17 Application Identifier (AI)
17
Application Identifier (AI)
17.1 About Application Identifiers
Application Identifiers (AI) are prefix codes used in bar codes or 2D codes to define the
meaning and format of the data that follows it (data field).
There are AI prefix codes for identification, traceability, dates, quantity, measurements,
locations, and many other types of information.
The combination of an AI prefix code and a data field is an element string. Element strings
can be carried by the following bar codes or 2D codes:
• GS1-128 (UCC/EAN-128)
• GS1 DataBar Limited, GS1 DataBar Stacked (AI prefix code “01” only)
• GS1 DataBar Limited CC-A, GS1 DataBar Stacked CC-A
• GS1 DataMatrix
FNC1 is used as a separator character between element strings (AI data). When the element
string is of predefined length, no separator character is required when another element string
is added to it. When the element string is not of predefined length, you must use FNC1 as a
separator character when another element string is added to it.
When using communication commands, you can either use the ASCII control character
GS (1D
h
) or the alternative code to input the separator FNC1. For more details, refer to the
“Serial Communication Command Guide”.
Input AI prefix codes without parentheses. In the human readable text, AI prefix codes are
automatically placed in parentheses.
If you set the code data on multiple lines, input the AI prefix code at the beginning of each
line followed by the data field.
Examples
• GS1 DataMatrix
Code data: 011234567890123
Human readable text: (01) 12345678901231
• GS1 DataBar Limited CC-A
188
ME-NAVIS2-OP-1
