Data Matrix Font and Encoder User Guide
User Guide Index
Implementation Tutorials
Video Tutorials
Specifications
If reading or verifying barcodes, consider these
2D Barcode Scanners
and Imagers.
Font Encoder Overview and Features
The IDAutomation Data Matrix Font and Encoder Package is a collection of
components that generate Data Matrix ECC200 barcodes using both fonts and
graphics. Approximately 800 characters of text and binary data can be
stored in a single Data Matrix barcode.
Because Data Matrix utilizes Reed Solomon error correction, the barcode can
withstand some damage without loss of data when scanned. Reed Solomon error
correction is a requirement of all ECC200 barcode symbols, and ECC200 is the
recommended ISO and AIM standard of error correction used in those symbols. This
high level of error correction
decreases read errors and is far more advanced than one-dimensional barcodes
which use check digits. All IDAutomation barcode products support ECC200 by
default.
The Data Matrix fonts
provided in this package include support for
Structured Append, which allows
thousands of characters to be encoded into multiple barcode symbols. This advanced Data Matrix barcode font uses IDAutomation Vertical
Interleaved Technology™ which allows increased throughput and printing
at smaller X dimensions than competitors' products.
The encoders provided in this package will format the data-to-encode into a
text string that will create a readable Data Matrix barcode after the
appropriate font is applied to it. Please review the
Data Matrix Encoder for Windows Tutorial to learn more about how these
encoders work. The following Data Matrix barcode font encoders are provided in
this package:
Graphic encoders are
also included in this package in addition to the font encoders provided. The graphic encoders are components
that return a graphic image of the complete symbol instead of text
that needs to be combined with a font. The following graphic encoders are
provided:
If the provided font
and graphic encoders are not supported in the application being used, consider the following
alternative implementation options:
- Data Matrix may be printed on an unsupported system by using
a font encoder to populate
a database with the "text string to print" and by accessing
the database from the other system with the Data Matrix font.
- The source code for any single encoder (available
in Java, C++, C# .NET or Visual Basic 6) will be supplied with
the purchase of the Unlimited Developer License and a signed
Source Code Agreement. VB 6 source
code is automatically supplied with any Developer License purchase
and consists of about 5000 lines of code.
- IDAutomation
Barcode
Label Software Pro
is a stand-alone label design application with VB scripting
support and database connectivity.
- IDAutomation
Data Matrix Barcode Image Generators
create individual images on Windows systems. Command line
options are also available with this product.
Extract the files included with the product and run the installation
executable to install the files needed
in the application folder under Program Files, and the following
components:
-
Data Matrix Encoder for Windows provides
an easy method to create Data Matrix barcodes for
printing or pasting into other applications.
- TrueType Fonts: The Data
Matrix ECC-200 font named IDAutomationDMatrix.
- Crystal Reports UFL allows use
of the Data Matrix fonts from Crystal Reports, compatible with
version 9 and above.
- ActiveX Control is a graphic encoder
used in Access, Excel, Visual Basic, Visual Foxpro and C++.
- Windows DLL is the font encoder for
Windows applications, and is installed in the Windows System32 folder.
-
Signed ActiveX CAB File may be used with Infopath, Internet Explorer and FrontPage.
- VBA Module
may be used in Visual Basic, Excel or Access.
- Visual Basic Source Code is the source code
used to create the
Data Matrix Font and Encoder for Windows. The source code for generating Data Matrix from any other single encoder
may be provided with the purchase of the Unlimited Developer
License and a signed
Source Code Agreement.
- Microsoft Office Examples
are provided for Word Mail-Merge and Access. Data Matrix fonts cannot be
used directly in Excel because the method Excel used to display
and print fonts is incompatible with stacked barcodes. To print
barcodes from Excel, use the
ActiveX Control or Word Mail-Merge.
