How do I set up GS1 prefixes, and how does Endless assign UPCs and other barcodes from them?

GS1 prefixes are the GS1 Company Prefixes your company licenses. Endless uses them to issue UPCs for your products and SSCC codes for shipping containers. GS1 Prefixes is under Settings → Operations, and only an Admin can add, edit, reorder, or archive a prefix. It may not be available on every account.

To add one, select “Add prefix” and enter the Company prefix exactly as your GS1 certificate shows it, with an optional Name. The prefix length sets the block size: a 7-digit prefix licenses 100,000 codes, and a 10-digit prefix licenses 100. “GTINs purchased” offers that size or “Logistics only.”

“Logistics only” registers the prefix for SSCC container codes only. Endless does not assign UPCs from it. SSCCs come from the prefix assigned to the integration that needs container labels. Each extension digit keeps its own serial sequence. When migrating from another system, contact Endless support to record the last SSCC before Endless issues codes in that digit’s sequence; it cannot be moved backward or seeded after issuance.

Endless assigns a UPC when you select “Assign UPC” on a product. It takes the lowest unused code in the block.

A prefix that starts with 0 produces 12-digit UPC-A codes. Any other prefix produces 13-digit EAN-13 codes, because UPC-A exists only for prefixes that start with 0. If your certificate shows a U.P.C. Company Prefix, enter the GS1 Company Prefix instead, which is the same digits with a leading zero.

The “Inner pack”, “Master carton”, and “Pallet” indicators are digits from 1 to 8. When one is set, Endless combines that digit with the product’s UPC to generate a GTIN-14 for that packaging level. Leave one “Not set” to enter those codes yourself.

The Rank column orders your blocks. When Endless assigns a UPC, it draws from the highest-ranked block that still has codes available. Drag a prefix to change its rank. Rank does not change codes already assigned or the prefix an integration uses for SSCCs.