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BarcodeFAQ.com provides basic barcode information
including answers to frequently asked questions, barcode tutorials and
product suggestions for printing and scanning barcodes.
Information on this website is provided
courtesy of IDAutomation.com, Inc.
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What data is encoded in various barcodes?
Some barcode types, or symbologies, encode only numbers while others
encode letters and numbers. Other barcode types can actually encode
files, pictures and other binary data. Here is a basic breakdown of
a few barcode types and what they encode:
|
Barcode symbology |
Types of data encoded |
|
Code
39 |
Numbers and upper case letters with a few
symbols |
|
Code
128 |
All numbers, letters and punctuation plus
ASCII 0 to 127 |
|
Data Matrix |
All numbers, letters and punctuation, ASCII
0 to 127 plus files and bytes. |
|
Interleaved
2 of 5 |
Numbers only |
|
MSI Code |
Numbers only |
|
PDF417 |
All numbers, letters and punctuation, ASCII
0 to 127 plus files and bytes. |
|
Postnet |
Numbers only |
Recommendations for barcoding:
If the intended use of the barcode fonts is for printing, check
the type of data to encode:
- Only numbers, up to about 20 digits, choose
Codabar
or
Interleaved
2 of 5. Codabar is the densest self-checking symbology.
ITF is a numeric-only barcode used for encoding pairs of numbers
in a high-density barcode format.
- Only uppercase letters, numbers and these symbols (- . $ / +
%), up to about 15 digits, choose
Code 39.
Code 39 is the densest self-checking alpha-numeric barcode type.
- Uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, any letter
or symbol appearing on the US 101 key keyboard and lower ASCII functions
such as returns and tabs, up to about 20-30 digits, use
Code 128.
- Several lines of data of any type over 20 digits, use
PDF417,
Aztec,
QR-Code
or
Data Matrix.
If the intended use is a barcode component or
label printing application,
check the type of data to encode:
- Uppercase or lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, any letter
or symbol appearing on the US 101-key keyboard and lower ASCII functions
such as returns and tabs, up to about 20-30 digits, use Code
128, which is in the
Linear ActiveX Control,
Label Printing Programs,
ASP components
for IIS,
.NET Forms
Controls,
ASP.NET Server
Controls or the
Java Bar Code Products.
- Several lines of data of any type over 20 digits, use PDF417,
Aztec, QR Code or Data Matrix, which is in the
ActiveX Control,
.NET Barcode
Forms Controls,
ASP.NET Server
Controls,
2D Barcode
Fonts, Label
Printing Barcode Programs,
ASP components
for IIS or the
Java Products.
In a study
at Ohio University, several different bar code symbologies were
tested to determine their accuracy and are listed below. Keep in mind
that a well-trained data entry operator will usually make a data entry
error once every 300 keystrokes. Therefore, even implementing the
least accurate symbology is a huge step forward to increase production
and reduce data entry errors. The most inaccurate symbology (UPC) is
used in the retail industry.
| Barcode Type |
Worst Case Accuracy |
Best Case Accuracy |
| Data Matrix |
1 error in 10.5 million |
1 error in 612.9 million |
| PDF417 |
1 error in 10.5 million |
1 error in 612.4 million |
| Code 128 |
1 error in 2.8 million |
1 error in 37 million |
| Code 39 |
1 error in 1.7 million |
1 error in 4.5 million |
| UPC |
1 error in 394 thousand |
1 error in 800 thousand |
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