The VBA module is required when using font encoders in VB 6, Excel
or Access; it is provided in the following two forms:
- The IDAutomation_Datamatrix_Macro.bas
module accesses the ActiveX DLL for the encoder function. Created in C++, the
ActiveX DLL is faster than the native VBA code. However, the installation
executable provided in the package must be installed on each computer.
- The IDAutomation_Native_Datamatrix_Macro.bas
module is the complete encoder function in "native" Visual Basic
form (VBA). With the exception of Java, it is the
only encoder that is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh.
When distributing an application with this module, the ActiveX
DLL does not need to be installed or distributed. This module
is only supplied in the purchased version of the Advantage Package.
Importing The VBA Module
- Extract the files provided with the product.
- Open VB, Excel or Access.
- If using Excel or Access, select Tools - Macro -
Visual Basic Editor to open the VB editor.
- If importing the IDAutomation_Datamatrix_Macro.bas
module, run the installation executable first.
Then, in the Visual Basic Editor, select File - Import File and
browse to the Program Files/IDAutomation.com DataMatrix Font
and Encoder for Windows folder and select that .bas file.
-If the Project Explorer is not on the left hand side in the Visual Basic Editor, click
View and select Project Explorer.
-Expand the “Modules” folder and double-click “IDAutomation_Datamatrix_Macro”
to see the code.
- Place an apostrophe ( ‘ ) before the "Option Compare
Database” and “Option Explicit” lines.
- Select Tools – References and select IDAutomation Data
Matrix Barcode, then click OK.
- If importing the IDAutomation_Native_Datamatrix_Macro.bas
module, select File - Import File and
then the module to import from the VBA folder of the extracted files.
The native module, IDAutomation_Native_Datamatrix_Macro.bas,
is compatible with Windows and Macintosh, but is only supplied
in the purchased version of the product.
- If using Excel or Access, select File - Close to
close the VB editor and then select File - Save.
- After the file is imported, the IDAutomation_DataMatrix
function may be called according to the chart below. The zero
digit is the default for all parameters (which are optional)
and is used for automatic mode or a false setting. The one digit
is used for a true setting.
IDAutomation_Datamatrix_Macro.bas |
| EncDM(DataToEncode
As String, Optional ProcessTilde,
Optional EncodingMode,
Optional PreferredFormat) |
Example:
=EncDM([Test Data.data])
or
=EncDM([Test Data.data],1,3,0) |
IDAutomation_Native_Datamatrix_Macro.bas
(Mac users must include all parameters.) |
| EncNDM(DataToEncode
As String, Optional ProcessTilde,
Optional EncodingMode,
Optional PreferredFormat) |
Example:
=EncNDM([Test Data.data])
or
=EncNDM([Test Data.data],1,3,0) |
VBA Macro Parameters |
| Result = (DataToEncode As String, Optional
ProcessTilde, Optional
EncodingMode, Optional
PreferredFormat) |
There are three implementation options in Microsoft Access, two
of which are supported in the IDAutomation Data Matrix Barcode Font
& Encoder Package. When used in reports and forms, the graphic encoder
option may be the easiest product to use.
Graphic Encoder Implementation
- Run the installation executable in the package and follow
the instructions to complete the installation.
- Open a report in Design Mode.
- Select Insert - ActiveX Control and choose the IDAutomation
Data Matrix control.
- Move and size the control necessary. To change the properties
of the control such as height and symbology type, right-click
on the control and choose Properties.
- To bind the control to a data source, enter the table and
field or formula in the control source field. The proper barcode
will show up after the report is saved and executed.
- Additional implementation information is provided in the
ActiveX Control Manual.
Font Encoder Implementation
- Run the installation executable file in the package and
follow the instructions to complete installation.
- Import the VBA module into
the database.
- Open a report in Design Mode.
- Add a text field to the report where the barcode will live. Adjust the field
size to contain the barcode.
Change the font point size of the field to 8 points.
