barcoders::sym

Module code128

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Expand description

Encoder for Code128 barcodes.

Code128 is a popular, high-density symbology that allows for the encoding of alphanumeric data along with many special characters by utilising three separate character-sets.

Code128 also offers double-density encoding of digits.

§Character sets

Barcoders provides special Unicode syntax for specifying the character set(s) which should be used in the barcode:

  • \u{00C0} = Switch to character-set A (À)
  • \u{0181} = Switch to character-set B (Ɓ)
  • \u{0106} = Switch to character-set C (Ć)

You must provide both the starting character-set along with any changes during the data. This means all Code128 barcodes must start with either “À”, “Ɓ” or “Ć”. Simple alphanumeric data can generally use character-set A solely.

As an example, this barcode uses character-set B:

  • \u{0181}HE1234A*1

Or:

  • ƁHE1234A*1

And this one starts at character-set A (the default) and then switches to C to encode the digits more effectively:

  • \u{00C0}HE@$A\u{0106}123456

Or:

  • ÀHE@$AĆ123456

§Unicode characters

The invisible unicode characters that are available in character set A should be represented as their Unicode sequences. For example, to represent the ‘ACK’ character:

  • À\u{0006}

§Special-purpose function characters (FNC1 - 4)

The function sequences can be represented via the following unicode characters:

  • FNC1: Ź (\u{0179})
  • FNC2: ź (\u{017A})
  • FNC3: Ż (\u{017B})
  • FNC4: ż (\u{017C})
  • SHIFT: Ž (\u{017D})

Structs§

Code128
The Code128 barcode type.