1. ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
  2. ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
  3. ZPL Commands
  4. ^BC
  • ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
^BC

^BC

The
^BC
 command creates the Code 128 barcode, a high-density, variable length, continuous, alphanumeric symbology. It was designed for complexly encoded product identification.

Code 128 Barcode (Subsets A, B, and C)

Code 128 has three subsets of characters. There are 106 encoded printing characters in each set, and each character can have up to three different meanings, depending on the character subset being used. Each Code 128 character consists of six elements: three bars and three spaces.
  • ^BC
     supports a fixed print ratio.
  • Field data (
    ^FD
    ) is limited to the width (or length, if rotated) of the label.
If additional information about this barcode is required, refer to aimglobal.org.
Format:
^BCo,h,f,g,e,m
Parameters
Details
o =
 orientation
Values:
N =
 normal
R =
 rotated 90 degrees (clockwise)
I =
 inverted 180 degrees
B =
 read from the bottom up, 270 degrees
Default:
 current
^FW
 value
h =
 barcode height (in dots)
Values:
1
 to
32000
Default:
 value set by
^BY
f =
 print interpretation line
Values:
Y
 (yes) or
N
 (no)
Default:
Y
The interpretation line can be printed in any font by placing the font command before the barcode command.
g =
 print interpretation line above code
Values:
Y
 (yes) or
N
 (no)
Default:
N
e =
 UCC check digit
Values:
Y
 (turns on) or
N
 (turns off)
Mod 103 check digit is always there. It cannot be turned on or off. Mod 10 and 103 appear together with
e
 turned on.
Default:
N
m =
 mode
Values:
N =
 no selected mode
U =
 UCC Case Mode
  • More than 19 digits in
    ^FD
     or
    ^SN
     are eliminated.
  • Fewer than 19 digits in
    ^FD
     or ^SN add zeros to the right to bring the count to 19. This produces an invalid interpretation line.
A =
  Automatic Mode
This analyzes the data sent and automatically determines the best packing method. The full ASCII character set can be used in the
^FD
 statement — the printer determines when to shift subsets. A string of four or more numeric digits causes an automatic shift to Subset C.
D =
 UCC/EAN Mode (x.11.x and newer firmware)
This allows dealing with UCC/EAN with and without chained application identifiers. The code starts in the appropriate subset followed by FNC1 to indicate a UCC/EAN 128 barcode. The printer automatically strips out parentheses and spaces for encoding but prints them in the human-readable section. The printer automatically determines if a check digit is required, calculates it, and prints it. Automatically sizes the human readable.
Default:
 N
Example:
 This is an example of a Code 128 barcode:
Code 128 Barcode

