
Technical Updates SNBC CONFIDENCIAL
Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co.,Ltd.
Page 53
APPENDIX A: Code 128 bar code
A.1 Description of the CODE128 Bar Code
In code 128 bar code system, it is possible to represent 128 ASCII characters, 2-digit numerals and
some special characters in using one bar code character that is defined by combining one of code
set A, code set B and code set C. Each code set is used for representing the following characters:
· Code set A: ASCII characters 00H to 5FH
· Code set B: ASCII characters 20H to 7FH
· Code set C: 2-digit numeral characters using one character (100 numerals from 00 to 99)
The following special characters are also available in CODE128:
· SHIFT characters
In code set A, the character just after SHIFT is processed as a character for code set B. In code set
B, the character just after SHIFT is processed as a character for code set A. The character
recovers the previous code set before SHIFT when starting from the second character. SHIFT
characters are used only for Switch between code set A and code set B, but cannot make the
current code set enter or exit code set c status.
· Code set selection character (CODE A, CODE B, CODE C).
This character switches the following code set to code set A, B, or C.
· Function character (FNC1, FNC2, FNC3, FNC4)
The usage of function characters depends on the application software. In code set C, only FNC1 is
available.