What PosiCode is
PosiCode is a linear symbology with four real variants -- A, B, and restricted-charset "Limited A"/"Limited B" versions -- each with its own character-to-bar-pattern table. bwip-js draws it entirely with its own tables and calls bwipp_renlinear() itself -- confirmed directly: no delegation to another symbology's encoder.
Generate it now
Enter a value using digits, letters, or the symbols supported by the selected version to see a live preview.
Valid input
Up to 500 characters is accepted for versions A/B (a broad character set including digits, letters, and common symbols). The two "limited" versions (Limited A/Limited B) accept only digits, capital letters, and the symbols - and . -- any other character is rejected (bwipp.posicodeBadCharacter, "Posicode limited must contain only digits, capital letters, and the symbols - and .").
Key options
Supported options include version, includetext, and height. Real, literal defaults: version "a" (four real accepted values: a, b, limiteda, limitedb -- anything else is rejected), includetext false.
Output and printing
Export SVG for vector-precise label artwork or PNG for a quick proof.
Common uses
PosiCode is an AIM-documented symbology historically associated with OCR-compatible labeling workflows; it is less common today than Code 128 or Code 39 but remains a real, standards-documented format some legacy systems specify by name.
Example
See the live preview above, seeded with a bwip-js-verified valid value.
Size guidance
Version B renders wider than version A for the same data; the two "limited" versions render more compactly than either A or B, at the cost of a restricted character set.
Troubleshooting
A value rejected only after switching to a "limited" version usually means it contains a character outside that version's own restricted set (digits, capital letters, - and .) -- switch back to version A or B, or remove the unsupported character.
Related formats
PosiCode's four versions are all reached through this same generator's own version control -- there is no separate catalog capability per version.
FAQ
What is the difference between version A and version B?
Both use PosiCode's own normal (non-restricted) character set; they use different internal bar-pattern tables, which changes the rendered geometry for the same data but not which characters are accepted.
Why did switching to a Limited version reject my value?
The Limited A and Limited B versions only accept digits, capital letters, and the symbols - and . -- any lowercase letter or other symbol that rendered fine under version A or B is rejected under either limited version.