One-dimensional bar codes
41
Notes on ISSN, ISSN+2, ISSN+5:
ISSN bar codes are EAN-13 symbols that encode the first seven digits of an ISSN (the checksum digit is not
encoded), prefaced by a special “land of serial publications” country code (977), and followed by a 2-digit price
code. The complete 8-digit ISSN is usually printed in human-readable format along with the symbol; this is in
addition to the text that may appear showing the 13 digits actually encoded by the EAN-13 symbol. The bar
code descriptor for ISSN contains two sets of fields for specifying the placement, typeface, and style of these
two separate text strings.
The data for an ISSN symbol consists of an 8-digit ISSN, followed by a two-digit price code, optionally followed
by a two- or five-digit add-on code. If a two- or five-digit add-on code appears in the data, then an EAN-13+2 or
EAN-13+5 symbol will be generated, with the add-on code encoded in the +2 or +5 section of the symbol. Note
that the last “digit” of an ISSN, the checksum digit, may be an “X” (ASCII 88). To enhance readability, “-”
characters (ASCII 45) may appear anywhere in the data; they are ignored. The “-” character in the ISSN text
printed with the symbol is always placed in a fixed position, not based on where a “-” may appear in the data.
Since the last digit of an ISSN, the checksum digit, is not actually encoded in the symbol, it is required in the
data only for the purpose of including it in the ISSN text printed with the symbol. The ISSN checksum digit is
not verified or replaced by a calculation in the Forms and Bar Code Card.
An invalid length (anything other than 10, 12, or 15 digits), or an invalid character (anything but a digit or a “-”,
except for an “X” in the eighth digit position) in the data produces an error message. Cursor positioning is
handled the same as for other one-dimensional symbologies.
If the Units bytes 5 or 8 are changed from their default values, then the Bar Height and Bar/Space Width
parameters assume new dimensions, based on the new units. In other words, the parameters are in “units”,
and if the “units” measurements change, so does the physical printed bar code.
If any of the parameters are set to 0 (zero), then the default value assigned in the table is assumed.
23–24 Space Width #4 — 32 (dec)
00 20 (hex)
#s4 parameter (in bar/space width units,
see byte 8)
25 ISSN Text
Location
0–5 (dec)
00–05 (hex)
5 (dec)
05 (hex)
Specifies the location of ISSN text
0 = Use default value
1 = Do not print
4 = Below symbol
5 = Above symbol
26–31 Reserved — — —
Byte Field name Range
Default
value
Description
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