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.

Rendering

• Dark hexagons are drawn 0.12mm narrower than the module pitch, as the specification requires, and inkspread reduces them further, so inkspread=0 gives the nominal dimensions.
• MaxiCode is a fixed-size symbology so strictspec bounds the X-dimension to the permitted symbol width of 24mm to 27mm.
• Bitmap output should use gridfit, which follows the practical printing guidance of ISO/IEC 16023 Annex J: whole device pixels per module and, at resolutions below about 850 DPI, pixel fonts for the hexagons and finder pattern.

Examples

Identical symbols encoding unstructured data, the latter using the parse option:

Data:    This is MaxiCode
Options:
Encoder: maxicode

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

A mode 2 symbol with a numeric postal code:

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

A mode 3 symbol with an alphanumeric postal code:

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

A mode 2 symbol with an application field identifier:

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