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A license is required for each computer this
software is installed on; |
NOTICE: We recommend you use our Font Tools to automatically perform the required check character calculations on barcode fonts and ensure the printed barcode will scan properly. This sample UPC/EAN bar code font should only be used for testing and evaluation purposes because some of the characters contain the text "DEMO" in them which can cause scan errors. For testing purposes, a successful scan can be obtained by scanning the lower 25% of the barcode that does not contain any "DEMO" text in it. After you order the UPC/EAN Font Advantage Package, you will receive the fully functional font set, with rights to use the font tools, plug-ins, macros and source code in your application. Below are two examples you may use to test the functionality of our font:
Symbol to Produce: | Number to use: | Characters to type: |
UPC-A | 20 34 89 34 38 22 | W(c03489*NONSMm(W |
UPC-E | 04 90 00 00 65 82 | U(EJ65I0)W |
EAN-8 | 2034 0698 | (2034*KQTS( |
INDEX:
It is important to have the ability to test the barcodes you print, with a barcode scanner. If you do not already have a barcode scanner, we also sell high quality complete barcode scanner kits.
Symbology Overview |
UPC, UCC, EAN, JAN, ISBN and Bookland barcodes can all be created from our UPC/EAN Font Advantage Package, with the exception of EAN-14, UCC-128 and EAN-128, that are created with Code 128 Barcode Fonts. The primary purpose for these barcodes is to uniquely identify a product and manufacturer for retail checkout and tracking purposes. Below, we briefly describe the different bar code standards.
Because of the complex encoding that is required in these specifications, the fonts may be difficult to use if you are not a technical user or programmer. Therefore, if your application is Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, Visual Basic or C++ we suggest you consider our Linear ActiveX Controls that support UPC, EAN, JAN, ISBN and Bookland, as well as other barcode types, and they automatically calculate everything, so you don't have to be concerned with macros and source code. In addition, Java programmers may try our Java Packages.
UPC/EAN Font Advantage Package Features |
Our UPC/EAN Font Advantage Package enables you to print UPC, EAN, JAN, ISBN and Bookland bar codes from systems supporting TrueType, OpenType, PostScript, PCL, BDF and FON fonts, such as Windows, Macintosh and UNIX. Our UPC/EAN Font Advantage Package much more than just a few fonts! With this package you get 4 different font versions in 6 different font formats. You also get font tools, macros and source code to help you integrate the fonts into your application. Implementing solutions with our fonts provides a high level of scalability with operating system, application and printer independence. Learn more about the quality of our fonts. Details of the UPC/EAN Font Advantage Package are as follows:
Font Installation Instructions |
To install the TrueType fonts in Windows, run the INSTALL.EXE program or perform the following for manual installation:
To install the TrueType font on the Classic Macintosh (OS 7.1 - OS 9):
Font installation procedures for other operating systems are provided here
Four different versions of the UPCEAN barcode fonts are provided to support human readable versions and different width and height requirements. The last characters in the UPCEAN barcode font name determines the height of the barcode with the shortest being "XS" and the tallest being "L". Because each single font can be printed at various point sizes, there are several combinations of heights and widths that can be produced.
Font name of purchased version | Font name of eval version | Font height at 20 points* |
IDAutomationUPCEANXS | IDAutomationSUPCEANXS | 1/4" (.25") or .6 cm |
IDAutomationUPCEANS | IDAutomationSUPCEANS | 1/2" (.50") or 1.3 cm |
IDAutomationUPCEANM | IDAutomationSUPCEANM | 11/16" (.689") or 1.8 cm |
IDAutomationUPCEANL | IDAutomationSUPCEANL | 7/8" (.857") or 2.2 cm |
IDAutomationUPCEANXSnoHR* | (in purchased version only) | 1/4" (.25") or .6 cm |
* Measurements are approximate and were measured
when printed at 20 points which is the recommended print size. However, a
magnification factor of .8 to 2.0 can be used which allows printing at 18 to
36 points. Measurements
for Human Readable fonts do not include the text below or guard bars.
* IDAutomationUPCEANXSnoHR is provided in the purchased version only for special applications that do not require the human readable portion below the barcode. To print at a different height, find the font that has the height closest
to what you need and use this formula to find the point size you need to
print the font at to get that height: |
Printing with the UPC / EAN Fonts |
We recommend you use our Font Tools to automatically perform the required check character calculations on barcode fonts and ensure the printed barcode will scan properly. To manually create the barcode, please refer to the Character Mapping section of this manual.
The UPC / EAN font characters are all represented in a single font named UPCEAN. UCC standards specify that the UPC / EAN barcode font should be printed at 20 points. However, they allow a magnification factor of .8 to 2.0 which allows printing at 18 to 36 points. For best results, print the UPC / EAN barcode font at the largest point size and height possible.
Fonts with "S" in the name are "shortened height" fonts, that are below what the UCC recommends, but we have seen these heights in use with UPC-A and UPC-E barcodes and they do scan properly. Fonts with "M" in the name are medium height fonts and are recommended for printing EAN-8 barcodes. Fonts with "L" in the name are the tallest, with a height of approximately 22mm when printed at 20 points. This height is recommended for printing UPC-A, UPC-E and EAN-13 barcodes. Other various font heights are marked with a number that represents the height in MM of the barcode (minus the human-readable number) printed at 20 points.
