How to create, print GS1-128 in SSRS Reports in ASP.NET, WinForms application?

Create GS1-128 Barcodes in SSRS Reports Projects Using .NET Control

Generate & print GS1 128 / EAN 128 barcodes in SQL Server Reporting Services 2005, 2008, 2008R2, 2012, 2014

Generate GS1 128 / EAN 128 barcodes in Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports
Using Barcode Custom Report Item (CRI) for GS1-128 bar codes.
Drag & drop GS1 128 / EAN 128 barcode report item to your Reporting Service report layout page.
Completely developed in C# managed code with digital signature.
Fully compatible with SQL Server Reporting Services 2005 and 2008 versions.
Reliable & mature GS1 128 / EAN 128 barcode generation for Reporting Service using .NET Barcode Generator.

Here we will learn how to generate GS1-128 barcode (a linear barcode symbology used for encoding GS1 Application Identifiers (AIs) and their corresponding data) in your SQL Server Reporting Service (SSRS) reports in C# .NET web and desktop application.

Step-by-step instructions to generate GS1-128 / EAN-128 barcodes in SSRS Paginated Reports using a SSRS Barcode Generator Library, with all operations adapted to SSRS report workflows.
All GS1-128 property settings are configured exclusively in the Report Item Property pane during report design in SSRS
Detailed coverage of GS1-128 basic characteristics (encodable character set, check digit rules) and dimension size settings, all customized for SSRS report integration.

Deploy and Config Barcode Generator CRI into your Reporting Service projects

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How to Deploy and Config Barcode Generator Custom Report Item to Reporting Service 2005?

How to Deploy and Config Barcode Generator Custom Report Item to Reporting Service 2008?

GS1 128 / EAN 128 Barcode Parameters

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Category

Properties

Value

Comments

Basic

Property: Data
URL: DATA

Type: string
Default: "12345"

Barcode value to encode

GS1-128/EAN-128 Valid Data Char Set:

all 128 ASCII characters (Char from 0 to 127)

Property: Type
URL: TYPE

Type: BarcodeType
Default: CODE128 (7)

Linear barcode symbology type.

Set the value to BarcodeType.EAN128.

EAN128 type value is BarcodeType.EAN128 (11).

Property: AddCheckSum
URL: ADD-CHECK-SUM

Type: bool
Default: false

AddCheckSum property is not applied here.

GS1 128
EAN 128
Special

Property: ProcessTilde
URL: PROCESS-TILDE

Type: bool
Default: false

Set the ProcessTilde property to true, if you want use the tilde character "~" to specify special characters in the input data.

1-byte character: ~0dd/~1dd/~2dd (character value from 000 ~ 255); ASCII character '~' is presented by ~126
Strings from "~256" to "~299" are unused
2-byte character (Unicode): ~6ddddd (character value from 00000 ~ 65535)
Strings from "~665536" to "~699999" are unused
for GS1 AI Code:
~ai2: AI code with 2 digits
~ai3: AI code with 3 digits
~ai4: AI code with 4 digits
~ai5: AI code with 5 digits
~ai6: AI code with 6 digits
~ai7: AI code with 7 digits

Barcode
Size
Related

Property: AutoResize
URL: AUTO-RESIZE

Type: bool
Default: false

Auto resize the generated barcode image

Property: BarAlignment
URL: BAR-ALIGNMENT

Type: int
Default: 1 (center)

Barcode horizontal alignment inside the image. 0: left, 1: center, 2: right.

Property: UOM
URL: UOM

Type: UnitOfMeasure
Default: PIXEL (0)

Unit of meature for all size related settings in the library.

Valid values:

UnitOfMeasure.PIXEL (0)
UnitOfMeasure.CM (1)
UnitOfMeasure.INCH (2)

Property: X
URL: X

Type: float
Default: 1

Width of barcode bar module (narrow bar), default is 1 pixel

Property: Y
URL: Y

Type: float
Default: 60

Height of barcode bar module, default is 60 pixel

Property: BarcodeWidth
URL: BARCODE-WIDTH

Type: float
Default: 0

Barcode image width.

