Code 128a Barcode Generation Options

The Code 128a barcode specification is used in IDAutomation Barcode Fonts, Components and Applications to create a Code 128 Barcode in character set A, which includes upper case letters, numbers and several functions.

• Using the Code 128a Barcode Fonts option with a font encoder returns text formatted to Code 128 Barcode specifications.
• Using Uni_C128a with a Universal Barcode Font Encoder returns text formatted to the Universal Barcode Font, a single cross-platform font (Windows, MAC, Linux and Unix) that creates several barcode types.
• The Code128a barcode option in all Components and Applications will produce a barcode image that includes all applicable start and stop digits with checksum characters when required.
• Nat_Code128a creates a “native” barcode from pure text without requiring the installation of any additional fonts or components. These options exist in the Native Barcode Generators for Crystal Reports, Access, FileMaker, JavaScript and Oracle Reports.

Caution should be used in Code 128 character set A because lowercase characters will create a function according to the Code 128 Barcode Character Set. This can be useful, however, when a tab or return needs to be easily encoded in the barcode symbol.

For example, the following data string in character set A encodes “CODE<tab>128<tab>BARCODE<return>”:
CODEi128iBARCODEm

The above Code 128a barcode symbol was generated with the Barcode Image Generator at 96 DPI. A free online version of the barcode generator is also available for testing purposes.

The Code 128a barcode type is easily read and verified with the IDAutomation USB Barcode Scanner.