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

Glossary Item Box


Overview

UPC E is a truncated form of the UPC-A symbology with the zeros suppressed to reduce the length for smaller packaging.

NOTE: For viable compression, the parent UPC-A barcode must contain four zeros in the 11-digit value.


Encoding

UPC-E 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-E has the following structure:
  • Start guard bars (always bar+space+bar).
  • 5 digits calculated from the equivalent UPC number.
  • Check digit.
  • Stop guard bars (always with a pattern bar+space+bar).

Requirements

Each UPC-E barcode contains six digits with an implied number system of 0 (zero). For conversion to a UPC-E barcode, the parent UPC-A barcode must contain at least four zeros. If the parent UPC-A is valid, you can convert the value to UPC-E using following guidelines in order:

  1. Manufacturer codes ending in 000, 100 or 200 — The new barcode consists of the first two digits of the manufacturer code and the last three digits of the product code (must be equal to or between 000 and 999), followed by the third digit of the manufacturer code.
  2. Manufacturer codes ending in 00 — If the first guideline is not applicable, the new barcode consists of the first three digits of the manufacturers code and the last two digits of the product code (must be equal to or between 00 and 99), followed by the number 3 (three).
  3. Manufacturer codes ending in 0 — If the previous guidelines do not apply, the new barcode consists of the first four digits of the manufacturer code and the last digit of the product code (must be equal to or between 0 and 9), followed by the number 4 (four).
  4. Manufacturer codes ending in a non-zero digit — If the previous guidelines do not apply, the new barcode consists of the manufacturer code and the last digit of the product code (must be equal to or between 5 and 9).
Toolkit automatically calculates and appends the checkdigit based on your encoded value.

Remarks

The UPC-E 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 "425261" as your 1 value and "55999" for your 5-digit supplemental value, you would change the value to "425261|55999"