Glossary of Terms

UPC - Universal Product Code... a 12 digit bar code normally found on a retail item purchased by the consumer.

EAN-13 - A version of a UPC number which is found on products manufactured primarily in Europe, which contains 13 digits. This is normally found on retail items purchased by the consumer.

12F or 128 - a 14 digit bar code normally found on an inner carton or master / shipping carton, that is assigned to the specific quantity found within that carton or unit. This is not on the retail item that would be purchased by the consumer. This 14-digit number is permanently assigned to the specific item quantity and package level.

SSCC-18 - Serial Shipping Container Code... an 18-digit number usually assigned to a pallet for tracking purposes by the manufacturer, and used by transportation carriers. This is not a 'fixed number', as it changes per shipment even if the same item is shipped to a customer repeatedly.

Check Digit - A single digit used to verify the accuracy of an entire bar code. The check digit is always the last character on the far right position of a bar code. This is calculated for each bar code by using the previous digits from within the bar code itself. This is an essential part of the bar code, to improve upon the integrity of the bar code itself and to confirm the series of numbers assigned is correct.

Ace Private Label GTIN - A 12 digit number always starting with the first six digit company prefix of: "0-82901-xxxxx-x"

GTIN - Global Trade Identification Number. A term referencing the numerical data encoded within a family of data carriers - click this link for more info GTIN Fundamentals (Power Point Presentation)

GS1 US - New Name for the Uniform Code Council, Inc.

UCC - Uniform Code Council - An agency that registers manufacturers for bar code assignments, and establishes industry guidelines for North America. The UCC works very closely with the EAN International group, who directs the management of bar codes outside North America (United States and Canada).

Truncation - To shorten a symbologies' Height from standard parameters