Another UPC question

Correct me if I am wrong please

UPC Type 128A can have 1-12 digits

UPC Type EAN13 are no less than 13 digits

This is what I have determined from my Symbol scanner. Are there any types that can be between 1 & 13 digits?

I do understand about the NSC and checksum numbers but I am in situation where we are using all of the numbers including NSC and checksum to id our products. When I am printing upc codes and trying to scan them our symbol scanners will accept type 128A anywhere from 4-12 digits. When I have a 13 digit upc I need to print it out as a EAN13 in order for them to print properly, if they are less than 12 digits our Monarch printer won't print them.

We would like to know if there is 1 type that can print and scan anywhere from 1 - 13 digits.

Thank you

Reply to
Coaster
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Test 3 of 9 if you have variable length ILCs....here's something I found on

formatting link
Barcode specifications

Code 3 of 9

Solutions available: Windows stand-alone font, Windows font + encoder, AFP, Xerox, PCL, and bespoke solutions. Please email snipped-for-privacy@terrapin.co.uk with your requirements and we will tell you exactly what you need. Please tell us what barcode you require, your operating system, the applications you are using, your printer make and model, and any other information you think is relevant.

Code 39 specification Data Type: Alphanumeric plus a few special characters Bar Code Length: Variable Checksum: Optional (Modulo 43) Wide/Narrow bar width ratio: Between 1:1.8 and 1:3.4 (Optimum 1:3)

General Information The advantage of Code 39 is the great number of characters it offers (43), the more reliable reading results and its widespread utilisation. Code 39 can be read by just about every scanner on the market. A disadvantage is the low information density, since nine elements and an intercharacter gap are required for each barcode symbol.

The Code 39 was created in 1975 by Intermec and is now widely used by public authorities, industry and commerce. The Code 39 is sometimes also called Code Alpha 39 or Code 3 of 9 or 3 of 9 Code. The two digits 3 and 9 mean that each character is made up of 3 wide elements out of a total of 9. A single character consists of 5 black bars and 4 white spaces. Characters are separated by an inter-character gap which is about the same width as a narrow bar. The ratio of wide:narrow bar widths may be in the range of 1.8 to 3.4, but 1:3 is optimal. Barcodes with a narrow bar width of less than 0.020 inches (0.508mm) should have a ratio of at least 2.5. Every Code 39 barcode should be preceded and followed by a quiet zone the width of at least 10 narrow bars.

The character set of Code 39 consists of:

# 10 digits # 26 letters # 7 special characters

The widths of the bars and spaces in Code 39 should normally be the same, but in practice because some printers 'squash' out the ink, this widens the bars and narrows the spaces so the bars may be thinned up to take this into account.

Each symbol of Code 39 is self-checking and therefore safeguards against reading errors. An additional check digit is not often used, but a few critical applications may require one. In these cases Modulo 43 is used to calculate the check digit. Code 39 is one of very few barcodes that do not require a check digit and is therefore attractive for applications where it is difficult or inconvenient to perform calculations each time a barcode is printed.

The number of characters per printed Code 39 symbol is variable and depends on the qualities of the reading device used.

Character Set Each Code 39 barcode should begin and end with the start/stop delimiter which is found in the asterisk (*) position. The complete Code 39 barcode fonts consists of the following 43 characters (as well as the stop/start character).

ABCDEFGHIJKLMN> Correct me if I am wrong please

Reply to
convoluted

Hey Thanks for finding that for me, I'll test it out today.

Reply to
Coaster

I tried it 3of 9 but our symbol scanner wouldn't scan it. Plus my monarch printer was sending errors even though it did print it. No big deal they'll just have to live with 2 types of label formats/

Reply to
Coaster

Reply to
EricUpNorth

If you are using a code 39 font, make sure that you enter "*" at the beginning and the end before formating with the font. For a quality code 39 font take a look

formatting link

Reply to
MontereySoft

If you are using a code 39 font, make sure that you enter "*" at the beginning and the end before formating with the font. For a quality code 39 font take a look

formatting link

Reply to
MontereySoft

We're using a Monarch label printer with a label format file I created using the printer control language. I did put in the *'s on the bar code line but they don't scan. It may be a density thing since the label is pretty small but I don't have alot of time left to spend on this project.

thanks

Reply to
Coaster

Barcode printers usually have very low resolution such as 203dpi. You need to select a size that fits the printer pixel. If you are working with Morovia Code39 fonts, try the following font sizes: 10pt, 15pt,

22pt and 29pt.
Reply to
MontereySoft

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