Barcode Identifier FAQs

Barcode FAQs

Q. How do I create a U.P.C. barcode for a new product?
A. STEP 1: The U.P.C. barcode contains the GTIN-12 to a identify product. Create the GTIN-12 using the construction below that matches the length of your U.P.C. Company Prefix:

  • a six digit U.P.C. Company Prefix
  • a five digit Item Reference Number
  • a calculated Check Digit

or

  • a seven digit U.P.C. Company Prefix
  • a four digit Item Reference Number
  • a calculated Check Digit

or

  • an eight digit U.P.C. Company Prefix
  • a three digit Item Reference Number
  • a calculated Check Digit

or

  • a nine digit U.P.C. Company Prefix
  • a two digit Item Reference Number
  • a calculated Check Digit

STEP 2: Print and Apply U.P.C. barcodes to your product
Note: Data Driver™, an easy to use online tool provided with Partner Connections membership, defines and manages U.P.C.’s for your products.

For more information, refer to the How to Create a U.P.C. Barcode.
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Q. What is an Item Reference number and how should I assign them?
A. An Item Reference Number is the part of the Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN®) allocated by the user to identify a trade item for a given Company Prefix. Each unique product is assigned a unique Item Reference number. The best demonstrated practice is to assign Item Reference numbers sequentially to your products without any logic or intelligence in the number.

Example: If a company is assigned an eight digit U.P.C. Company Prefix, the length of the Item Reference is three digits. The available Item Reference numbers are 000, 001, 002, 003, ..., to 999. This means 1,000 unique products can be identified.

Note: Data Driver™, an easy to use online tool provided with Partner Connections membership, defines and manages Item Reference numbers automatically for you when creating GTINs for your products.
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Q. What are the height and width requirements for U.P.C. barcode symbols?
A. The target dimensions for U.P.C. barcode symbols are  nominally 1" high (specifically 1.020” high) and 1.469” wide. The minimum dimensions for the symbol are 0.816” high and 1.175” wide. The maximum dimensions for the symbol are 2.040” high and 2.938” wide.
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Q. What are the color requirements for U.P.C. barcode symbols?
A. Black bars and a white background are preferred for barcodes. If color is used, the bars must be a dark color (e.g., dark blue, dark brown or dark green) and the background should be a light color or one in the red family.
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Q. How is the GTIN-14 constructed?
A. The GTIN-14 is 14 digits in length and composed of:

  • an Indicator digit to indicate a packaging level
  • twelve digits total that are the GS1 Company Prefix and the Item Reference number
  • a calculated Check Digit
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Q. What are the two different symbologies that encode the GTIN-14?
A. The two symbologies that encode the GTIN-14 data are ITF-14 and GS1-128 barcodes. The ITF-14 is used on inner packs not meant to pass through the point-of-sale. It is intended for multi-packs and logistics units to encode the Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN®). An ITF-14 can be printed directly on corrugate.

The GS1-128 is used for logistics units, such as mixed pack cases and pallets. The GS1-128 barcode is used to encode attribute data such as lot number, expiration date, country of origin, and production date.
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Q. How can I find a barcode printer?
A. We recommend that you use the Certified GS1 US Barcode and eCom Solution Partner Directory
to find certified Solution Partners and non-certified vendors to print your barcodes. You may also check your local yellow pages.

Note: Data Driver™, an easy to use online tool provided with Partner Connections membership, allows you to print perfect barcodes yourself, directly from the tool.
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Q. Where should I place the barcode on my product’s packaging?
A. In general, the barcode is placed in the lower right hand corner on the back of a product. However, proper barcode placement requires consulting the placement guidelines.

GS1 US BarCodes and eCom Partner Connections members have unlimited access to all GS1 US reference documents and guidelines, which are available in the Solutions Center using their User ID and Password. Inside the Solutions Center, go to the Barcode Reference Library to access the Guidelines for Barcode Symbol Placement.

