GS1-128 Barcode

GS1-128, also known as UCC/EAN-128, is a special form of Code 128. GS1-128 uses a series of Application Identifiers (AI) to include additional data such as best before dates, batch numbers, quantities, weights and many other attributes needed by the user.

Every GS1-128 symbol encodes one or more AI to indicate that what type of data is encoded. In most of cases, AI also decides the length of the data and the format of the data. For example, AI 00 is used for identifying a 18 digits Serial Shipping Container Code: (00)006141411234567890

You simply enter the human readable line including the brackets: e.g. (01)95012345678903. The software will removes the brackets and codes the GS1-128 code correct as 0195012345678903.

If you are using AI's that have a variable length of data, you may be forced to use the control character FNC1 before the next AI to close the current AI. This control character "tells" the scanner that this AI is closed and a new one will follow.

If you specify the AIs between parentheses, then the software takes care of the FNC1 character and will automatically add FNC1 for those AIs requiring it. e.g. (10)345678(11)050301.

If you do not specify the parenthesis, then you will have to add an FNC1 character <FNC1> for marking the end of the AIs which require an FNC1. e.g. 10345678<FNC1>11050301.