How do I Generate an ISSN Barcode

Asked by Richard Ryder

I want to generate an ISSN Barcode which is an EAN13 barcode but it has digits 14 & 15 to denote, in my case, the month of issue of a magazine. However, the barcode generator does not let me do this. I also notice that there isn't a light margin indicator [chevron] generated. The specification for an ISSN is shown below and taken from BEST PRACTICE FOR BAR CODING AND ISSUE NUMBERING OF MAGAZINES, PARTWORKS, COLLECTABLES AND PROMOTIONAL VOUCHERS. Updated – June 2014 PRODUCED BY
Professional Publishers Association and Association of Newspaper and Magazine Wholesalers [see here http://www.anmw.co.uk/anmw/documents/PPA_Barcode_Guidelines.pdf]

Magazine issue barcodes are represented in EAN 13 format with a 2-digit add-on code.

• GS1 Prefix (digits 1-3): 977 for magazines with an ISSN

• ISSN Component (digits 4-10): The first 7 digits of the 8 digits ISSN (the last digit, which is a check digit, is deleted as it is redundant when included within the EAN-13 which has its own check digit). The UK Centre at the British Library assigns the ISSN.

• Sequence Variant (digits 11-12): Used on magazines to indicate price changes. For a new magazine start with 00 and move up by 01 for each price change either up or down. Actual prices are not represented anywhere in the bar code. For “one-off” special priced issues an initial sequence variant of 99 should be used and thereafter decreasing the value to 98, 97, 96, etc.

• Check Digit (digit 13): Derived from a calculation, based on the first 12 digits, used to check that the code is correct if manually entered into a system. The Film Master Supplier or your dedicated bar code software would normally calculate the check digit. Please see GS1 UK website for an example of the check digit calculation http://www.gs1uk.org/ - then select ‘Check Digit Calculator’ from the Quick Links menu.

• Add-on (digits 14-15): The 2-digit code used to identify each issue. The section overleaf defines the guidelines for numbering different types and frequencies of magazines. The add-on changes for every issue therefore a new bar code symbol is required for each issue.

• Light Margin Indicator (chevron): This appears in the right-hand margin of the symbol. It ensures there is sufficient margin for the bar code reader to realise it has finished the bar code.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Inkscape Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Martin Owens (doctormo) said :
#1

I have made an Ean2 barcode for the extension and will work on allowing the cheveron and automatic addition of extension bars for EAN13.

Please stand by for resolution and consider open a bug report for the new feature.

Revision history for this message
Richard Ryder (inkscape-8) said :
#2

Hello Martin,

what fantastic service and response - thank you so much. Can you tell me how I get the EAN2 barcode. Thank you for promising to do some further work. I'll try and open a bug report!

Kind regards

Richard

Revision history for this message
Martin Owens (doctormo) said :
#3

Dear Richard,

I've committed the Ean13 work, it's sometimes a little too much gap between the two barcodes. But you can always move them in inkscape (needs a bit of tweaking).

You can get the work so far from here: https://inkscape.org/en/~doctormo/%E2%98%85barcode-extension-from-inkscape-092

It will be available in the next (unreleased) version of inkscape, but I will make sure you can get a copy from the link above.

Please consider testing the code above and report here or in the bug report your issues, and consider donating to help continue inkscape development.

Revision history for this message
Richard Ryder (inkscape-8) said :
#4

Hello Martin,

thank you for your swift work. I've downloaded the files and installed them. you are right that there is a gap [rather large] between the 2 codes and there also needs to be some white space to the right of the new 2 numeral code [where the chevron will go]. As I'm a novice at using Inkscape I've just got to work out how to move the 2 codes close together!

Thank you once again.

BTW I've made a donation to the Inkscape development fund

Kind regards

Richard Ryder

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Richard Ryder for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.