The Guidelines for Barcode Symbol Placement are also available for purchase. To purchase this guideline, go to the Bar Coding – General Bar Coding section of the GS1 US Product Catalog.
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Q. Do I need to create a configuration digit for my Audio Video products?
A. Configuration digits are no longer required in the Audio Video industry. If a trading partner requests that you use a configuration digit, please refer them to GS1 US Customer Service at +1 937.435.3870.
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Q. What is the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) and how is it used?
A. The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is the globally unique GS1 System identification number used for logistics units, such as pallets, cases, and cartons. The SSCC acts as a “license plate” to efficiently move products through shipping and receiving processes.  For more information, refer to An Introduction to the SSCC.
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Q. How is the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) constructed?
A. The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is 18 digits in length and composed of:

  • an Extension digit
  • 16 digits total that are the GS1 Company Prefix and the Serial Reference Number
  • a calculated Check Digit

 

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Global Trade Item Number® GTIN® FAQs

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Q. What is a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)?
A. The GTIN is the foundation of the GS1 System. It is used for uniquely identifying trade items, which includes both products and services that are sold, delivered, and invoiced at any point in the supply chain.
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Q. Is GTIN a new standard?
A. GTIN is a term, not a new standard. The term was introduced to ensure consistent terminology around the world. Since the U.P.C. symbol encodes a 12-digit GTIN, GS1 US has been promoting the GTIN since 1972. GTINs ensure that trade items are identified uniquely around the world, which enables more efficient global trading.
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Q. Does GTIN replace the U.P.C.?
A. No, GTIN is a term only. Remember the U.P.C. symbol encodes a 12-digit GTIN. The U.P.C. does not go away; companies that place a GTIN-12 (U.P.C.) on products now should continue to do so.
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Q. Is a unique GTIN required for every level of packaging?
A.Yes. There should be a unique GTIN identifying the consumer unit, an inner pack, multi-pack, case, or pallet where applicable.
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Q. What is GTIN Compliance?
A. A company that is able to process, store, and communicate information about their products with trading partners using all GTINs, whether 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits, is considered to be GTIN Compliant. Companies become GTIN Compliant by expanding the appropriate systems and applications to 14-
digits. This will support the GTIN on products at all levels of packaging (consumer, inner packs, multi-packs, cases, and pallets, etc. It is necessary to become GTIN Compliant to take advantage of the benefits of:

  • Data synchronization using the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN)
  • GS1 DataBar™ (formerly known as Reduced Space Symbology® (RSS®))
  • EPCglobal Network™

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Q. Does my company need a new GS1 Company Prefix to create GTINs?
A. No. Continue to use the one you have.
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Q. If a change is made to the product does the GTIN need to change?
A. A separate unique GTIN is required whenever any of the pre-defined characteristics of a trade item are different in any way that is relevant to the trading process. The guiding principle is if the consumer is expected to distinguish a new trade item from an old trade item and purchase accordingly, a new GTIN should be assigned to the new trade item (product package and shelf edge label declarations should appear the same to the consumer). For complete information, refer to the GTIN Allocation Rules (available through the GS1 US Product Catalog) or refer to the Barcodes and Identification Numbers section of the Solutions Center.
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Q. When is a “9” used as the Indicator digit in a GTIN?
A. It is used to indicate a variable measure product.
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Q. What are the correct ASC X12 EDI qualifiers for GTIN?
A. The correct qualifiers are:

  • UK for GTIN-14
  • EN for GTIN-13
  • UP for GTIN-12
  • EO for GTIN- 8

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Q. What can be identified using the GS1 Identification Numbers?

  • Trade items: Products and services upon which there is a need to retrieve pre-defined information at any point in the supply chain (Global Trade Item Number®/GTIN®).
  • Logistic units: Physical units established for transport and storage of products of any kind that need to be tracked and traced individually in a supply chain (Serial Shipping Container Code/SSCC).
  • Assets: Fixed or returnable assets (Global Individual Asset Identifier/GIAI, Global Returnable Asset Identifier/GRAI).
  • Locations: Physical, functional or legal entities requiring a permanent identification, such as a company, department, or warehouse (Global Location Number/GLN).
  • Service Relations: Public or private service provider to track any entity’s service requirements and needs over a continuing relationship (Global Service Relation Number/GSRN).

Note: All GS1 identifiers use the same GS1 Company Prefix assigned to the company or organization.
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Global Location Number (GLN) FAQs

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Q. What is meant by location?
A. The GLN is a unique data structure that identifies any legal, functional or physical location within a business or organizational entity such as:

  • Legal entities: whole companies, subsidiaries or divisions such as supplier, customer, bank, forwarder, etc.
  • Functional entities: a purchasing department within a legal entity, an accounting department, a returns department, a nursing station, a ward, a customer number within a legal entity, etc.
  • Physical locations: a particular room in a building, warehouse, warehouse gate, loading dock, delivery point, cabinet, cabinet shelf housing circuit boards, room within a building, hospital wing, etc.
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Q. What are examples of locations that can be assigned GLNs?
A. GLNs are reference keys for retrieving information from databases about: stores, manufacturing centers, warehouses, broker’s offices, sales offices, corporate headquarters, distribution centers, vending machines, postal addresses, dock doors, customers, regions, merchant marine ships, buildings on military bases, and many others.
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Q. Are there other location coding methods?
A. There are 196 different location coding methods recognized by ANSI X12 and 212 different location coding methods recognized by UN/EDIFACT. Some industries use proprietary seller generated location codes. Some use location codes assigned by accepted third party organizations.

