Worth Data P11/12 user manual Code 93 Specifications, Appendix J

Appendix J

Code 93 Specifications

Code 93 is variable length, continuous, bi-directional, compact code. Code 93 is an alphanumeric bar code which consists of 43 data characters (0-9,A-Z,$/+%.- and Space), 4 control characters, and a unique start/stop character. The entire set of 128 ASCII characters is represented in Code 93 using combinations of control characters and data characters.

The control characters are $ % / a n d + . Full ASCII 93 is created by pairing these control characters with normal data characters. It is almost

identical to the pairings for Code 39; Code 39 uses	$M	to	produce	a
Carriage Return (ASCII 13) character -- Code 93 uses $	M	to	produce	the
Carriage Return.

Code 93's two built-in check digits greatly minimize the possibility of reader substitution errors. These check digits are never transmitted by the bar code reader. Code 93's Start and Stop characters are also never transmitted.

If you have not decided which bar code type to use for your application and are considering using Code 93, while we agree that Code 93 is an excellent code, we believe that Code 128 is generally preferable because:

1.Code 93 does not have the numeric compression capability that 128 does, and

2.Code 93 requires pairings to make all Full ASCII characters while 128 does not.

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