37
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
(AI) encoded value(FID1)encoded value 1(FID2)encoded value 2…(FIDn)encoded value n
For example, if you encode Article Number "19421123450011", Best Before Date "991231" and Batch
Number "101234", you need the AI "01", FID "15" and FID2 "10". You would specify
"(01)19421123450011(15)1991231(10)101234" for the value.
Code 39
A.K.A.
Code 3 of 9, AIAG (Automobile Industry Action Group), USS (Uniform Symbol Specification) code 39,
USD-3
Overview
Developed for non-retail environments, Code 39 is a discrete symbology that encodes alphanumeric
information such as model numbers.
Encoding
Code 39 encodes the following 43 characters:
• 26 upper-case letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y,
and Z.
• 10 digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
• 7 special characters: -, ., *, $, /, +, %, SPACE.
Structure
Code 39 has the following structure:
• A start character - asterisk(*).
• Encoded value.
• Checkdigit - optional
• A stop character - asterisk(*).
Requirements
Each character consists of up to five bars and four spaces, making nine elements where three out of
nine elements are wide The height of the bars must be at least 0.15 times the barcode's length or .25
inches. You must use the greater measurement. To ensure quality, the width of the inter-character
gap should equal the width of the narrowest element (X). The leading and trailing quiet zones must be
at least 10 times the length of the narrowest element (X) or .10 inches. You must use the greater
measurement.
When Code39OptionalCheckDigit is equal to true, Toolkit automatically calculates and encodes the
checkdigit.
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
37
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
Depending on the barcode scanner, the start and stop asterisks must be included in the human
readable text. Consult your scanner manual for more information. By default, Toolkit includes the
asterisks in the generated human readable text. You do not need to include the characters in your
value. If you require the characters, set Code39StartStopChars equal to false.
Code 39 Full ASCII
A.K.A.
Code 39 extended, Code 39 Full
Overview
Code 39 Full ASCII is a variant of Code39 that enables encoding of all 128 characters in the ASCII
table. Code 39 Full ASCII is discrete.
Encoding
Code 39 Full ASCII can encode all 128 Standard ASCII values using a three-digit ASCII code, preceded
by the \ character. For example, the carrot symbol ("^") corresponds to ASCII code \094. For a
complete list of ASCII values, refer to Appendix D: Barcode Tables.
Structure
Code 39 Full ASCII has the following structure:
• A start character - asterisk(*).
• Encoded value.
• Checkdigit - optional
• A stop character - asterisk(*).
Requirements
Each character consists of up to five bars and four spaces, making nine elements where three out of
nine elements are wide The height of the bars must be at least 0.15 times the barcode's length or .25
inches. You must use the greater of the two measurements.
To ensure quality, the width of the inter-character gap should equal the width of the narrowest element
(X). The leading and trailing quiet zones must be at least 10 times the length of the narrowest
element (X) or .10 inches. You must use the greater of the two measurements.
When Code39OptionalCheckDigit is equal to true, Toolkit automatically calculates and encodes the
checkdigit.
Remarks
You will need to adjust your barcode reader to extended mode to read Code 39 Full ASCII barcodes
accurately.
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
36
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
Code 39 Mod 43
A.K.A.
HIBC (Health Industry Bar Code), LOGMARS (Logistics Applications of Automated Marking and Reading
Symbols), HIBC Code 39
Overview
Code 39 Mod 43 is similar to Code 39 with the addition of a modulo 43 check digit appended to the last
character. This enables very high level of accuracy. The health industry uses the Mod 43 version of
Code39 frequently.
Structure
Code 39 Mod 43 has the following structure:
• A start character - plus (+).
• Encoded value.
• Checkdigit – required
• A stop character - asterisk (*).
Each character consists of up to five bars and four spaces, making nine elements where three out of
nine elements are wide The height of the bars must be at least 0.15 times the barcode's length or .25
inches. You must use the greater of the two measurements.
To ensure quality, the width of the inter-character gap should equal the width of the narrowest element
(X). The leading and trailing quiet zones must be at least 10 times the length of the narrowest
element (X) or .10 inches. You must use the greater of the two measurements.
If you are creating a Code 39 Mode 43 barcode, you must set Code39OptionalCheckDigit equal to true.
Code 39 Mod 43 must use a plus (+) symbol for the leading character. Toolkit adds the plus sign
automatically if the encoded value does not contain one.
Code 93
A.K.A.
USS-93. (Uniform Symbol Specification)
Overview
Code 93 is an alphanumeric, variable length symbology designed to offer higher density and data
security than Code 39. The Canadian Postal Service uses code 93 when encoding supplemental
delivery information.