- Right-click on the text field and enter the function call
as a formula in the control source property. For example:
=IDAutomation_Native_DataMatrix([Test
Data.data])
The following formula combines two fields into a single
symbol and inserts a tab function between them:
=IDAutomation_Native_DataMatrix([Test
Data.TextData] & Chr(9) & [Test Data.NumberData])
- Save the report and run it. Several numbers should appear
in the text field when the report is run. This data will create a correct barcode
after the Data Matrix Font is applied.
- Open the report in Design Mode and select the IDAutomationDMatrix
font for the text field. The recommended point size is 8.
- Save the report and run it. a correct symbol should appear
in the text field.
Word Mail-Merge Implementation
(Mac Compatible)
Data Matrix barcodes may be created in a Word mail-merge if Excel is used as
the data source with the following procedure.
- Extract the files provided with the product.
- When using Windows, run the installation executable in the
package to install the IDAutomationDMatrix font. Macintosh users
should follow the
Font Installation Procedures
for Mac to install the IDAutomationDMatrix
font.
- Import the VBA module into
the Excel spreadsheet that will be used as the data source.
When using the Macintosh, the native module,
IDAutomation_Native_DataMatrix_Mac.rtf
must be used.
- Because Office 2004 for Mac does not have an
import feature, users will need to copy the RTF file manually
by going to Tools - Macros - Visual Basic Editor. Once the editor
window is open, go to Insert - Module and paste the contents of the RTF
file.
- Place a title in each column of the spreadsheet on row 1
that will contain the data, and then import the data into the
Excel spreadsheet.
- Select a blank column on row 1, to the right of the last
populated column in the spreadsheet, and title it "Barcode".
- Add a formula on row 2 of the Barcode column that calls
the function as a formula.
- For example, the following formula adds columns A and B to the barcode.
Windows Example:
=SUBSTITUTE(EncNDM(A2&B2),CHAR(10),"")
Macintosh Example:
=SUBSTITUTE(EncNDM(A2&B2,0,0,-1),CHAR(10),"")
- The following formula adds just column A to the barcode,
with some optional parameters
=SUBSTITUTE(EncNDM(A2,1,0,3),CHAR(10),"")
- The following formula adds columns A, B and C to the barcode and separates
them with a comma delimiter.
Windows Example:
=SUBSTITUTE(EncNDM(A2&","&B2&","&C2),CHAR(10),"")
Macintosh Example:
=SUBSTITUTE(EncNDM(A2&","&B2&","&C2,0,0,-1),CHAR(10),"")
- Highlight the cell with the formula in it and select Edit
- Copy.
- Select the entire range of cells to paste this formula into
in the Barcode column and select Edit - Paste.
- Follow the procedures in Word to add this spreadsheet as
the data source the mail merge.
- Add the mail merge field titled "Barcode" to place the barcode
in the document.
- Highlight the «Barcode» merge field and select the IDAutomationDMatrix
font.
- After the mail merge is performed, the barcodes should appear
in the merged document.
- A working example is provided in the
Word Mail-Merge.doc file included
with the Windows install package.
IDAutomation provides two Crystal
Reports font encoders in this package:
- The
UFL Formula accesses the ActiveX DLL and Crystal
UFL for the font encoder function. Created in C++, the ActiveX
DLL is faster than the native formula. However, when distributing
the report, the Windows installation executable file must also
be installed.
- The
Native Formula is
the complete font encoder function that may be embedded in a
report, but is much slower than the Crystal UFL. When
distributing a report, however, no other components are required beyond
the Data Matrix font. Additionally, the slower speed of generation may not
be an issue when encoding less than 40 characters. This formula
is only supplied in the purchased version of the Advantage Package.
While not part of this package, IDAutomation provides two other Crystal
Reports implementations that may be a better solution for the
desired application:
The Crystal Reports UFL is designed to work with Crystal Reports
6.0 and above. However, because of a Crystal Reports limitation
prior to Version 9, only up to about 40 ASCII
characters, or 254 character, may be encoded. To overcome this limitation,
consider Crystal Reports version 9 or greater.
