Way to compare two barcodes

Question

I have two barcodes that I am working with. They are clearly different, but both scan as code 128. One is weird and one is normal. I have tried to reprint the data for the barcode in every way I can think of to I can see what subset (A, B or C) is being used.

For the normal one I know it is A for the first 10 chars then it changes the encoding to B.

I cannot seem to find out how to see what the encoding is on the other (weird) one.

I am using a symbol scanner. (I turned on the prefix char but that only told me D (Code 128)

Is there any tool to allow me to dig into the barcode symbologies?

Answer 1

I know very little about barcodes and zero about non-european ones, but for weird implementations of Code 128, there is also GS1-128.

This online barcode generator looks quite nice and can generate a lot of formats you might want to check against.

Answer 2

Chiming in late here, but the ZXing library (I'm a developer) reads Code 128. You could have it scan the barcode while you attach a debugger to the code. It would show you exactly what's happening, step by step, in the decoding, including subset changes.

Answer 3

I know the problem is fixed. But here's some more resource in case someone's in need :)

Like Pekka mentioned, a Code 128 have subsets like Code 128A, Code 128B, Code 128C and GS1-128(UCC/EAN-128). Here is more information on Code 128 barcode, with encoding pattern illustration.

Answer 4

Thanks for those that answered and commented.

Turns out the company that made our barcodes had a printing error. That caused the barcode to look different.

How it ever successfully decoded I do not know. Anyway. I am going to award the question to Pekka because he gave me a workable solution.