User manual

DataSTORM

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As with EAN, UPC is described in terms of magnification factor as a percentage.

The 100% code is the same size as a 100% EAN.

The human-readable characters for the number system character and the check digit are printed at a

smaller size and separately from the other digits.

There are a number of human readable character layouts in use currently. The HRC layout does not

affect the encodation of the bar code, but does assist in visual identification and the grouping of human

readable characters can aid in key entry if scanning is not used.

The following are common layouts:

As well as the standard UPC-A, there is another UPC symbol in common use - the UPC-E or zero-

suppressed symbol.

The UPC-E is used on packages which worepresents a full UPC code and the full coduld otherwise be

too small for a bar code symbol. It actually e can be re-constructed from the shortened form. Only UPC

codes using number set 0 and with sufficient zeros can be shortened to UPC-E codes. The form and

number of zeros in the manufacturer numbers dictates how many product numbers are available.

The rules are as follows:

1. If a manufacturer number ends in 000, 100 or 200, then three digits are allowed for the product code

and only the first three digits of the manufacturer number are used. In such a case only the product

numbers 00000-00999 could be shortened to UPC-E. The six digits are constructed from the first two

digits of the manufacturers number followed by the last three digits of the item number, followed by the

third digit of the manufacturers number.

e.g. 12100-00745 becomes 127451

2. If a manufacturer number ends in 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 or 900 then two digits are allowed for

the product code. The first three digits of the manufacturer number are used and a "3" is inserted after

the product code.

In such a case only the product numbers 00000-00099 could be shortened to

UPC-E.