If barcodeWidth setting is smaller than the barcode required minimum width, the library will automatically reset to barcode minimum width.

Property: BarcodeHeight
URL: BARCODE-HEIGHT

Type: float
Default: 0

Barcode image height.

If barcodeHeight setting is smaller than the barcode required minimum height, the library will automatically reset to barcode minimum height.

Property: LeftMargin
URL: LEFT-MARGIN

Type: float
Default: 0

Barcode image left margin size.

Property: RightMargin
URL: RIGHT-MARGIN

Type: float
Default: 0

Barcode image right margin size.

Property: TopMargin
URL: TOP-MARGIN

Type: float
Default: 0

Barcode image top margin size.

Property: BottomMargin
URL: BOTTOM-MARGIN

Type: float
Default: 0

Barcode image bottom margin size.

Property: Resolution
URL: RESOLUTION

Type: int
Default: 72

Barcode image resolution in DPI (Dots per inch).

Property: Rotate
URL: ROTATE

Type: Rotate
Default: Rotate0 (0)

Valid values:

Rotate.Rotate0 (0)
Rotate.Rotate90 (1)
Rotate.Rotate180 (2)
Rotate.Rotate270 (3)

Barcode
Colors

Property: BackColor
URL: BACK-COLOR

Type: Color
Default: white

Barcode image background color

Property: ForeColor
URL: FORE-COLOR

Type: Color
Default: black

Barcode image foreground color

Font
Style

Property: ShowText
URL: SHOW-TEXT

Type: bool
Default: true

If true, display barcode data text under the barcode, otherwise do not display.

Property: TextFont
URL: TEXT-FONT

Type: Font
Default:
new Font("Arial", 9f, FontStyle.Regular)

Barcode text font style.

In ASP.NET web streaming, using the url paramter in the following format:
&TEXT-FONT=Arial|9|regular

Property: TextMargin
URL: TEXT-MARGIN

Type: float
Default: 6

Space between barcode and barcode data text, default is 6 pixel

Property: TextColor
URL: TEXT-COLOR

Type: Color
Default: black

Barcode text color

Image
Format

Property: Format
URL: FORMAT

Type: ImageFormat
Default: Png

Barcode image encoding type.

Methods

// generate barcode and encode to image file
public void drawBarcode(string filename)

// generate barcode and paint on Graphics object
public void drawBarcode(Graphics graphics)

// generate barcode and paint on Bitmap object
public Bitmap drawBarcode()

// generate barcode and paint on Stream object
public void drawBarcode(Stream fileStream)

// generate barcode and paint on byte[] object
public byte[] drawBarcodeAsBytes()

In WebStream query string, please use int value for Enums, "true" and "false" for bool.

GS1-128 Barcode Basic Characteristics in SSRS Reports

Understanding GS1-128's basic characteristics is critical for proper implementation in SSRS reports.

Encodable Character Set

GS1-128 supports a specific set of characters, which must be considered when preparing your SSRS dataset data:

It uses the subset of ISO/IEC 646 International Reference Version defined in the GS1 General Specifications for GS1 AI element strings. This is the primary character set for SSRS reports using GS1-128.
Characters with ASCII values 128 to 255 (Extended ASCII) can also be encoded in GS1-128 symbols, making it suitable for international SSRS reports.
Four non-data function characters: FNC1, FNC2, FNC3, FNC4. Importantly, FNC2 and FNC4 are not used in GS1-128 barcodes.
Four code set selection characters (including single character code set shift) to optimize data encoding.
Three start characters and one stop character to initiate and terminate the barcode.

Note: When using a Barcode Generator Library for SSRS, you do NOT need to add function characters, code set selection characters, start characters, or stop characters. The library will automatically insert these into the GS1-128 barcode symbol. Adding them manually will cause scanning errors in your SSRS report.

