GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) Barcode

This Symbology is also known as EAN-128, UCC-128, USS-128, GS1 128, UCC.EAN-128, GTIN-128, UCC-12, EAN/UCC-13, EAN/UCC-14

This Barcode Symbology is supported by the following Neodynamic products:

Overview

GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) BarcodeThe GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN-128) Symbology is a subset of the more general Code 128 Symbology. By agreement among AIM, Inc., GS1 (EAN International and the UCC), use of the Function 1 Character (FNC1) in Code 128 Symbols in the first symbol character position following the Start Character has been reserved exclusively for the GS1 System.

GS1-128 was developed to provide a worldwide format and standard for exchanging common data between companies. While other barcodes simply encode data with no respect for what the data represents, GS1-128 encodes data and encodes what that data represents.

The encodable character used by GS1-128 Symbology is as defined by the International ISO/IEC 646 Standard.

GS1-128 encodes the so called Element Strings which are composed of an Application Identifier (AI) plus a data field. GS1-128 has a list of predefined Application Identifiers (AI) which identifies the meaning and format of the data following it. The AI is a 2, 3, or 4-digit number and it is enclosed in parentheses when printed below the barcode (the parentheses are only for visual clarity, and are not encoded in the barcode!).

Sample of a GS1-128 Barcode
Sample of a GS1-128 Barcode

How to encode GS1-128 values using Barcode Professional for

Note: Please refer to the Class Reference documentation for more information about the properties and methods stated in this document.

Introduction

GS1-128 encodes the so called Element Strings which are composed of an Application Identifier (AI) plus a data field. Each AI identifies the meaning and format of the data following it. The GS1 System provides more than one hundred Element Strings which can be found on the GS1 General Specification and is summarized in the following table.

Show GS1-128 Application Identifiers

When encoding those element strings into a GS1-128 barcode, the FNC1 function character starts it and is automatically encoded by the Barcode Professional. Also notice that the AI has parentheses around it in the human readable text of a GS1-128 barcode, but the parentheses are not encoded in the barcode itself.

Encoding Single GS1-128 AIs
To encode a single element string like the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) which AI is (01), you just need to specify the AI + Data Field to the Code property. For example, to encode GTIN 95012345678903 you should:

  • Set the Symbology property to GS1128
  • Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
    All values for barcode dimensions are expressed in INCHES by default. However, Barcode Professional supports other unit of measurement such as Millimeter, Centimeter, and Mils. For modifying the unit of measurement for barcoding, please set up the BarcodeUnit property as needed.
    • Set the BarWidth and BarHeight properties based on your requirements (Values are expressed in Inches)
    • Set the QuietZone property to 10 times the BarWidth value or based on your requirements (Value is expressed in Inches)
  • Set the Code property with the value to encode. For example, Code = "(01)95012345678903" or Code = "0195012345678903" (NOTE: if you do not specify the parenthesis, then they will be automatically added by Barcode Professional in the Human Readable Text below the barcode)
  • Setting up the Bearer Bars if needed:
    • Set the BearerBarStyle property to Frame, or HorizontalRules
    • Set the BearerBarWidth property (Value is expressed in Inches)
Concatenation - Encoding multiple GS1-128 AIs into a single barcode
GS1-128 allows several Element Strings to be encoded in one barcode, a process called concatenation. Concatenation is advantageous because it means that the symbology elements are only needed once, and the space required for the symbol is smaller than when separate barcodes are used to encode each Element String. It also improves scanning accuracy, allowing for single scanning rather than multiple scanning. The various Element Strings can be transmitted from the bar code reader as a single full string.

When concatenating AIs, the FNC1 function character is used for marking the end of an AI. The AIs which require the usage of FNC1 are listed in the table above

If you specify the AIs between parentheses, then the Barcode Professional takes care of the FNC1 character and will automatically add FNC1 for those AIs requiring it based on the list above. For example, to concatenate AI 8005 Price per Unit of Measure (365 currency units) and AI 10 Batch Numbers (123456), you should:
  • Set the Symbology property to GS1128
  • Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
    All values for barcode dimensions are expressed in INCHES by default. However, Barcode Professional supports other unit of measurement such as Millimeter, Centimeter, and Mils. For modifying the unit of measurement for barcoding, please set up the BarcodeUnit property as needed.
    • Set the BarWidth and BarHeight properties based on your requirements (Values are expressed in Inches)
    • Set the QuietZone property to 10 times the BarWidth value or based on your requirements (Value is expressed in Inches)
  • Set the Code property with the value to encode. For example, Code = "(8005)000365(10)123456" or Code = "8005000365È10123456" (NOTE: if you do not specify the parenthesis, then you will have to add an FNC1 character È (ASCII 200) for marking the end of the AIs which require an FNC1)
  • Setting up the Bearer Bars if needed:
    • Set the BearerBarStyle property to Frame, or HorizontalRules
    • Set the BearerBarWidth property (Value is expressed in Inches)
NOTES:

The code FNC1 (Function 1 Character) is generally used to concatenate two or more data fields in a unique barcode image.
FNC1 does not have an ASCII representation, but Barcode Professional uses the following character to encode the code FNC1. Note: Barcode Professional will automatically add FNC1 character when necessary.

  • È (ASCII 200 / Alt+0200) - The code FNC1

By default, Barcode Professional tries to optimize the value to encode to generate the shortest barcode image by automatically switching between Code 128 char sets. However, you can handle how the data must be encoded specifying some special chars that represent each Code 128 Char Set. The special chars that tell to Barcode Professional what Code Set must be used to encode the data that follows it are these:

  • Ò (ASCII 210 / Alt+0210) which indicates that the Char Set to use must be A
  • Ó (ASCII 211 / Alt+0211) which indicates that the Char Set to use must be B
  • Ô (ASCII 212 / Alt+0212) which indicates that the Char Set to use must be C (Note: When you specify that the data must be encoded using Char Set C, then the number of chars after it must be even!)

IMPORTANT: When using this manual encoding, the FNC1 char must be also explicitly specified as part of the value to encode by using ASCII 200