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Appendix C: Code 128 Bar Code
A.1 Description of the CODE128 Bar Code
Code 128 bar codes can encode 128 unique ASCII characters, 2-digit numerals and special
characters by using one bar code character that is defined by combining code set A, code set B and
code set C. Each code set is used for representing the following characters:
· Code set A: ASCII characters 00H to 5FH
· Code set B: ASCII characters 20H to 7FH
· Code set C: 2-digit numeral characters using one character (100 numerals from 00 to 99)
The following special characters are also available in CODE128:
· SHIFT characters
In code set A, the character just after SHIFT is processed as a character for code set B. In code set
B, the character just after SHIFT is processed as a character for code set A. The character recovers
the previous code set before SHIFT when starting from the second character. SHIFT characters are
used only for switching between code set A and code set B, but cannot make the current code set
enter or exit code set c status.
· Code set selection character (CODE A, CODE B, CODE C).
This character switches the following code set to code set A, B, or C.
· Function character (FNC1, FNC2, FNC3, FNC4)
Code set C allows only FNC1.