Code 128 Subsets

The Code 128 character subsets are referred to as Subset A, Subset B, and Subset C. A subset can be selected in these ways:
  • A special Invocation Code can be included in the field data (
    ^FD
    ) string associated with that barcode.
  • The desired Start Code can be placed at the beginning of the field data. If no Start Code is entered, Subset B is used.
To change subsets within a barcode, place the Invocation Code at the appropriate points within the field data (
^FD
) string. The new subset stays in effect until changed with the Invocation Code. For example, in Subset C,
>7
 in the field data changes the Subset to A.
The following table shows the Code 128 Invocation Codes and Start Characters for the three subsets.
Code 128 Invocation Characters
Invocation Code
Decimal Value
Subset A Character
Subset B Character
Subset C Character
><
62
>0
30
>
>
>=
94
~
>1
95
USQ
DEL
>2
96
FNC 3
FNC 3
>3
97
FNC 2
FNC 2
>4
98
SHIFT
SHIFT
>5
99
CODE C
CODE C
>6
100
CODE B
FNC 4
CODE B
>7
101
FNC 4
CODE A
CODE A
>8
102
FNC 1
FNC 1
FNC 1
Start Characters
>9
103
Start CodeA
(Numeric Pairs give Alpha/Numerics)
>:
104
Start CodeB
(Normal Alpha/Numeric)
>;
105
Stat CodeC
(All Numeric(00 - 99)
The following table shows the character sets for Code 128:
Code 128 Character Sets
Value
CodeA
CodeB
CodeC
Value
CodeA
CodeB
CodeC
0
SP
SP
00
53
U
U
53
1
!
!
01
54
V
V
54
2
''
''
02
55
W
W
55
3
#
#
03
56
X
X
56
4
$
$
04
57
Y
Y
57
5
%
%
05
58
Z
Z
58
6
&
&
06
59
[
[
59
7
'
'
07
60
\
\
60
8
(
(
08
61
]
]
61
9
)
)
09
62
^
^
62
10
*
*
10
63
_
_
63
11
+
+
11
64
NUL
.
64
12
,
,
12
65
SOH
a
65
13
-
-
13
66
STX
b
66
14
.
.
14
67
ETX
c
67
15
/
/
15
68
EOT
d
68
16
0
0
16
69
ENQ
e
69
17
1
1
17
70
ACK
f
70
18
2
2
18
71
BEL
g
71
19
3
3
19
72
BS
h
72
20
4
4
20
73
HT
i
73
21
5
5
21
74
LF
j
74
22
6
6
22
75
VT
k
75
23
7
7
23
76
FF
l
76
24
8
8
24
77
CR
m
77
25
9
9
25
78
SO
n
78
26
:
:
26
79
SI
o
79
27
;
;
27
80
DLE
p
80
28
<
<
28
81
DC1
q
81
29
=
=
29
82
DC2
r
82
30
>
>
30
83
DC3
s
83
31
?
?
31
84
DC4
t
84
32
@
@
32
85
NAK
u
85
33
A
A
33
86
SYN
v
86
34
B
B
34
87
ETB
w
87
35
C
C
35
88
CAN
x
88
36
D
D
36
89
EM
y
89
37
E
E
37
90
SUB
z
90
38
F
F
38
91
ESC
{
91
39
G
G
39
92
FS
|
92
40
H
H
40
93
GS
}
93
41
I
I
41
94
RS
~
94
42
J
J
42
95
US
DEL
95
43
K
K
43
96
FNC3
FNC3
96
44
L
L
44
97
FNC2
FNC2
97
45
M
M
45
98
SHIFT
SHIFT
98
46
N
N
46
99
CodeC
CodeC
99
47
O
O
47
100
CodeB
FNC4
CodeB
48
P
P
48
101
FNC4
CodeA
CodeA
49
Q
Q
49
102
FNC1
FNC1
FNC1
50
R
R
50
103
START (CodeA)
51
S
S
51
104
START (CodeB)
52
T
T
52
105
START (CodeC)
Example:
 The following figures are examples of identical barcodes.
Subset B with no Start Character
Subset B with Start Character
Example:
 Because Code 128 Subset B is the most commonly used subset, ZPL II defaults to Subset B if no start character is specified in the data string.
This figure is an example of switching from Subset C to B to A.
Switching from Subset C to B to A

How ^BC Works Within a ZPL II Script

^XA
 – the first command starts the label format.
^FO100,75
 – the second command sets the field origin at 100 dots across the x-axis and 75 dots down the y-axis from the upper-left corner.
^BCN,100,Y,N,N
 – the third command calls for a Code 128 barcode to be printed with no rotation (N) and a height of 100 dots. An interpretation line is printed (Y) below the barcode (N). No UCC check digit is used (N).
^FDCODE128^FS
 (Figure A)
^FD>:CODE128^FS
 (Figure B) – the field data command specifies the content of the barcode.
^XZ
 – the last command ends the field data and indicates the end of the label.
The interpretation line prints below the code with the UCC check digit turned off.
The
^FD
 command for Figure A does not specify any subset, so Subset B is used. In Figure B, the
^FD
 command specifically calls Subset B with the >: Start Code. Although ZPL II defaults to Code B, it is good practice to include the Invocation Codes in the command.
Code 128 – Subset B is programmed directly as ASCII text, except for values greater than 94 decimal and a few special characters that must be programmed using the invocation codes. Those characters are: 
    ^ > ~
Code 128 – Subsets A and C
Code 128, Subsets A and C are programmed in pairs of digits, 00 to 99, in the field data string. For details, see Table 1.
In Subset A, each pair of digits results in a single character being encoded in the barcode; in Subset C, characters are printed as entered. Figure E below is an example of Subset A (>9 is the Start Code for Subset A).
Nonintegers programmed as the first character of a digit pair (D2) are ignored. However, nonintegers programmed as the second character of a digit pair (2D) invalidate the entire digit pair, and the pair is ignored. An extra unpaired digit in the field data string just before a code shift is also ignored.
The figures below are examples of Subset C. Notice that the barcodes are identical.
Subset C with Normal Data
Subset C with Ignored Alpha Character
In the program code for the following figure, the D is ignored, and the 2 is paired with the 4.
Subset A

