Worked example
A repair shop prints PO-88421 on a work order to match an older Code 39-only reader; entering po-88421 correctly shows an error.
Before you print
Code 39 tends to use more horizontal space than Code 128 for the same text. Print a proof and verify it with the actual scanner.
Barcode artwork is not proof of an assigned GS1 number. A free barcode image and a GS1-issued GTIN are different things.