Encoding
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
36
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
Code 93 can encode all 128 Standard ASCII values using a three-digit ASCII code, preceded by the \
character. For example, the carrot symbol ("^") corresponds to ASCII code \094. For a complete list
of ASCII values, refer to Appendix D: Barcode Tables.
Structure
Code 93 has the following structure:
• A start character - asterisk(*).
• Encoded value.
• First checkdigit "C".
• Second checkdigit "K".
• Stop Character - asterisk(*).
• Termination bar.
Requirements
Each Code 93 character contains nine modules arranged into three bars with adjacent spaces.
For an open system, the minimum value of the narrowest element (X) is 7.5 mils and the barcode
height is 15 percent of the length or 0.25 inches. You must use the greater measurement. All
characters end with a space - the termination bar appears after the last character (stop character) to
determine the width of the trailing quiet zone. The leading and trailing quiet zone must be at least
0.25 inches. Toolkit automatically applies the asterisks in the encoded value and the checkdigits.
2-Dimensional (2D) Symbologies
Toolkit can encode the following 2D Symbologies:
•
•
PDF417
DataMatrix
• MaxiCode
PDF 417
Overview
PDF417 barcodes are multi-row and variable-length, which allows for high data capacity and error-
correction capabilities. The barcode format can encode over 1100 bytes, 1800 text characters or up to
2710 digits. Linear, laser and two-dimensional scanners can read PDF417 barcodes. Additionally, the
barcode format supports bidirectional decoding.
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
38
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
Encoding
PDF417 can encode all 128 Standard ASCII values using a three-digit ASCII code, preceded by the \
character. For example, the carrot symbol ("^") corresponds to ASCII code \094. For a complete list
of ASCII values, refer to Appendix D: Barcode Tables.
Structure
It is common for a PDF417 barcode to contain from 3 to 90 rows, which are 90 to 583x in width. Each
row is read from left to right, and has the following structure:
• Leading quiet zone.
• Start Pattern.
• Left row indicator symbol character.
• 1 to 30 data symbol characters.
• Right row indicator symbol character.
• Stop pattern.
• Trailing quiet zone.
NOTE: Truncated PDF417 barcodes reduce the stop pattern to a single bar.
Requirements
The symbol characters in a PDF417 barcode are 17-module wide, which consists of 4 bars and 4
spaces. Each bar and space can be from 1 to 6 modules in length. Each set of 929 patterns is a
character set, but PDF417 only uses cluster numbers 0, 3 and 6. The symbol characters represent a
“codeword” value determined by a number from 0 to 928. Certain codeword values indicate a switch
in compaction mode for data encoding. The data encodes in one of the following compaction modes:
• Text Compaction - Encodes alpha -numeric characters and punctuations. (Default)
• Binary Compaction - Encodes all 8-bit characters.
• Numeric Compaction - Encodes all 10 digits for the highest density.
Toolkit automatically encodes the best codeword for the smallest barcode possible, based on the value.
Remarks
A PDF417 barcode has the following adjustable parameters:
•
•
•
Aspect Ratio
Width and Height
Error correction level
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
40
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
Aspect Ratio: The number or rows and columns used change the barcodes aspect ratio. When
adjusting the number of rows and columns, the number of symbol characters will remain constant for
all rows in a barcode to ensure the barcode retains a rectangular shape. Each row uses character
patterns from a single cluster. Any adjacent row must use different clusters in the sequence where the
cluster number equals the row number minus 1. Each row must have a left row indicator and a right
row indicator. Toolkit calculates the row indicators based on row number, total number of rows,
columns, and the error correction level. You can adjust the aspect ratio with the PDFAspectRatio,
PDFMaxCols and PDFMaxRows properties.
Width and Height: When printing a PDF417 barcode, it is important to ensure the resolution is as
close to the nominal width of the barcode. You will need to scale the bar/space to the exact pixel pitch
of the printer. For the best results, the printer resolution should be set higher than 200 dpi. At this
resolution, scanners will not have trouble interpreting the difference between two bars with the same
width but a different number of pixels.
If you are viewing the barcode on a screen before printing, there are some important considerations.
Generally, the barcode image on the screen will be 72 DPI. In this case, it is important to ensure the
width and height are multiples of the pixel width. For example, using a 72 DPI resolution, the width of
a pixel is 1000 divided by 72, which equals 13.88 pixels. The barcode width and height should be
multiples of 13.88 such as 13.88 mils, 27.76 mils or 55.52 mils.
You can adjust the width and height with the PDFModuleHeight and PDFModuleWidth properties.
