GS1 US Data Hub Help Center
Did you license a GS1 US GTIN and want to create a barcode? Learn how to work with this GTIN in GS1 US Data Hub.
Create a Product and Generate a UPC-A Barcode
If you have licensed a GS1 Company Prefix, enter GS1 US Data Hub to generate a barcode image. You will need to create a product, assign an available GTIN to this product, then set the status to In Use.
Note: if you licensed a single GS1 US GTIN, instead of a GS1 Company Prefix, your product is already saved in GS1 US Data Hub with the In Use status. Visit the GS1 US GTIN article to learn how to generate your barcode, create a case, etc.
Follow these quick steps to create a consumer trade item that can be purchased at a store or online:
1. Click Product, then the Add New Product link on the right.
2. Product Description – This is a "functional description" to share with retailers, not the marketing description that is used for consumers. A best practice is to include brand name, type of product, variation (color, flavor, scent, etc), and net contents. There is a 200-character limit on this field.
3. Brand Name – Enter the name of the product line that is used with consumers. There is a 70-character limit.
4. Industry – This will help retailers and other Product View/Use subscribers filter by “industry” when searching for products.
CPG = Consumer Packaged Goods (groceries, personal care and beauty products, home cleaning products, etc.);
General = General Merchandise (toys, flooring, appliances, etc.)
5. SKU (optional) - This is the Stock Keeping Unit that your company may assign to products to help track inventory. The SKU can be alphanumeric. There is a 70-character limit. You can add or change the SKU for this product, even after you set the status to In Use.
6. Packaging Level – "Each" is the default, and is generally the consumer unit sold at check out or online. To learn about other packaging level options, view this Packaging Level article.
7. Purchasable by Consumer? – “Yes” is the default selection when you select the “Each” packaging level. Selecting “Yes” will make the UPC-A barcode image available in a later step.
8. For Shipping Purposes Only? – Keep "No" selected, as this is the default when “Yes” is selected for Purchasable by Consumer?. You should only select “Yes” if the item is a shipping and receiving trade item, and NOT sold to consumers at retail or online.
9. Variable Measure? – Keep "No" selected, as most products are fixed measure trade items, not variable measure trade items. A variable measure trade item does NOT receive the GTIN-12. A product that has different sizes, such as jars of sauce in 10, 20 and 30 oz jars, is NOT a variable measure trade item. These three products are fixed measure trade items that require three unique GTINs.
10. Press Save and Continue. This product detail record is in the Draft status. The Step 2 page displays.
11. Now you can assign the GTIN. Click the Let Us Assign Your GTIN button. GS1 US Data Hub will assign the next available GTIN to this product. This available GTIN is displayed under the Your GTIN heading as both a GTIN-12 and a GTIN with 14 digits, with two leading zeroes (which is how it's stored in databases).
Already have a GTIN to assign to this product? Then click the Choose a Specific GTIN button and type the desired GTIN yourself. The Company Prefix is already populated. Note: The GTIN-12 for an "Each" item must start with two fill zeroes (00), as this is the 14-digit representation of the GTIN that would be stored in a database.
Optional: Generate a For Placement Only barcode.
After you assign the GTIN, the item moves from Draft to PreMarket status. You can now click the Barcode tab to generate a “For Placement Only” (FPO) barcode image for product and packaging design purposes only. You will be able to generate a scannable barcode image (PNG file) after you change the status to In Use.
Optional: Add Additional Product Information.
While the product is in the PreMarket status, you can add other product information in Step 3 and Step 4, such as net contents and net weight. Some of these key product attributes cannot be changed after you set the status to In Use.
Click the Verified by GS1 article to learn more about the attributes associated with the Verified by GS1 program and the GS1 Registry Platform.
12. When you're ready to share this product with the marketplace, click the Set Status to In Use button.
You can now view a barcode that can be scanned by your customers.
13. To generate the barcode, click the View Barcode button.
The Barcode screen displays:
- Application Area – This is the environment in which the barcode will be scanned. The list of available application areas is based on the details for this product detail record.
- Barcode Type – The selected barcode symbol. UPC-A is the default if "Each" is the Packaging Level, "Yes" is selected for "Purchasable by Consumer," and Application Area is "General Retail/Grocery."
- Size – You have three choices for the barcode dimensions: the optimum ("Target") size, minimum size that can accommodate all scanners, and maximum size.
14. Click Preview Barcode then click the Download button to download a PNG file of the barcode image to your computer. Note: an EPS or vector file format is not available. To print this barcode using an Avery label template, click the Print button. You can also click the "Export Barcode Definitions" button to share the barcode symbol specifications with a GS1 Standards Professional print vendor.
Have any questions about working with the UPC-A barcode image? View the Work with my UPC-A barcode article in the Help Center.