When printing the barcode font, a high quality printer with a 600 DPI or greater should be used; it may also be necessary to reduce the print intensity if you have increased this in the past to a value greater than normal. The proper output can be determined by examining the "normal guard pattern". The space between the two bars of the "normal guard pattern" should be approximately the same as the bar to the left or right of the space.
If you are using a 203 or 300 DPI printer, it is recommended you print at either 20, 25 or above 30 points to create a high quality barcode.
Barcode Plug-in Also Available - if your application is Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, Visual Basic, C++ or an application that supports ActiveX in Windows, we also sell an easy to use barcode plug-in called the Linear ActiveX Control that supports UPC and EAN as well as other barcode types and they automatically calculate everything, so you don't have to be concerned with macros and source code.
Need a Scanner? - it is important to have the ability to test the barcodes you print with a barcode scanner. If you do not already have a barcode scanner, we also sell high quality complete barcode scanner kits at our IDAutomation.com site.
Barcode Font Character Mapping |
In order to represent all symbols of the UPC and EAN barcodes, we have mapped these to the standard PC keyboard. The layout for all symbols of the UPC and EAN barcodes is presented in figures 1-1 through 1-5. The following barcodes should be made up as follows, reading from left to right:
Below is a sample of the UPC-A barcode encoding the number 20348934382 with a check digit of 2. The check digit and characters were calculated using our Bar Code Check Digit Calculator & Printing Application. To print out this barcode, we chose the IDAutomationUPCEANS font and typed W(c03489*NONSMm(W to get the proper output.
Variable Parity in EAN13:
In EAN-13, the leading digit is encoded into the left half of the EAN-13 symbol by using variable parity between character sets A and B according to the following VB source code:
Select Case LeadingDigit Case 0 Encoding = "AAAAAACCCCCC" Case 1 Encoding = "AABABBCCCCCC" Case 2 Encoding = "AABBABCCCCCC" Case 3 Encoding = "AABBBACCCCCC" Case 4 Encoding = "ABAABBCCCCCC" Case 5 Encoding = "ABBAABCCCCCC" Case 6 Encoding = "ABBBAACCCCCC" Case 7 Encoding = "ABABABCCCCCC" Case 8 Encoding = "ABABBACCCCCC" Case 9 Encoding = "ABBABACCCCCC" End Select
Digit Value | Letter to type for Character Set A |
Letter to type for Character Set B (ASCII + 17) |
Letter to type for Character Set C (ASCII + 27) |
0 | 0 | A | K |
1 | 1 | B | L |
2 | 2 | C | M |
3 | 3 | D | N |
4 | 4 | E | O |
5 | 5 | F | P |
6 | 6 | G | Q |
7 | 7 | H | R |
8 | 8 | I | S |
9 | 9 | J | T |
Figure 1-1: UPC / EAN barcodes with human readable characters. These are the primary barcodes with the number representing the symbol printed at the bottom.
Digit Value |
Letter to type for |
Letter to type for |
0 | a | k |
1 | b | l |
2 | c | m |
3 | d | n |
4 | e | o |
5 | f | p |
6 | g | q |
7 | h | r |
8 | i | s |
9 | j | t |
Figure 1-2: UPC / EAN barcodes without human readable characters below. Used for far left and far right digits of UPC-A symbols and other barcodes as required.
Digit Value | Letter to type to print numbers only |
(ASCII + 37) / (ASCII + 64) |
0 | U | 85 |
1 | V | 86 |
2 | W | 87 |
3 | X | 88 |
4 | Y | 89 |
5 | u | 117 |
6 | v | 118 |
7 | w | 119 |
8 | x | 120 |
9 | y | 121 |
Greater symbol | > | |
Dash "-" | - | |
Less symbol | < | |
Add-on Greater | ' |
Figure 1-3: UPC / EAN numbers and characters without barcodes. These are used as required for human interpretation but are not printed as a barcode.
Guard Patterns | Letter to Type |
Normal Guard Pattern | ( |
Center Pattern | * |
Special Guard Pattern | ) |
Add-on Guard Pattern | + |
Add-on Delineator | ! |
9X (UPC add-on space) | Space |
7X (EAN add-on space) | Z |
2X | ` |
Figure 1-4: UPC / EAN guard patterns and special functions.
Digit Value | Letter to type for Character Set A |
ASCII | Letter to type for Character Set B |
ASCII |
0 | " | 34 | z | 122 |
1 | # | 35 | = | 61 |
2 | $ | 36 | ? | 63 |
3 | % | 37 | @ | 64 |
4 | & | 38 | [ | 91 |
5 | , | 44 | \ | 92 |
6 | . | 46 | ] | 93 |
7 | / | 47 | _ | 95 |
8 | : | 58 | { | 123 |
9 | ; | 59 | } | 125 |
Figure 1-5: Add-on UPC / EAN barcodes with human readable characters. These barcodes can be used for ISSN, ISBN Bookland and others that require an add on barcode. The human readable character is printed above the barcode.
You must obtain a UCC or EAN company number before you can start barcoding. This company number allows a company to build ID numbers that uniquely identify products, assets, etc. Information on this can be obtained at the UCC website or EAN website.
For more information on JAN barcodes visit the Japanese Standards Association website.
For more information on ISBN and Bookland barcodes visit the ISBN website.
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