What is the algorithm for converting a zero-suppressed, eight-digit GTIN-12 identifier (represented as a UPC-E barcode) into the full, twelve-digit version as shown in a UPC-A barcode?
Asked
Active
Viewed 6,694 times
4 Answers
15
The algorithm for converting a GTIN-12 identifier between UPC-E and UPC-A representation can be most clearly seen from the following pattern mapping:
SabcdeNX ⟺ SabN0000cdeX : 0≤N≤2
Sabcde3X ⟺ Sabc00000deX
Sabcde4X ⟺ Sabcd00000eX
SabcdeNX ⟺ Sabcde0000NX : 5≤N≤9
In the above S
is the number system (either 0 or 1) and X
is the check digit.
In pseudo-code it looks like this:
Input: A valid eight-digit UPC-E: Assigned to E[].
Output: PASS: Twelve-digit UPC-A representing the UPC-E.
FAIL: Reason.
if E[0] != {0-1} then FAIL: Invalid number system.
if E[6] == {0-2} then PASS: E[0..2] . E[6] . "0000" . E[3..5] . E[7]
if E[6] == "3" then PASS: E[0..3] . "00000" . E[4..5] . E[7]
if E[6] == "4" then PASS: E[0..4] . "00000" . E[5] . E[7]
if E[6] == {5-9} then PASS: E[0..5] . "0000" . E[6] . E[7]

Terry Burton
- 2,801
- 1
- 29
- 41
-
Great answer. Is there any algorithm to convert EAN-8 to EAN-13? – Krishna Karki Oct 21 '16 at 07:58
-
The above comment should have read: It is not possible to convert between EAN-8 and EAN-13 as they are entirely separate numbering systems. You can however convert between UPC-A and UPC-E as well as convert a UPC-A to EAN-13 – Terry Burton Oct 26 '16 at 12:17
3
This duplicates the algorithm in @Terry Burton's answer, written in Java.
switch (data.charAt(6)) {
case '0':
case '1':
case '2': {
data = data.substring(0, 3) + data.charAt(6) + "0000" + data.substring(3, 6) + data.charAt(7);
break;
}
case '3': {
data = data.substring(0, 4) + "00000" + data.substring(4, 6) + data.charAt(7);
break;
}
case '4': {
data = data.substring(0, 5) + "00000" + data.charAt(5) + data.charAt(7);
break;
}
case '5':
case '6':
case '7':
case '8':
case '9': {
data = data.substring(0, 6) + "0000" + data.charAt(6) + data.charAt(7);
break;
}
}

psyklopz
- 2,283
- 4
- 24
- 29
-
I think in case 0,1,2 the last digit should come before the "0000". https://bytescout.com/blog/2013/10/upc-and-upc-e-purpose-advantages.html – RcoderNY Jun 08 '22 at 19:13
-
1edit comment: I mean the last digit of the upc `data.charAt(6)` should come before the "0000" (not the actual last digit of the upc-e which is the check digit, that is already in the correct place `data.charAt(7)`) – RcoderNY Jun 08 '22 at 19:23
-
You are correct. I've reviewed a few different sources to confirm, and everywhere seems to agree that `data.charAt(6)` should proceed the string `"0000"`. My answer has been updated, now I'll have to go update our production code... – psyklopz Jun 09 '22 at 22:22
-
Ok cool, that is what I am using in production too. On a separate note, you may want to check `case: 3` where `data.substring(4, 5)` probably should be `data.substring(4, 6)`. – RcoderNY Jun 12 '22 at 03:14
3
Here is a C# version that is corrected. As well as some test cases.
public string Expand_UPCE_to_UPCA_GTIN12(string upce)
{
return upce[6] switch
{
'0' or '1' or '2' => $"{upce[..3]}{upce[6]}0000{upce[3..6]}{upce[7]}",
'3' => $"{upce[..4]}00000{upce[4..6]}{upce[7]}",
'4' => $"{upce[..5]}00000{upce[5]}{upce[7]}",
_ => $"{upce[..6]}0000{upce[6..]}",
};
}
Console.WriteLine($"Test A: {Expand_UPCE_to_UPCA_GTIN12("02345673")} becomes 023456000073");
Console.WriteLine($"Test B: {Expand_UPCE_to_UPCA_GTIN12("02345147")} becomes 023450000017");
Console.WriteLine($"Test C: {Expand_UPCE_to_UPCA_GTIN12("08679339")} becomes 086700000939");
Console.WriteLine($"Test D: {Expand_UPCE_to_UPCA_GTIN12("06397126")} becomes 063200009716");
Console.WriteLine($"Test E: {Expand_UPCE_to_UPCA_GTIN12("07832309")} becomes 078000003239"); // Diet Dr Pepper 12 fl oz can

psyklopz
- 2,283
- 4
- 24
- 29

Trevor Kennedy
- 31
- 2
-
Please add further details to expand on your answer, such as working code or documentation citations. – Community Sep 07 '21 at 04:56
-
0
Answer in Swift 5. Beware that this returns 0
if a conversion is not possible, so you'll need to change the code if you don't want that result. Extensions are included to make String
index ranges much easier to use:
static func convertUPCEtoUPCA(code: String) -> String {
if code.isNumber && code.length == 8
{
switch code[6] {
case "0", "1", "2":
return "\(code.prefix(3))\(String(code[6]))0000\(code[3..<6])\(String(code[7]))"
case "3":
return "\(code.prefix(4))00000\(code[4..<6])\(String(code[7]))"
case "4":
return "\(code.prefix(5))00000\(String(code[5]))\(String(code[7]))"
case "5", "6", "7", "8", "9":
return "\(code.prefix(6))0000\(code.suffix(2))"
default:
return "0"
}
} else {
return "0"
}
}
extension String {
subscript(_ range: CountableRange<Int>) -> String {
let start = index(startIndex, offsetBy: max(0, range.lowerBound))
let end = index(start, offsetBy: min(self.count - range.lowerBound,
range.upperBound - range.lowerBound))
return String(self[start..<end])
}
subscript(_ range: CountablePartialRangeFrom<Int>) -> String {
let start = index(startIndex, offsetBy: max(0, range.lowerBound))
return String(self[start...])
}
}
extension StringProtocol {
subscript(offset: Int) -> Character {
self[index(startIndex, offsetBy: offset)]
}
}
Answer also in Kotlin:
fun convertUPCEtoUPCA(barcode: String): String {
var data = barcode
if (isNumericToX(barcode) && barcode.length == 8) {
when (data[6]) {
'0', '1', '2' -> {
data = data.substring(0, 3) + data[6].toString() + "0000" + data.substring(3, 6) + data[7]
}
'3' -> {
data = data.substring(0, 4).toString() + "00000" + data.substring(4, 6) + data[7]
}
'4' -> {
data = data.substring(0, 5).toString() + "00000" + data[5] + data[7]
}
'5', '6', '7', '8', '9' -> {
data = data.substring(0, 6).toString() + "0000" + data[6] + data[7]
}
}
return data
} else if (isNumericToX(barcode)) {
return barcode
} else {
return "0"
}
}

Ethan Allen
- 14,425
- 24
- 101
- 194