An EAN-8 is a barcode and is derived from the longer European Article Number (EAN-13) code. It was introduced mainly to use on small packages where an EAN-13 barcode would be impractical; for example on cigarettes, pencils even though not used very common and chewing gum packets.

EAN-8 is a shortened version of the EAN-13 code. It includes a 2 or 3 digit country code, 4 or 5 data digits (depending on the length of the country code), and a checksum digit. The primary purpose of the EAN-8 is to be used on small packages, so the code must use as little space as possible.

EAN-8 codes are most common in the UK, and as such many UK-based companies use blocks of EAN-8 codes for own-brand products which are only sold in their stores. These are formatted as 1xxx xxxx.

Sample of an EAN-8 Barcode

The following code illustrates how to create a barcode in a Java class

1            Linear linear = new Linear(); 
2            linear.setData("1234567"); 
3            linear.setType(Linear.EAN8); 
4            linear.renderBarcode("c:/barcode.gif"); 

• Create a Linear object (line 1)
• set Linear object properties (line 2 - 3)
• save into gif file (line 4)

There are two ways to create barcode images in your Java web applications.

1. This is the simplest way to stream barcode image using our provided barcode servlet classes.
   
   And it will not save barcode images in your server side.
   
   
   • Under demo package, copy barcode folder to your java servlet container like tomcat.
     
     
   • To test your installation, goto http://YourDomain:Port/barcode/linear?Data=1234567&Type=EAN8
     
     
   • To create barcode image in your JSP or html page, you can pass the url to IMG tag src value. For example, <img src="http://YourDomain:Port/barcode/linear?Data=1234567&Type=EAN8" />
     
     
2. The second method is similar with the way to generate barcode in Java applications.
   
   
   • Create a barcode image in server side

     1            Linear linear = new Linear(); 
     2            linear.setData("123456789"); 
     3            linear.setType(Linear.EAN8); 
     4            linear.renderBarcode("C:/Tools/Tomcat 5.5/webapps/YourWebApp/bimages/barcode.gif"); 
     
     
     

   • In your JSP page, you can using IMG tag to display generated image, like <img src="http://YourDomain:Port/YourWebApp/bimages/barcode.gif" />

The following jasper xml content illustrates how to insert a barcode into JasperReports

<import value="com.barcodelib.barcode.BarcodeJasperFactory"/> 

Import class BarcodeJasperFactory to report.

<image scaleImage="Clip" hAlign="Center"> 
    <reportElement x="50" y="110" width="515" height="120"/> 
    <graphicElement/> 
    <imageExpression class="net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JRRenderable">
     <![CDATA[new com.barcodelib.barcode.BarcodeJasperRenderer(BarcodeJasperFactory.createLinear(7, "1234567"))]]></imageExpression> 
</image>

Please go to class BarcodeJasperFactory in Java doc for all methods to create linear barcode.

Developers can also extend or modify BarcodeJasperFactory class to meet their own requirements. Complete BarcodeJasperFactory.java Source Code

Our Java barcode library supports generating barcode image in Eclipse BIRT framework.

Click here to view the details.

All Java Barcode Types/Symbologies

Codabar Code 11 Code 2 of 5 Code 39 Code 39 Extension Code 93 EAN 8 EAN 8 Supplement 2, 5 EAN 13 EAN 13 Supplement 2, 5 ISBN ISBN Supplement 2, 5 ISSN ISSN Supplement 2, 5 ITF14 Interleaved 2 of 5

Identcode Leitcode Code 128 EAN 128 MSI Onecode Planet Postnet RM4SCC (British Royal Mail 4-State Customer Barcode) UPC-A UPC-A Supplement 2, 5 UPC-E UPC-E Supplement 2, 5

Data Matrix PDF-417 QR-Code

How to generate barcodes in Jasper Reports using Java Barcode library? How to generate barcodes in iReport using Java Barcode library? How to generate barcodes in Eclipse BIRT using Java Barcode library?