Composite bar codes
65
UPC-E uses the "left-hand odd" and "left-hand even" encoding character sets from the
EAN-13 encoding standard.
The check digit is encoded in the parity of the other six characters; it does not have to be
encoded explicitly. This check digit is the check digit from the original UPCA bar code.
UPC-E may only be used if the number system is 0 or 1. The characters are encoded with
odd and even parity from the left-hand columns of the EAN-13 character. The parity used for
each character depends on the number system (0 or 1) and the check digit from the original
UPC-A bar code.
3 EAN-8 (including +2 and +5 variants)
EAN-8 is the EAN equivalent of UPC-E in the sense that it provides a short bar code for small
packages. It is shorter than an EAN-13 bar code, but longer than an UPC-E bar code. EAN-8
explicitly encodes all eight digits; the parity of the digits carries no particular significance,
thus, EAN-8 has absolutely no compatibility with UPC-E.
An EAN-8 bar code is a 2- or 3-digit number system code followed by a 4- or 5-digit product
code. The EAN-8 product codes are assigned directly by the numbering authority. This has
the advantage that any company can request an EAN-8 code regardless of its EAN-13
manufacturer or product code. It has the disadvantage that the EAN-8 codes must be stored
in each database as a separate product since there is no way to translate an EAN-8 code to
an EAN-13 equivalent.
An EAN-8 bar code has the following physical structure:
a Left-hand guard bars, or start sentinel, encoded as 101
b Two number system characters, encoded as left-hand odd-parity characters
c First two message characters, encoded as left-hand odd-parity characters
d Center guard bars, encoded as 01010
e Last three message characters, encoded as right-hand characters
Check character Number system 0 encoding Number system 1 encoding
0 EEEOOO OOOEEE
1 EEOEOO OOEOEE
2 EEOOEO OOEEOE
3 EEOOOE OOEEEO
4 EOEEOO OEOOEE
5 EOOEEO OEEOOE
6 EOOOEE OEEEOO
7 EOEOEO OEOEOE
8 EOEOOE OEOEEO
9 EOOEOE OEEOEO
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