MaxiCode

MaxiCode

The MaxiCode barcode symbology is a 2D barcode based on a hexagonal matrix surrounding a bulls eye pattern. It can encode a structured carrier message and full 256 character extended-ASCII.

Also known as: UPS Code, Code 6, Dense Code.

Standards: ISO/IEC 16023, ANSI/AIM BC10 - ISS MaxiCode.

Data and Options

• The mode option is used to specify how the data is structured in the symbol:
  • mode=2 - Formatted data containing a Structured Carrier Message with a numeric (US domestic) postal code.
  • mode=3 - Formatted data containing a Structured Carrier Message with an alphanumeric (international) postal code.
  • mode=4 - Unstructured extended ASCII data using standard error correction.
  • mode=5 - Unstructured extended ASCII data using enhanced error correction.
  • mode=6 - Barcode reader programming.
• If mode is unspecified the encoder will default to selecting mode=5 if the encoded length of the input data permits enhanced error correction, otherwise it will select mode=4 which provides standard error correction.
• The default interpretation of data by readers is in accordance with ISO/IEC 8859-1. When supported by the receiver characters from other code pages can be encoded using Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI).
• When the parse option is specified, any instances of ^NNN in the data field are replaced with their equivalent ASCII value, useful for specifying unprintable characters.
• When the parsefnc option is specified, non-data function characters can be specified by escape sequences:
  • ^ECI000000 to ^ECI999999: ECI indicators
• If mode=4, mode=5 or mode=6 the data field may contain any extended ASCII data.
• If mode=2 or mode=3 the data field must begin with a properly structured carrier message, followed by any extended ASCII data.
• The structured carrier message contains a postal code, three-digit class of service and a three-digit ISO country code separated by GS (ASCII 29) characters. It is formatted in the data field as follows: [postal code]^029[country code]^029[service class]^029. If mode=2 the postcode must be numeric, whilst if mode=3 the postcode may contain up to six digits, upper case letters and spaces.
• Alternatively, messages may begin with the special application field identifier "[)>{RS}01{GS}yy" where "{RS}" represents ASCII value 30, "{GS}" represents ASCII value 29 and "yy" is a two-digit year. In parse mode this is represented as [)>^03001^029yy. If mode=2 or mode=3 this must be immediately followed by the structured carrier message.

Examples

Data:    This is MaxiCode
Options: 
Encoder: maxicode

Data:    This is Maxi^067ode
Options: parse
Encoder: maxicode

Data:    152382802^029840^029001^0291Z00004951^029UPSN^02906X610^029159^0291234567^0291/1^029^029Y^029634 ALPHA DR^029PITTSBURGH^029PA^029^004
Options: mode=2 parse
Encoder: maxicode

Data:    ABC123^029840^029001^0291Z00004951^029UPSN^02906X610^029159^0291234567^0291/1^029^029Y^029634 ALPHA DR^029PITTSBURGH^029PA^029^004
Options: mode=3 parse
Encoder: maxicode

Data:    [)>^03001^02996152382802^029840^029001^0291Z00004951^029UPSN^02906X610^029159^0291234567^0291/1^029^029Y^029634 ALPHA DR^029PITTSBURGH^029PA^029^004
Options: mode=2 parse
Encoder: maxicode