UPC Code

Field Description:

The UPC field provides the 12-digit Universal Product Code and 5-digit supplements for all items which carry a UPC. Example 75960608857704611

Within the UPC field there are key pieces of information that should be conveyed.

The first digit represents the number system character, the second set of five digits represents the manufacturer code (or in our case publisher code), the next set of five digits represent the product code (or in our case series code), the next digit is a check code which is generated by the UPC system.

The final five digit code represents the supplemental data for a publication.

This is expressed as one of two format types where I = issue, C = cover, and P = printing
IIICP – three digits for issue number, one digit for cover, and one digit for printing
IICCP – two digits for issue number, two digits for cover, and one digit for printing
You may choose either system, but whatever you choose must be used for the entire run of a title.
BE AWARE: IICCP means you can only have 99 issues in a series.

Field Position:

1

Field Type:

Number

Required:

For Comics

Field Length:

17

Field Example:

75960608857704611

Field Notes:

IS A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER!

Bar Code Breakdown – Standard Barcode (12 digits)

Position 1: Represents the Number System Character – 0, 1, 6, 7, and 8 are for standard UPC-A barcodes (used for retail applications) 2 is for random weight items such as meats or fruits, 3 is for pharmacy related products, 4 is for in-store identification of non-food products, 5 & 9 are for coupons or similar usage.

Position 2-6: Manufacturer (Publisher) Number – these next five digits represent the manufacturer, or in the case of comics, publisher number. Each manufacturer purchases barcodes in a specific numeric sequence.

Position 7-11: Item (Series Code) Number – these next five digits represent the code for the specific item, with comics, this is a series code which is used to group a series together.

Position 12: Check Digit – this number is a mathematical equation of the previous digits which validates the barcode.

Positions 13-17: Extended Barcode for Periodicals – The final five digits (which we refer to as the extended barcode) represents the issue, cover and printing of a periodical.

Extended Barcode Digits

The Extended barcode digits should represent one of two patterns, referred as “ICP formatting” – which stands for Issue Cover Printing format.

I represents Issue, generally expressed as III or Issue Issue Issue, issue 1 would be expressed as 001, while issue 152 would be expressed as 152. Issue 1000 would be expressed as 000. A good practice for series which exceed 999 issues using IIICP would be to begin a new UPC code.

C represents Cover, this will generally mean a variant cover.

P represents Printing.

There are two traditionally accepted variations of ICP formatting.

IICCP (issue issue cover cover printing) where 81011 would represent issue 81, cover 1, printing 1.

IIICP (issue issue cover printing) where 08111 would represent issue 81, cover 1, printing 1.

When deciding on an ICP formatting, you will need to abide by that format for the entire duration of the UPC’s lifetime.

You can’t start using IICCP, and then decide after issue 100 to use IIICP because those Supplemental codes will have already been used in previous issues.

Overloading CP – In the case where you have more than 9 covers, you may be required to overload the “P” number, some recommended variants of overloading the P digit can be found in our article on Overloading Cover and Printing designations (coming soon).