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4.2.2 UPC-E
The UPC-E code is a compressed bar code intended for use on small items.
Compression works by squeezing extra zeros out of the bar code and then
automatically re-inserting them at the scanner. Only bar codes containing zeros are
candidates for the UPC-E symbol.
UPC-E is also referred to as "zero suppressed". The way this works is that UPC-E
compresses a normal 12-digit UPC-A code into a six-digit code by "suppressing" the
number system digit, trailing zeros in the manufacturers code and leading zeros in
the product identification part of the bar. By suppressing zeros, UPC-E codes can be
printed in a very small space required for labeling small items. The UPC-E code can
only be used if the system character is 0 and the original 10 data characters have at
least four zeros.
For example, the UPC-A code 12300-00064 can be compressed to 123643. The last
digit (3) indicates the type of compression. Guard bars precede and follow the data
in the pattern. The UPC-E bar code specifies left hand guard bars, the six data
characters, and right hand guard bars.
In addition to the requirement that the first digit of the bar code (number system)
must be zero, there are four rules that determine what UPC codes can be printed
using the compressed UPC-E format:
*If the last 3 digits of the manufacturer's number are 000, 100, or 200, the valid
product code numbers are 00000 - 00999 (1,000 numbers)
*If the last 3 digits of the manufacturer's number are 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, or
900, the valid product code numbers are 00000 – 00099 (100 numbers)
*If the last 2 digits in the manufacturer's number are 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or
90, the valid product code numbers are 00000 – 00009 (10 numbers)
*If the manufacturer's number does not end in zero, the valid product code numbers
are 00005 - 00009 (5 numbers)
The checksum for the UPC-E code is calculated with the same method as the UPC-
A code.