Crystal Reports Version 9 and Greater Overcome the 254
character limitation by using a formula that is able to retrieve
the data encoded in 254 byte chunks. A simple example of creating
a Data Matrix barcode in Crystal is included in the Font and Encoder
package. Consider referring to that example if problems
are encountered.
How the Font and Encoder Works with Crystal Reports
After installing the
Data Matrix Font and Encoder for Windows, the encoder functions will be
operative in Crystal Reports.
- The IDAutomationDataMatrixEncoderDMSet
function returns the number of data segments contained in the
barcode and sets up the barcode for retrieval. All fields passed
to the encoder set function must be text fields or they must
be converted to text.
- The IDAutomationDataMatrixEncoderDMGet
function returns a string for the designated data segment. A
correct barcode string is achieved when all data segments are
combined.
- When the barcode string is combined with IDAutomation's
Data Matrix font, it will produce a Data Matrix barcode.
How to Create a Data Matrix Barcode in Crystal Reports
- Select View - Field Explorer. Select Formula Fields. Right
click and select New. Enter a name to identify the formula created
and choose OK.
- The Formula Editor should now appear.
- When the Native Formula
is used, change the Formula Syntax to Basic Syntax. Copy
and paste the text from the file "Native
Formula for IDAutomation DataMatrix Fonts.txt" into
the Formula Editor dialog box. The
Native Crystal Report Example.rpt
file is provided in this package as an example, and may
be referred to for troubleshooting purposes.
- When the UFL Formula is
used, copy and paste the code below into the Formula Editor
dialog box. The Crystal Reports
Example.rpt file is provided in this package
as an example, and may be referred to for troubleshooting
purposes:
stringVar DataToEncode:= {Table.Field};
stringVar CompleteBarcodeString:="";
numberVar i:=0;
numberVar Segments:= IDAutomationDataMatrixEncoderDMSet(DataToEncode,0
,0 ,0 );
For i:=0 to Segments Do
(
CompleteBarcodeString := CompleteBarcodeString + IDAutomationDataMatrixEncoderDMGet(i);
);
CompleteBarcodeString
- Change the DataToEncode = section
of the formula so it encodes fields from a database. Save the
formula.
-
The field where the barcode is to be placed on the report
must allow multiple lines, because the formula draws the
symbol line-by-line. Format the field so that all borders
are removed as borders will usually cause scanning problems.
Size the field so that it is large enough to contain the
barcode.
-
Select File - Print Preview or the Preview tab. A series
of many characters will be visible in the text field which
is normal.
-
After the font of the field is changed to the Data Matrix
Font (IDAutomationDMatrix) a correct barcode symbol will be created.
There are a variety of ways to format the data-to-encode.
Combining multiple fields and placing functions
in a single barcode is also possible. The most common functions are
CHR(9) for tab and
CHR(13) for a return.
- The following formula combines two fields in a single barcode
and places a tab function between them:
stringVar DataToEncode:= {Table1.DataField1}
& CHR(9) & {Table1.DataField2};
- The following formula places a tab function and a return
function after the barcode:
stringVar DataToEncode:= {Table1.DataField1}
& CHR(9) & CHR(13);
- The formula below combines two fields with the date function:
stringVar DataToEncode:= {Table1.DataField1} & CHR(9) & {Table1.DataField2}
& CHR(13) & CurrentDate;
Refer to official Crystal Reports
documentation for more about creating reports with formulas.
The Native JavaScript Font Encoder is a complete font encoder
in a single JavaScript file, meaning no other components need to be installed
to create barcodes beyond the IDAutomationDMatrix font. This product
is only provided in the purchased version of the Advantage Package.
The following describes how to use the Native JavaScript Font Encoder
in HTML:
- Open the HTML document or application that the barcode is
to be integrated with.
