GS1-128 encodes the so called Element Strings which are composed of an Application Identifier (AI) plus a data field. Each AI identifies the meaning and format of the data following it. The GS1 System provides more than one hundred Element Strings which can be found on the GS1 General Specification and is summarized in the following table.

Show GS1-128 Application Identifiers

When encoding those element strings into a GS1-128 barcode, the FNC1 function character starts it and is automatically encoded by the Barcode Professional. Also notice that the AI has parentheses around it in the human readable text of a GS1-128 barcode, but the parentheses are not encoded in the barcode itself.

Encoding Single GS1-128 AIs
To encode a single element string like the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) which AI is (01), you just need to specify the AI + Data Field to the Code property. For example, to encode GTIN 95012345678903 you should:

• Set the Symbology property to GS1128
• Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
  • Set the BarWidth and BarHeight properties based on your requirements (Values are expressed in Inches)
  • Set the QuietZone property to 10 times the BarWidth value or based on your requirements (Value is expressed in Inches)
• Set the Code property with the value to encode. For example, Code = "(01)95012345678903" or Code = "0195012345678903" (NOTE: if you do not specify the parenthesis, then they will be automatically added by Barcode Professional in the Human Readable Text below the barcode)
• Setting up the Bearer Bars if needed:
  • Set the BearerBarStyle property to Frame, or HorizontalRules
  • Set the BearerBarWidth property (Value is expressed in Inches)

Concatenation - Encoding multiple GS1-128 AIs into a single barcode
GS1-128 allows several Element Strings to be encoded in one barcode, a process called concatenation. Concatenation is advantageous because it means that the symbology elements are only needed once, and the space required for the symbol is smaller than when separate barcodes are used to encode each Element String. It also improves scanning accuracy, allowing for single scanning rather than multiple scanning. The various Element Strings can be transmitted from the bar code reader as a single full string.

When concatenating AIs, the FNC1 function character is used for marking the end of an AI. The AIs which require the usage of FNC1 are these ones: 10, 21, 22, 240, 241, 242, 250, 251, 253, 254, 30, 37, 390, 391, 392, 393, 400, 401, 402, 403, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 7001, 7002, 7003, 7004, 7030, 7031, 7032, 7033, 7034, 7035, 7036, 7037, 7038, 7039, 8001, 8002, 8003, 8004, 8005, 8006, 8007, 8008, 8018, 8020, 8100, 8101, 8102, 8110, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99. If some of these AIs are the last element string in the concatenation, then the FNC1 is NOT required. If the AI is not listed here, then it does NOT require an FNC1 character either!

If you specify the AIs between parentheses, then the Barcode Professional takes care of the FNC1 character and will automatically add FNC1 for those AIs requiring it based on the list above. For example, to concatenate AI 8005 Price per Unit of Measure (365 currency units) and AI 10 Batch Numbers (123456), you should:

• Set the Symbology property to GS1128
• Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
  • Set the BarWidth and BarHeight properties based on your requirements (Values are expressed in Inches)
  • Set the QuietZone property to 10 times the BarWidth value or based on your requirements (Value is expressed in Inches)
• Set the Code property with the value to encode. For example, Code = "(8005)000365(10)123456" or Code = "8005000365È10123456" (NOTE: if you do not specify the parenthesis, then you will have to add an FNC1 character È (ASCII 200) for marking the end of the AIs which require an FNC1)
• Setting up the Bearer Bars if needed:
  • Set the BearerBarStyle property to Frame, or HorizontalRules
  • Set the BearerBarWidth property (Value is expressed in Inches)

GS1-128 encodes the so called Element Strings which are composed of an Application Identifier (AI) plus a data field. Each AI identifies the meaning and format of the data following it. The GS1 System provides more than one hundred Element Strings which can be found on the GS1 General Specification and is summarized in the following table.

Show GS1-128 Application Identifiers

When encoding those element strings into a GS1-128 barcode, the FNC1 function character starts it and is automatically encoded by the Barcode Professional. Also notice that the AI has parentheses around it in the human readable text of a GS1-128 barcode, but the parentheses are not encoded in the barcode itself.

Encoding Single GS1-128 AIs
To encode a single element string like the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) which AI is (01), you just need to specify the AI + Data Field to the Code property. For example, to encode GTIN 95012345678903 you should:

• Set the Symbology property to GS1128
• Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
  All values for barcode dimensions are expressed in INCHES by default. However, Barcode Professional supports other unit of measurement such as Millimeter, Centimeter, and Mils. For modifying the unit of measurement for barcoding, please set up the BarcodeUnit property as needed.
  • Set the BarWidth and BarHeight properties based on your requirements (Values are expressed in Inches)
  • Set the QuietZone property to 10 times the BarWidth value or based on your requirements (Value is expressed in Inches)
• Set the Code property with the value to encode. For example, Code = "(01)95012345678903" or Code = "0195012345678903" (NOTE: if you do not specify the parenthesis, then they will be automatically added by Barcode Professional in the Human Readable Text below the barcode)
• Setting up the Bearer Bars if needed:
  • Set the BearerBarStyle property to Frame, or HorizontalRules
  • Set the BearerBarWidth property (Value is expressed in Inches)

Concatenation - Encoding multiple GS1-128 AIs into a single barcode
GS1-128 allows several Element Strings to be encoded in one barcode, a process called concatenation. Concatenation is advantageous because it means that the symbology elements are only needed once, and the space required for the symbol is smaller than when separate barcodes are used to encode each Element String. It also improves scanning accuracy, allowing for single scanning rather than multiple scanning. The various Element Strings can be transmitted from the bar code reader as a single full string.

When concatenating AIs, the FNC1 function character is used for marking the end of an AI. The AIs which require the usage of FNC1 are these ones: 10, 21, 22, 240, 241, 242, 250, 251, 253, 254, 30, 37, 390, 391, 392, 393, 400, 401, 402, 403, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 7001, 7002, 7003, 7004, 7030, 7031, 7032, 7033, 7034, 7035, 7036, 7037, 7038, 7039, 8001, 8002, 8003, 8004, 8005, 8006, 8007, 8008, 8018, 8020, 8100, 8101, 8102, 8110, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99. If some of these AIs are the last element string in the concatenation, then the FNC1 is NOT required. If the AI is not listed here, then it does NOT require an FNC1 character either!

If you specify the AIs between parentheses, then the Barcode Professional takes care of the FNC1 character and will automatically add FNC1 for those AIs requiring it based on the list above. For example, to concatenate AI 8005 Price per Unit of Measure (365 currency units) and AI 10 Batch Numbers (123456), you should:

• Set the Symbology property to GS1128
• Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
  All values for barcode dimensions are expressed in INCHES by default. However, Barcode Professional supports other unit of measurement such as Millimeter, Centimeter, and Mils. For modifying the unit of measurement for barcoding, please set up the BarcodeUnit property as needed.
  • Set the BarWidth and BarHeight properties based on your requirements (Values are expressed in Inches)
  • Set the QuietZone property to 10 times the BarWidth value or based on your requirements (Value is expressed in Inches)
• Set the Code property with the value to encode. For example, Code = "(8005)000365(10)123456" or Code = "8005000365È10123456" (NOTE: if you do not specify the parenthesis, then you will have to add an FNC1 character È (ASCII 200) for marking the end of the AIs which require an FNC1)
• Setting up the Bearer Bars if needed:
  • Set the BearerBarStyle property to Frame, or HorizontalRules
  • Set the BearerBarWidth property (Value is expressed in Inches)