GS1 DataBar | GS1 Composite Barcode Symbology

GS1 DataBar is a newer global bar code standard which has been adopted in 2010. GS1 DataBar should be available on all trade item scanning systems, and retail POS (point of sale) scanners should be able to differentiate between the various GS1 barcode symbologies.

Application Areas

GS1 DataBar is widely used in the health care industry for both pharmaceuticals and medical/surgical products, by GS1 Member Organizations (MOs), consumer goods manufacturers and trade associations.

Classification

  • GS1 DataBar encodes 14 digits and can contain any of the 4 Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN) types: GTIN 8, 12, 13, or 14.
  • GS1 DataBar is 50% smaller than EAN-13 or UPC-A Bar Code Symbols but carries more information than the current EAN/UPC bar code. The new GS1 DataBar symbology uses special identification bars to avoid the requirement of a quiet zone around the bar code.
  • Each member of the GS1 DataBar family has data compacting methods optimized for the data strings that they will encode.
  • All GS1 DataBar symbols include a linkage flag. If the linkage flag is equal to 0, then the GS1 DataBar stands alone. Otherwise when it is equal to 1, then a 2D component is associated with the GS1 DataBar family linear component and its separator pattern.
  • GS1 DataBar can carry GS1 Application Identifiers (AI) like serial numbers, lot numbers, and expiration dates which allow better product monitoring, product tracing and product category management (click here for more details).

History

GS1-DataBar, formerly called Reduced Space Symbology, was renamed to GS1 DataBar to avoid confusion with the popular RSS XML Feed technology, which is broadly used on the Web for "Really Simple Syndication".

GS1 DataBar is an even newer standard which became official in 2010. GS1 DataBar should be available on all trade item scanning systems, and retail Point-of-Sale (POS) scanners should be able to differentiate from the various GS1 barcode languages by then.

In the beginning, UPC or Universal Product Code was used in North America. But in 2005, the EAN-13 or the European standard was adopted as the global bar code standard. GS1 DataBar, however, is not expected to revolutionize the retail trade. But rather seen as a stepping stone to the adoption of Electronic Product Codes (EPC-RFID) carried on RFID devices .

GS1 DataBar Variants

GS1 DataBar (DataBar-14)

GS1 DataBar (DataBar-14)
  • Planned successor of EAN-13 and UPC-A in POS applications.
  • Used for GTIN - 8,12,13,14
  • Omnidirectional readable
  • Can be used at POS

GS1 DataBar Truncated (DataBar-14 Truncated)

GS1 DataBar Truncated (DataBar-14 Truncated)
  • Similar as GS1 DataBar 14 but with reduced height
  • Used for GTIN - 8,12,13,14
  • Not Omnidirectional
  • Is not used at POS

GS1 DataBar Limited

GS1 DataBar Limited
  • Smaller than GS1 DataBar 14
  • Lead digit is limited to 0 or 1 (no other values)
  • Used for GTIN - 8,12,13,14
  • Not Omnidirectional
  • Is not used at POS

GS1 DataBar Stacked

GS1 DataBar Stacked
  • For very small items
  • Used for GTIN - 8,12,13,14
  • Not Omnidirectional
  • Not used at POS

GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional

GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional
  • Used for GTIN - 8,12,13,14
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS
  • Alias: DataBar-14 Stacked Omnidirectional

GS1 DataBar Expanded

GS1 DataBar Expanded
  • Similar as EAN-128 but with reduced size
  • Variable length with a capacity of up to 74 numeric / 41 alphanumeric characters
  • All GS1 System identification numbers and Application Identifiers supported
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS

GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked

GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked
  • About the same size as an UPC/EAN barcode
  • Variable length with a capacity of up to 74 numeric / 41 alphanumeric characters in up to 11 stacked rows
  • All GS1 System identification numbers and Application Identifiers
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS

GS1 Composite Symbology™

The GS1 Composite Symbology™ is a combination of a linear barcode component and a special 2D Composite Component (CC) symbol printed on top. The linear component encodes the item’s primary identification. The adjacent 2D Composite Component (CC) encodes supplementary data, such as a batch number and expiration date.

