NCR 7870 manual EAN/JAN/UPC Multi-Symbol Scanning Parameters, Label Construction

Chapter 7: Programming 7-69

EAN/JAN/UPC Multi-Symbol Scanning Parameters

The optional Multi-Symbol programming feature permits you to scan bar code labels containing two or three EAN-13, JAN-13, or UPC-A symbols.

Label Construction

A multi-symbol label must consist of any combination of two or three EAN-13, JAN-13, or UPC-A symbols, each with different flag digits. Flag digits are the first two digits of the symbol on EAN-13/JAN-13 symbols. Flag digits for UPC-A symbols always have a zero (0) for the first digit with the number system character being the second digit. There is NO restriction on which flag digits may be used except that any flag digits used in a 3-symbol combination cannot be used in any of the 2-symbol combinations, and any flag digits used in a 2-symbol combination cannot be used in any of the 3-symbol combinations. A mixture of 2-symbol and 3-symbol combinations is allowed. A total of five multi-symbol combinations can be programmed.

Single Label Restriction

A single-symbol with the same flag digits as programmed for any 2- symbol or 3-symbol labels cannot be scanned as a single-symbol label.

Transmitting Label Data

Transmission of a multi-symbol label consists of a separate message for each of the symbols. The symbol with the lower numbered flag digits is transmitted first. For example, for the 3-symbol combination of JAN- 13 flag 21, JAN-13 flag 29, and JAN-13 flag 96, the symbol with flag digits 21 is transmitted first, the symbol with flag digits 29 is transmitted second, and the symbol with flag digits 96 is transmitted third.