^B3 - Code 39
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Plain English
An older but very common barcode format. Standard Code 39 supports uppercase letters, digits, and a small symbol set (`- . $ / + % SPACE`). Full ASCII data uses paired Code 39 characters and requires a scanner configured for extended ASCII. The `e` parameter controls the Mod-43 check digit.
When to use
When compatibility is more important than space — defence/military (LOGMARS), automotive, healthcare. Use uppercase part numbers directly; encode full ASCII as character pairs when required by the receiving scanner.
Syntax
^B3o,e,h,f,g
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
o | Rotation: N, R, I, B |
e | Mod-43 check digit: Y = include, N = omit (default) |
h | Bar height in dots |
f | Show human-readable text: Y or N |
g | Text above barcode: Y or N |
Example
^XA ^FO50,50^BY2^B3N,N,80,Y,N^FDPART-A1234^FS ^XZ
Standard Code 39 part number with uppercase data and no Mod-43 check digit.