Retail News Update

barcode overview

There are many different types of barcode, often referred to as barcode symbologies. These have evolved in different places for different uses, but all have the common purpose of encoding a string of characters as a set of bars and spaces. The barcode you need will depend on what it is you need to encode and where the barcode is to be put. Often the end user will stipulate a particular symbology; in other cases you can make your own choice.
For some barcodes, you need a unique number to be encoded – these are allocated by the appropriate governing body. It is possible to deduce which symbology is being used from its general appearance and by looking at the pattern of bars and spaces. Download our free Barcode Identifier program for Mac OS X. If you don’t know which symbology to use, the following should help.

barcode uses

The type of barcode you need depends on the use it is being put to.
    Barcodes to Identify a Product for Sale in Shops
    Barcode used for packaging
    Barcode used for a published item
    Barcode used for a pharmaceutical item
    Barcode for Non-Retail Labels
    Barcode used for other purposes

retail barcodes

There are four barcode types commonly to identify retail items.
UPC A and UPC E are mostly used in North America, but are also found throughout the world.
Similarly, EAN 13 and EAN 8 are more popular in the rest of the world, but are also found in North America. In Japan, EAN 13 and EAN 8 are known as JAN 13 and JAN 8.
Some retailers use their own proprietary barcode type which are usually based on either EAN or UPC barcodes.

Current Developments
As well as saying what the product is, barcodes will soon be expected to supply production details, such as batch number and use by date. This information can be held in an extension to the EAN and UPC barcodes, called a Composite Component, which goes above the bars. There are also new barcode types being introduced, known as Reduced Space Symbologies (RSS) which can encode the same information, but in less space. Agamik BarCoder supports both Composite and RSS.

packaging barcodes

Packaging barcodes are those usually used on the shipping cartons that contain many items. The shipping barcodes are used for to give information about the contents.
ITF barcodes (known as UPC Shipping in North America) identify identify the product in the box.
EAN 128 barcodes are capable of supplying much more detail about the product, including dates, batch numbers, weight, quantity and dimensions.

Current Developments
EAN 128 barcodes are capable of supporting a Composite Component, which can provide even more information. A Reduced Space alternative, called RSS Expanded, can also be used. Agamik BarCoder supports both Composite and RSS.

publishing barcodes

Books require a variation of EAN 13 or UPC A barcode which encodes the ISBN number, plus optional pricing information. Newspapers and Magazines require a variation of EAN 13 which encodes the ISSN number as well as the issue number and optional pricing information.
Sheet music should use a variation of EAN 13 which encodes the ISMN number.

Current Developments
The Book industry is planning to expand the range of ISBN numbers, which will require a modification of the ISBN barcode. Though the exact format for the expanded barcode is yet to be defined, if you buy BarCoder software now, Agamik will provide a free upgrade when the format is announced.

pharmaceutical barcodes

The Pharma Code is used for quality control and product identification for most pharmaceutical products. Often one or more of the bars have different colour.
HIBC barcodes are commonly used in North America to hold production details, though these are variations of Code 39, Code 128 and EAN 128 barcode types. Other variations of established barcode symbologies are also used in specific European countries, including PZN (Germany), IMH (Italy), MSI (Belgium) and IKS (Switzerland).

Current Developments
A two-dimensional barcode, known as Data Matrix, is used to contain significant quantities of data. A specialised form, also known as 2D Pharma Code, additionally encodes colour information. Agamik BarCoder supports both Data Matrix and 2D Pharma Code.

barcodes for non-retail labels

There are many different symbologies used for representing alphanumeric codes. Among the most popular are:
Code 25 (also known as Interleaved 2 of 5) used for digits only
Code 39 used for digits, letters and a subset of other characters
Codabar used for digits plus a few other characters
Code 128 used for the full ASCII character set
Code 93 used for the full ASCII character set
Telepen used for the full ASCII character set

Current Developments
Two dimensional barcodes, which can encode significantly more data, are increasingly being used. Among the most popular are PDF417 and Micro PDF417.
Agamik BarCoder supports both PDF417 and Micro PDF417.

Other barcodes

There are other barcode types usually used for specialist applications.
These include postal barcodes:
Zip+4/Postnet and FIM
Four State

supported barcode types

You can use Agamik BarCoder to produce any of the barcode types listed below.
You can save your barcode as EPSF, TIFF, PDF or Illustrator file.
If you want us to to add an additional barcode type, or save format, we are always pleased to hear from you.
E-Mail Agamik

general barcode types

Codabar – both USS and Traditional format supported
Code 128 – full ASCII character set supported
Code 25 – also known as Interleaved 2 or 5, supported with and without check digit
Code 39 – supported with and without check code
Code 93 – full ASCII character set supported
EAN 128 – all application identifiers supported, plus composite component
EAN 13 – including addon and composite component
EAN 8 – including composite component
MSI – including option to display data
JAN 13 – variation of EAN 13 used in Japan
JAN 8 – variation of EAN 8 used in Japan
Plessey – hexadecimal character set
Telepen – including compressed numeric mode
UPC A – including addon and composite component
UPC E – including addon and composite component

RSS and 2-D barcode types

Data Matrix – two dimensional barcode; you can specify size and shape
PDF 417 – two dimensional barcode; you can specify rows and columns
Micro PDF 417 – two dimensional barcode; more space efficient than PDF 417, but smaller data set
Samsung PDF 417 – two dimensional barcode; you can specify rows and columns, data can be input in hexadecimal
RSS 14 – including Stacked and Omni-Directional variations, plus composite component
RSS Expanded – all application identifiers supported, plus composite component
RSS Limited – including composite component

publishing barcode types

ISBN – including EAN Bookland, UPC Price Point, Item Specific and the new ISBN 13 barcode
ISMN – for sheet music
ISSN – for newspapers and magazines

pharmaceutical barcode types

2D Pharma Code – based on Data Matrix with colour fields
GlaxoSmithKline – variations of Pharma Code, EAN 13, EAN 8, Code 39 and MSI used by GSK
HIBC – specific applications using Code 39, Code 128 and EAN 128
IKS – variation of EAN 13 used in Switzerland
IMH – variation of Code 39 used in Italy
Kurandt – you can specify number of bars
Novartis Pharma – variation of Pharma Code used by Novartis
Pharma Code – can colour bars individually
PZN – variation of Code 39 used in Germany

postal barcode types

Four State – used in UK and some other countries
PostNet + Zip – used in USA; includes FIM code

proprietary retail barcodes

ASDA 8 – based on EAN 8, used by ASDA in UK
MS7 – based on EAN 8, used by Marks and Spencer in UK
Wickes 8 – based on EAN 8, used by Wickes in UK
Woolworth 8 – based on EAN 8, used by Woolworth in South Africa