ISO/IEC 24723:2010

Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — GS1 Composite bar code symbology specification

Composite symbologies are a class of bar code symbology, the principal distinguishing feature of which is that they comprise two, or more, components, each of which is a distinct symbol, but which contain a set of related data. Typically one component is a linear symbol containing primary data, which can be read on its own in some areas of the application. The other component(s) is a two-dimensional symbol containing supplementary data which qualifies the primary message, and requiring all components to be read to extract the complete message. The GS1 Composite symbology is one such symbology. The use of the symbology is intended to comply with the GS1 General Specifications. A GS1 Composite symbol consists of a linear component (encoding the item's primary identification) associated with an adjacent 2D component (encoding supplementary data, such as a batch number or expiration date). The GS1 Composite symbol always includes a linear component so that the primary identification is readable by all scanning technologies, and so that 2D imagers can use the linear component as a finder pattern for the adjacent 2D component. The GS1 Composite symbol always includes a multi-row 2D component, for compatibility with linear and 2D imagers, and with linear and rastering laser scanners. GS1 Composite symbols are intended for encoding identification numbers and data supplementary to the identification in accordance with the GS1 General Specifications. The administration of the numbering system by GS1 ensures that identification codes assigned to particular items are unique world-wide and that they and the associated supplementary data are defined in a consistent way. ISO/IEC 24723:2010 defines the requirements for the GS1 Composite symbology. It specifies the GS1 Composite symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions and print quality requirements, error correction rules, and reference decoding algorithms. For those linear and 2D components of GS1 Composite symbols with published symbology specifications, those published specifications apply, except as specifically noted in ISO/IEC 24723:2010.

Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques d'identification et de capture des données — Spécifications de la symbologie des codes à barres du Composant GS1

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Jul-2010
• ICS: 01.080.50 - Graphical symbols for use on information technology and telecommunications technical drawings and in relevant technical product documentation
• ICS: 35.040 - Information coding
• ICS: 35.040.50 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 1 - Data carrier
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 10-Jan-2023

Relations

• Revises: ISO/IEC 24723:2006 - Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — EAN.UCC Composite bar code symbology specification
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 24723
Second edition
2010-08-01


Information technology — Automatic
identification and data capture
techniques — GS1 Composite bar code
symbology specification
Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques
d'identification et de capture des données — Spécifications de la
symbologie des codes à barres du Composant GS1




Reference number
ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2010

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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction.vi
1 Scope.1
2 Normative references.1
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and mathematical operators .2
3.1 Terms and definitions .2
3.2 Abbreviated terms .3
3.3 Mathematical operators and notational conventions .3
4 Symbol description .3
4.1 Basic characteristics.3
4.2 Summary of additional features.4
4.3 Symbol structure .4
4.4 Supported component combinations.6
5 Source data encodation into a binary string .6
5.1 General .6
5.2 Encodation Method field.7
5.3 Compressed data field.7
5.4 General-purpose data compaction field.11
6 Error correction .15
7 Linear component requirements .15
7.1 General .15
7.2 EAN/UPC linear components .15
7.3 GS1 DataBar family linear components.16
7.4 GS1-128 components.18
8 CC-A component requirements .19
8.1 CC-A — General.19
8.2 Overview of the CC-A component .19
8.3 CC-A component structure.20
8.4 Symbol character structure.22
8.5 Base 928 compaction mode .24
8.6 Reference decode algorithm .25
9 CC-B component requirements .26
10 CC-C component requirements .27
11 Symbol dimensions.28
11.1 Minimum width of a module (X) .28
11.2 Linear component height.28
11.3 2D component row height (Y).28
11.4 Separator pattern and vertical separator bars .28
11.5 Quiet zones .29
12 Graphical requirements .29
12.1 General .29
12.2 Vertical alignment requirements.29
12.3 Horizontal alignment requirements .29
12.4 Human readable interpretation .30
13 Symbol quality .30
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
13.1 Linear component.30
13.2 2D component.30
13.3 Overall composite symbol grade .30
13.4 Additional pass/fail criteria.30
14 Transmitted data.30
14.1 General data transmission techniques .30
14.2 GS1-128 Composite symbols .31
14.3 GS1 DataBar Composite symbols.31
14.4 EAN/UPC Composite symbols .31
14.5 Symbol separator character .32
14.6 2D component escape mechanism character .32
14.7 Linear-only transmission mode .32
14.8 GS1-128 emulation.32
14.9 Examples of transmitted data.33
15 Application-defined parameters.33
Annex A (normative) Symbology identifiers .34
Annex B (normative) Parsing AI element strings .36
Annex C (normative) 2D component escape mechanism.38
Annex D (informative) Printing considerations.39
Annex E (informative) Base 928 radix conversions.42
Bibliography .45

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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 24723 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 24723:2006), which has been technically
revised.

