How to decode U.P.S. Information from UPS MaxiCode Barcode?

Question

I recently purchased a 2D Barcode reader. When scanning a U.P.S. barcode, I get about half of the information I want, and about half of it looks to be encrypted in some way. I have heard there is a UPS DLL.

Example - Everything in bold seems to be encrypted, while the non-bold text contains valuable, legitimate data.

[)>01961163522424800031Z50978063UPSN12312307G:%"6*AH537&M9&QXP2E:)16(E&539R'64O

In other words, this text seems OK - and I can parse the information [)>01961163522424800031Z50978063UPSN123123 ...

While, this data seems to be encrypted ... 07G:%"6*AH537&M9&QXP2E:)16(E&539R'64O

Any Ideas???

Answer 1

It seems to be well-documented ... anything cryptic is likely to be info the shipper is including for their own (or their customer's) purposes.

Answer 2

This is a page I have come across before, however, this page discusses ENCODING a barcode, using plain English and some component. The information used to ENCODE is the information I would like to retrieve when DECODING.

Like I said, when the information is RETRIEVED, half of the information comes out Garbled (encrpyted?) and there is no documentation about to decrypt that code...

According to the link you sent me, I should see something like this:

[)>01963360910628400021Z14647438UPSN410E1W1951/1Y135ReoTAMPAFL

However, I get something like this:

[)>01961163522424800031Z50978063UPSN12312307G:%"6*AH537&M9&QXP2E:)16(E&539R'64O

This leads me to believe the page you sent me is either out-of-date, or that it is simply a reference for how to use their controls to encode, not decode.

Answer 3

Why would you suppose that UPS wants you to decode that part? Moreover, I believe that the piece of code is not encoded - it may be ID of something in their DB.

Answer 4

Everything I read on the internet says I should be able to read this thing. I'm just not finding any information on specifics. The "encrypted" info contains street address, package number (like 1/2), weight, and several other items Im dying to get my hands on. I suppose I will contact UPS directly. Thanks.

Answer 5

I expect the unreadable part is not UPS data, but private data intentially obfuscated by agreement between the shipper and receiver.

Answer 6

Here's a tip: it's the address the package is intended to go to...

Answer 7

Check this site out it provides a free decode app.

MaxiCode Barcode FAQ & Tutorial by IDAutomation® Maxicode is an international 2D (two-dimensional) barcode that is currently used by UPS on shipping labels for world-wide addressing and package sortation. ...

http://www.idautomation.com/maxicodefaq.html