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Barcodes Missing or Extra Text on Printed EAN Labels

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If printed labels from EAN for WooCommerce Pro show the name and price but no barcode, the product’s EAN is usually empty or not valid for the barcode type. The most common fix: open the product, correct its EAN until it passes the Check if valid test, then print again from Products > Bulk actions > Print barcodes.

Barcode image is missing #

Label printing is set up at WPFactory > EAN > Print (also reachable at WooCommerce > Settings > EAN > Print).

  1. The EAN is empty or invalid. A 1D barcode ([alg_wc_ean_barcode]) is drawn only when the EAN has the right length and check digit for its type. Otherwise the shortcode leaves an empty, invisible image, so the rest of the label still prints. A 2D barcode ([alg_wc_ean_barcode_2d]) needs a value to encode, by default the EAN.

    Fix: correct the EAN on the product. Under WPFactory > EAN > General, make sure Type matches the codes you use (default EAN-13; Automatic accepts EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, ISBN-13, JAN and EAN-14) and keep Check if valid ticked so the product edit page flags bad codes.

  2. The PDF library cannot write its temporary files. In Print > Advanced Print Options, enable Define K_PATH_CACHE (default: off). The option exists for exactly this case: barcode images that come out empty.

  3. The server has no image library. Barcode images are created as PNG files, which needs the GD or Imagick PHP extension. Without either one, no barcode image can be drawn on labels or on the site.

    Fix: ask your host to enable the GD extension for PHP.

  4. Products without an EAN are left out. If a product is missing from the PDF altogether, Skip products without EAN (default: on) removed it. Add its EAN, or turn the option off.

Extra text on the label #

  1. “Original price” and “Current price” appear next to the price. [alg_wc_ean_product_price] prints WooCommerce’s normal price by default. For products on sale, WooCommerce adds labels meant only for screen readers, and the PDF prints them as visible text.

    Fix: print one plain price instead. Use [alg_wc_ean_product_price type="sale"] (the sale price, or the regular price when there is no sale) or [alg_wc_ean_product_price type="regular"]. Add raw="yes" for the number without currency formatting.

  2. The EAN digits print under the barcode. The default Template is [alg_wc_ean_barcode]<br>[alg_wc_ean], where [alg_wc_ean] prints the digits. The barcode shortcode also prints them inside the image when it has add_text="yes".

    Fix: remove [alg_wc_ean] from Template, and remove add_text="yes" if you added it.

  3. The content does not fit on one label. Reduce Font size (default 11), lower the barcode height with the h attribute, for example [alg_wc_ean_barcode h="20"] (default 30), or increase Cell width and Cell height to match your label stock. Turn on Cell border while testing.

To show the digits inside the barcode image on your site instead, for example for UPC-A codes, add add_text="yes" to the barcode shortcode or template you use there.

How to confirm it is fixed #

  1. Go to Products > All Products, tick one product with a valid EAN, choose Print barcodes in Bulk actions and click Apply.
  2. Open the PDF and check the barcode, the price and the spacing on the label.
  3. Scan the printed barcode with any barcode scanner app. It should return the product’s EAN.

For every print setting, see how to print barcodes to PDF. For all shortcode attributes, see the EAN placeholders and shortcodes reference.

Ready to print labels? #

Barcode images and PDF label printing are Pro features of EAN for WooCommerce. If you are still on the free version, upgrading unlocks labels along with 1D and 2D barcodes. Get EAN for WooCommerce Pro.

Still stuck? #

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the EAN for WooCommerce support forum. Send us your label Template and one product EAN that prints without a barcode.