UPCToolsÖ is a collection of Type 1 and TrueType fonts that create UPC version A, UPC version E, EAN-8/JAN-8, EAN-13/JAN-13, Bookland (ISBN), and ISSN barcode symbols within any Microsoft Windows application.
UPCTools includes a number of fonts for various circumstances. It is important to select the font that meets your specific needs. The Tall fonts all create full-sized symbols when formatted at 73 points. The Half fonts create truncated, half-height symbols when formatted at 36 points. Use the half-height fonts when vertical space is at a premium.
Bar width reduction compensates for ink spreading on the printing press. If you create a barcode with pre-narrowed bars, they will end up the proper width once the ink spread is taken into affect. The regular fonts are normal bar width. Each bar in the Narrow fonts is pre-narrowed by .002" (2 mils). The Thin fonts are pre-narrowed by .004" (4 mils).
The TallBars and HalfBars fonts are just bars without the notches for human-readable characters. This configuration is sometimes used for labels where space is at a premium. The Music fonts have no human-readable characters beneath the bars and are pre-narrowed .002" (2 mils). Use the OCR-B-Music font to create the human-readable characters under the bars of a music symbol. The reason is that the digits don't align with the bars above them. Therefore no single character can represent a number in the barcode and the human-readable digit that corresponds with it. Hence the need for a second line under the barcode. The format for the human readable digits is 4 digits-5 digits-1 digit. The single digit is the configuration number: 1 for a 12" LP, 2 for a CD, 4 for a cassette, 7 for a 7" single, 8 for an 8-track and 0 for the mysterious "other".
To create a symbol to be used on a CD, cassette, or whenever you want a barcode without the human-readable digits below the bars, uncheck the check box marked "human-readable characters". Beware: UPC symbols on music items are very "liberal" interpretations of the official specification. Do not rely on the average CD or cassette as an example of a "proper" barcode.
Use OCR-A-Book to create the ISBN numbers itself in conjunction with Bookland symbols. While the use of OCR-A for the ISBN is no longer mandatory, many do it out of habit or tradition, or to maintain a consistent look across titles.