- Add the following line at the top of the file just before
the </head> line to load the appropriate
JavaScript file:
<script language="JavaScript" src="IDAutomation_DataMatrix_Font_Encoder.js"></script>
- Add a script where the barcode is to appear in the HTML
document or text object, which is the file name without the
".js":
<font face="IDAutomationDMatrix" size="2">
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write(IDAutomation_DataMatrix_Font_Encoder("Created
with the IDAutomation.com Native JavaScript Font Encoder"));
</script></font><p>
- Modify "DataToEncode" with what is to be encoded in the
barcode. This may be accomplished with a "variable" in JavaScript
or a
dynamically generated webpage.
JavaScript
Font Encoder Parameters |
| Result = (DataToEncode As String, Optional
ProcessTilde, Optional
EncodingMode, Optional
PreferredFormat, Optional
HTML) |
Example:
IDAutomation_DataMatrix_Font_Encoder("ECC200_123456789012",false,2,29)); |
The HTML property sets the value for the carriage
return that draws the barcode. If HTML is true (the default setting),
the carriage return is <br> for use in HTML only. If it is false,
the carriage return is an ASCII 13 + ASCII 10, which is a return
and line feed.
Data Matrix barcode generation in .NET applications may be accomplished
with graphic or font encoders. Integration into ASP.NET and other
web applications is best implemented as a graphic encoder with the
ASP.NET Web Component provided in this package. Information
about printing from
the .NET Forms Control without
using fonts is provided in the
.NET Forms Control Manual.
.NET Font Encoder Example
The following is an example that uses the font encoder to obtain
the data, that when printed with IDAutomation's Data Matrix Font,
will create a correct barcode. The source code for this font encoder
example is provided in the package for testing and reference.
- In a .NET project, add a reference to the DLL and place
the import statement in the declarations section of the project.
For example:
Imports
IDAutomation.Windows.Forms.Data MatrixBarcode
- Obtain the string of data, that when printed with IDAutomation's
Data Matrix Font, will create a correct symbol:
Dim NewBarcode
As Data MatrixBarcode =
New Data MatrixBarcode()
TextBox2.Text = NewBarcode.FontEncoder(TextBox1.Text, 0, 0, 0,
False, Data MatrixBarcode.Data
MatrixModes.Text, True)
Java Integration
This section describes the font encoder process in Java. Implementation
in Java as a graphic encoder is described in the
Java Barcode User
Manual.
Install the Encoder Class Library
Copy everything in the "Java Class Encoder" directory to the root
directory of the system's Java classpath. Consult the Java documentation
or the company that provided the Java virtual machine for assistance.
Integrate the Font Encode Method
After the directories are copied to the classpath root, the method
to format data to the font can then be called from a method in a
Java application as in this example:
import java.io.*;
import com.idautomation.fontencoder.datamatrix.*;
class DMatrixTest
{
public static void main ( String [] args )
{ String dataToEncode = "Data Matrix Test";
DataMatrixEncoder dme=new DataMatrixEncoder();
System.out.println( dme.fontEncode(dataToEncode) );
}
}The data string returned by the fontEncode method
will create a proper Data Matrix symbol when printed with the Data
Matrix font. To install the font on an operating system, consult
the OS documentation or follow IDAutomation's
font installation procedures.
Java Encoder Properties and Methods
- fontEncode() is the method that formats and returns a string
of data formatted to the Data Matrix font.
- code is the value to be encoded.
- encoding is the encoding
mode; valid values are E_ASCII (default), E_C40, E_TEXT
or E_BASE256.
- preferredFormat sets the
preferred format represented
by a number; valid values are from 0 (10X10) to 23 (144X144)
and from 24 (8X18) to 29 (16X48); the default value is -1 which
sets this to automatic.
- processTilde If true ("Y") the tilde (~) will be
processed.