For the linear barcode component choose between a:

  • EAN/UPC symbology (EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, or UPC-E),
  • a member of GS1-DataBar Symbology family,
  • or an GS1-128 (UCC/EAN-128)

The linear component determines the name of the composite symbol, such as an EAN-13 composite symbol, or an UCC/EAN-128 composite symbol.

Composite symbols are designed to be scanned with a hand-held laser, a linear CCD, or a 2D imaging scanner. The linear component is backward compatible with standard POS applications (if the scanner can read the linear part).

Available 2D Composite Component™ Versions

A GS1 Composite Symbol consists of a linear component and an adjacent 2D Composite Component™, which always includes one of the three multi-row 2D Composite Component™ versions (CC-A, CC-B, CC-C).

GS1 Composite Component A

  • MicroPDF417 Symbol variant
  • codes up to 56 digits of alphanumeric data

GS1 Composite Component B

  • MicroPDF417 Symbol subset
  • encodes up to 338 digits of alphanumeric data

GS1 Composite Component C

  • PDF417 Symbol structure
  • codes up to 2361 digits of alphanumeric data

GS1 Composite Symbology™ Variants

GS1-Databar Composite Symbology™

GS1-Databar Composite Symbology

GS1 DataBar encoding the GTIN with additional data (e.g. AI10) in the 2D Composite Component.

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B

GS1-Databar Stacked Composite Symbology™

GS1-Databar Stacked Composite Symbology

This GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ uses an GS1 DataBar-14™ Stacked Bar Code Symbol as linear component.

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B

GS1-Databar Stacked Omni Composite Symbology™

GS1-Databar Stacked Omni Composite Symbology

The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that uses an GS1-Databar Stacked Omni™ Bar Code Symbol as linear component.

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B

GS1-Databar Limited Composite Symbology™

GS1-Databar Limited Composite Symbology

The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that uses an GS1 DataBar Limited™ Bar Code Symbol as linear component.

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B

GS1-Databar Expanded Composite Symbology™

GS1-Databar Expanded Composite Symbology

The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that uses an GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Bar Code Symbol as linear component. Variable length data fields (with Application Identifiers) can be encoded in the linear component as well as in the 2D component.

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B

GS1-Databar Expanded Stacked Composite Symbology™

GS1-Databar Expanded Stacked Composite Symbology

The GS1 DataBar Composite Symbology™ that uses an GS1 DataBar Expanded™ Stacked Bar Code Symbol as linear component.

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B

EAN-8 Composite Symbology™

EAN-8 Composite Symbology

The Composite Symbology™, which uses an EAN-8 barcode as linear component.

  • 8 Numeric
  • GTIN-8 and Select Applications
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS
  • Backward compatible with EAN-8 POS applications

Possible 2D Composite Components:

  • CC-A, CC-B

EAN-13 Composite Symbology™

EAN-13 Composite Symbology

The Composite Symbology™, which uses an EAN-13 barcode as linear component:

  • 13 Numeric
  • GTIN-13 and Select Applications
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS
  • Backward compatible with EAN-13 POS applications

Possible 2D Composite Components:

  • CC-A, CC-B

UPC-A Composite Symbology™

UPC-A Composite Symbology

The Composite Symbology™ uses an UPC-A barcode as linear component:

  • 12 Numeric
  • GTIN-12 and Select Applications
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS

Possible 2D Composite Components:

  • CC-A, CC-B

UPC-E Composite Symbology™

UPC-E Composite Symbology

The Composite Symbology™ uses an UPC-E barcode as linear component:

  • 12 Numeric, zeros suppress according to rules
  • GTIN-12 with lead "0" and Select Applications
  • Omnidirectional
  • Can be used at POS

Possible 2D Composite Components:

  • CC-A, CC-B

GS1-128 Composite Symbology™

GS1-128 Composite Symbology

The GS1-128 Composite Symbology™ is a subset of the Code 128 that is used exclusively for GS1 System data structures. GS1-128 is the new name for the well-known EAN-128 or UCC-128 symbology.

It uses a GS1-128 barcode as linear component:

  • 48 alphanumeric capacity
  • Carries Application Identifiers
  • Unique GS1 Identifier
  • Not Omnidirectional

The CC-C (PDF417) can be variable length (according to length of linear symbol)

  • Possible 2D Composite Components: CC-A, CC-B, CC-C