Bar code types+
The list
below provides information on the various bar codes.
|
EAN-13 |
|
Three
different code pages are available with a character set of 10 numbers each.
The bars are in four different modules. Check digits are required, the bar
code length is restricted to 13 positions. A start, a stop and a separator
are used. The so-called guard bars are recognised as the start and stop
characters. |
|
EAN-8 |
|
Here
there are two code pages A and C with 10 numbers each. The length is defined
at 8 positions. This bar code is intended mainly for articles with restricted
space for print of bar codes. One character is made up of 7 elements - as
with the EAN 13 -. Check digit usage is imperative. A start, stop and
separator are also used here. |
|
UPC-A |
|
The
layout of this bar code is similar to that of the EAN 13. The difference lies
in the fact that only 12 digits instead of 13 as with the EAN are used here.
Thus, these two codes are not compatible. The character set comprises 10
numbers from two code pages A and C. A start, stop and separator are used. |
|
UPC-E |
|
The
length is defined for the UPC version E, i.e. 8 positions. Two code pages A
and B are used here. 10 numbers each are possible. Check digit usage is
imperative. No separator is used with this bar code. |
|
CODE-39 |
|
Code 39
is a two-width code with the following character set: 10 numbers, 26 letters,
7 spec.chars. and 1 space. The start and stop character match ASCII char. 42
(2AH), the '*'. Check digits are imperative here. The length of the bar code
is variable. Each character comprises 5 bars and 4 gaps, i.e. a total of 9
elements of which 3 are wide and 6 are narrow. |
|
ITF |
|
The
Shipping Container Symbol is shown in the ITF bar code (also called SCC-14).
This code is used to identify boxes and pallets which contain products marked
with an EAN 13 code. A code is added to the EAN 13 code and this identifies
the type of packaging. The
ITF-14 always has 14 positions. The first code is the packaging type. The
subsequent 12 codes represent the product code. Normally, this is the EAN-13
number without check digit of the EAN-13, i.e. only the first 12 pos. of the
EAN-13. The last
pos. of the ITF-14 is the check digit. |
|
Codabar |
|
Bar code
which is used for medicines and pharmaceutical products. It was defined in
1977 by the American Blood Commission (ABC) as a standard code for
identifying blood donations. One pos.
comprises 7 elements of which 4 are bars and 3 are gaps. There are a variety
of layouts for this bar code; they are differentiated by the width of the
elements. The char.set consists of 10 numbers and 6 special chars.; a check
digit is not necessary. The length of the bar code is variable. |
|
Plessey |
|
The
maximum length of the code is restricted to 14 pos. (incl. check digit).
Purely numeric bar code; This bar
code was used mainly in libraries and food outlets and can have up to 14
pos., but a max. of 13 pos.. Today,
this is regarded as an obsolete code type and is hardly used at all. This is
the reason why modern bar code scanners cannot read this code. |
|
Telepen |
|
|
|
IATA |
|
|
|
EAN-5 |
|
EAN-5 is
an additional code to EAN-13 and UPC-A Either 5
or 2 pos. can be added to EAN-13 and UPC-A. The 2-pos. code is usually used
for newsprint and the 5 pos. are needed for price details of books in
conjunction with the ISBN bar code. |
|
Code 128 |
|
Four
different element widths are used. In code 128 there are 128 ASCII characters
and 4 control and 4 special characters. A check digit is required. One
character of Code128 comprises 11 modules, i.e. three bars and three gaps.
The exception is the stop character which comprises 13 modules. The code
length is variable. |
|
Indust 2/5 |
|
This bar
code is a two-width code with which figures 0 to 9 can be represented. The
number of positions is variable; use of check digits is not required. One
each start and stop character is used. |
|
Iterl 2/5 |
|
The Code
2/5 Interleaved is also a two-width code with a character set of 10. The
position count can be as long as required, but it must be an even no.. Check
digit use is not required. One each start and stop character is used. |
|
Code-93 |
|
4 control
characters, 10 digits, 26 letters, 6 special characters and a space can be
included in Code 93. The length is variable. A check digit is required. Four
different element widths are used. Each pos. consists of 9 modules with which
6 elements are formed. Three of these elements are bars. |
Salzufer 8
D-10587 Berlin