ISSN

ISSN

An ISSN barcode is an EAN-13 with prefix 977 used to identify periodicals.

Also known as: International Standard Serial Number.

Uses:

• Magazines, newspapers and other periodicals, with the issue number in an add-on.

Standards: ISO 3297, ISO/IEC 15420, BS EN 797, GS1 General Specifications.

Data and Options

• The data should contain the seven or eight digits ISSN separated by a dash character -, optionally followed by a two-digit sequence variant (00 when not given; it usually starts at zero and is incremented whenever the recommended retail price is amended), and then optionally by two or five digits if a two-digit add-on or five-digit add-on is required.
  • The add-on usually indicates the issue number, according to the ISSN International Centre.
  • In the UK, the PPA's barcoding guidelines specify a two-digit add-on identifying each issue.
  • A five-digit add-on can be used instead of a two-digit one where the publisher's numbering needs it, such as the actual date of issue, according to the GS1 General Specifications. The two cannot be used together.
• If the last digit of the ISSN data is not given then the ISSN check digit is calculated automatically, otherwise it will be verified.
• The includetext option should normally be supplied.
• The guardwhitespace option enables the display of whitespace guard marks.
• The following options control the placement and styling of the ISSN text above the symbol. Each is equivalent to the corresponding extratext* option:
  • issntext: Override the ISSN label content
  • issntextfont: PostScript font name for text above symbol
  • issntextsize: Font size for the text above symbol, in points
  • issntextcolor: Colour for the text above symbol
  • issntextxalign, issntextyalign: Alignment of the text above symbol
  • issntextxoffset, issntextyoffset: Position of the text above symbol, in points
  • issntextdirection: Direction of the text above symbol
  • issntextgaps: Gap between characters in the text above symbol, in points
  • issntextsubspace, issntextsplit, issntextlinegaps: See Text Properties

Examples

Identical symbols, input provided with and without an ISSN check digit and having sequence variant 00:

Data:    0317-8471 00
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: issn

Data:    0317-847 00
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: issn

An ISSN with sequence variant 03 and a two-digit add-on representing issue number 17:

Data:    0317-8471 03 17
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: issn

Data:    0317-847 03 17
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: issn

The ISSN label can be styled using the issntext* options (or the equivalent extratext*):

Data:    0317-8471 00
Options: includetext guardwhitespace issntextcolor=FF0000 issntextxalign=center
Encoder: issn