How to generate barcodes with GS1 data message in Excel document?

GS1 standards are the common foundation for business worldwide by uniquely identifying, accurately capturing and automatically sharing vital information about products, locations and assets.

Barcode symbologies are used as a data carrier for GS1 data message. The GS1 standards have choosed the following barcode types to represent any given GS1 data element string.

• The EAN/UPC barcodes ( UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8 and the two- and five- digit add-on symbols)
• ITF-14
• GS1-128 (a subset of the Code 128 barcode)
• GS1 DataBar
• GS1 DataMatrix (ECC 200 error correction only)
• GS1 QR Code (a subset of standard QR Code, ISO/IEC 18004)

Some barcode formats encode fixed length of data message, such as GTIN-8, GTIN-12, GTIN-13

• UPC-A encodes 12 number digits, including 11 data digits and 1 check digit
• UPC-E encodes 7 number digits, including 6 data digits and 1 check digit
• EAN-13 encodes 13 number digits, including 12 data digits and 1 check digit
• EAN-8 encodes 8 number digits, including 7 data digits and 1 check digit
• ITF-14 encodes 14 number digits, including 13 data digits and 1 check digit

The GS1 data message (or business message) use GS1 identification keys for identification exclusive of GS1 data carrier features. The GS1 data message includes one or multiple element strings, and an element string is the combination of a GS1 Application Identifier (AI) and its data field.

To encode the variable length GS1 data message in Standard AI element strings in the Microsoft Office Excel document, you could use the following barcode types which are listed in the GS1 General Specifications.

• GS1-128
• GS1 DataBar
• GS1 DataMatrix
• GS1 QR Code

Here is a sample GS1 data message: (01)99012345678909(15)241015(21)abc. There are totally three element strings.

• 01 - GTIN (identification of a trade item). The AI Code will be followed by fixed 14 digits
• 15 - Best before date. The AI Code will be followed by fixed 6 digits in YYMMDD. The example date here is Oct 15, 2024
• 21 - Serial number. A serial number is assigned to an entity for its lifetime. When combined with a GTIN, a serial number uniquely identifies an individual item. A serial number is in a variable length from 1 to 20 alphanumeric chars.

GS1-128 with above GS1 data message encoded in Excel document

To create, print a barcode with fixed GS1 data length in Excel is really an easy job. Here we will generate a common EAN-13 barcode in Excel 365 worksheet using Excel Barcode Generator add-in.

1. Open installed OnBarcode Excel Barcode Generator add-in from Excel toolbar Add-ins > Create Barcode.
   Have not installed yer? Click to view How to download, install free Barcode for Excel Add-in freeware?


2. Select a Cell (such as "B2")on the Excel worksheet, choose EAN 13 from "Barcode Type" dropdown list, click button Generate. Now you can find an EAN-13 barcode created and inserted on Cell "B2".
   


3. Here we will change the EAN-13 data to "9501101531000" in the Data text box, and click button Update
   

EAN-13, UPC-A and UPC-E barcodes, all of which may be accompanied by an add-on (2 or 5 digits) symbol.

Creating an EAN/UPC barcode with add-on symbol is an easy task. You simply append the add-on data to the barcode data.

1. Choose a Cell (such as "B2")on the opened Excel worksheet, select UPC-A +2 from "Barcode Type" dropdown list, click button Generate. Now you can find a UPC-A barcode with add-on symbol created and inserted on Cell "B2".
   


2. Update the UPC-A data to "01234500050+12" in the Data textbox, and press button Update
   

To create GS1-128 barcodes in Excel file, please apply the following options in the Excel Barcode Settings pane.

• Choose Barcode Type as "GS1 128 (UCC/EAN 128)"
• Input Data as "(01)99012345678909(15)241015(21)abc"

To create GS1 QR Code in Microsoft Excel document, please apply the following options in the Excel Barcode Settings pane.

• Choose Barcode Type as "QRCODE"
• Input Data as "(01)99012345678909(15)241015(21)abc"
• In Tab "2D Barcode", Check option "GS1 Compatible Barcode"

To create GS1 Data Matrix in Office Excel document, please apply the following options in the Excel Barcode Settings pane.

• Choose Barcode Type as "DATAMATRIX"
• Input Data as "(01)99012345678909(15)241015(21)abc"
• In Tab "2D Barcode", Check option "GS1 Compatible Barcode"