BarCode1 FAQ Page

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What is GS1?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

How Do I Get A Bar Code Number For My Product?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Do I Have To Pay To Use Barcodes For Internal Uses Like Inventory?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

A Company Is Offering To Sell Me A Single Number. Is this legitimate?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Do I Have To Apply To GS1-US (in the USA) Even If I Just Have One Product To Sell?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

When Do I Need To Put A Bar Code On My Products?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

If I Change The Size Or Formula Of My Product, Do I Need To Change The Barcode?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

How Do I Get A List Of All The Product Codes And Their Respective Manufacturers?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Does the EAN number indicate the country of origin of a product?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

If my product is marked with EAN, do I have to also mark it with UPC to sell in the USA?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Can I Reduce The Size Of A UPC Bar Code To Fit It To The Space I Have?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Can I Print The UPC Bar Code In A Color Ink or On Colored Paper?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Who Invented Barcode? What was the first product with barcode? Where was barcode first used?

See the Quick Tour FAQ or the History Page for the answer.

I want to tattoo myself with my name, my birthday, etc. in barcode. How do I find out what the barcode should look like?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Is there an Artistic aspect to Barcode?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Is there a hidden 666 in bar code?

See the Quick Tour FAQ for the answer.

Basic Information And History

How do barcodes work?

Most barcodes are nothing more than "license plates" that identifies an item. The numbers and/or letters stored in the barcode are unique identifiers that, when read, can be used by a computer to look up additional information about the item. The price and description of the item is generally not stored in the barcode. The data is read from the barcode, sent to a computer, and the computer looks up the price and description of the item from the computer's database.

Barcodes were designed to be read electronically. In the 1960's OCR (optical character recognition) was considered a competator to barcode (in fact some national retailers equipped all there POS terminals with OCR readers rather than barcode readers). However, the electronics (and later computing) power to read text was much more expensive than to read barcode. Also, the built into most barcodes made accurate reading far better than OCR. By the early 1970's, OCR was displaced by barcode.

A barcode is read by either scanning a spot of laser light across the entire barcode or taking a digital picture of the barcode with a CCD digital camera. You can also use a barcode scanning wand. This wand is held like a pen and is manually scanned across the barcode symbol. For more information, see the BarCode 1 Readers Page.

The relative widths of both the bars and spaces code the data stored in the barcode. The barcode reader detects these relative widths and decodes the data from the barcode.

There are about 300 different types of barcodes (different schemes of bar and space arrangements for coding the data). The type of barcode used on many retail products is called UPC or EAN. You can find out the details about how UPC and EAN code the data by visiting the BarCode 1 UPC/EAN Page. You can learn about other types of barcodes by visiting the BarCode 1 Specification Page. If you want to learn more details about how barcodes are read, visit the BarCode 1 Reader Page. There are even 2 dimensional barcodes. You can learn about these by visiting the BarCode 1 2D Page.

How Can I Identify Which Symbology A BarCode Uses?

First, don't send me a picture of it! Most pictures I receive simply are not good enough to do any identification. It really is not important any more to know the type of barcode in order to read the barcode. Most modern scanners will automatically detect the type of barcode and read it correctly. This is called auto-discrimination. If you really want to know the symbolgy used, you will need to buy a barcode verifier (between $800-$1500). You might also contact the source of the barcode and ask.

Can Barcodes Be Read Upside Down?

Yes. Each barcode (whether it is UPC, EAN, Code 39, etc.) includes a start and stop character. Depending which is encountered first will tell the scanner what direction it is reading the barcode. With that information, the decoder can properly read the symbol.

What barcode will let me store the most information in the smallest space?

The popular linear or 1D barcode that that will store the most numbers and letters in the smallest space is Code 128. However, any 2-D barcode will store far more information per square inch than any linear barcode.

What are the codes that look like a grid of hexagons? What Are 2-D BarCode?

These codes are called 2-dimensional barcodes, matrix codes, or stacked codes. There are a number of these codes that are gaining in popularity. They are Code 49, 16K, Code One, PDF417, Maxicode, Vericode, and Datacode. The best bet for widespread adoption is PDF417 for "paper databases", Maxicode for shipping information, and Datacode for micromarking applications like integrated circuits. Take a look at the BarCode-1 2-D Page.

Who invented barcodes and what was the first product to use them?

You can find out about the history of barcode by visiting our History Page.

Do you know where I could get a copy of the specification for all the different barcodes?

There are many different barcode "symbologies". UPC is one, Code 39 is another, and 2 of 5 is a third. They are all entirely different codes. There are more than 300 different types of barcodes. There is a list of specification sources for the more popular ones on Barcode-1.

What is the smallest I can make a Code 39 barcode?

Code 93 is not as widely used but would provide an even higher density than either Code 39 or Code 128.

