GS1 Composite
GS1 Composite combines a linear barcode with a 2D component. For the linear GS1 DataBar family, see GS1 DataBar.
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
- Encodes up to 56 numeric digits
GS1 Composite Component B
- MicroPDF417 Symbol subset
- Encodes up to 338 numeric digits
GS1 Composite Component C
- PDF417 Symbol structure
- Encodes up to 2361 numeric digits
GS1 Composite Symbology™ Variants
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™
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™
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™
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™
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™
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™
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™
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™
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™
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™
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:
- Encodes up to 48 numeric digits
- 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
Linear components and examples
| Linear Symbol | CC-A / CC-B | CC-C |
|---|---|---|
| GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional | Yes (4 Columns)
| No |
| GS1 DataBar Stacked | Yes (2 Columns)
| No |
| GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional | Yes (2 Columns)
| No |
| GS1 DataBar Limited | Yes (3 Columns)
| No |
| GS1 DataBar Expanded | Yes (4 Columns)
| No |
| GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked | Yes (4 Columns)
| No |
| UPC-A | Yes (4 Columns)
| No |
| EAN 13 | Yes (4 Columns)
| No |
| EAN 8 | Yes (4 Columns)
| No |
| UPC-E | Yes (2 Columns)
| No |
| GS1-128 | Yes (4 Columns)
| Yes (variable width)
|
