[reportlab-users] barcodes encoded with Code 128 not always optimally

[Keven Webb]

Andy:

I am fairly new to ReportLab, but I can assist in some of the testing. In
fact, I am working on a specialized application (not built with ReportLab)
with Code128 subset C right now. [The USPS requires the special FNC1 character
and the development tool does not support that directly.]

I have a really nice HandHeld (now part of Honeywell) 4800i scanner(s), but I
have access to a couple cheaper models. I also feel competent to measure and
interpret the specifications, but I will have to locate my copy of The Barcode
Book or get a newer edition. [I have a nice digital calipers set that I
purchased for use in testing with industrial labeling applications.]

Keven Webb


------ Original Message ------
Received: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 11:00:43 AM CST
From: reportlab-users-request at lists2.reportlab.com
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:08:12 +0000
From: Andy Robinson <andy at reportlab.com>
Subject: Re: [reportlab-users] barcodes encoded with Code 128 not
	always optimally encoded
To: reportlab-users <reportlab-users at lists2.reportlab.com>
Message-ID:
	<CABjtApvEDvKjCC7Bjxjaq1SRKV0N5Xciox3OHQ9uijj22eKUgQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Josh, thanks for this.

The barcode code was a contribution from someone who worked in the
field, and none of our current developers are very familiar with the
standards.  We adopted a pretty simple standard of "if our scanner
reads it, it's OK".  I am a little nervous of making a change.  Are
you in a position to help with testing on a variety of readers if we
make a change?

- Andy Robinson, ReportLab


On 24 February 2013 00:09, Josh Hieronymus <josh.p.hieronymus at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I've noticed that when I use ReportLab to create Code 128-encoded barcodes,

> the barcodes are longer than they need to be. The barcode created by

> Code128("A\x00"), for example, encodes two extra symbols. Looking through

> code128.py, it seems that the generated barcode for this example

> unnecessarily begins in subcode B, switches to subcode A to code the symbol

> for "\x00", then switches back to subcode B. If the barcode started in

> subcode A, it would not need to switch.



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End of reportlab-users Digest, Vol 109, Issue 3
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