activePDF Toolkit 2011 API Reference
EAN JAN-8
Appendices > Symbologies > Numeric Symbologies > EAN JAN-8

Glossary Item Box


Other Names

JAN (Japanese Numbering Authority, based on numbering system)

 

Overview

EAN/JAN-8 is a truncated version of the EAN/JAN-13 symbology, where all eight digits are explicitly encoded. Unlike the relation between UPC-E and UPC-A, the EAN-8 is explicitly encoded. Additionally, EAN/JAN-8 enabled scanners may not read UPC-E barcodes.

 

Encoding

EAN/JAN-8 can encode 10 digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. You can use an additional pipe("|") to encode supplemental data. Refer to remarks below for additional information.

 

Structure

EAN/JAN-8 has the following structure:
  • Start guard bars (always with a pattern bar+space+bar).
  • Two number system characters, encoded with character set A.
  • The following two characters, encoded with character set A.
  • Center guard bars (with a pattern space+bar+space+bar+space).
  • Last three characters, encoded in character set C.
  • Checkdigit
  • Stop guard bars (always with a pattern bar+space+bar).
The barcode structure expresses three main components, the number system, the product code and checkdigit.

Number system: In the human readable text, the number system is the first two or three digits to the right of the start guard bar. The number system indicates the number authority or region that assigns the manufacturer code. For a list of the current number system, refer to Application Identifier Values.

Product code: In the human readable text, the product code begins after the number system and continues past the center guard bar. The product code indicates the product.

Checkdigit: In the human readable text, the checkdigit appears to the right of the stop guard bar. Toolkit automatically calculates and appends the checkdigit to your 7 digit encoding.

 

Requirements

Each EAN/JAN-8 barcode contains seven digits of encoded value followed by a check digit. Toolkit automatically calculates and appends the checkdigit based on your encoded value.

Remarks

The EAN/JAN-8 barcode format allows for additional supplemental data, which you append to the end of the encode value using a pipe character ("|"). For example, if you specify "71245126" as your 12- digit value and "95000" for your 5-digit supplemental value, you would change the value to "71245126|95000"