Bulk Barcode Generator - Code 39Ext

Barcode Technology - Code 39Ext Barcode               Hide the description

Code 39 Ext (Code 39 Extended) supports all ASCII 128 characters by using double character encoding.

For example, the lower-case letter "a" is represented by "+A". Because of the possibility of misrepresentation of a symbol, most bar code scanners must be switched to extended mode in order to recognize Code 39 Extended.

Code 39 (also known as Alpha39, Code 3 of 9, Code 3/9, Type 39, USS Code 39, or USD-3) is a variable length,

discrete barcode symbology.

Valid characters:  0123456789[Space]ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ-.$/+%

Code 39Ext is one of the many barcode formats currently in use.

A Barcode is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form.

The barcode formats has two categories:

One-dimensional (1D) --- Barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines.

Two-dimensional (2D) --- Using rectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns to represented data.

Code 39 can be to produced in different proportions: 2,0:1 and 3,0:1. This is the proportion between the thin and the

thick lines of the code. As higher the proportion, the wider is the printed barcode with same contents, but even better is readability.

The * character of Code 39:

The * character presented below is not a true encodable character, but is the start and stop symbol for Code 39. The asymmetry of the symbol allows the reader to determine the direction of the barcode being scanned. This code is traditionally mapped to the * character in barcode fonts and will often appear with the human-readable representation alongside the barcode.

In order to create this code do not have to enter the stars: If the text line shows *1234* you just have to enter 1234 because the stars are a fixed part of Code 39.

Check digit:

Since Code 39 is self-checking, a check digit normally isn't necessary. However, in applications that require an extremely high level of accuracy a modulo 43 checksum digit may be added.
To calculate the optional checksum digit, follow the following steps.
Take the value (0 through 42) of each character in the bar code. The start and stop characters are not included in the checksum calculation.
Sum the value of each of the values of each of the characters described in step 1.
Divide the result from step 2 by 43.
The remainder from the division in step 3 is the checksum character that will be appended to the data message before the stop character.

Drawback:

Possibly the most serious drawback of Code 39 is its low data density: It requires more space to encode data in Code 39 than, for example, in Code 128. This means that very small goods cannot be labeled with a Code 39 based barcode. However, Code 39 is still used by some postal services (although the Universal Postal Union recommends using Code 128 in all cases), and can be decoded with virtually any barcode reader. One advantage of Code 39 is that since there is no need to generate a check digit, it can easily be integrated into an existing printing system by adding a barcode font to the system or printer and then printing the raw data in that font.

Human Readable:

Most barcodes display their corresponding values below them, which makes it possible to human read and manually  enter the barcode values into the equivalent system when the barcode label is worn out and cannot be read by the barcode scanner.

Advantages:

Using Barcode system eliminates the possibility of human error. The error rate of manually entering data is
significantly higher than that of scan barcodes. Barcode scanning is fast and reliable, and it takes much less time than manual data entry. Especially when using a QR code, hundreds of characters can be read and entered into your system instantly.

Using a barcode system can make the working process simple and easy, so it can reduces the employee training time. It only takes a few minutes to master the barcode scanner to collecting data, employees no need to familiar with the entire inventory or pricing process. This also reduces the cost of employee training.

History:

Code 39 was developed by Dr. David Allais and Ray Stevens of Intermec in 1974. Their original design included two wide bars and one wide space in each character, resulting in 40 possible characters. Setting aside one of these characters as a start and stop pattern left 39 characters, which was the origin of the name Code 39. Four punctuation characters were later added, using no wide bars and three wide spaces, expanding the character set to 43 characters.

Most commonly used barcode types

EAN-13 code: Product barcode, universal, supports 0-9 digits, 13 digits in length, has grooved.

UPC-A code: Product barcode, mainly used in the United States and Canada, supports 0-9 numbers, 12 digits in length, has grooves.

Code-128 code: Universal barcode, supports numbers, letters and symbols, variable length, no grooves.

QR-Code: Two-dimensional barcode, supports multiple character sets and encoding formats, variable length, and has positioning marks.

Why are there many types of barcodes?

There are many types of barcodes because they have different uses and characteristics.

For example, a UPC [Universal Product Code] is a barcode used to label retail products and can be found on nearly every item sold and in grocery stores in the United States.

CODE 39 is a barcode that can encode numbers, letters and some special characters. It is commonly used in manufacturing, military and medical fields.

ITF [Interleaved Two-Five Code] is a barcode that can only encode an even number of digits. It is commonly used in the logistics and transportation fields.

NW-7 [also known as CODABAR] is a barcode that can encode numbers and four start/end characters. It is commonly used in libraries, express delivery and banks.