There are other code formats that can store even more info in a small space. 2-dimensional symbologies can store a great amount of alphanumeric info in a very small space. The tradeoff is that these 2-D symbologies require more expensive scanners.

It is possible to print such a barcode using a laser or inkjet printer. Best bet would be to use a 600 dpi model. A 300 dpi model will be right on the edge for a 7.5 mil barcode (only about 2 dots across).

Won't RFID tags make barcodes obsolete?

In my opinion RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags will never take the place of barcodes. All RFID tags contain a radio transmitter, receiver and a microcomputer. Barcodes are made up of ink. The relative cost of RFID tags compared to barcode is the primary reason why they will never replace barcode.

To make RFID tags worth the additional cost, they must be used more than just at the check-out register. That means embedding the tag in the merchandise rather than just in the packaging (because the packaging gets thrown away by the customer). Since the item will always contain a working RFID tag, it could be read for a variety of purposes. For example, an RFID tag in a pair of shoes could be used to track an individual as they shop at a shopping mall. If one paid for the shoes with a credit card, the unique ID of the shoes could be matched to an identity. The potential for the loss of privacy is the second reason why RFID tags will not replace barcode.

How do I add a carriage return or tab to a barcode?

For Code 128, look at the Code 128 table The value under Code A that says "CR" is a carriage return. The ASCII value is 109. To find the horizontal tab for Code 128, look at the Code 128 table The value under Code A that says "HT" is a horizontal tab. The ASCII value is 105.

Code 39 has no CR or HT. If your barcode scanner is a programmable keyboard wedge, you can usually program the wedge to add a carriage return or tab to the scanned data. You can also modify your application program. For example, if you are reading in a 6-digit number, you can program a Visual Basic routine to skip to the next field when 6 digits are inputted. Finally, you can use the "+" sign in Code 39 as a carriage return or tab and add it to the data you are encoding. Then the wedge or software can translate the "+" into a CR of HT when read.

How do I program a function key as a barcode?

Barcodes cannot encode keyboard function keys. The reason is that function keys (F1, F5, etc.) are unique to the hardware and are not an ASCII code. For a PC keyboard, function keys transmitted as keyboard scan codes and have no equivalent ASCII control codes that can be coded as a barcode. However, there is a work around. Many keyboard wedge scanners can be programmed to substitute a function key each time they scan a specified character. Since a keyboard wedge reader use the same data transmission standards as a keyboard, they can send a scan code representing a function key. For example, if the application will never need a plus sign (+) in the barcode, the keyboard wedge replace plus signs with F5 keys. If "12345+" was scanned, it would produce the data stream "12345" followed by the F5 key. This same approach may be used even with bar code readers attached to a serial port if a "soft wedge" is used. This "soft wedge" is a program that takes data from a serial port and treats it as if it had come in through the keyboard. Some of these programs also allow character substitution.

How do I print a space character using a Code 39 Font?

If you need to use a space character, try using the tilde ("~") instead of a normal space. Some fonts also define a space character with an underscore ("_"). You can also try setting the true type fonts as graphics in the printer driver settings. This will will print a space as a barcode space, and not as white space. Remember, if you are using a code 39 type font, you'll need to put an "*" at the beginning and end of the data. That's because the "*" is the start and stop character for code 39.

How can I barcode a product I have to paint after bar coding?

There are two approaches using barcode. There is the double tag approach, with the same code on two layers of tape. The top layer is used until the product is painted, then that layer is peeled off and discarded. You can use an embossed barcode like "bumpy barcodes" from GEOscan. There is the alternative of using RF/ID tags too. Often in painting applications, the tag is recycled to reduce the overall cost (prior to shipping the product, the tag is removed).

How Can I Keep A Barcode From Being Copied?

A readable copy of a barcode can be made using modern copy machines. However, one can prevent the barcode from being copied by using a special over laminate that only allows infra red light to pass through. The barcode in printed, for example, on a security badge and the infra-red transparent laminate is placed over the barcode. If someone attempts to remove the laminate, it destroys the barcode. The barcode is read using an infra-red scanner.

Where Can I Find Statistics On Cost Savings, Labor Saving, Accuracy, Etc. For Barcode Systems?

The best source of current statistical information about barcode and other Auto ID systems is Venture Development Corporation. There are white papers and press releases at their site that can be downloaded for free. Other studies you will need to pay for.

In 1986, I co-authored one for the first barcode market surveys. Based on 1283 respondent end users, about 80% of users found that barcode equipment ROI was less than two years (45% found that ROI was less than 1 year). Quickest payback occurred for companies with between 500 and 999 employees. The study also found that 50% found direct dollar savings to be more than $25,000 (1986 dollars) a year and nearly 25% found direct dollar savings to be $100,000 (1986 dollars) per year. Indirect savings was found to be about the same as direct savings.

