RSS Expanded can also be printed in multiple rows as a stacked symbol when the normal symbol would be too wide for the application. The smaller size of the RSS family is due to encoding the data in large symbol characters. Any member of the RSS family can be printed as a stand-alone linear symbol or as a composite symbol with an accompanying EAN.UCC 2D Composite Component printed directly above the RSS Linear Component. All RSS symbols encode a linkage flag to indicate the existence of a 2D Composite Component. All of the RSS family is patented and placed in the public domain.
Some formats have omnidirectional scanning capabilities.
RSS-14 can be scanned and decoded in four segments and then reconstructed. This facilitates omnidirectional scanning. Each segment consists of a data character and its adjacent finder pattern. The finder patterns encode a Mod 79 check value. Truncated has a reduced height to fit on small items that will be read by hand held scanners.