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GS1 Application Identifiers (AI)

Application Identifiers are specific numbers that appear after a Function Code 1 (FNC1) in Code 128, Data Matrix or DataBar Expanded barcode types to encode certain types of information. After January 1, 2010, multiple AIs may be easily encoded in DataBar Expanded barcodes for use in POS systems, which can replace common UPC and EAN symbols in the same or less amount of space. This allows serial numbers, sell by dates and other vital information to be easily verified at the point of sale.

Examples of encoding AIs are available for Code 128, DataBar Expanded and Data Matrix ECC200.

The following summarizes the use of the FNC1 to identify AIs:

The AI is defined by the digits included after the FNC1 character, which must be the first character in the barcode.
Multiple AIs may be included in a single barcode symbol without additional FNC1 characters, provided that variable length AIs (such as 10, 21 or 92 defined below) are included last. This is because the reading device understands the length of the data after each non-variable length AI.
If additional AIs are encoded after a variable length AI, an additional FNC1 is required to define the end of the variable length AI.
The encoding of FNC1 in DataBar is automatic and is only specified in DataBar Expanded with parentheses.

Several common AIs are defined in the chart below. The information presented is an example of what is defined by the GS1 Application Identifier Specification and should be verified by a GS1 Member Organization before any implementation.

Application Identifier	Purpose	Format
00	SSCC-18	18 numbers: 17 digits + MOD10 check digit
01	GTIN-14	14 numbers: 13 digits + MOD10 check digit
10	Batch or Lot Number	Up to 20 digits
11	Production Date	6 numbers: YYMMDD
13	Packaging Date	6 numbers: YYMMDD
15	Sell By Date	6 numbers: YYMMDD
17	Expiration Date	6 numbers: YYMMDD
21	Serial Number	Up to 20 digits
92	Intra Company Internal	Alpha numeric internal use data up to 30 characters
3103	Net Weight in Kilograms	6 numbers: AI is 310(n), where (n) indicates the decimal position
3202	Net Weight in Pounds	6 numbers: AI is 320(n), where (n) indicates the decimal position
3922	Price	Up to 15 numbers: AI is 392(n), where (n) indicates the decimal position
3932	Price in ISO Currency	Up to 15 numbers: AI is 393(n), where (n) indicates the decimal position
8004	GIAI	Global Individual Asset Identifier, often used in DOD UID Labels.
8110	Coupons	The new DataBar Coupon Symbol consists of the company prefix, offer code and other data as defined by the Joint Industry Coupon Committee and GS1.

Several implementation examples are provided in the GS1-128 section of the Code 128 FAQ and the DataBar Expanded Stacked section of the DataBar FAQ.

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