logo

This FAQ covers ISBN-13 barcodes. Technical questions about our software are answered on our tech support page.

Help! How do I get started with ISBN-13 barcodes?

How do I:
calculate a ISBN-13 check digit?
make an ISBN-13 barcode?
make an ISBN-13 barcode in an Adobe application?
make an ISBN-13 barcode in Microsoft Access?
make an ISBN-13 barcode in Microsoft Excel?
make an ISBN-13 barcode in Microsoft Word?
make an ISBN-13 barcode in SAP Crystal Reports?
print an ISBN-13 barcode?
use an ISBN-13 barcode font?

Help! How do I get started with ISBN-13 barcodes?
The first step in making an ISBN-13 barcode is to obtain your ISBN number or numbers. You'll need one ISBN number for each one of your book or book products. The ISBN standards body, Bowker, is your very first stop.

Once you've got ISBN numbers you're ready to turn them into ISBN-13 barcodes, which you can print onto labels or incorporate into your book jacket or product packaging design. Retailers will ask you for each product's ISBN-13 information, so be sure to maintain an ISBN database or spreadsheet for yourself, and back it up frequently.return to top

How do I calculate an ISBN-13 check digit?
Like the UPC check digit, an ISBN-13 check digit is calculated like an EAN-13 symbol using a mod 10 calculation. The last digit in an ISBN13 barcode is a check digit based on the previous 12 numbers. Our example barcode data is "978123456789".

1. Add the digits in the even-numbered positions (first, third, fifth, etc.) together.

   9+8+2+4+6+8=37

2. Multiply that number by three.

   37x3 = 111

3. Add the digits in the even-numbered positions (second, fourth, sixth, etc.) to the result.

   7+1+3+5+7+9=32

4. Find the resulting modulo 10 (the number that when added will make the next multiple of 10).

   111+32=143 (the next multiple of 10 is 150)

143+7 = 150

7 is the check digit. return to top

How do I make an ISBN-13 barcode?
An ISBN-13 barcode consists of guard bars, the 12 digit number for each item, a check digit, and human-readable digits printed below the bars. ISBN-13 bar codes are numbers-only and should be printed in black against a white background for ease in scanning.

Most people use barcode software to turn their ISBN numbers into ISBN barcodes. Once you receive your ISBN/s from the ISBN standards body, you're ready to use Azalea's UPCTools to quickly create your ISBN-13 barcodes. return to top

How do I make an ISBN-13 barcode in an Adobe application?
Create a text field within your Illustrator, InDesign, PhotoShop or other Adobe design application project. Open UPCTools, create your ISBN-13 barcode, then copy. Switch back to your design project and paste into the waiting text field. Highlight the entire string of barcode data, then use the program's font menu to format it into an Azalea UPC barcode fonts. Adjust the point size of the barcode up or down and you're done!   return to top

How do I make an ISBN-13 barcode in Microsoft Access?
Make ISBN-13 barcodes in Access using Azalea's UPCTools. You can create and print ISBN-13 bar codes from within any Access database using our ISBN-13 barcode fonts and sample code. Use our custom Access user-defined function or automatically call the Azalea barcode DLL. Both approaches add the start and stop bars and calculate the necessary check digit for you. return to top

How do I make an ISBN-13 barcode in Microsoft Excel?
Store your ISBN numbers (along with product information like title, suggested retail price, internal SKU, etcetera) in an Excel spreadsheet; be sure to keep this database current and secure, and back it up frequently. Use UPCTools to convert your ISBN numbers into ISBN-13 barcodes within your spreadsheet. When you're ready to print you can do so directly from Excel, or export your barcodes to a label or document template in another program, then print. return to top

How do I make an ISBN-13 barcode in Microsoft Word?
UPCTools gives you two simple ways to create ISBN-13 barcodes for Microsoft Word. You can copy and paste from the UPCTools utility, or you can export from your Excel spreadsheet or Access database into your Word project.

Copy from the barcode wizard if you're making one or just a few ISBN-13 bar codes. For tens or hundreds of ISBN barcodes, create your barcodes in your spreadsheet or database, then import or 'mail merge' them into your Word label or document template.

Open UPCTools, enter your data and preview your barcode. Choose 'Copy', go to your Word label or document template and paste. Format into a barcode font via the drop-down font menu. Voila!   return to top

How do I make an ISBN-13 barcode in SAP Crystal Reports?
By using the Azalea User Function Library (UFL) in Azalea's UPCTools you can create and print ISBN-13 barcodes within your Crystal Reports projects. Our custom UFL adds the start and stop bars to your data, and calculates the ISBN-13 check digit. Format your barcode field into an Azalea barcode font and you're ready to save, publish or print.   return to top

How do I print an ISBN-13 barcode?
ISBN-13 barcodes should always be printed in black against a white or very light background, with a clear empty border around the entire barcode. Be sure to verify that your barcodes scan before you distribute them!

Azalea's UPCTools will help you quickly create and print ISBN-13 barcodes one at a time or in batches from your database or spreadsheet. An ISBN-13 barcode includes guard bars, an 11-digit number for a specific book or book-related item, a check digit, and human-readable digits below the bars.   return to top

How do I use an ISBN-13 barcode font?
Many people look at an ISBN-13 bar code and think of it as a graphic, rather than a font made of bars and spaces. Our barcode fonts make ISBN-13s in most applications, and can be printed to a wide variety of printer types and brands. Once installed, bar code fonts show up in the available font list of all your favorite programs.

UPCTools utilizes UPC barcode fonts to make ISBN-13 barcodes - there is no 'ISBN font'. UPCTools includes both TrueType and Type 1 (PostScript) UPC barcode fonts, and adds the necessary start/stop characters and calculates the mandatory ISBN-13 check digit.   return to top

What is an ISBN-13 barcode?
International Standard Book Numbers are distributed by the ISBN standards body.

An ISBN-13 barcode consists of guard bars, the 12-digit book number, a check digit, and human-readable digits printed below the bars. There is often an additional barcode to the right of the ISBN-13 called a 'supplemental'. The supplemental is a five digit barcode that contains the book (or book product) price. ISBN-13 bar codes are numbers-only, have a fixed length, and should be printed in black against a white background for ease in scanning.

Once you receive your ISBN/s from the standards body, you're ready to use Azalea's UPCTools to turn your ISBN numbers into ISBN barcodes.   return to top

the best way to share my ISBN-13s?
If you use UPCTools to make an ISBN-13 barcode, simply paste the barcode into any document, labeling or design application, save as high-quality PDF document, then email. File formats like JPG and GIF are bitmapped formats and don't have the resolution necessary to make scannable symbols. Give 'em a PDF file. Create, copy, paste, save, send. Done!   return to top

What is the ISBN-13 character set?
ISBN barcodes contain only numbers. The characters used may be 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and (wait for it..) 9.   return to top

What is the ISBN-13 check digit?
The ISBN-13 check digit is a number at the far right of an ISBN-13 barcode which is based on the previous 12 numbers. The ISBN-13 check digit is calculated using a mod 10 system.   return to top

What is UPCTools?
UPCTools is the quickest and simplest way to create ISBN-13 barcodes one at a time, or in batches of tens, hundreds or even thousands. UPCTools comes with a family of ten different barcode fonts that have been carefully designed to meet GS1 barcode standards, and calculates the ISBN-13 check digit for you. Create tall, thin, regular or half-height barcodes with just a few keystrokes.   return to top