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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
Introduction
Composite symbologies are a class of bar code symbology, the principal distinguishing feature of which is that
they comprise two, or more, components, each of which is a distinct symbol, but which contain a set of related
data. Typically one component is a linear symbol containing primary data, which can be read on its own in
some areas of the application. The other component(s) is a two-dimensional symbol containing supplementary
data which qualifies the primary message, and requiring all components to be read to extract the complete
message. The GS1 Composite symbology is one such symbology. The use of the symbology is intended to
comply with the GS1 General Specifications.
A GS1 Composite symbol consists of a linear component (encoding the item’s primary identification)
associated with an adjacent 2D component (encoding supplementary data, such as a batch number or
expiration date). The GS1 Composite symbol always includes a linear component so that the primary
identification is readable by all scanning technologies, and so that 2D imagers can use the linear component
as a finder pattern for the adjacent 2D component. The GS1 Composite symbol always includes a multi-row
2D component, for compatibility with linear and 2D imagers, and with linear and rastering laser scanners.
GS1 Composite symbols are intended for encoding identification numbers and data supplementary to the
identification in accordance with the GS1 General Specifications. The administration of the numbering system
by GS1 ensures that identification codes assigned to particular items are unique world-wide and that they and
the associated supplementary data are defined in a consistent way.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)

Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — GS1 Composite bar code symbology
specification
1 Scope
This International Standard defines the requirements for the GS1 Composite symbology. It specifies the GS1
Composite symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions and print
quality requirements, error correction rules, and reference decoding algorithms. For those linear and 2D
components of GS1 Composite symbols with published symbology specifications, those published
specifications apply, except as specifically noted in this International Standard.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 15415, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code
print quality test specification — Two-dimensional symbols
ISO/IEC 15416, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code
print quality test specification — Linear symbols
ISO/IEC 15417, Information technology ─ Automatic identification and data capture techniques ─ Code 128
bar code symbology specification
ISO/IEC 15420, Information technology ─ Automatic identification and data capture techniques ─ EAN/UPC
bar code symbology specification
ISO/IEC 15438, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — PDF417
bar code symbology specification
ISO/IEC 19762-1, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 1: General terms relating to AIDC
ISO/IEC 19762-2, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 2: Optically readable media (ORM)
ISO/IEC 24728, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques —
MicroPDF417 bar code symbology specification
GS1 General Specifications (GS1, Brussels, Belgium)
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and mathematical operators
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762-1, ISO/IEC 19762-2 and
the following apply.
3.1.1
2D component
CC
two-dimensional portion of a GS1 Composite symbol, which encodes supplemental information about an item,
such as its lot number or expiration date
3.1.2
AI element string
character string containing an application identifier followed by its associated data field
3.1.3
CC-A
2D component that is a structural variant of MicroPDF417
NOTE 1 CC-A components can be autodiscriminated from MicroPDF417 symbols, because CC-A components have a
unique Rotation of 32 between any two adjacent Row Address Patterns.
NOTE 2 CC-A is one of the three choices for the 2D component in a symbol encoded in the GS1 Composite
symbology.
3.1.4
CC-B
2D component that is a MicroPDF417 symbol which begins with PDF417 codeword 920, indicating
conformance with this International Standard
NOTE CC-B is one of the three choices for the 2D component in a symbol encoded in the GS1 Composite
symbology.
3.1.5
CC-C
2D component that is a PDF417 symbol which begins with PDF417 codeword 920, indicating conformance
with this International Standard
NOTE CC-C is one of the three choices for the 2D component in a symbol encoded in the GS1 Composite
symbology.
3.1.6
linear component
linear portion of a GS1 Composite symbol, which encodes the primary identification of an item
3.1.7
linkage flag
indicator encoded in a GS1 DataBar or GS1-128 component to signal if a 2D component accompanies the
linear component
3.1.8
RAP Rotation
difference between the number designating a Center or Right Row Address Pattern and the number
designating the nearest Row Address Pattern to the left, in the same row of a MicroPDF417 symbol, or a
CC-A or CC-B component
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
3.1.9
Row Address Pattern
RAP
one of a set of patterns made up of three bars and three spaces occupying ten modules, that serve both as
start or stop patterns and as row indicators in a MicroPDF417 symbol, or a CC-A or CC-B component
3.1.10
separator pattern
pattern between the linear and 2D components of a GS1 Composite symbol
3.1.11
symbol separator character
non-data character that is used to break the transmitted data string into separate transmissions, each
beginning with the appropriate symbology identifier prefix
3.2 Abbreviated terms
AI Application Identifier
3.3 Mathematical operators and notational conventions
For the purposes of this document, the following mathematical operators apply.
div integer division operator which discards the remainder
mod integer remainder after integer division
The following ISO notational conventions are used.
0,2 a comma between digits separates the integer from the decimal fraction (e.g. 0,2 equals 2/10)
except when used as an (n,k) designation
12 345 a space between digits indicates factors of a thousand
4 Symbol description
4.1 Basic characteristics
A GS1 Composite symbol consists of a linear component associated with an adjacent 2D component. The
characteristics of the GS1 Composite symbology are:
a) Encodable character set:
1) Both linear and 2D components encode a subset of ISO/IEC 646, consisting of the upper and
lowercase letters, digits, and 21 selected punctuation characters.
2) The function character FNC1 and a Symbol Separator character.
b) Symbol character structure: various edge-to-similar-edge decodable symbol characters are used, in
accordance with the selected Linear and 2D components of the symbol.
c) Code type:
1) Linear component: continuous, linear bar code symbology.
2) 2D component: continuous, multi-row bar code symbology.
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
d) Maximum numeric data capacity (including implied application identifiers and calculated check digits
where appropriate, but not including any encoded FNC1 characters):
1) Linear component:
i) GS1-128: up to 48 digits
ii) EAN/UPC: UPC-A, EAN-8, or EAN-13 (12, 8, or 13 digits respectively)
iii) GS1 DataBar Expanded: up to 74 digits, see note
NOTE The GS1 DataBar Expanded data capacity depends on the encodation method. The maximum is
74 digits for (01) + other AI's, the maximum is 70 digits for any AI's, and the maximum is 77 digits for (01) +
(392x) + any AI's.
iv) Other GS1 DataBar: 16 digits
2) 2D component:
i) CC-A: up to 56 digits
ii) CC-B: up to 338 digits
iii) CC-C: up to 2 361 digits
e) Error detection and correction:
1) Linear component: one check character for error detection.
2) 2D component: a fixed or variable number of Reed-Solomon error correction codewords, depending
upon the specific 2D component.
f) Character self-checking: yes.
g) Bi-directionally decodable: yes.
4.2 Summary of additional features
The following is a summary of additional GS1 Composite symbology features:
a) Data compaction: the 2D components utilize a bit-oriented compaction mode, designed to encode
efficiently data using application identifiers.
b) Component linkage: the 2D component of each GS1 Composite symbol contains a linkage flag, which
indicates to the reader that no data shall be transmitted unless the associated linear component is also
scanned and decoded. All linear components except EAN/UPC also contain an explicit linkage flag.
c) GS1-128 emulation: readers set to the GS1-128 emulation mode transmit the data encoded within the
GS1 Composite symbol as if the data were encoded in one or more GS1-128 symbols.
d) 2D component escape mechanism: a mechanism to support future applications which require data
content beyond the ISO/IEC 646 subset encodable in the standard form of the GS1 Composite
symbology.
4.3 Symbol structure
Each GS1 Composite symbol consists of a linear component and a multi-row 2D component. The
2D component should nominally be printed with the same X dimension as the linear component. The
2D component is printed above the linear component (as defined in 12.2 and 12.3).
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
To facilitate printing the two components independently, 12.2 and 12.3 permit relative positional variation
between the two components. A bar code reader should not use the relative locations of the components
shown in the illustrations of GS1 Composite symbols in this specification to predict the exact location of the 2D
component from the location of the linear component.
The linear component is one of:
a) a member of the EAN/UPC symbology (EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, or UPC-E, which may include an add-on
symbol, in accordance with ISO/IEC 15420),
b) a member of the GS1 DataBar symbology family,
c) GS1-128.
The choice of linear component determines the name of the GS1 Composite symbol, such as an EAN-13
Composite symbol, or a GS1-128 Composite symbol.
The 2D component (abbreviated as CC) is chosen based on the selected linear component, and on the
amount of supplementary data to be encoded. The three 2D components, listed in order of increasing
maximum data capacity, are:
a) CC-A, a variant of MicroPDF417, designed for efficient encoding of supplemental application identifier
data,
b) CC-B, a MicroPDF417 symbol with a codeword of 920 in the first data codeword position as a linkage flag,
and denoting GS1 data compaction, and
c) CC-C, a PDF417 symbol with a codeword of 920 in the first data codeword position as a linkage flag, and
denoting GS1 data compaction.

