MSI Plessey vs Code 128
Legacy numeric MSI Plessey (grocery shelf labeling) vs modern full-ASCII Code 128. MSI Plessey persists in some retail warehouse applications despite Code 128's superiority.
Specification comparison
| Specification | MSI Plessey | Code 128 |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | 1D Linear | 1D Linear |
| Symbology family | Independent Symbologies | Code Family |
| Year introduced | 1971 | 1981 |
| Developer | Plessey Company (UK) | Computer Identics |
| Data length | variable | variable (1-80 characters) |
| Variable length | Yes | Yes |
| Character set | 0-9 | Full ASCII 128 |
| Maximum capacity | Variable numeric | 80 characters (practical limit) |
| GS1 data carrier | No | No |
| Unicode encoding | No | No |
| Binary data | No | No |
| Minimum X-dimension | 0.19 mm | 0.25 mm |
| Nominal height | 15 mm | 15 mm |
| Quiet zone | 10X | 10X |
| Example payload | 0123456789 | BarcodeFYI-2026 |
Highlighted rows mark specifications where the two symbologies differ.