Intermec m90 Reference Guide
Bar Code Symbologies
Appendix
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M90 Series Portable Data Entry Unit Reference Manual
The M90 unit recognizes eight of the most widely used bar code symbolo-
gies. With bar code symbologies, like languages, there are many different
types. A bar code symbology provides the required flexibility for a particu-
lar inventory tracking system.
gies. With bar code symbologies, like languages, there are many different
types. A bar code symbology provides the required flexibility for a particu-
lar inventory tracking system.
A symbology may be for particular industries, such as food and beverage,
automotive, railroad, or aircraft. Some of these industries have established
their own bar code symbology because other symbologies did not meet
their needs.
automotive, railroad, or aircraft. Some of these industries have established
their own bar code symbology because other symbologies did not meet
their needs.
Without going into great detail on the bar code structure, note that no two
products use the same bar code. Each product gets a unique bar code.
products use the same bar code. Each product gets a unique bar code.
Industries that use a particular type of bar code symbology have formed
regulating committees or are members of national institutes that issue and
keep track of bar codes. This ensures that each organization that contrib-
utes to a particular industry conforms to its standard. Without some form
of governing body, bar coding would not work.
regulating committees or are members of national institutes that issue and
keep track of bar codes. This ensures that each organization that contrib-
utes to a particular industry conforms to its standard. Without some form
of governing body, bar coding would not work.
These are the bar codes described in this appendix:
S UPC (Universal Product Code) with/without add-ons
S EAN (European Article Numbering Code) with/without add-ons
S Codabar
S C39 (Code 39)
S C93 (Code 93)
S C128 (Code 128)
S I 2 of 5 (Interleaved 2 of 5 Code)
S MSI (a variant of Plessey)
UPC
The UPC (Universal Product Code) is the symbology used throughout the
grocery and retail industries. This bar code symbology contains two pieces
of numerical information encoded on the bar code, producer identifica-
tion, and product identification information.
grocery and retail industries. This bar code symbology contains two pieces
of numerical information encoded on the bar code, producer identifica-
tion, and product identification information.
The UPC symbol is 12 characters long. The first character of the UPC
symbol is a number system character, such as “0” for grocery items and “3”
for drug- and health-related items.
symbol is a number system character, such as “0” for grocery items and “3”
for drug- and health-related items.
The UPC symbology is for retail environments such as grocery stores, con-
venience stores, and general merchandise stores.
venience stores, and general merchandise stores.
Some retail items are so small that a standard UPC bar code cannot fit on
the packaging. When this occurs there is a permitted shorter version of the
UPC symbology, referred to as UPC-E. UPC-E is six characters long
(eight including number system and check digit), approximately half the
size of a standard UPC bar code.
the packaging. When this occurs there is a permitted shorter version of the
UPC symbology, referred to as UPC-E. UPC-E is six characters long
(eight including number system and check digit), approximately half the
size of a standard UPC bar code.