The simple fact is that barcode data entry if far faster and more accurate than key entry. For 12 characters, key entry takes 6 seconds, while barcode takes less than .5 seconds. Error rate for key entry is typically 1 substitution error for every 300 characters. Barcode error rate depends on the type of barcode and varies between 1 substitution error in 15,000 to 36 trillion characters entered. For UPC (11-character symbol) one analysis by David Savir suggests 1 substitution error in 15,000 UPC barcodes scanned. The chances that the misread product number would match a number (for the wrong item) comes out to 1 chance in 100 million UPC symbols scanned. Interleaved 2 of 5 has the worst error rate. For an I2 of 5 symbol of at least 10 or more characters has an almost 100% chance of being read in error. Code 39 has a substitution error rate of 1 character in 3 million characters.

Bar coding Books, Records, and CD's

How do I barcode a book? How do I read the ISBN number bar coded on a book?

I plan to publish a "Talking Book" on audio cassette or CD. Do I need to join the UCC for a barcode?

The answer is no. Talking books are within the scope of ISBN, according to the latest Users Manual at ISBN International. An ISBN is less expensive than joining the UCC and you don't have to continue to pay an annual fee, like you do now with UCC membership. Once you get your ISBN, you follow the process outlined at the Book Industry Study Group website.

How do I barcode a magazine? How do I read the ISSN number bar coded on a magazine?

If you have a ISSN number for your book, you don't have to get a separate number from the UCC or EAN. You use the ISSN (International Standard Serial Number). You can also read the barcode on the magazine and extract the ISSN from the barcode. Find out more by visiting BarCode 1's ISSN page.

How do I barcode a music CD I've manufactured and plan to sell through stores?

If the stores you plan to sell your CD through do not require a barcode, don't worry about putting a barcode on your CD. The store will put a barcode label with an internal number on the CD. However, many store chains do require a UPC-A or EAN-13 barcode before they will accept the product for sale. If you are self-publishing the CD, please see the information on the Quick Tour FAQ page.

Using Barcodes With Other Programs And On The Internet

Can Word, Access, Excel, or Clipper be used for an application where bar codes can be scanned and printed?

To print barcodes you can use just a TT font. There is some problems with TTF barcode printing. The fonts may not print properly for very small or very large point sizes. If you want to print a barcode in a report or document (from Word or Access for example), the easiest True Type barcode font to use is Code 39. You have to pre-pend and post-pend the "*" to the data you want to print as barcode and then just change the font to Code 39. You can also do this for printing labels from Word. You can find free and shareware barcode TT fonts here.

If you need to print using Access 2000, try "*" & [FieldNameWithValue] & "*". If you need to print using Clarion, the format is loc:barcode='*'&left(clip(KAT:ID_NUMBER))&'*'.

A better solution for print labels, is a stand alone program to print the labels. Many of these programs can connect to Access via ODBC and will let you print labels from a database. For example you can list all the parts that you have in a database and have the label program pull the part numbers from Access and print them on a label printer rather than typing them by hand each time you want to print. You can find free and shareware stand alone programs here.

Finally, if you are developing your own Access-based program, there are OCX and dll tools that allow you to add barcode printing to your program.

Can Quicken or Quickbooks be used with barcode?

If you want to scan a series of barcodes and do a batch update at the end of the day, you could write a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) program in Excel to store the data in a complete record form. At the end of the day, you use Excel to generate a csv or txt file and use that, with the import feature of Quickbooks, to update the master record. If you try this, be sure to make a back-up of your master record. If you don't import correctly, you can overwrite your data.

Also, Quickbooks has begun marketing a a product that includes barcode reading equipment called Quickbooks POS.

How can I insert an ActiveX barcode control into a table in Word?

Some people have had problems moving an ActiveX barcode control into a table. The control appears outside the table. The solution is as follows. Right-click on the control, choose Format...object. On the Position tab, uncheck the "Float over text" check box. You should be able to move the control in to a table cell. You can find ActiveX controls on our Plug-ins page.

How do I calculate the Mod 10 check digit (or the necessary Check Digit for a given code)?

More information about calculating a Mod 10 check digit can be found at the bottom of the Interleaved 2 of 5 Page.

Please note that each barcode symbology that uses a modulo check digit has a method defined by its specification. Code 39 does not normally need a check digit, but there is a check digit system defined in the specification. See the Code 39 specification page. Code 128 uses Mod 103.

Can barcodes be used in a web environment?