The IDAutomationDataMatrix.h is an unobfuscated C++ header file
that may be provided, upon request, with the purchase of an Unlimited Developer
License for the
Data Matrix Font & Encoder Advantage Package and a signed
Source
Code Agreement. This header file uses the C++ libraries to return
an encoded string that can be used with the IDAutomationDMatrix.
Both the method declaration and implementation are in the header
file, so no .cpp file is necessary. Include the header file in the
source code and it is ready to use. The header file contains no
OS-specific code and has been QA tested with G++ on Ubuntu Linux
and Visual Studio versions 6, 2003 and 2005.
The following is an implementation example that will display
the encoded text at the command prompt:
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include "IDAutomationDataMatrix.h"
int main()
{
string DataToEncode = "IDAutomation.com";
string EncodedData = "";
int ApplyTilde = 0;
int EncodingMode = 0;
int PreferredFormat = 0;
EncodedData = IDAutomation_DMFontEncode(DataToEncode,ApplyTilde,EncodingMode,PreferredFormat);
printf("Data Matrix Encoded Data:\n%s\n", EncodedData.c_str());
}
The function declaration is as follows:
string IDAutomation_DMFontEncode(string DataToEncode, int
ApplyTilde, int
EncodingMode, int
PreferredFormat)
Install the Font and Encoder for Windows by running the EXE file
provided in the package. Upon execution, it installs TrueType fonts,
implementation examples and registers the ActiveX DLL. To register
the DLL manually, perform the following:
- Copy the DLL to the
\System directory.
- Register the DLL by going to the command
prompt, change to the \system directory, and type the following
command: REGSVR32 "IDAutomationDMATRIX.DLL".
- After the DLL is installed
and registered, it may be accessed by any application that can retrieve
a text string or graphic object from a COM DLL.
When using the COM DLL as a graphic encoder, refer to the instructions
in the
ActiveX Control Manual. When using the COM DLL as a font encoder,
the FontEncode function is used to convert the data to encode into
a string, that when combined with the Data Matrix font, will create
a correct barcode. The following is Visual Basic 6 code that places
the result in the "PrintableBarcodeString" variable:
DataToEncode = InputString.Text
Dim DMFontEncoder As DMATRIXLib.Datamatrix
Set DMFontEncoder = New Datamatrix
DMFontEncoder.FontEncode DataToEncode, 0, 0, 0, Printable_string
PrintableBarcodeString = Printable_string
A Visual Basic project example is included with the package.
These files are placed in the destination directory upon installation.
Distributing the IDAutomation Data Matrix
Barcode Font and Encoder
Note: Redistribution of IDAutomation's fonts or components
requires a Developer License.
When Crystal Reports or Microsoft Access applications are distributed,
the Native Crystal Formula
or the Native Access Encoder provided
in this package may be distributed without any dependencies as the
font encoder function along with the IDAutomationDMatrix font. Other
encoders provided such as the ActiveX DLL, .NET DLL and Java Class
Library do not have any dependencies.
The benefits include high scalability with operating system,
application and printer independence, these are best described in
IDAutomation's
Font
Quality and Customer References Statement.
It is possible to scan and encode extended characters provided
these rules are followed:
- Encode the data using BASE256. This option encodes ASCII
0 to 255 of the ASCII character set. To encode ASCII 0, the
format ~d000 should be used. When
encoding over 1024 characters of data, ASCII 127-160 must also
be encoded in the format ~dNNN.
- Scan the data via the serial interface option (data bits
have to be 8N) on a scanner. Normally, keyboard wedges and USB
scanners do not support extended characters above ASCII 128
and they only can scan characters that are actually on the keyboard.
Contact the scanner vendor for more information on how to do
this; some internal settings may have to be modified on the
scanner.
Amount of Data That May be Encoded
IDAutomation's Data Matrix product will encode the amount of
data specified in the Data Matrix Formats section. However, in most
situations it is difficult to scan
data over 800 characters. The ActiveX and COM DLL provided have
an encoding limitation of about 800 characters, which is necessary
for compatibility with Visual Basic.
