5.1 One-Dimensional Symbols

One-Dimensional Symbols are what most people associate with the term barcode. They consist of a number of bars and a number of spaces of differing widths.

5.1.1 Code 11

Developed by Intermec in 1977, Code 11 is similar to Code 2 of 5 Matrix and is primarily used in telecommunications. The symbol can encode any length string consisting of the digits 0-9 and the dash character (-). One modulo-11 check digit is calculated.

5.1.2 Code 2 of 5

Code 2 of 5 is a family of one-dimensional symbols, 8 of which are supported by Zint.

5.1.2.1 Standard Code 2 of 5

Also known as Code 2 of 5 Matrix is a self-checking code used in industrial applications and photo development. Standard Code 2 of 5 will encode any length numeric input (digits 0-9).

5.1.2.2 IATA Code 2 of 5

Used for baggage handling in the air-transport industry by the International Air Transport Agency, this self-checking code will encode any length numeric input (digits 0-9) and does not include a check digit.

5.1.2.3 Industrial Code 2 of 5

Industrial Code 2 of 5 can encode any length numeric input (digits 0-9) and does not include a check digit.

5.1.2.4 Interleaved Code 2 of 5

This self-checking symbology encodes pairs of numbers, and so can only encode an even number of digits (0-9). If an odd number of digits is entered a leading zero is added by Zint. No check digit is added.

5.1.2.5 Code 2 of 5 Data Logic

Data Logic is a proprietary variation of Standard Code 2 of 5. Data Logic does not include a check digit and can encode any length numeric input (digits 0-9).

5.1.2.6 ITF-14

ITF-14, also known as UPC Shipping Container Symbol, Case Code and EAN-14, is based on Interleaved Code 2 of 5 and requires a 13 digit numeric input (digits 0-9). One modulo-10 check digit is calculated.

5.1.2.7 Deutsche Post Leitcode

Leitcode is based on Interleaved Code 2 of 5 and is used by Deutsche Post for mailing purposes. Leitcode requires a 13-digit numerical input and includes a check digit.

5.1.2.8 Deutsche Post Identcode

Identcode is based on Interleaved Code 2 of 5 and is used by Deutsche Post for mailing purposes. Identcode requires an 11-digit numerical input and includes a check digit.

5.1.3 Universal Product Code (EN 797)

5.1.3.1 UPC Version A

UPC-A is used in the United States for retail applications. The symbol requires an 11 digit article number. The check digit is calculated by Zint. In addition EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-on symbols can be added using the + character. For example, to draw a UPC-A symbol with the data 72527270270 with an EAN-5 add-on showing the data 12345 use the command:

zint --barcode=34 -d 72527270270+12345

or encode a data string with the + character included:

my_symbol->symbology = BARCODE_UPCA;
error = ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(my_symbol, "72527270270+12345");

5.1.3.2 UPC Version E

UPC-E is a zero-compressed version of UPC-A developed for smaller packages. The code requires a 6 digit article number (digits 0-9). The check digit is calculated by Zint. EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-on symbols can be added using the + character as with UPC-A. In addition Zint also supports Number System 1 encoding by entering a 7-digit article number stating with the digit 1. For example:

zint --barcode=37 -d 1123456

or

my_symbol->symbology = BARCODE_UPCE;
error = ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(my_symbol, "1123456");

5.1.4 European Article Number (EN 797)

5.1.5.1 EAN-2, EAN-5, EAN-8 and EAN-13

The EAN system is used in retail across Europe and includes standards for EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-on codes, EAN-8 and EAN-13 which encode 2, 5, 7 or 12 digit numbers respectively. Zint will decide which symbology to use depending on the length of the input data. In addition EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-on symbols can be added using the + symbol as with UPC symbols. For example

zint --barcode=13 -d 54321

will encode a stand-alone EAN-5, whereas

zint --barcode=13 -d 7432365+54321

will encode an EAN-8 symbol with an EAN-5 add-on. As before these results can be achieved using the API:

my_symbol->symbology = BARCODE_EANX
error = ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(my_symbol, "54321");
error = ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(my_symbol, "7432365+54321");

All of the EAN symbols include check data which is added by Zint.

5.1.4.2 SBN, ISBN and ISBN-13

EAN-13 symbols (also known as Bookland EAN-13) can also be produced from 9-digit SBN, 10-digit ISBN or 13-digit ISBN-13 data. The relevant check digit needs to be present in the input data and will be verified before the symbol is generated. In addition EAN-2 and EAN-5 add-on symbols can be added using the + symbol as with UPC symbols.

5.1.5 Plessey

Also known as Plessey Code, this symbology was developed by the Plessey Company Ltd. in the UK. The symbol can encode any length data consisting of digits (0-9) or letters A-F and includes a CRC check digit.

5.1.6 MSI Plessey

Based on Plessey and developed by MSE Data Corporation, MSI Plessey is available with a range of check digit options. Any length numeric (digits 0-9) input can be encoded. The table below shows the options available:

5.1.7 Telepen

5.1.7.1 Telepen Alpha

Telepen Alpha was developed by SB Electronic Systems Limited and can encode any length of ASCII text input. Telepen includes a modulo-127 check digit.

5.1.7.2 Telepen Numeric

Telepen Numeric allows compression of purely numeric data into a Telepen symbol and includes a modulo-127 check digit.

5.1.8 Code 39

5.1.8.1 Standard Code 39 (ISO 16388)

Standard Code 39 was developed in 1974 by Intermec. Input data can be of any length and supports the characters 0-9, A-Z, dash (-), full stop (.), space, asterisk (*), dollar ($), slash (/), plus (+) and percent (%). The original standard (symbology 8) does not require a check digit but a modulo-43 check digit can be added if required (symbology 105).

