Abstract: A bar code arrangement allows determining positions along an axis. The bar code arrangement includes a plurality of bar code symbols, each having start and stop end characters and encoded data therebetween. The symbols are positioned in a column along the axis and are so oriented that each bar of the symbols is parallel to the axis and that two consecutive bar code symbols have different orientations, one being rotated 180° relative to the other. Scanning the bar code symbol corresponding to a particular position among the plurality of bar code symbols in the column allows identification of the particular position along the axis. A symbol scan is considered successful when two different characters are found in a symbol scan. In the form of a ribbon, this bar code arrangement is suitable to correctly detect a liquid level on a bottle of liquid.