|
GS1 DataBar Barcode FAQ & Tutorial
- GS1 DataBar Overview | Benefits
- UPC to DataBar POS Barcode Comparison
- DataBar POS Symbols for GTIN only (DataBar and DataBar Stacked)
- DataBar POS Symbols for GTIN, Coupons or Other Data (DataBar Expanded and Expanded Stacked)
- DataBar Non-POS Symbols (DataBar
Limited, Stacked and Truncated)
- Composite Components
- Printing GS1 DataBar
- Reading and Verifying
GS1 DataBar Overview | Benefits
The GS1 DataBar barcode symbology is the latest POS barcode type from GS1. DataBar barcodes may
be utilized to solve
many problems in POS, grocery and healthcare, where items are too small to allow
for traditional barcode types, or where additional information needs to be encoded
such as product weight, expiration dates or serial numbers.
DataBar is also the only barcode symbology approved by GS1 to
encode
GTIN-14 numbers in all retail checkout systems
and is required by the Joint Industry Coupon Committee
(JICC) to be used for
DataBar
Coupon Barcodes.
The benefits of using DataBar are detailed in the GS1 DataBar Business Case document. In summary, these benefits include:
- Ability to encode the entire 14 digit GTIN, eliminating the need to use UPC and EAN symbols.
- The standard DataBar symbol is smaller in size than UPC-A symbols.
- Maximize revenue, lower food waste and provide discounts to customers purchasing food that is near expiration. Currently being used in Finland with Froodly and LOTTE Mart grocery stores in Korea. Also refer to the Inventory Management Executive Summary by Planet Retail.
- Traceability and product recall capabilities.
- Identification of vendor for fresh produce.
- Better sell by and expiration date management.
- Quicker scanning than UPC and EAN symbols.
- Less chance of scan errors than UPC and EAN symbols because of the advanced modulus 79 or greater internal check digit. UPC and EAN symbols use only a mod 10 check digit.
- POS systems have been required to read DataBar symbols since 2010.
- Switching gradually to DataBar now is good preparation for when it will be required.
UPC to DataBar POS Barcode Comparison
The following is a comparison of a UPC-A barcode encoding the GTIN-12 data "123456789012"
with DataBar barcodes encoding the same data for use in POS systems. The GTIN-12
is converted to GTIN-14 by adding zeros to the beginning of the number. The
DataBar Expanded Stacked barcode below encodes the 14-digit GTIN and "Sell
by Date" in about the same space as a standard UPC symbol. DataBar Expanded
Stacked symbols may also be printed at smaller X dimensions than UPC and EAN
symbols and sized with the segments property.
Table1. UPC to DataBar POS Size Comparison. (X=12 mils or .03CM)
|
UPC-A |
DataBar |
DataBar Stacked |
DataBar Expanded Stacked |
|
Encodes GTIN-12: 123456789012 |
Encodes GTIN: (01)00123456789012 |
Encodes GTIN: (01)00123456789012 |
GTIN + Sell by Date;
4 Segments: (01)00123456789012(15)991231 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The above GTIN barcodes were created at 96 DPI with the Barcode Image Generator.
DataBar POS Symbols Encoding the GTIN
DataBar Omnidirectional and DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional symbols are approved for POS use and encode only the GTIN. In all IDAutomation products, the DataToEncode for this barcode type is 14 digits of the GTIN. The last digit in the DataToEncode is the check digit. If unknown, enter 0 for the check digit. If 14 digits are not entered, zeros will be added to the beginning of the data. For example, 77012345678900 will scan as (01)77012345678907. There is an implied AI of 01 that should not be part of the DataToEncode, except when using DataBar Expanded.
Fig. 1. DataBar Omnidirectional Barcode Encoding GTIN "20012345678909":
Fig. 2. DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional Barcode Encoding "00123456789012":
DataBar POS Symbols Encoding the GTIN and Additional Information
DataBar Expanded and DataBar Expanded Stacked are capable of encoding the 14-digit GTIN, and additional data such as expiration dates, country of origin and serial numbers up to 74 numeric or 41 alphabetic characters. Omnidirectional is not normally part of the title of this symbology, even though it is omnidirectional. In all IDAutomation products, the DataToEncode for this barcode type prefers parentheses around each AI in the barcode, however, it is not usually necessary. There is an implied FNC1 included in the beginning of the data encoded because this symbol is designed to be used only for GS1 applications.
Encoding GS1
AIs:
The AI combined with its data
make up an Element String. Multiple defined length Element Strings may be
encoded without any added delimiters or FNC1 codes. If only one variable
length Element String is used and included that at the end of the encoded
data, a delimiter or FNC1 is not necessary. However, if it is necessary to
encode two or more variable length Element Strings, such as (10) and (21),
the ASCII 202 character (Ê) must be inserted as a delimiter after the data
of a variable Element String that is not encoded last. For example:
(01)34567890123457(10)3456789Ê(21)3456789012.
DataBar Expanded symbols are transformed into DataBar Expanded Stacked symbols by changing the segments property to a low even number such as 4, 6 or 8.
Fig. 3. DataBar Expanded Barcode Encoding "(01)98898765432106(3202)012345(15)991231":
