User's Manual

Bar CodesAppendix —C
365700 Series Color Mobile Computer User’s Manual
UCC/EAN-128 Shipping Container Labeling is a versatile tool that can
ease movement of products and information. The Shipping Container La-
beling bar code can take any form and usually has meaning only within the
company or facility where applied.
Because this random data can get mistaken later for an industry standard
code format, the UCC and EAN chose a symbology uniquely identified
from these other bar codes. This standard is for maximum flexibility, to
handle the diversity of distribution in global markets by cost efficiency.
The UCC/EAN-128 Container Labeling specification calls for a FUNC1
to immediately follow the bar code’ s start character. FUNC1 also follows
any variable-length application field. The specification also calls for the
computer to send “]C1” for the first FUNC1. The specification requires
that the computer send a “<GS>” (hex 1D) for subsequent FUNC1 codes
in the bar code.
Because “<GS>” is not compatible with computer emulation data streams,
the Uniform Code Council has been asked to change the specification.
This change is made to send the same three character sequence “]C1” to
identify the embedded FUNC1 codes.
This implementation should provide for clean application coding by iden-
tifying the same sequences for the same scanned codes. If the communica-
tion of Norand bar code types is enabled, the Shipping Container Label
codes precede with a “J”. These strings will appear on the computer dis-
play. The application may have to allow for strings longer than 48 charac-
ters (maximum length indicated in the specification). Ac tual length vari-
ance depends on the number of variable-length data fields. Allowing for 60
characters should be sufficient. Within the Code 128 specification, the
computer can link bar codes together. If this is to happen, allow for more
characters (computer limit is 100 characters).
The Application Identifier Standard, that is part of the UCC/EAN Ship-
ping Label concept, complements, rather than replaces, other UCC/EAN
standards. Most UCC/EAN standards primarily identify products.
Several industries expressed the need to standardize more than product
identification. The UCC/EAN Code 128 Application Identifier Standard
supplies this tool. The standard adds versatility for inter-enterprise ex-
changes of perishability dating, lot and batch identification, units of use
measure, location codes, and several other information attributes.
For more detailed information on Code 128 UCC/EAN Shipping Label
bar code and Application Identifier Standard, refer to the UCC/EAN-128
Application Identifier Standard specification.