Bar code services and specifications

There are two versions of EAN (EAN-8 and EAN-13) and five versions of UPC (A-E). The EAN, the JAN and the IAN have an identical structure, and are also identical to UPC, except for the number of digits.

EAN-13 is really a superset of UPC-A, so any scanner capable of reading EAN-13 symbol will also be capable of reading a UPC-A symbol. The only difference between the two bar codes is that the number system code in UPC-A is a single digit (0 - 9) whereas an EAN-13 number system code is two digits ranging from 00 through 99, which is basically a country code. Every country has a numbering authority which assigns the manufacturer codes to companies within its jurisdiction.

EAN is a fixed-length bar code and can be used to encode numeric-only data.

The EAN Character Set is composed of:

The EAN symbol consists of parallel dark bars of different widths on a light background, completed by an optical character line in OCR-B print. The OCR print line is not intended for automatic reading. The principal characteristics of the EAN symbol are:

• The symbol consists of two halves, each with 4 (EAN-8) or 6 (EAN-13) digits, as well as a marginal signal and a center signal (delimiter). The marginal signal and centre signal are slightly longer than the other bar code characters, and do not contain human readable OCR-B characters below them.
• The reading stations are able to recognise each symbol in individual halves. Each symbol half is greater in height than in width.
• Each data character (digits 0 to 9) is divided into 7 equal parts (modules); these are either dark (bars) or light (spaces). A data character contains two bars and two spaces, each with a width of 1, 2, 3 or 4 modules.
• The size of the characters can be changed according to the laser printer matrix. It is very difficult to keep to the specified tolerances. A good reading result is often achieved when the reading device is prepared to accept deviations from accepted tolerance values.

Structure of the 13-place EAN Symbol (EAN 13)

The EAN-13 Symbol consists of (from right to left):

• One marginal signal
• Six even-parity characters (character Set C) in the right half. The character in the first position is the check digit, calculated using Modulo 10 with weighting 3 on the basis of the 2nd to 13th postitions. The characterse in positions 2 to 6 (5 utility characters) denote the individual article number of the manufacturer.
• One delimiter (center signal)
• Six data characters of varying parity (character sets A or B) in the left half. The two digits in positions 13 and 12 are reserved for the national sign, which is, like the manufacturer number (pos. 7 to 11) centrally distributed for Federal Republic of Germany by the CCG in Cologne. The 13th position is represented by a form of parity (change between character set A and B) of the digits in postions y to 12.
• One marginal signal
• Optical representation of the 13 positions of the EAN code in OCR-B type beneath the bar code symbols.

Coding of the 13th position

	Parity sequence of positions 7 to 12
Value of 13th position	12	11	10	9	8	7
0	A	A	A	A	A	A
1	A	A	B	A	B	B
2	A	A	B	B	A	B
3	A	A	B	B	B	A
4	A	B	A	A	B	B
5	A	B	B	A	A	B
6	A	B	B	B	A	A
7	A	B	A	B	A	B
8	A	B	A	B	B	A
9	A	B	B	A	B	A

Structure of the 8-place EAN Symbol (EAN 8)

The EAN-8 Symbol consists of (from right to left):

• One marginal signal
• Four even parity characters (character set C) in the right hal.The character in the first position is the check digit, calculated using Modulo 10 with weighting 3 from the 2nd to the 8th position.
• One delimiter (center signal)
• Four data characters of uneven parity (character set A) in the left half (pos. 5 to 8), positions 7 and 8 being reserved for the national symbol.
• One marginal signal
• Translation of the 8 digits of the EAN code into optically readable OCR-B1 pritn beneath the bar code symbol.

The EAN bar code may also be supplemented by a special add-on code for books, newspapers, etc.

Check Digit - Modulo 10 with weighting 3
The Modulo 10 - check digit calculation, required for example for the EAN code, uses a weighting of 3, 1, 3 ...

It starts with the rightmost data digit within a bar code symbol. This means that the check digit has the weighting 1.

Note: the check digit is designated as Modulo 10, but is in fact a surplus to the number 10. Mathematically speaking, Modulo 10 is the remainder of the sum when the total is divided by 10.

The following example shows the method of a Modulo 10 check digit calculation:

Data Digit Sequence	0     6     1     2     8
Weighting Factor	3x    1x    3x    1x    3x
Total	(3x0)+(1x6)+(3x1)+(1x2)+(3x8) ----------------------------- = 3 remainder 5              10
Check Digit	10 - 5 = 5
Character sequence of bar code symbol	Start 0 6 1 2 8 5 Stop

Character Arrangement Tables