codablock
A codablock is a family of stacked codes in which multiple barcodes, such as Code 39 or Code 128, are stacked on top of each other. Codablocks belong to the 2D codes and were developed in Germany in the early 1990s.
Unlike normal barcodes, the individual barcodes of a codablock are lined up in rows and form the overall information. The bar code lines are identified by line numbers, as is the total number of characters in the code block. The entire code block is secured by check characters.
Codablocks are available in different block variants.
Codablock A consists of 2 to a maximum of 22 barcode lines, each with a maximum of 61 characters in Code 39. The total length of all characters is a maximum of 1,340. The checksum for error correction is calculated over the entire codablock according to Modulo 43.
Codablock E is based on the EAN 128 barcode of the European Article Number (EAN).
Codablock F can be used to represent 2 to 44 barcode lines, each of which can have up to 62 characters according to Code 128. The total number of all characters is 2,725.
CodablockN is based on Code 2/5 Interleaved.
Codablock256 corresponds in structure to Codablock F with the difference that each line has its own start-stop characters and its own checksum for error correction. Like Codablock F, Codablock 256 can generate a maximum of 2,725 characters.
Codablocks are mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry, but also when a bar code does not fit on the label width. They have the advantages of high data security, they can present more comprehensive information, and they are more flexible by varying the number of bar code lines, the bar code density, and their length. Codablocks can be read by conventional barcode readers.