The UCC/EAN-128 Symbology

The symbology specified for the representation of Application Identifier data is UCC/EAN-128, a variant of Code 128, exclusively reserved for EAN International and the Uniform Code Council (UCC).
It is not intended to be used for data to be scanned at the point of sale in retail outlets.
UCC/EAN-128 offers several advantages. It is one of the most complete, alphanumeric, one-dimensional symbologies available today. The use of three different character sets (A, B, and C), facilitates the encoding of the full 128 ASCII character set. Code 128 is one of the most compact linear barcode symbologies. Character set C enables numeric data to be represented in a double-density mode. In this mode, two digits are represented by only one symbol character saving valuable space. The code is concatenated. That means that multiple AIs and their fields may be combined into a single barcode. The code is also very reliable. Code 128 symbols use two independent self-checking features which improves printing and scanning reliability.
UCC/EAN-128 barcodes always contain a special non-data character known as function 1 (FNC 1), which follows the start character of the barcode. It enables scanners and processing software to auto-discriminate between UCC/EAN-128 and other barcode symbologies, and subsequently only process relevant data.
The UCC/EAN-128 barcode is made up of a leading quiet zone, a Code 128 start character A, B, or C, an FNC 1 character, Data (Application Identifier plus data field), a symbol check character, a stop character, and a trailing quiet zone.
UCC/EAN and UCC/128 are a couple of ways you'll hear someone refer to the code. This just indicates that the code is structured as dictated by the application identifiers that are used.
SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) formatted following the data structure layout for Application Identifier 00. See Table 3. It could be 00 which is the SSCC code. The customer needs to let us know what application identifiers are used for their barcode so we can help them.
There are several ways of writing the code to print the code to the Application Identifier '00' structure.

Using N for the Mode (m) Parameter

This example shows with application identifier 00 structure:
N for the M Parameter
  • >;>8' sets it to subset C, function 1
  • '00' is the application identifier followed by '17 characters', the check digit is selected using the 'Y' for the (e) parameter to automatically print the 20th character.
  • you are not limited to 19 characters with the mode set to N

Using U for the Mode (m) Parameter

The example shows the application identifier 00 format:
U for the M Parameter
UCC Case Mode
  • Choosing
    U
     selects UCC Case mode. You will have exactly 19 characters available in
    ^FD
    .
  • Subset C using FNC1 values are automatically selected.
  • Check digit is automatically inserted.

Using D for the Mode (m) Parameter

This example shows application identifier 00 format ((x.11.x or later):
D for the M Parameter
(0 at the end of field data is a bogus character that is inserted as a placeholder for the check digit the printer will automatically insert.
  • Subset C using FNC1 values are automatically selected.
  • Parentheses and spaces can be in the field data. '00' application identifier, followed by 17 characters, followed by a bogus check digit placeholder.
  • Check digit is automatically inserted. The printer will automatically calculate the check digit and put it into the barcode and interpretation line.
  • The interpretation line will also show the parentheses and spaces but will strip them out from the actual barcode.

Printing the Interpretation Line

This example shows printing the interpretation in a different font with firmware x.11.x or later:
Interpretation Line
The font command (
^A0N,40,30
) can be added and changed to alter the font and size of the interpretation line.