Code-128 is a barcode that can encode all 128 ASCII characters. It is commonly used in areas such as package tracking, e-commerce and warehouse management.

What is the historical origin of barcodes?

In 1966, the National Association of Food Chains (NAFC) adopted bar codes as product identification standards.

In 1970, IBM developed the Universal Product Code (UPC), which is still widely used today.

In 1974, the first product with a UPC barcode: a pack of Wrigley's gum was scanned in an Ohio supermarket.

In 1981, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved Code39 as the first alphanumeric barcode standard.

In 1994, Japan's Denso Wave Company invented QR-Code, a two-dimensional barcode that can store more information.

Barcode application examples

Barcode Apps for Food Tracking: Apps that record the nutritional content, calories, protein and other information of the food you eat by scanning the barcode on the food label. These apps can help you record your eating habits, Manage your health goals, or understand where your food comes from.

Transportation and logistics: Used for ordering and distribution codes, product warehousing management, logistics control systems, ticket sequence numbers in international aviation systems. Barcodes are used in ordering and distribution in the logistics and transportation industry. They can be used to string Line Shipping Container Codes (SSCCs) are encoded to identify and track containers and pallets in the supply chain. They can also encode other information such as best before dates and lot numbers.

Internal supply chain: internal management of the enterprise, production process, logistics control system, ordering and distribution codes. Barcodes can store various information, such as item number, batch, quantity, weight, date, etc. This information can Used for tracking, sorting, inventory, quality control, etc., to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the company's internal supply chain management.

Logistics tracking: Barcodes are widely used in logistics tracking. It can be used to identify goods, orders, prices, inventory and other information. By affixing barcodes on packaging or shipping boxes, it is possible to achieve warehouse entry and exit. Automatic identification and recording of distribution, inventory and other logistics information to improve the accuracy and efficiency of logistics management.

Production line process: Barcodes can be used for factory production line process management to improve production efficiency and quality. Barcodes can identify product numbers, batches, specifications, quantities, dates and other information to facilitate traceability during the production process. Inspection, statistics and other operations. Barcodes can also be integrated with other systems, such as ERP, MES, WMS, etc., to achieve automatic collection and transmission of data.

Some common barcode application areas

Ticket Verification: Cinemas, event venues, travel tickets and more use barcode scanners to verify tickets and the admission process.

Food Tracking: Some apps allow you to track the food you eat via barcodes.

Inventory Management: In retail stores and other places where inventory needs to be tracked, barcodes help record the quantity and location of items.

Convenient checkout: In supermarkets, shops and restaurants, barcodes can quickly calculate the price and total of goods.

Games: Some games use barcodes as interactive or creative elements, such as scanning different barcodes to generate characters or items.

Benefits of using barcodes

Speed: Barcodes can scan items in a store or track inventory in a warehouse faster, thus greatly improving the productivity of store and warehouse personnel. Barcode systems can ship and receive goods faster to reasonably way to store and locate items.

Accuracy: Barcodes reduce human error when entering or recording information, with an error rate of approximately 1 in 3 million, and enable real-time information access and automated data collection anytime, anywhere.

Cost Effectiveness: Barcodes are cheap to produce and print, and can save money by increasing efficiency and reducing losses. Barcoding systems allow organizations to accurately record the quantity of product left, its location and when reorders are needed, which This avoids waste and reduces the amount of money tied up in excess inventory, thereby improving cost efficiency.

Inventory Control: Barcodes help organizations track the quantity, location and status of goods throughout their life cycle, improve the efficiency of moving goods in and out of warehouses, and make ordering decisions based on more accurate inventory information.

Easy to use: Reduce employee training time because using the barcode system is easy and less error-prone. You only need to scan the barcode label attached to an item to access its database through the barcode system and obtain information related to the item. information.

Application of barcodes in inventory management

Goods Receipt: By scanning the barcode on received goods, the quantity, type and quality of goods can be quickly and accurately recorded and matched with purchase orders.

Shipping: By scanning the barcode on outgoing goods, the quantity, destination and status of the goods can be quickly and accurately recorded and matched with sales orders.

Moving warehouse: By scanning the barcodes on the goods and warehouse locations, the movement and storage of goods can be quickly and accurately recorded, and inventory information updated.

Inventory: By scanning the barcodes on goods in the warehouse, you can quickly and accurately check the actual quantity of goods and the system quantity, and find and resolve discrepancies.

Equipment Management: By scanning the barcode on the equipment or tool, you can quickly and accurately record the use, repair and return of the equipment or tool, and prevent loss or damage.

About QR-Code

QR-Code was invented in 1994 by a team led by Masahiro Harada of the Japanese company Denso Wave, based on the barcode originally used to mark automobile parts. It is a two-dimensional matrix barcode that can achieve multiple uses.