GS1-128 Check Digit Character

Based on Code 128 specification, GS1-128 barcodes have one mandatory symbol check character. This check character is critical for data integrity but will not be displayed in the HRI (Human Readable Interpretation) below the barcode in your SSRS report.

The AddCheckSum property is not applicable for GS1-128.
The SSRS barcode encoder library will automatically add one check character before the stop character in every GS1-128 barcode symbol. You do not need to configure this manually in the Report Item Property pane.

Note: Do not attempt to manually add a check digit to the GS1-128 data in your SSRS dataset Field. This will result in duplicate check digits and unreadable barcodes.

GS1-128 Barcode Dimension Size in SSRS Reports

You can fully customize the dimension size of your GS1-128 barcode to fit your SSRS report's layout. All dimension properties are configured in the Report Item Property pane of the Image control. Here are the key configurable properties:

UOM (Unit of Measure): Three options are available: PIXEL, CM, and INCH. Choose the unit that matches your SSRS report's overall unit settings for consistency.
X: Width of the narrow element (the minimum bar width is defined by your application's specifications; ensure it meets GS1 standards for scannability).
Y: Height of the bar module (adjust this based on your SSRS report's vertical space constraints, ensuring the barcode is tall enough to be scanned easily).
LeftMargin, RightMargin: Quiet zones (empty space around the barcode). The minimum width of each quiet zone is 10X. This is a GS1 requirement for scannability.

Note: Insufficient quiet zones (less than 10X) will make the GS1-128 barcode unreadable after Report Deployment to the Report Server or Web Portal.

Summary

This guide provides a complete workflow for generating GS1-128 / EAN-128 barcodes in SQL Server Reporting Service (SSRS) reports in Visual Studio .NET projects.

Common Asked Questions

What is the content of GS1-128?

GS1-128 barcode is an application of Code 128, and it is one of the GS1 standard supported barcode symbologies. GS1-128 can contain up to 48 characters of GS1 data characters. It may encode logistical information, such as batch/lot numbers, product serial number, produce date, expiration date, weights, price. OnBarcode SQL Server Reporting Services Barcode Generator library supports GS1 data message encoding in GS1-128 in SSRS reports in .NET ASP.NET and Windows applications.

What is the difference between Code 128 and GS1-128?

GS1-128 (also known as EAN-128, UCC-128) is an application of Code 128 supported by GS1 System. GS1-128 encodes a subset of Code 128 encoding characters, and it can encode upto 48 characters in one synbol. Using SQL Server Reporting Services Barcode Generator freeware, you can easily create and customize Code 128 and GS1-128 barcodes in .NET SSRS reports in ASP.NET, MVC, WinForms, WPF apps.

What is the difference between GS1-128 and GTIN 14?

Both GS1-128 and ITF-14 barcodes are 1d, linear barcodes, and both support encoding GS1 business data messages. The GS1-128 barcode can encode multiple GS1 application identities (ID) and their data information, such as serial number, price, production dates. The GTIN 14 (also known as ITF-14, based on Interleaved 2 of 5) can only encode the 14 digits Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).

OnBarcode SQL Server Reporting Services Barcode library allows C#/VB.NET developers easily generating GS1-128 and ITF-14 barcode with GS1 data text encoding in C# SSRS reports ASP.NET web and Windows projects.

What is the function code for GS1-128?

The GS1-128 barcode supports encoding one function code Function Code 1 (FNC1). The FNC1 character should be encoded after GS1 start character. Using SQL Server Reporting Services Barcode Generator SDK, the barcode software will automatically encode the FNC1 character in the right position in the 128 barcode in Microsoft Visual Studio with the SSRS Report Designer extension.

What is the minimum & maximum size for GS1-128 barcode?

The minimum width for the X-dimension (the width of the narrowest bar or space) is 0.495 mm.
The maximum width for the X-dimension is 1.016 mm

You can customize and apply GS1-128 X dimension through SSRS report item property settings in SQL Server Reporting Services .NET reporting projects.

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