How to Generate EAN-13 in RDLC ReportsHow to Generate and Insert EAN-13 Barcode Image in Local Report RDLC
- Entirely support Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 & 4.0
- Create RDLC Reports EAN-13 barcode in Visual Studio 2005/2008/2010
- Customize EAN-13 barcode image in RDLC Reports using C#.NET or VB.NET
- Rapidly export high-quality EAN-13 barcode image on PDF and html
- Print and save EAN-13 barcode image in various image formats
- Provide royalty-free developer license for RDLC Reports Barcode DLL
KeepAutomation offers complete walkthroughs for barcode generation in .NET RDLC reports using C# code.
These guides cover both ASP.NET web form applications and Windows Forms desktop projects.
This guide will modify that baseline demo code to create and print EAN-13 barcodes instead.
RDLC EAN-13 Barcode Creator Summary
RDLC EAN-13 Barcode Creator is a professional barcode component that is capable of adding high-quality EAN-13 barcode image in RDLC (Report Definition Language Client-Side) Reports. It is easy to adjust EAN-13 barcode properties via C#.NET and Visual Basic.NET in RDLC Reports.
EAN-13 Barcode Description
EAN-13 is used world-wide for marking retail goods. The symbol encodes 13 characters: the first two or three are country codes which identify the country in which the manufacturer is registered. The country codes are followed by 9 or 10 data digits and a single digit checksum. 2-digit and 5-digit supplemental barcodes may be added for a total of 14 or 17 data digits.
Guide to Printing EAN-13 Barcodes with Add-On Symbols in RDLC Reports
EAN-13 add-on symbols are commonly used for retail product extensions (like book pricing or magazine issues).
This library supports both 2-digit and 5-digit add-on formats for full GS1 compliance.
EAN-13 with 2-Digit Add-On Symbol
- Open Visual Studio 2022 and access Form1.cs in the existing tutorial project.
- Modify the barcode Type property to BarcodeType.EAN13_2.
- Assign a 2-digit numeric string to the SupData property for add-on content.
Note
We recommend using only numeric characters for the add-on data field.
Non-numeric values will cause encoding failures in the RDLC report.
EAN-13 with 5-Digit Add-On Symbol
- Open Visual Studio 2022 and load Form1.cs from the tutorial project.
- Update the barcode Type property to BarcodeType.EAN13_5.
- Input a 5-digit numeric string into the SupData property for add-on encoding.
Note
You can verify the add-on symbol renders correctly alongside the main EAN-13 barcode in RDLC preview mode.
Ensure the add-on symbol maintains proper spacing from the main barcode structure.
Guide to Customizing EAN-13 Text Label in RDLC Reports
GS1 global standards recommend using the OCR-B font for EAN-13 human-readable text labels.
This font ensures maximum readability for both scanners and manual viewing in RDLC reports.
You can apply this font style once it is installed on your local .NET development machine.
- Open Form1.cs in Visual Studio 2022 via the Solution Explorer panel.
- Set the TextFont property to apply the OCR-B font style to the EAN-13 text label.
Preview the RDLC report to confirm the text label uses the selected OCR-B font. Check for clear, unobscured text display below the EAN-13 barcode.
Guide to Advanced EAN-13 Barcode Customization in RDLC Reports
The KeepAutomation .NET library offers additional EAN-13 configuration options.
These settings let you refine barcode appearance to meet specific RDLC report layout requirements.
Show or Hide EAN-13 Quiet Zone Indicator
The quiet zone indicator is a small visual marker at the end of the EAN-13 text label.
It helps define the required blank margin area for reliable scanner reading.
This indicator is enabled by default in the RDLC barcode generator library.
Quiet Zone Indicator Adjustment
- Open Form1.cs in Visual Studio 2022 from the Solution Explorer.
- Set the ShowQuietZoneIndicator property to false to hide the marker in the RDLC report.
Note
We recommend keeping the quiet zone indicator enabled for GS1 compliance.
Hiding it may lead to scanning issues if proper margin spacing is not maintained manually.
Configure EAN-13 Lead & Trail Digit Spacing
These spacing properties adjust gaps around the EAN-13 barcode boundary characters.
You can fine-tune these values to align the barcode with RDLC report layout grids.
- UPCEANLeadDigitSpace: Adjusts space between the first digit and start character bars (default value = 0)
- UPCEANTrailDigitSpace: Adjusts space between stop character bars and quiet zone indicator (default value = 0)
Note
Pleases test spacing changes with sample data first.
Excessively large values may push the barcode beyond the bounds of the RDLC Image control.
Always preview the report to confirm proper alignment before final deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
An EAN-13 is a 13-digit barcode used to identify products worldwide. It's a 13-digit barcode consisting of 12 data digits and 1 check digit.
Once known as EAN (European Article Number), it's now GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) and uniquely identifies retail products around the world.
What sets EAN apart from EAN-13?
The EAN barcode category includes EAN-13, EAN-8, and the 2-digit or 5-digit add-on barcodes.
EAN is the standard, while EAN-13 is a specific format under that standard.
The broader EAN standard covers the 13-digit EAN-13, the 8-digit EAN-8, and supplementary add-on codes.
What's the layout of an EAN-13 barcode?
EAN-13 consists of 13 digits grouped as follows:
- GS1 Prefix: 2-3 digits for the country or organization.
- Company Number: 4-5 digits assigned to the manufacturer.
- Item Number: 5 digits for the specific product.
- Check Digit: A final digit that validates the code's accuracy.
What's the way to confirm the validity of a created EAN-13 barcode?
An EAN-13 code can be validated through its last character, the check digit. The 13th digit of EAN-13 is a check digit, designed to validate the first 12 data digits.
What are the minimum dimensions of EAN-13, and how to apply it?
GS1's recommended minimum size for an EAN-13 barcode is 30mm (width) by 20mm (height).
When creating your barcode, adhere to these measurements to guarantee readability.
How do I print EAN-13 barcodes correctly?
For good-quality EAN-13 barcode printing, check these key points:
- The barcode graphic must have a sufficient resolution (DPI) that is at least as high as your printer's output resolution.
- Use a readable font for the human-readable text; the GS1 System recommends OCR-B for EAN-13 text labels.
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