The Structured Append function
is also an option that will allow large amounts of data to be represented
as a sequence of up to 16 symbols. The original data can be reconstructed
regardless of the order of the symbols.
Microsoft Excel may be used as a data source for the font; however,
it is difficult to use the Data Matrix font in Excel. To overcome
this problem, the Data Matrix DLL supplied also works as an
ActiveX
Control and may be used in this way when fonts are not required. To use it in this manner, see the
ActiveX Control tutorial for instructions.
Some implementations of PostScript fonts can cause a small space
to appear between rows in the symbol. The only way to overcome this
issue is to make sure the printing application is not adding additional
line feeds, or in the case of PCL fonts, change the vertical motion
index as indicated below.
When using 12 or 14 point PCL fonts, adjusting the vertical
motion index is not usually necessary. If other sizes are
being used, however, adjustments may be needed to close the gap between
rows. To set the vertical motion index, issue the command before
printing with the Data Matrix font. The code for the vertical motion
index command is Escape "<Ec>" + "&" + lowercase L "l" + Number
Index + Capital "C". Use the chart below to find the command for
the correct font size. The number may be adjusted as necessary for
the printer.
PCL Font
Point Size |
Vertical
Motion Index Command to Use |
| 10 |
<Ec> &l6.5C |
| 8 |
<Ec> &l5.2C |
| 6 |
<Ec> &l3.9C |
In the example above, <Ec> represents the escape character
for the software used. In DOS Edit, Ec is represented by holding
down the CTRL key and pressing the letter P, Releasing both keys
and then press the ESC key.
X Axis Issues or Left Margin Alignment
Issues
This issue may arise when moving the barcode to the right on the
X axis using a programming language such as Visual Basic. When using
the printer.currentX specification to set the X axis, only the first
line of the barcode would print in the new position and the remaining
lines would print at zero (all the way to the left). This is because
the printer.currentX specification is reset every time a return
is performed. A return must be performed to print the font on the
new line.
The best resolution is to find a command that could
move the left margin so that a new line will return the insertion
point to the correct position. Since Visual Basic does not have
a command like this, a small piece of code must be written to set
the currentX for each line.
Step 1. Declare and initialize a variable with the desired X
position. Example: my_x = printer.currentX
Step 2. Replace the "Printer.Print OutputString" command with something
similar to the following:
For i = 1 To Len(Output)
out1 = out1 & Mid(Output, i, 1)
If Mid(Output, i, 1) = Chr(10) Then
out1 = Replace(out1, Chr(10), "")r> out1 = Replace(out1, Chr(13),
"")
Printer.CurrentX = my_x
Printer.Print out1
out1 = ""
End If
Next i
The selected format determines the smallest size of the symbol.
