Barcode Information
There are two types of barcodes in your store, UPC and EAN
To make life really simple –always enter all the digits on the barcode into the database.
Set the option to Import Check Digits ON for UPC-A and EAN in Setup/SystemSettings
Program the scanners to transmit check digits on EAN 8/13 and UPC-A/E

UPC (Universal Product Code) is the North American (including Canada) coding -
It has two main formats -
UPC - (Making 12 in all)
  • UPC Type - A
  • The first digit is a product type code which is often 0 but can be any number.
  • The next 5 digits represent the vendor, the 5 digits after that represent the product.
  • The last digit is a check digit which has a mathematical relationship to the other 11 digits.
  • This checks the validity of the barcode to the electronics of a scanner.

  • UPC -'E'
  • which is 8 digits in all -
  • The first digit is always a zero
  • The next 6 are the product code
  • The last is a check digit.
  • UPC - E is a compressed format - in other words if the original UPC-A looked like 0 1230000456 8 the UPC-E derived from it would look like 0 123456 8 (Not quite that simple but that's the main idea.)
  • Useful for coding small products.

EAN is the European Coding

  • EAN-13 13 digits in all.
  • It is the parent code to UPC - (The UPC code being a subset of the EAN code.)
  • The first digit is a country code, the next digit is a type code
    The next 5 digits represent the vendor, the 5 digits after that represent the product.
  • The last digit is a check digit which has a mathematical relationship to the other 12 digits.

 

  • EAN-8
    Similar idea to UPC -E but with 8 digits

Barcode


In the Inventory/item Maintenance form if the first digit on the barcode is a zero, it is assumed by the system.
Your system requires you to enter the rest of the product's code.
For this software to make or scan a Barcode on a label it has to be a valid EAN or UPC structure.
To make a barcode the labeling software must see a minimum of 6 digits.

00001 = 1 - Don't start your numbering system with leading zero's!

If the barcode on a product changes, make a new item in the back office software,
You will not be able to easily change or delete the old one -  keep the old one inactive if necessary.