QR-Code has the following advantages compared with one-dimensional barcodes:

QR-Code can store more information because it uses a two-dimensional square matrix instead of one-dimensional lines. One-dimensional barcodes can usually only store dozens of characters, while QR-Code can Stores thousands of characters.

QR-Code can represent more data types, such as numbers, letters, binary, Chinese characters, etc. One-dimensional barcodes can usually only represent numbers or letters.

QR-Code can be scanned and recognized faster because it has four positioning marks and can be scanned from any angle. One-dimensional barcodes usually need to be scanned from a specific direction.

QR-Code is more resistant to damage and interference because it has error correction capabilities that can recover partially lost or obscured data. One-dimensional barcodes generally do not have such capabilities.

The difference between two-dimensional barcodes and one-dimensional barcodes mainly lies in the encoding method and information capacity. Two-dimensional barcodes use a two-dimensional square matrix, which can store more information and represent more data types. One-dimensional barcodes use one-dimensional lines, can only store a small amount of information, and can only represent numbers or letters. There are other differences between two-dimensional barcodes and one-dimensional barcodes, such as scanning speed, error correction capabilities, compatibility, etc.

QR-Code is not the only two-dimensional barcode. According to the principle, two-dimensional barcodes can be divided into two categories: matrix and stacked. Common two-dimensional barcode types are: Data Matrix, MaxiCode, Aztec, QR -Code, PDF417, Vericode, Ultracode, Code 49, Code 16K, etc., they have different applications in different fields.

The two-dimensional barcode developed on the basis of the one-dimensional barcode has advantages that the one-dimensional barcode cannot compare with. As a portable data file, although it is still in its infancy, it is in the ever-improving market. Driven by the economy and rapidly developing information technology, coupled with the unique characteristics of 2D barcodes, the demand for the new technology of 2D barcodes in various countries is increasing day by day.

What is the difference between EAN-13 barcode and UPC-A barcode?

The EAN-13 barcode has one more country/region code than the UPC-A barcode. In fact, the UPC-A barcode can be regarded as a special case of the EAN-13 barcode, which is the EAN-13 barcode with the first digit set to 0.

The EAN-13 barcode is developed by the International Article Numbering Center and is universally accepted. The code length is 13 digits, and the first two digits represent the country or region code.

UPC-A barcode is produced by the United States Uniform Code Committee and is mainly used in the United States and Canada. The code length is 12 digits, and the first digit indicates the numeric system code.

EAN-13 barcode and UPC-A barcode have the same structure and verification method, and similar appearance.

EAN-13 barcode is a superset of UPC-A barcode and can be compatible with UPC-A barcode.

If I have a UPC code, do I still need to apply for an EAN?

No need. Both UPC and EAN can identify goods. Although the former originated in the United States, it is part of the global GS1 system, so if you register UPC under the GS1 organization, it can be used globally. If you need to print a 13-digit EAN barcode, you can add the number 0 in front of the UPC code.

UPC-A barcodes can be converted to EAN-13 barcodes by prepending 0. For example, the UPC-A barcode [012345678905] corresponds to the EAN-13 barcode [0012345678905]. Doing this ensures Compatibility with UPC-A barcodes.

About Code-128 barcode

Code-128 barcode was developed by COMPUTER IDENTICS in 1981. It is a variable-length, continuous alphanumeric barcode.

Code-128 barcode consists of a blank area, a start mark, a data area, a check character and a terminator. It has three subsets, namely A, B and C, which can represent different character sets. It can also be used to achieve multi-level encoding through the selection of starting characters, code set characters, and conversion characters.

It can encode all 128 ASCII characters, including numbers, letters, symbols and control characters, so it can represent all characters on the computer keyboard.

It can achieve high-density and efficient data representation through multi-level encoding, and can be used for automatic identification in any management system.

It is compatible with the EAN/UCC system and is used to represent the information of the storage and transportation unit or logistics unit of the commodity. In this case, it is called GS1-128.

Code-128 barcode standard was developed by Computer Identics Corporation [USA] in 1981. It can represent all 128 ASCII code characters and is suitable for convenient application on computers. The purpose of formulating this standard is to Improve barcode encoding efficiency and reliability.

Code128 is a high-density barcode. It uses three versions of character sets [A, B, C] and the selection of starting characters, code set characters, and conversion characters, according to different data Type and length, choose the most appropriate encoding method. This can reduce the length of the barcode and improve encoding efficiency. In addition, Code128 also uses check characters and terminators, which can increase the reliability of the barcode and prevent misreading or missed reading.

Code-128 barcode is widely used in internal management of enterprises, production processes, and logistics control systems. It has many application scenarios, mainly in industries such as transportation, logistics, clothing, food, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.

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