Fontware Limited - Barcode font support, UPCE

What is UPC Version E?

UPC Version E is a zero suppressed code which compresses a ten-digit value to six digits.

How does it work then?

This is a bit tricky but lets have a go; here is our data Our Data 1230000064

The manufacturers number is the first 5 digits. The item number is the last five digits.

Compressing the Barcode.

We use the manufacturers number as a key to the compression of the barcode. The digits the where number ends with are used in a series of calculations to make the final 6 digit code.

Manufacturers number ending with 000, 100 or 200. 1210000064

First two digit taken from manufacturers number.	12
Last three digits taken from item number.	064
Third digit from manufacturers number.	1
Final Six Digit Number	120641

Manufacturers number ending with 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900. 1230000064

First three digits from manufacturers number.	123
Last two digits taken from item number.	64
Followed by '3'.	3
Final Six Digit Number	123643

Manufacturers number ending with 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90. 1231000064

First four characters from manufacturers number.	1231
Last digit taken from item number.	4
Followed by '4'.	4
Final Six Digit Number	123144

Manufacturers number does not end in zero. 12311000064

All five digits of the manufacturers number.	12311
Followed by last digit from item number.	4
Final Six Digit Number	123114

Encoding the final data?
We now have to calculate the check digit. The check digit is used to define the parity of the barcode.

Calculating the check digit.

Our original data string is used to calculate the check digit, which is 1230000064

Example.

Parity	O	E	O	E	O	E	O	E	O	E	Total = 28
Data	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	6	4	Modula 10 of 28 = 30 Minus Total = 2
Multiply	1	3	1	3	1	3	1	3	1	3	Check Digit = 2
Results	1	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	6	12

The total minus the Modula 10 value of the total gives you the check digit number.

Now we have a check digit value we use that to encode the data string 123643 using a parity table.

Zero Suppression Parity Pattern.

The E represent Font Characters The O represents Font Characters 0-9.

Font Character	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h	i	j	Font Character	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Data Digits	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Data Digits	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Check Parity Value
Digit	1	2	3	4	5	6
0	E	E	E	O	O	O
1	E	E	O	E	O	O
2	E	E	O	O	E	O
3	E	E	O	O	O	E
4	E	O	E	E	O	O
5	E	O	O	E	E	O
6	E	O	O	O	E	E
7	E	O	E	O	E	O
8	E	O	E	O	O	E
9	E	O	O	E	O	E

How it works.
Check Digit = 2
Data	1	2	3	6	4	3	Our compressed data
Parity 2	E	E	O	O	E	O	Parity taken from table opposite
Result	b	c	3	6	e	3	Encoded data using parity characters

Compiling the UPC Version E.

Start Character     (
Data                    bc36e6
Stop Character     )

Barcode Font Sample.

upce.gif (1804 bytes)