Figure 1 — A GS1 DataBar Limited Composite symbol
Figure 1 illustrates a GS1 DataBar Limited Composite symbol which utilizes a 4-row CC-A component as its
2D component. The GS1 DataBar Limited component in Figure 1 identifies the product as
“0113112345678906”, and the CC-A component encodes the expiration date and lot number (as
“1701061510A123456”). The human-readable interpretation of the data in the symbols would be shown, if
present, as “(01)13112345678906” and “(17)010615(10)A123456” respectively.

Figure 2 — A GS1-128 Composite symbol
Figure 2 illustrates a GS1-128 Composite symbol which utilizes a 5-row CC-C component as its 2D
component. The GS1-128 component in Figure 2 identifies the product as “0193812345678901”, and the
CC-C component encodes the lot number and deliver to location number (as
“10ABCD1234564103898765432108”). The human-readable interpretation of the data in the symbols
would be shown, if present, as “(01)93812345678901” and “(10)ABCD123456(410)3898765432108”
respectively.
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
4.4 Supported component combinations
Based upon the width of the linear component, a choice of “best-fit” 2D component is specified. Table 1 lists
all of the permissible combinations.
Table 1 — Permissible combinations of linear and 2D components
Linear component CC-A/CC-B CC-C
UPC-A and EAN-13 Yes (4-columns) No
EAN-8 Yes (3-columns) No
UPC-E Yes (2-columns) No
GS1-128 Yes (4-columns) Yes (variable width)
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
In all cases where a CC-A component is shown in the table, the printing software shall automatically use a
CC-B component (of the same number of columns) when the data to be encoded exceeds the maximum
capacity of the CC-A or other means shall be provided to enable the correct selection of CC-A or CC-B to suit
the length of the data. The presence of an add-on symbol shall not affect the choice of 2D component. When
the linear component is GS1-128, either CC-A/CC-B or CC-C may be used; see 7.3.
5 Source data encodation into a binary string
5.1 General
The user data to be encoded into a 2D component shall always consist of application identifiers and data
fields that comply with the data standard of the GS1 General Specifications. The GS1-128 rules for
concatenation of AI element strings, such as the termination of a variable-length string by a FNC1 character,
shall be followed when encoding a 2D component.
Before encoding a 2D component, the given data string is encoded into a binary string, where data characters
are represented with a variable number of bits. The resulting binary string consists of two or three binary fields.
The fields are:
a) Encodation Method (see 5.2),
b) compressed data (see 5.3), and
c) general-purpose data compaction (see 5.4).
The Encodation Method is always encoded as the first field (see 5.2). One or both of the other fields are also
encoded in a 2D component. When both are present they are encoded in the order shown above.
The compressed data field efficiently encodes data using specific AIs, such as date and lot number or data
using AI 90 and serial numbers (see 5.3).
The general-purpose compaction field can encode data using any combination of AIs (see 5.4).
In the text of this clause, bit fields will be indicated by their binary values enclosed in double quotation marks.
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ISO/IEC 24723:2010(E)
5.2 Encodation Method field
The Encodation Method field consists of one or two bits. It occupies the first bits in the encoded binary data. It
defines whether the symbol is a general-purpose symbol or begins with an application-oriented compressed
data field (such as for efficient representation of expiration date and lot number AI element strings). The
Encodation Method field is defined in Table 2.
Tabl
...