BarcodeFAQ.com
provides basic bar code information including answers to frequently asked
questions, barcode tutorials and product recommendations for printing and
scanning barcodes.
|
Information on this website is provided
courtesy of IDAutomation.com, Inc.
|
| 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 |
| IDAutomation has compiled
some 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 |
|