Some companies have used the DUNS+4 number to identify specific physical locations within their company. The use of DUNS+4 is primarily limited to North America. This is a 13-digit number that was broken into two different pieces: a 9-digit number assigned by D&B to identify a company or a subset of a company (DUNS) and a 4-digit number assigned by the company or subset to uniquely identify a location within their own domain.
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Q. What is the first step for manufacturers, distributors and retailers to identify themselves with a GLN?
A. If a company does not have an assigned GS1 Company Prefix, contact GS1 US to obtain a membership application. If a company already has a GS1 Company Prefix, the company can begin assignment.
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Q. Does a company need an assigned GS1 Company Prefix to create GLNs?
A. Yes. GLNs are created using the GS1 Company Prefix assigned to the company. The GS1 Company Prefix may be directly assigned to the company or the company may utilize the GS1 Company Prefix of its parent company, with the knowledge and consent of the parent company. However, a parent company may not use a GS1 Company Prefix assigned to a company it owns.
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Q. What is the relationship between a GLN and a Global Trade Item Number®(GTIN®) (e.g., U.P.C.)?
A. There is no relationship other than the use of similar techniques to manage the uniqueness of the numbers. GLNs identify locations and GTINs identify trade items (products and services). The GLN and GTIN must be stored separately because they are separate unique identifiers.
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Q. What are the advantages of GLNs?
A. The use of GLNs provides companies with a method of identifying locations, within and
outside their company, that is:

  • Simple: an easily defined data structure with integrity checking that facilitates processing and transmission of data
  • Unique: GLNs are unique worldwide
  • Multi-sector: the non-significant characteristic of the GLN allows any location to be identified for any company regardless of its activity anywhere in the world.
  • Global: implemented around the world and supported by the international network of GS1 Member Organizations, covering more than 150 countries, in the local language

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Q. Why use GLNs instead of an internal system?
A. Any company can design its own internal system and code structure to identify all the locations covering its operating requirements. Although an internal solution might seem to be the easiest and fastest way forward, when information is exchanged between computers of distinct companies this may present several problems, such as:

  • Duplication: two or more trading partners may use the exact same location code to identify an internal location in their company – no guarantee of uniqueness
  • Complexity: internal codes will have a variety of structures and formats, making application programming more complex and application changes costly
  • Significance: location codes that contain information related to the location in the code structure itself will become difficult to handle as the coding structure evolves to incorporate new meanings

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Q. Can the GLN change?
A. If a location identified by a GLN changes, the party responsible for the GLN should change the details associated with the GLN on the related computer file record.

A GLN that has stopped being used should remain so for at least three years before being reallocated. The delay must allow time for all references of the old location number to be removed from trading partners' files. When the location number is re-used, the details relating to the location must be retransmitted.
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Q. How do we assign GLNs?
A. For ease of administration, it is recommended that the Location Reference be allocated sequentially and not contain ‘classifying’ elements.
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Q. Who communicates GLNs?
A. It is the responsibility of the company assigning GLNs to keep business partners informed of all numbers issued and their associated information. Special care is needed if the ownership of the company changes.
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Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) FAQs

