activePDF Toolkit 2011 API Reference
UPC-A
Appendices > Symbologies > Numeric Symbologies > UPC-A

Glossary Item Box


Other Names

UPC-12

Overview

UPC A is one of the most common barcodes used in the United States, with variations appearing on most consumer goods and periodicals.

NOTE: For a UPC-A barcode to be valid, you must apply for a manufacturer code from the UCC.


Encoding

UPC-A 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

UPC-A has the following structure:
  • Start guard bars (always bar+space+bar).
  • Left half, 6 digits encoded using the encoding schema A or B.
  • Center guard bars (space+bar+space+bar+space).
  • Right half, 6 digits encoded using the encoding schema C.
  • Stop guard bars (always with a pattern bar+space+bar).
The barcode structure expresses four main components, the number system, manufacturer code, product code and checkdigit.

Number system: In the human readable text, the number system appears to the left of the start guard bar. The number system adheres to the following values:
  • 0 - Regular UPC code.
  • 1 - Reserved.
  • 2 - Weight Items.
  • 3 - Drug/Health Items.
  • 4 - In-store use on non-food items.
  • 5 - Coupons.
  • 6 - Reserved.
  • 7 - Regular UPC code.
  • 8 - Reserved.
  • 9 - Reserved.
Manufacturer code: In the human readable text, the manufacturer code appears between the start and center guard bars. The manufacturer code is assigned by the UCC.

Product code: In the human readable text, the product code appears between the center and stop guard bars. Each manufacturer assigns the product code, which provides 99,999 different combinations. The UCC must approve a product code designation.

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 11 digit encoding.

 

Requirements

A UPC-A barcode must contain 11 digits plus a checkdigit. Toolkit automatically calculates and appends the checkdigit based on your encoded value.

 

Remarks

The UPC-A 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 "90123678812" as your 11-digit value and "02" for your 2-digit supplemental value, you would change the value to "90123678812|02"