How to Create a Barcode with Control Characters like TAB or ENTER

Why should I create a barcode with control characters?

Barcodes with embedded control characters are useful to automatically confirm input or to TAB into the next edit field when being scanned with a keyboard wedge barcode scanner. TEC-IT's barcode software offers the possibility to encode placeholders for such control characters utilizing so called "Escape Sequences".

What are "Escape Sequences"?

Escape sequences are placeholders for control characters. An escape sequence is created by a backslash followed by at least one letter to select the function. For example, a backslash followed by a lower-case t stands for TAB, backslash followed by a lower-case n for ENTER.

Which control characters are supported?

Our barcode software products support a large number of control characters. You will find a complete list of supported control characters in our Barcode Reference on page 17:

How do I create a barcode with encoded control characters?

Step 1: Open our barcode creator software. Generate a barcode (for example a Code128) by entering the data together with a control character of your choice.

Step 2: Check "Escape Sequences" under "Settings" in the barcode maker software for a correct encoding.

Step 3: Scan the finished barcode. The control characters will be decoded correctly.

This works with linear barcodes like Code128, GS1-128 (UCC/EAN) and 2D codes like QR code, Data Matrix or PDF417. Many applications, keyboard-wedge barcode readers and scanner apps support barcodes with embedded control characters.

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Escape Sequences are supported by most of our products:

Barcode Studio:

TBarCode Office:

TFORMer Designer:

Barcode Guru:

FREE Online Barcode Generator:

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[jansegers]

Hi, i have a question, in video you see A scanned in one cell, b in another in horizontal, c entered in cell underneath. when i try, it all goes in 1 cell, howcome?

[ningnyco]

Today not working anymore? Evaluate escape sequences check or not checked makes no different

[mdxenon]

I have a datalogic scanning device, so when I generate a barcode 1\t1 it should do : 1 then TAB then 1 again and finish. But It only fetch just first 1 and stops. What could be wrong

[iiimadmaniii]

How would this work with Intelligrated or WM Prod - do have a barcode translate to a down arrow on the keyboard displayed on the Rf device? Instead of hitting left, right, up, down arrows after swiping from control functions, number pad, and letter pad you just scan a barcode and it reads as tapping down arrow, to drop down to next line?

[aliyellice]

escape sequences on the website do not work help me pls

[reliks]

Say I am trying to make a barcode that will tab to the next box. I followed what you did with the online maker but when I make the code 3200\t and scan it inputs the number then opens up my favorites menu on the browser. I was running the code 128 fyi. Any help would be great

[CasketParade]

Is it possible to make a barcode to control the space bar? I work in a warehouse and when we scan the wrong barcode on accident and error comes up and the space bar is how we get rid of it. I'd love to have the option to just scan something to get rid of the error rather than walking back and forth to the computer to clear it.

[Doakley_]

hello! would this be able to do backspace or control z?

[JearLiu]

How do I encode SHIFT character in Code128?

[HitchRavens]

Is it possible to use two consecutive control characters such as TAB TAB or \t\t

[FaustoPare]

Hi, Could you please inform how to insert a 2D GS1 DataMatrix code?

[rYan-gbeq]

Not working on my Barcode Scanner DS9208 SYMBOL HOW IT WORKS

[Anthony-lxhe]

Hi, is there any way to replicate FedEx PDF417 barcodes? I tried your software too, I managed to get the same first and last column of the barcode, but everything else was different, even while using the same settings as FedEx in your software (5/8 error correction level, 10 total columns). Both codes, the original from FedEx and the one I generated, have the same content, do you know why they are different and what I can do to make them the same?

[skladistevenatio]

Is it possible to encode "Insert" key directly in barcode?

[chauucnguyen]

Thank you for this videp. can you embed a back + down function?

[SureshKumar-bjye]

\t is working for tab but \n is not working for QR code

[alessandrobuzzoni]

hi, Is it possible to encode "@" key directly in barcode? I've tried with \64 but when I "bip" with my reader, I can see a " and not a @

[nahimsalem]

Thank you for this video. I am wondering if you can assist me to input 2 words on 2 different lines, separated by <enter>. For example: "brown\n" on one line then "green" on the next line underneath ?
ie:
brown
green

I have tried various combinations including brown\n\green but no good so far!

[FabiolaGarcia-ilot]

Is there a reason why the escape sequence works perfectly in the notepad but not in Excel??

[tejaswidatla]

this doesn't work on my word or excel somehow