SIST EN 841:2003

Bar coding - Symbology specifications - Format Description

This standard - specifies the format for bar code symbology specifications; - specifies the characteristics of the symbology which need to be defined. The standard is applicable as the basis for European standards for bar code symbologies.

Strichcodierung - Symbologiespezifikationen - Beschreibung von Formaten

Diese Norm - legt das Format von Strichcode-Symbologiespezifikationen fest; - legt die zu definierenden Symbologieeigenschaften fest. Diese Norm gilt als Basis für Europäische Normen für Strichcode-Symbologien.

Codes a barres - Spécifications des symbologies - Description des formats

La présente norme - prescrit la manière de présenter les spécifications de symbologie; - prescrit les caractéristiques à préciser pour chaque symbologie. La présente norme est applicable comme base pour des normes européennes pour code à barres.

Črtno kodiranje - Simbološke specifikacije - Opis formata

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2003
• ICS: 35.040.50 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Technical Committee: ITC - Information technology
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Due Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Completion Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Ref Project: EN 841:1995 - Bar coding - Symbology specifications - Format Description

Overview

EN 841:1995 - “Bar coding - Symbology specifications - Format Description” (CEN) defines a standardized format for documenting bar code symbologies and identifies the characteristics of a symbology that should be specified. Intended as the basis for European standards for barcode symbologies, EN 841 provides a consistent template that helps producers, implementers and assessors describe and compare barcode systems in a uniform way.

Key Topics

The standard focuses on the structure and content of a symbology specification rather than prescribing a single barcode design. Key topics covered include:

• Format description: a common template for presenting symbology information so specifications are readable and interoperable.
• Characteristics to be defined: guidance on which symbology attributes should be documented to ensure complete and usable specifications.
• Scope and applicability: positioning the format as a basis for European bar code standards and for use in technical documentation and conformity assessment.

Examples of the types of characteristics that a format like EN 841 encourages documenting (as commonly used in industry) include character set and encoding rules, start/stop and control patterns, symbol structure and dimensions, check digits and error detection methods, and printing/reading recommendations. EN 841’s role is to ensure these items are captured consistently, not to mandate individual technical values.

Applications

EN 841 is useful for organizations involved in the creation, adoption or evaluation of barcode symbologies:

• Standards bodies and technical committees developing new or revised barcode standards.
• Manufacturers of barcode printers, scanners and labels who must interpret or publish symbology specifications.
• Software developers implementing barcode generation or decoding algorithms who need complete, consistent spec documents.
• Quality and compliance teams performing interoperability testing or conformity assessment.
• Procurement and supply-chain professionals requiring clear symbology definitions for contract and integration purposes.

Using EN 841’s format helps reduce ambiguity, speeds integration, and improves interoperability across vendors and industries.

Related Standards

EN 841 is a template-style standard intended to support specific symbology standards. Users will commonly consult:

• Other CEN/ISO barcode symbology standards (for actual symbology rules and parameters)
• Industry implementation guides for printing, scanning and verification
• National adoptions (e.g., SIST EN 841) that reproduce EN 841 as a national standard

Keywords: EN 841, bar coding, bar code symbology, symbology specifications, format description, CEN, European standard, character sets, information coding.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2003
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Bar coding - Symbology specifications - Format Description
Strichcodierung - Symbologiespezifikationen - Beschreibung von Formaten
Codes a barres - Spécifications des symbologies - Description des formats
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 841:1995
ICS:
35.040 Nabori znakov in kodiranje Character sets and
informacij information coding
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delo
...