EAN-8 Barcode
This Symbology is also known as European
Article Number 8, EAN-8 Supplement 5/Five-digit Add-On, EAN-8 Supplement
2/Two-digit Add-On, EAN-8+5, EAN-8+2, EAN8, EAN8+5, EAN13+2, UPC-8, GTIN-8,
GS1-8, EAN/UCC-8
Overview
EAN-8 is the EAN equivalent of
UPC-E in the sense that it provides a "short" barcode for small packages. The
primary purpose of the EAN-8 code is to use as little space as possible.
EAN-8 is encoded using the three EAN-13 character sets and also has a check
digit that is calculated in the same way as EAN-13.
The data digits in an EAN-8 symbol identify a particular
product and manufacturer. Since a limited number of EAN-8 codes are available
in each country, they are issued only for products with insufficient space for
a normal EAN-13 symbol. For example, a 2-digit country code permits a total of
only 100,000 item numbers.
Sample of an EAN-8 Barcode
The value to encode by EAN-8 has the following structure (a.k.a. GTIN-8):
-
2 or 3 digits for Number System or Country Code
-
5 or 4 digits for Product Code
-
1 digit for checksum
Each country has a numbering authority which assigns
manufacturer codes to companies within its jurisdiction.
Add-On or Supplement code
The Add-On Symbols were designed to encode information
supplementary to that in the main bar code symbol on periodicals and paperback
books. The Add-On can be composed of 2 or 5 digits only.
Sample of an EAN-8 Two-Digit Add-On Barcode
Light Margin Indicators - a greater than (>) and/or
less than (<) character - are intended to protected the essential light areas
to the left and right of the code that the barcode scanner needs to recognize
the beginning and end.
How to create EAN-8 barcodes using Barcode Professional
Note: Please refer to the Class
Reference documentation for more information about the properties and methods
stated in this document.
In order to get an EAN-8 barcode image, please follow these
steps:
-
Set the Symbology property to Ean8
-
Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
-
Set the BarWidth property to 0.013 (Value is expressed in Inches)
-
Set the BarHeight property to 0.86 (Value is expressed in Inches)
-
If Guard Bars are needed:
-
Set the GuardBar property to True
-
Set the GuardBarHeight property to 0.925 (Value is expressed in
Inches)
-
Set the QuietZoneWidth property to 0.091 (Value is expressed in
Inches)
-
Set the Code property with a value with the following structure (GTIN-8):
-
2 or 3 digits for Number System or Country Code
-
5 or 4 digits for Product Code
-
1 digit for Check-Sum ONLY if AddChecksum property is False,
otherwise DO NOT specify the checksum digit because it will be
automatically calculated by Barcode Professional products
-
Add-On Settings if needed:
-
Set the EanUpcSupplement to Digits2 (Two-Digit Add-On) or Digits5
(Five-Digit Add-On)
-
Set the EanUpcSupplementCode with the Add-On value which must be 2 or 5
digits only
-
Drawn Light Margin Indicators if needed:
-
Set the DisplayLightMarginIndicator to True
-
Set the Text property to an Empty string
EAN-8 barcode images examples
Code property = 2012345, AddChecksum property
= True and DisplayLightMarginIndicator property = True will
produce the following barcode image:
Code property = 2012345, AddChecksum property
= True and DisplayLightMarginIndicator property = True, EanUpcSupplement
property = Digits2, and EanUpcSupplementCode property = 78
will produce the following barcode image: