Search and Replace Group Separator

Issue / Question

Customer would like to search and replace the group separator <GS> with a printable character. Example asterisk (*)

Applicable To

Workabout Pro 4, MC3100, MC67ND, MC67NA Premium, MC67NA Base, MC9090 CE, MC9090 WM, MC70, MC3000, MC3200, MC9200, MC65, MC9190-G, MC55N0, MC50A0

Resolution / Answer

Overview:

In some cases, a customer would like to replace or remove the Group Separator <GS> embedded in their barcodes. A <GS> is a non-printable character to separate parts of a barcode which do not have a fixed length.

In the below GS1-128 sample bar code, the Application Identifier (AI) 240 indicates that the GS1 AI data field contains additional item identification which is variable in length up to 30 characters.

As per the GS1 General Specifications, all Element Strings of variable length must be delimited when followed by another Element String in a single bar code. The delimiter shall be a Function 1 Symbol Character (FNC1) which is transmitted in the decoded data string as <GS> (ASCII character 29, seven-bit character set ISO 646).

Example:



In DataWedge with log level set to Data, you can save to a text file, DWLog.txt, the data read from the input scanner or imager. Scanning the above sample barcode shows the <GS> = ^]

Solution:

In DataWedge, enable Advanced Data Formatting (ADF) and create a Rule to find the string \x1d and replace it with an asterisk.



At this point, the <GS> will be replaced with an asterisk.