Error Correction: PDF417 barcodes contain 2 to 512 error correction code words, which correspond to
an error correction level. The error correction codeword is calculated based on the Reed Solomon
techniques. The number of error correction code words is per level is defined as follows:
• 0 - 2 code words.
• 1 - 4 code words.
• 2 - 8 code words.
• 3 - 16 code words.
• 4 - 32 code words.
• 5 - 64 code words.
• 6 - 128 code words.
• 7 - 256 code words.
• 8 - 512 code words.
• 9 - Automatic error correction based on data encoded.
NOTE: You can specify the error correction level using the PDFSecurityLevel.
DataMatrix
Overview
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
37
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
DataMatrix is a two-dimensional, variable length symbology used for encoding large amounts of data.
Each barcode contains a series of data cells arranged in a unique perimeter pattern. DataMatrix
barcodes are very efficient, allowing for a proper read even with 60% of the data area damaged.
NOTE: DataMatrix barcodes can encode over 2000 characters, but it is difficult for most scanners to
read more than 800. If you require more data storage than 800 characters, you should use
PDF417.
Encoding
DataMatrix can encode all 128 Standard ASCII values using a three-digit ASCII code, preceded by the \
character. For example, the carrot symbol ("^") corresponds to ASCII code \094. For a complete list
of ASCII values, refer to Appendix D: Barcode Tables.
Structure
DataMatrix does not allow for the random choosing for the combination of rows and columns. For a list
of available sizes, refer to the DataMatrixTargetSizeID.
Requirements
Each DataMatrix barcode consists of modules that influence the overall size. The overall shape of the
barcode may be rectangular, but the data cell of the DataMatrix symbol is always square. You can set
the module size with the DataMatrixModuleSize property.
Data encodes using any combination of 6 different DataMatrix encoding schemes:
• ASCII - Invoked prior to any other encoding scheme, all other schemes return to ASCII.
• C40 - Primarily encodes upper-case alphanumeric data.
• Text - Primarily encodes lower-case alphanumeric data.
• Base256 - Encodes all byte values from 0 to 255.
• x12 - Primarily encodes ANSI X12 EDI data set.
• EDIFACT - Encodes ASCII characters from 32 to 94.
Toolkit will apply the encoding scheme that produces the shortest codeword stream.
MaxiCode
A.K.A.
USS-MaxiCode
Overview
Introduced by UPS in 1992, MaxiCode is a medium capacity two-dimensional barcode designed for
high-speed scanning application of package sorting and tracking. The barcode’s design allows it to
scan in any direction.
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
38
activePDF Toolkit <<Lite>><<Standard>><<Professional>> Edition
Encoding
MaxiCode can encode all 128 Standard ASCII values using a three-digit ASCII code, preceded by the \
character. For example, the carrot symbol ("^") corresponds to ASCII code \094. For a complete list
of ASCII values, refer to Appendix D: Barcode Tables.
Structure
MaxiCode has the following structural constants:
• Fixed barcode height and width (1.11 in. x 1.054 in. nominal).
• Center “Bulls eye” Finder Pattern.
• Data Modules arranged in a hexagonal array.
• 6 Orientation Clusters.
• 4 Mode bits.
The structure expresses the following components:
• Primary Message.
• Secondary Message.
Primary Message: The primary message encodes a postal code, 3-digit country code and 3-digit
class of service code
Secondary Message: The secondary message encodes the remaining data.
Requirements
MaxiCode barcodes have a maximum data capacity of 93 characters. Each barcode contains 884
hexagonal modules arranged in 33 rows with each row containing up to 33 modules.
MaxiCode barcodes have 6 different encoding modes. Two of the modes, 0 and 1, are considered
obsolete. Modes 2 and 3 respectively have succeeded them.
• 0 - Primary message is a Structured Carrier Message with a numeric postal code. The
Secondary message encodes up to 84 uppercase characters, numeric or punctuation.
• 1 - Primary message plus secondary message encode up to 93 uppercase characters, numeric
or punctuation.
• 2 - Primary message is a Structured Carrier Message with a numeric postal code. The
Secondary message encodes up to 84 uppercase characters, numeric or punctuation.
• 3 - Primary message is a Structured Carrier Message with an alphanumeric postal code. The
Secondary message encodes up to 84 characters.
• 4 - Primary plus secondary message encode up to 93 “characters”.
• 5 - Primary plus secondary message encode up to 77 “characters” with extended error
correction throughout.
aptk4b 21705
Copyright 2005, activePDF, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
<<page#>>Insert
last
Documents you may be interested
Documents you may be interested