If the data encoded cannot fit in the selected size, a larger symbol
will automatically be generated. Valid values are from -1 (for automatic)
and 0 to 23 (144X144) and from 24 (8X18) to 29 (16X48). The following
table contains the size, the best case capacity and the correction
error features of each format:
|
Format Number |
Size |
Numeric Capacity |
Alphanumeric Capacity |
Binary Capacity |
Max Correctable Error/Erasure |
| 0 |
10 x 10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| 1 |
12 x 12 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
| 2 |
14 x 14 |
16 |
10 |
6 |
5/7 |
| 3 |
16 x 16 |
24 |
16 |
10 |
6/9 |
| 4 |
18 x 18 |
36 |
25 |
16 |
7/11 |
| 5 |
20 x 20 |
44 |
31 |
20 |
9/15 |
| 6 |
22 x 22 |
60 |
43 |
28 |
10/17 |
| 7 |
24 x 24 |
72 |
52 |
34 |
12/21 |
| 8 |
26 x 26 |
88 |
64 |
42 |
14/25 |
| 9 |
32 x 32 |
124 |
91 |
60 |
18/33 |
| 10 |
36 x 36 |
172 |
127 |
84 |
21/39 |
| 11 |
40 x 40 |
228 |
169 |
112 |
24/45 |
| 12 |
44 x 44 |
288 |
214 |
142 |
28/53 |
| 13 |
48 x 48 |
348 |
259 |
172 |
34/65 |
| 14 |
52 x 52 |
408 |
304 |
202 |
42/78 |
| 15 |
64 x 64 |
560 |
418 |
278 |
56/106 |
| 16 |
72 x 72 |
736 |
550 |
366 |
72/132 |
| 17 |
80 x 80 |
912 |
682 |
454 |
96/180 |
| 18 |
88 x 88 |
1152 |
862 |
574 |
112/212 |
| 19 |
96 x 96 |
1392 |
1042 |
694 |
136/260 |
| 20 |
104 x 104 |
1632 |
1222 |
814 |
168/318 |
| 21 |
120 x 120 |
2100 |
1573 |
1048 |
204/390 |
| 22 |
132 x 132 |
2608 |
1954 |
1302 |
248/472 |
| 23 |
144 x 144 |
3116 |
2335 |
1556 |
310/590 |
| 24 |
8 x 18 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
| 25 |
8 x 32 |
20 |
13 |
8 |
5 |
| 26 |
12 x 26 |
32 |
22 |
14 |
7/11 |
| 27 |
12 x 36 |
44 |
31 |
20 |
9/15 |
| 28 |
16 x 36 |
64 |
46 |
30 |
12/21 |
| 29 |
16 x 48 |
98 |
72 |
47 |
14/25 |
The data encoded in the barcode may be compressed by changing
the encoding mode, if certain text is being encoded. Valid values
are 0 for BASE256, 1 for C40, 2 for TEXT and 3 for ASCII.
- 0 - BASE256 is used to encode 8 bit values.
- 1 - C40 is used to encode data that mainly contains numeric
and upper case characters. C40 encodes three alphanumeric data
characters into two bytes.
- 2 - TEXT is used to encode data that mainly contains numeric
and lowercase characters. TEXT encodes three alphanumeric data
characters into two bytes.
- 3 - ASCII is used to encode data that mainly contains ASCII
characters (0-127). It encodes one alphanumeric or two numeric
characters per byte. Use this mode when encoding
DOD UID or
ISO/IEC 15434.
All encoding systems can be used to encode any data; however,
encoding binary data with C40 generates much more overhead (a larger
symbol) than with BASE256.
When ProcessTilde is equal to 1 or TRUE, the tilde (~) may be
used to recognize some special characters in the input data. The
following possibilities are available:
- ~dNNN: Represents the ASCII character encoded by the 3 digits
NNN. For example, ~d065 represents the character 'A'.
The IDAutomation DataMatrix barcode font is named IDAutomationDMatrix,
and is included in several formats including TrueType, PostScript,
OpenType and PCL. The IDAutomationDMatrix font should be printed
at 8 points unless generating a larger or smaller barcode.
Font
Point Size: |
Approximate
X dimensions for Data Matrix Font
|
| 14 |
.122 CM |
48 MILS |
| 12 |
.105 CM |
41 MILS |
| 10 |
.086 CM |
33 MILS |
| 8 |
.061 CM |
24 MILS |
| 6 |
.052 CM |
20 MILS |
| 4 |
.031 CM |
13 MILS |
| 3 |
.026 CM |
10 MILS |
| 2 |
.017 CM |
6 MILS |
The data returned from the Data Matrix Encoder may
be used for other purposes, such as in using
intelligent positioning drives
to stamp codes into metal parts. The images in the characters of
the font are 4 squares stacked on top of each other. The sequence
is a binary 0 (0000) (0 being a white space or no impression and
1 being dark space or an impression) at character "P" to a binary
15 (1111) at character "A". For example, multiple A's (1111) stacked,
create a vertical line of 4 squares.
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