5.1.8.2 Extended Code 39

Also known as Code 39e and Code39+, this symbology expands on Standard Code 39 to provide support to the full ASCII character set. The original standard (symbology 9) does not require a check digit but a modulo-43 check digit can be added if required (symbology 106).

5.1.8.3 Code 93

A variation of Extended Code 39, Code 93 also supports full ASCII text. Two check digits are added.

5.1.8.4 PZN

PZN is a Code 39 based symbology used by the pharmaceutical industry in Germany. PZN encodes a 6 digit number and includes a modulo-10 check digit.

5.1.8.5 LOGMARS

LOGMARS (Logistics Applications of Automated Marking and Reading Symbols) is a variation of the Code 39 symbology used by the US Department of Defence. LOGMARS encodes the same character set as Standard Code 39 and adds a modulo-43 check digit.

5.1.8.6 Code 32

A variation of Code 39 used by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Sanità) for encoding pharmacode data on pharmaceutical products. Requires a numeric input up to 8 digits in length. Check digit is added by Zint.

5.1.9 Codabar (EN 798)

Also known as NW-7, Monarch, ABC Codabar, USD-4, Ames Code and Code 27, this symbology was developed in 1972 by Monarch Marketing Systems for retail purposes. The American Blood Commission adopted Codabar in 1977 as the standard symbology for blood identification. Codabar can encode any length string starting and ending with the letters A-D and containing between these letters the numbers 0-9, dash (-), dollar ($), colon (:), slash (/), full stop (.) or plus (+). No check digit is generated.

5.1.10 Pharmacode

Developed by Laetus, Pharmacode One-Track is used for the identification of pharmaceuticals. The symbology is able to encode whole numbers between 3 and 131070.

5.1.11 Code 128

5.1.11.1 Standard Code 128 (ISO 15417)

One of the most widely used one-dimensional barcode symbologies, Code 128 was developed in 1981 by Computer Identics. This symbology supports full ASCII text and uses a three-mode system to compress the data into a smaller symbol. Zint automatically switches between modes and adds a modulo-103 check digit. Code 128 is the default barcode symbology used by Zint. In addition Zint supports the encoding of Latin-1 (non-English) characters in Code 128 symbols [1]. The Latin-1 character set is shown in Appendix A.

5.1.11.2 Code 128 Subset B

It is sometimes advantageous to stop Code 128 from using subset mode C which compresses numerical data. The BARCODE_CODE128B option suppresses mode C in favour of mode B.

5.1.11.3 GS1-128

A variation of Code 128 also known as UCC/EAN-128, this symbology is defined by the GS1 General Specification. Application Identifiers (AIs) should be entered using [square brackets] notation. These will be converted to (round brackets) for the human readable text. This will allow (round brackets) to be used in the data strings to be encoded. Fixed length data should be entered at the appropriate length for correct encoding - this is not checked by Zint and incorrect length data will result in a symbol which does not read correctly (see Appendix C). GS1-128 does not support extended ASCII characters. Check digits for GTIN data (AI 01) are not generated and need to be included in input data. The following is an example of a valid GS1-128 input:

zint --barcode=16 -d "[01]98898765432106[3202]012345[15]991231"

5.1.11.4 NVE-18

A variation of Code 128 the Nummber der Versandeinheit standard includes both modulo-10 and modulo-103 check digits. NVE-18 requires a 17 digit numerical input.

5.1.12 GS1 DataBar (ISO 24724)

Also known as RSS (Reduced Spaced Symbology) these symbols are due to replace GS1-128 symbols starting in 2010 in accordance with the GS1 General Specification. If a GS1 DataBar symbol is to be printed with a 2D component as specified in ISO 24723 set option_1 = 2 or use the option --mode=2 at the command prompt. See the section Composite Symbols to generate DataBar symbols with 2D components.

5.1.12.1 DataBar-14 and DataBar-14 Truncated

Also known as RSS-14 the DataBar-14 encodes a 13 digit item code. A check digit and application identifier of (01) are added by Zint. Note that for full standard compliance symbol height should be greater than or equal to 33 modules. For DataBar-14 Truncated set the symbol height to a minimum of 13.

5.1.12.2 DataBar Limited

Also known as RSS Limited the DataBar Limited symbol also encodes 13 digit item codes and can be used in the same way as DataBar-14 above. DataBar Limited, however, is limited to data starting with digits 0 and 1 (i.e. numbers in the range 0 to 1999999999999). As with DataBar-14 a check digit and application identifier of (01) are added by Zint.

5.1.12.3 DataBar Expanded

Also known as RSS Expanded this is a variable length symbology capable of encoding data from a number of AIs in a single symbol. AIs should be encased in [square brackets] in the input data. This will be converted to (rounded brackets) before it is included in the human readable text attached to the symbol. This method allows the inclusion of rounded brackets in the data to be encoded. GTIN data (AI 01) should also include the check digit data as this is not calculated by Zint when this symbology is encoded. Fixed length data should be entered at the appropriate length for correct encoding - this is not checked by Zint and incorrect length data will result in a symbol which does not read correctly (see Appendix C). The following is an example of a valid DataBar Expanded input

zint --barcode=31 -d "[01]98898765432106[3202]012345[15]991231"

[1] Extended ASCII support requires the input data to be in a plain ASCII format. This can be difficult to do from the command prompt which may use the UTF-8 standard or similar international character support. An example program exttest.c is included in the frontend folder to show how extended ASCII can be used to produce the following symbol. Extended ASCII characters may not display properly in EPS images due to the restrictions of the EPS format.