Yes they can...both for printing barcodes and reading barcodes. For printing barcodes through a web page, see the BarCode-1 Web Apps page. If you have control of all the computers that will be printing the barcode, you can use a ttf barcode font to print the barcode too. Just download the ttf barcode font to each computer and then use the HTML code to sent the font. The sample html code looks like this : <FONT FACE="3 of 9 code" SIZE=5>*12345*</FONT>

To read a barcode into a web form, just use a wedge barcode reader. This type of reader (most barcode readers these days are wedge readers) plugs in between the keyboard and computer. When you scan the barcode, it is as if you typed the data. You can use some Javascript to set the focus to the input box too. The code looks like this:

For the page body tag use something like: <BODY onLoad = "document.forms.ShipForm.IDNUM.focus()">

Then name the FORM tag like: <FORM ACTION="http://yourdomain.cgi" METHOD="POST" NAME="ShipForm">

And finally name the input box tag like: <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="IDNUM" SIZE="14" MAXLENGTH="14" VALUE="">

This JavaScript will work for IE4+. It has not been tested with Netscape or other browsers.

Hardware Bar Code Questions

Can I use a Palm Pilot, iPAQ or other PDA to scan bar codes?

Yes. If you already have a Palm Pilot, look at the Portable Technologies site. The company makes a barcode reader interface for the Palm.

Also, Grabba International Pty Ltd makes scanners that connect Palm, iPAQ and other PDAs. They also offer RFID, mag stripe and other auto ID devices for PDAs.

Another alternative is to buy a PPT8000 Palm Computer. These versions, made/modified by Symbol Technologies, come with a built-in laser bar code scanner. Also, a nice retail application and inventory application is available from Stevens Creek Software. Peninsula also sells the SPT1500 and SPT 1700.

Where can I find parts to build a barcode scanner?

There also is also software available (code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5 for free) that allows a "dumb wand" (just a light source and photodetector) to be plugged into a serial port. The decoding occurs within the computer.

What is the least expensive barcode scanner and where can I find it?

The least expensive barcode scanner is the contact wand (about $100) followed closely by the CCD scanner (about $150). The most expensive (but most versatile) is the laser scanner ($300 up). You can actually buy barcode scanners at many CompUSA stores (the brand is the Wasp). CompUSA has them for sale on-line These scanners come with a PS/2 keyboard wedge. If you want to connect the scanners to USB (for example a laptop), you will need to purchase a PS/2 to USB adapter. ID Automation RVB Systems, and Barcode Products has good prices. Also check out Bar Code Discount Warehouse ,and Barcode Discount.

Can I Read A Barcode Image Off An LCD Or CRT Screen?

Believe it or not, yes! I did not believe it until I tried it. You need to use a CCD barcode scanner, not a laser scanner. You also have to play with the font size and get a size that is big enough.

The reason a CCD scanner will work and a laser scanner will not is as follows. A CCD scanner has a video camera that takes a picture of the entire barcode. A laser scanner scans a beam of laser light across the barcode and picks up light reflected by the white areas of the barcode. The “white” areas of a barcode on a computer display are not reflecting light but rather are emitting light. Therefore, a laser beam cannot be scanned across the barcode and the laser scanner cannot pick up reflected light from the “white” areas. In fact, the laser light will be equally reflected by the surface of the computer screen and the laser scanner will not detect any barcode on the screen.

How Can I Use The CueCat barcode reader to read barcodes?

The CueCat™ is was product from Digital:Convergence Corporation™ and was marketed through Radio Shack. The barcode scanner was basically a wedge reader that fits between the keyboard and the computer. It was designed to work with software to allow you to scan a UPC barcode and then take you to a specific web page that's directly related to the product or advertisement you scanned. The scanner was discontinued in 2000, but the following may help those that still own CueCats.

Some people have asked how you can use the reader to simply read barcode without using the company's software. There are several program projects at Freshmeat.net. You can find some more details about the data structure at SlashDot.org. There is a large collection of software drivers here! There is an excerpt from RFC 1341 which defines Base64 encoding (handy if you want to write your own software to decode the output.

You should be aware that Digital:Convergence Corporation has issued some letters demanding that these software programs be removed from the various sites. For any Digital:Convergence Corporation visitor's to BarCode-1®, all of the pages or software mentioned above are links to there parent sites. You should direct all inquires to the owners of those sites. Any letter sent to BarCode-1® by Digital:Convergence Corporation or its subsidiaries will be considered harassment and an attempt to abridge this web publication's first amendment rights. In such an event, BarCode-1® will take appropriate legal action.

More Answers

I Don't See An Answer To My Question. What Can I Do?

First, take a second look at both the Quick Tour FAQ and the FAQ to be sure your question is not already answered. At least 80% of the email I receive asks questions that are part of the FAQ's. If you still can't find an answer, you can send me an e-mail. You must use the subject "Barcode Question" or it will not make it through my spam filter. I am willing to answer questions for free, but I am not willing to design systems or write programs for free. If your question relates to a patent matter (like you are being sued for infringement), I do consulting for a fee. Please see my bio.