
B All of the standard upper case alphanumeric keyboard
characters together with lower case alphabetic
characters (i.e. ASCII character values 32-127) and
four special function codes (FNC 1 - FNC 4).
C Numeric data (0-9) and one special function code FNC
1.
Code 128 Subset Valid Characters
Code 128 provides four special non-data function codes, FNC 1 through FNC 4, which have been given a variety of functions to
extend the capabilities of Code 128.
FNC 1 in the first or second position following the start character identifies symbols which conform to a specific industry
standard, such as SCC-14 and SSCC-18. FNC 1 in any other position is used as a field separator.
FNC 2 (Message Append) instructs the decoder to temporarily store data from the symbol containing the FNC 2 character and
transmit it as a prefix to the next symbol data. This operation continues for all successive Code 128 symbols with FNC 2, with
messages being added to the end of the previously stored messages. When a Code 128 message is read which does not
contain FNC 2, the contents are appended to the buffer, the entire buffer is transmitted, and the buffer is cleared. This
character can occur anywhere in the symbol.
Note: Scanning a bar code that begins with a - (dash) will clear the concatenation buffer and no data will be output. In
addition, scanning a bar code of a different symbology will clear the concatenation buffer and output the new bar code.
A B C D 1 2 3 4
Code 128 - 13 Mil