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Q. Does my company need another GS1 Company Prefix to use SSCCs?
A. No. The GS1 Company Prefix that you already have been assigned is used in the SSCC.
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Q. What are some examples of when I should apply an SSCC?
A. A shipping container could be a case, carton, pallet, or air cargo container of trade items.
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Q. Should the GTIN be included in the SSCC?
A. No. GTIN information is included in the Advance Ship Notice (ASN) that is sent to the receiver of the product prior to shipment. The SSCC acts as a license plate number. That number is linked to the ASN and provides access to the GTIN information.
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Q. How is an SSCC different than a GTIN?
A. Serial Shipping Container Codes (SSCCs) are not Global Trade Item Numbers® (GTINs®). The SSCC acts as a license plate to track a shipment of logistics units through the supply chain. The GTIN uniquely identifies trade items (products and services).
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Q. Can the SSCC be used at the point of sale?
A. No. The SSCC is only used at the distribution or warehouse environment and is not a GTIN.
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Q. What is an Extension digit?
A. The extension digit is available to the member company to increase the capacity of the number. It has no defined logic.
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Q. Do I need to purchase special equipment to scan an SSCC?
A. The equipment that you choose should have software that is compatible with the type of scanner that you have selected and should be able to read the GS1-128 symbol.
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Q. How many SSCCs can I create?
A. With a 7-digit GS1 Company Prefix, one can assign 10 billion SSCCs (1 digit Extension digit times a 9 digit Serial Reference). With a 9-digit GS1 Company Prefix, one can assigned 100 million SSCCs (1 digit Extension digit times a 7 digit Serial Reference).
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Q. Do I need to put more than one SSCC label on a carton or pallet?
A. Each logistics unit should have at least one barcode. It is recommended that a pallet should contain an additional barcode on the adjacent side.
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Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) FAQs
and Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) FAQs

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Q. What is the difference between inventory, consumables and assets?
A.
  • Inventory – Items that exist in raw material format, in the “pipeline”, or storage. Ultimately intended for sale to consumers and to produce operating income.
  • Consumables – Items that are used by an organization in the course of conducting operations. These items generally have a comparatively short life or are of relatively low cost and are charged to the cost of doing business in a particular fiscal year.
  • Assets - Items used by the organization in the course of conducting operations. These are long-lived items and are charged to the cost of doing business over many fiscal periods.

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Q. What is the difference between fixed assets and returnable assets?
A. Fixed assets do not leave the immediate control of the asset owner. Returnable assets are delivered by the owner to the custody of another entity, usually for a fee.
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Q. Can the GRAI be used in place of a GTIN?
A. No, GTINs and GRAIs serve two distinctly different purposes. The GTIN is used to uniquely identify trade items during the data align, order, deliver, and receiving processes (e.g., a brewer purchasing beer kegs from the keg manufacturer). The GRAI is used to identify different types of assets during their use (e.g., tracking beer kegs between the brewer, beer distributors, and bars/pubs).
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Q. Can the GIAI be used in place of a GTIN?
A. No, GTINs and GIAIs serve two distinctly different purposes. The GTIN is used to uniquely identify trade items during the data synchronization, order, deliver, and receiving processes. The GIAI is used to identify any fixed asset of an organization, which includes all property of a business that will not be consumed though use or sold to a trading partner. For example, the GIAI is used to identify long lived valuable assets such as office equipment, furniture, computers, and manufacturing equipment.
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Global Service Relation Number (GSRN) FAQs

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Q. What is a GSRN?
A. The Global Service Relation Number may be used to identify the recipient of services in the context of a service relationship. It provides a unique and unambiguous identification number for the service provider to store data relevant to service(s) provided to the recipient. The GSRN is the key to access information stored on computer systems or reference information transferred via electronic commerce transactions.
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Q. What is the data carrier for the GSRN?
A. The two data carriers for the GSRN are GS1-128 and Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) Expanded.
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Q. What are examples of service relationships?
A. The GSRN can identify the service relationships in a:

  • Hospital admission, used to identify the patient for recording room charges, medical tests, and other charges.
  • Membership in a Frequent Flyer Program, used for recording awards, claims, and preferences.
  • Membership in a Loyalty Program, used for recording visits, purchase value, and awards.
  • Membership in a club, used for recording entitlements, use of facilities, or subscription.
  • Service agreement, such as for a TV or a computer, used for managing agreed services and warranties.
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Q. Are there other service relation methods?
A. There are many proprietary methods of identifying service relations in the marketplace today. They differ by industry and company.
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Q. What is the relationship between a GTIN and a GSRN?
A. There is no relationship other than the use of similar techniques to manage the uniqueness of the numbers. A GTIN will identify a trade product or process. The GSRN identifies a service relationship.
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Q. How is a GSRN assigned?
A. The exact method used to assign the GSRN is left to the discretion of the issuing organization. However, the GSRN must be unique for each individual service recipient and remain unique for a period well beyond the lifetime of the records relevant to the service relationship. For ease of administration,
GS1 and GS1 US recommend that GSRNs be allocated sequentially and not contain ‘classifying' elements. It is also recommended that a particular function or individual (GS1 Coordinator) within the organization be given the task of assigning GSRNs. This same function or individual should have the
responsibility of ensuring the data integrity of the GSRN database/table.
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Q. How is a GSRN stored in a database/database table?
A. The GSRN is a stand-alone identifier. All information required by the service provider should be established on a computer file using the GSRN as the key to access the information. The type of information stored will be determined by the nature of the service relationship. Typical information would include the service recipient’s: full name and address, details on services rendered, etc. The GSRN should be stored its own file/table.
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Q. What is the first step for public or private entities to assign GSRNs?
A. If the public or private entity does not have an assigned GS1 Company Prefix, contact GS1 US to obtain a membership application or visit the website at www.gs1us.org/pc. If the company already has a GS1 Company Prefix, the company can begin assignment immediately.
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Q. What happens to the GSRN if there is a change in the service relationship?
A. From time to time the details related to a GSRN may change. The following are general cases, which may occur if the circumstances under which the GSRN was originally set up change:

