How to: Configure GS1 2D Conversion and GTIN Format for reading GS1 Digital Link in legacy application

Android Devices
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Overview – What is a GTIN?

A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), is defined in the GS1 General Specifications and provides a global supply chain solution by identifying any trade item.

Key characteristics:

  • Standardized by GS1 organization.
  • Used to identify products uniquely worldwide.
  • Comes in multiple lengths: 8, 12, 13, or 14 digits:
    – GTIN-8: 8 digits (for small packages – UPCA in North America or EAN8 in Europe)
    – GTIN-12: 12 digits (UPCE in North America)
    – GTIN-13: 13 digits (EAN in Europe)
    – GTIN-14: 14 digits (GS1 Databar, All GS1 2D, ITF-14)
  • The GS1 Application Identifier (AI) for the GTIN is 01

To convert a shortest GTIN into a “GTIN-14”, a 14-digit representation of a Global Trade Item Number, it is necessary to add leading zeros to existing GTIN string.

Conversion of a GTIN

This guide explains how GTIN Format and GS1 2D Conversion parameters work together when handling GS1 Digital Link barcodes, providing concrete examples of different configuration scenarios.

Prerequisites

Before working with GS1 Digital Link codes, ensure these basic settings are configured:

  1. GS1 Digital Link can only be encoded in QR Code or Data Matrix symbology Enable the appropriate symbology:
    – For QR Code: Enable both “QR Code” and “GS1-DL-QR Code”
    – For Data Matrix: Enable both “Data Matrix” and “GS1-DL-Data Matrix”
  2. Set “ECI Policy” to “remove”. This setting is mandatory for proper GS1 Digital Link format validation and processing.

GS1 2D Conversion

To allow legacy applications to continue working reading new GS1 Digital Link without modification on back end, the GS1 2D Digital Link barcodes can be converted to legacy barcode format.

Setting: Datalogic Settings / Scanner & decoder / Formatting / Standard Formatting / GS1 2D Conversion

  • Disabled : No conversion (default)
  • GS1-128 : Convert the barcode to GS1-128 format, preserving all GS1 application identifiers.
  • GTIN : Extract and convert only the GTIN portion.
  • UPCA/EAN13 Compatibility : Convert to the shortest option between GTIN, EAN13, and UPCA
  • Shortest UPC/EAN Compatibility : Convert to the shortest option between GTIN, EAN13, UPCA, EAN8, and UPCE

GTIN Format

This parameter allows to select the GTIN format output for the application software:

Setting: Datalogic Settings / Scanner & decoder / Formatting / Standard Formatting / GTIN Format

  • GS1 DataBar 14 : converts output to GS1 DataBar 14 format.
  • GS1-128 : converts output to GS1-128 format.

Note: This parameter applies in two scenarios, when UPC/EAN codes are promoted to GTINs (if enabled in the respective symbology settings) or when a GS1 Digital Link label is reduced to its GTIN (if GS1 2D Conversion is enable and set to GTIN).

For more information on UPC/EAN conversion to GTIN, see the Datalogic NEWS: GS1 Digital Link support on Datalogic Mobile Android devices.

Real-world Configuration Examples

Below an example of how different configurations can handle this GS1 Digital Link URL:

https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134376/21/12345

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This URL contains:

01: AI (Application Identifier) for GTIN
09506000134376: the GTIN
21: AI for Serial Number
12345: Serial Number

Scenario 1: Basic GS1 Digital Link Reading:

Configuration:

QR Code -> enabled
GS1-DL-QR Code -> enabled
GS1 2D Conversion -> disabled
GTIN Format -> (not applicable)
ECI Policy -> remove

Result:

{
"type": "GS1-DL-QRCODE",
"text": "https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134376/21/12345"
}

Scenario 2: Converting QR code Digital Link to full GS1-128 format with AIM Identifier before the code:

Configuration:

QR Code -> enabled
GS1-DL-QR Code -> enabled
GS1 2D Conversion -> GS1_128
GTIN Format -> (not applicable)
ECI Policy -> remove
Send Code ID -> AIM identifier before

Result:

{
"type": "GS1-128",
"text": "]C1010950600013437621012345"

// ]C1 = AIM ID for GS1-128
// 01 = AI for GTIN
// 09506000134376 = GTIN
// 21 = AI for serial number
// 12345 = serial number
}

Scenario 3: Converting QR code Digital Link to GTIN (GS1 DataBar 14)

Configuration:

QR Code -> enabled
GS1-DL-QR Code -> enabled
GS1 2D Conversion -> GTIN
GTIN Format -> GS1_DATABAR_14
ECI Policy -> remove

Result:

{
"type": "GS1-DATABAR-14",
"text": "09506000134376"
// Only the GTIN is preserved
}

Scenario 4: Converting QR code Digital Link to GTIN (GS1-128)

Configuration:

QR Code -> enabled
GS1-DL-QR Code -> enabled
GS1 2D Conversion -> GTIN
GTIN Format -> GS1_128
ECI Policy -> remove

Result:

{
"type": "GS1-128",
"text": "0109506000134376"
// 01 = AI for GTIN
// 09506000134376 = GTIN
}

Scenario 5: Converting QR code Digital Link to Shortest UPC/EAN

Configuration:

QR Code -> enabled
GS1-DL-QR Code -> enabled
GS1 2D Conversion -> SHORTEST_UPC_EAN_COMPATIBILITY
GTIN Format -> (not applicable)
ECI Policy -> remove

Result:

{
"type": "EAN-13",
"text": "9506000134376"
// System determined EAN-13 as shortest possible format
}

Important Notes:

  • Conversions preserve only the information compatible with the target format.

  • When working with multiple related barcodes (e.g., a QR code and EAN on the same product), use GS1 Label Set Transmit Mode to control how these related codes are processed. (See: GS1 Digital Link Label Set Management )

  • The system can handle cascading conversions (e.g., UPCE → UPCA → EAN13 → GTIN14) if all relevant conversion parameters are enabled.

Useful Links

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