With firmware version later than x.10.x

  • A separate text field needs to be written.
  • The interpretation line needs to be turned off.
  • ^A0N,50,40
     is the font and size selection for the separate text field.
  • You have to make sure you enter the correct check digit in the text field.
  • Creating a separate text field allows you to format the interpretation line with parentheses and spaces.
Firmware Older Than X.10.X

Application Identifiers — UCC/EAN APPLICATION IDENTIFIER

An Application Identifier is a prefix code used to identify the meaning and the format of the data that follows it (data field).
There are AIs for identification, traceability, dates, quantity, measurements, locations, and many other types of information.
For example, the AI for batch number is 10, and the batch number AI is always followed by an alphanumeric batch code not to exceed 20 characters.
The UCC/EAN Application Identifiers provide an open standard that can be used and understood by all companies in the trading chain, regardless of the company that originally issued the codes.
Table 3 is a partial table showing the application identifiers. For more current and complete information, search the Internet for
UCC Application Identifier
.
UCC/EAN Application Identifier
Data Content
AI
Plus The Following Data Structure
Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)
00
exactly 18 digits
Shipping Container Code
01
exactly 14 digits
Batch Numbers
10
up to 20 alphanumerics
Production Date (YYMMDD)
11
exactly 6 digits
Packaging Date (YYMMDD)
13
exactly 6 digits
Sell By Date (YYMMDD)
15
exactly 6 digits
Expiration Date (YYMMDD)
17
exactly 6 digits
Product Variant
20
exactly 2 digits
Serial Number
21
up to 20 alphanumerics
HIBCC Quantity, Date, Batch and Link
22
up to 29 alphanumerics
Lot Number
23
up to 19 alphanumerics
Quantity Each
30
Net Weight (Kilograms)
310
exactly 6 digits
Length, Meters
311
exactly 6 digits
Width or Diameter (Meters)
312
exactly 6 digits
Depths (Meters)
313
exactly 6 digits
Area (Sq. Meters)
314
exactly 6 digits
Volume (Liters)
315
exactly 6 digits
Volume (Cubic Meters)
316
exactly 6 digits
Net Weight (Pounds)
320
exactly 6 digits
Customer PO Number
400
up to 29 alphanumerics
Ship To (Deliver To) Location Code using EAN 13 or DUNS Number with leading zeros
410
exactly 13 digits
Bill To (Invoice To) Location Code using EAN 13 or DUNS Number with leading zeros
411
exactly 13 digits
Purchase from
412
exactly 13 digits
Ship To (Deliver To) Postal Code within single postal authority
420
up to 9 alphanumerics
Ship To (Deliver To) Postal Code with 3-digit ISO Country Code Prefix
421
3 digits plus up to 9 alphanumerics
Roll Products - width, length, core diameter, direction and splices
8001
exactly 14 digits
Electronic Serial number for cellular mobile phone
8002
up to 20 alphanumerics
Plus one digit for length indication.
Plus one digit for decimal point indication.
For date fields that only need to indicate a year and month, the day field is set to
00
.

Chaining several application identifiers (firmware x.11.x or later)

The FNC1, which is invoked by
>8
, is inserted just before the AIs so that the scanners reading the code see the FNC1 and know that an AI follows.
Example:
This is an example with the mode parameter set to
A
 (automatic):
^XA
^BY2,2.5,193
^FO33,400
^BCN,,N,N,N,A
^FD>;>80204017773003486100008535>8910001>837252^FS
^FT33,625^AEN,0,0^FD(02)04017773003486(10)0008535(91)0001(37)252^FS
^XZ
Example:
This is an example with the mode parameter set to
U
:
^XA
^BY3,2.5,193
^FO33,200
^BCN,,N,N,N,U
^FD>;>80204017773003486>8100008535>8910001>837252^FS
^FT33,455^A0N,30,30^FD(02)04017773003486(10)0008535(91)0001(37)252^FS
^XZ
Example:
This is an example with the mode parameter set to D*:
^XA
^PON
^LH0,0
^BY2,2.5,145
^FO218,343
^BCB,,Y,N,N,D
^FD(91)0005886>8(10)0000410549>8(99)05^FS
^XZ