  • If a service provider ceases trading (possibly because of liquidation), any GSRNs allocated by that organization should be phased out. If the activity covered by the GSRN is transferred, the new service provider may continue to use existing GSRNs, but should allocate further GSRNs using their GS1 Company Prefix.
  • If the range of services identified by a GSRN changes, the service provider should change the details associated with the GSRN on the related computer file record. The assignment of a new GSRN is not required in this case.

A GSRN used to identify a particular service relationship that has terminated should not be reallocated for a period well beyond the lifetime of the relevant records.
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GS1 DataBar™ FAQs

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Q. Will the GS1 DataBar (RSS) symbologies obsolete my U.P.C.'s?
A. No! GS1 DataBar was designed for new applications or applications where limited space is a problem. Everywhere that a traditional U.P.C. is used, it can continue to be used.
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Q. Will I have to scrap my checkout and warehouse scanners, and buy new equipment?
A. The best resource for answering equipment questions will be your equipment provider, although it can be as easy as downloading software from a vendors website. A list of vendors that we know are working with GS1 DataBar appears on this web site under vendor information.
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Q. Will it be harder for my packaging printer to produce these symbols?
A. GS1 DataBar is no harder to print than U.P.C.
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Q. Will the label printers in my facility be able to handle these new symbols?
A. The printers themselves should be able to handle any type of symbology, just as they do any other graphic, however, certain precautions need to be taken when printing barcodes as graphics. The software used to drive the printer may require minor upgrades.
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Q. What's this free encoder and decoder model download all about?
A. The download is made available free of charge (along with the code) as a model for developers and as a ‘sampler', if you will, for users. What an encoder does is to take the data you enter (your numbers) and convert it into the bars and spaces of a barcode for you. A decoder is the software used by, say, a scanner to turn the bars and spaces of a barcode back into data.
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Q. Can I produce digital files for my film master maker in either MAC or PC?
A. The encoder model will produce either a TIF or a BMP file that can be converted and/or inserted into artwork. Users can select the bar width reduction as well as the Y-axis reduction using this software. Commercial label design software manufacturers are currently integrating GS1 DataBar and Composites into their products.
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Q. Can I do direct to plate? How about direct to print?
A. All print processes that can produce EAN/UPC and GS1-128 symbols can be used with GS1 DataBar and Composites.
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Q. Can my flatbed scanners be used to read these barcodes?
A. The GS1 DataBar family is omnidirectional except for GS1 DataBar Limited, GS1 DataBar Truncated, GS1 DataBar Stacked and the 2D Composite Components. These exceptions will require the use of a handheld scanner "gun". Please contact your equipment provider for information on updating your scanner for this purpose.
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Q. Can the 2D Composite Component stand alone, or must it always be combined with a linear (vertical bars and spaces) component?
A. A 2D Composite Component is just that - a component, a part of the whole code. It must always be combined with a linear barcode. The info contained in a 2D Composite Component is supplementary to the primary identification encoded in the linear component.
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Q. How do I know whether to use a (Composite Component) CC-A, CC-B or CC-C?
A. It depends on how much data you need to encode. CC-A can encode up to 56 characters, CC-B can encode up to 338 characters and CC-C can encode up to 2361 characters. The printer should automatically select between CC-A and CC-B depending on the encoded data length. The use of CC-C with GS1-128 is an option that the user might choose depending on the available label space. CC-A and CC-B will take up less area, but CC-C will be wider but not as tall.
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Q. What other info can be coded into GS1 DataBar & Composites besides the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)?
A. The sky really is the limit - you can encode expiration dates, lot codes, "best if used by" dates, weight, cost per unit, country of origin, quantity, and a host of other supplementary information.
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