code128 barcode with tilde and asterisk

Question

I am maintaining a printing program that now requires printing both a ~ and an * in a code128 barcode in zpl.

Currently, I am using the code below that uses the ^FH to represent the tilde in hex:

^BCN,120,Y,N,N,N^FH^FDSPECIAL*MAKE_7e123456^FS

The barcode prints excluding the * and ~ as 'SPECIALMAKE123456'. Is it possible to print the tilde and asterisk in a zpl code128 barcode?

Answer 1

As a quick guess, since I don't have a ZPLII printer immediately available, I'd try

^BCN,120,Y,N,N,A^FH^FDSPECIAL*MAKE_7e123456^FS

(note A before the ^FH = Auto-select codeset)

Perhaps also forcing a codeset by ...^FH^FD>:SPECIAL*... may work, but subset B is the default in any case...

---

I located my old A300 printer, and was able to produce the required interpretation line using each of

^BCN,120,Y,N,N,A^FH^FDSPECIAL*MAKE_7E123456^FS
^BCN,120,Y,N,N,A^FH^FDSPECIAL_2AMAKE_7E123456^FS

Can't find my scanner to verify at present - but the computer room is a mite tidier...

Answer 2

It may depends on type of barcode. For example, to print in 'barcode 128', you have to change code to code B, by signs >:

And: to print tilde ~, type >=. To print ^, type ><. To print >, type >0.

Look to zpl documentation, to table with Code 128 Invocation Characters.

My sample zpl code:

^XA
^BY2,3,95^FT0,206^BCN,,Y,N
^FD>:caret >< bigger >0 tilde >= end^FS
^PQ1,1,1,Y^XZ