#UPC code
6 messages in this thread
I am currently programming a pascal interface for my cd-rom, and I stumbled
upon the "UPC code". I keep wondering what it is and why it isn't on all my
(music) cd's? (Is it a manufacturer code, or some kind of unique id..??)
Please let me know.
Thanks, Holger
If it's what I think it is, and not some Pascal obscurity, it's the Universal
Product Code, the bar-coded marks and numerical code you find on practically
all retail products these days for automated scanning at checkout stands.
Kevin,
thanks. I may need to use the upc code to identify a cd (I am writing a
cd-player application). But it's strange that MSCDEX just hangs if there's no
upc code on the cd and I nevertheless try to read it.
Holger
When I was developing CDPlayer, I spent some time trying to use the UPC as a
means of identifying the CD which had been inserted. The problem is that not
all CDs have the code stored on the disk and it is therefore not a guaranteed
method to use.
I ended up using a calculated code based on the number of tracks and the length
thereof.
Paul
Thanks, Paul, I think that's what I'll be doing, too.
Now I wonder why don't the CD manufacturer put all the song's titles somewhere
on the CD… would make programming a CD player so much easier..
Holger
Hello Holger,
UPC is a 'can', not a 'must' in the CD-Subcode-Channel Q.
Also there is no definition for track-titels or the cd-titel in the subcode.
Hans-Gunter