2D Barcode Details

2D barcodes enable multiple type-specific settings under the Details tab. When defining these settings manually, the dropdown lists offer specific standard-compliant options.

Tip

Desktop Designer defines the Details tab settings automatically if the user chooses not to manually define them.

Code Page

Code page defines how the mapping of code characters with scanned characters is done. To display the scanned data accurately, the correct code page must be selected. If none of the code pages is selected by the user, Desktop Designer uses system character encoding.

Columns

Columns are basic vertical elements of a PDF 417 barcode. A maximum of 30 columns may be included in a single PDF 417 symbol.

Compaction Mode

Compaction mode compacts a number of data characters into codewords. The decoding algorithm uses the individual codewords to place them into a meaningful matrix.

  • Binary: all 256 ASCII values (up to 1100 bytes) are allowed.

  • Text: all printable ASCII characters 32–126 and ASCII 9, 10 and 13 (up to 1800 characters) are allowed.

  • Numeric: encoding of numeric data (up to 2700 digits).

Data Layer

Data layer defines the number of data layers that encode data in an Aztec barcode. The number of data layers correlates directly with the barcode data capacity. If the value exceeds the data capacity provided by the selected Data layer, an error returns. One to four data layers are allowed.

Encoding

Encoding defines the character encoding scheme for the selected barcode.

Note

You can use Binary encoding in QR code. Since Loftware variable content is alphanumeric only, binary encoding uses Neodynamic library with QR Code tide processing:

  • ~1: represents the FNC1 code.

  • ~7NNNNNN: specifies the Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI), and NNNNNN is a value between 000000 and 999999. The default is ECI 000003, representing the ISO 8859-1 Latin Alphabet No. 1.

  • ~dNNN: represents a byte value in decimal notation. NNN is a numeric value between 000 to 255.

  • ~hXX: represents a byte value in hexadecimal notation. XX is a hexadecimal value between 00 and FF.

  • ~kXXXX: represents a Kanji double-byte value in hexadecimal notation. XXXX is a hexadecimal value of Shift JIS Kanji characters according to JIS X 0208:1997, Annex 1.

Note

If you select the GS1 Datamatrix barcode, Loftware automatically sets the encoding scheme to ASCII. This makes sure the GS1 Datamatrix barcodes on your labels are GS1-compliant.

Error Correction Level

Error correction level defines the symbol security level. It adds a series of error correction codewords to the encoded data. These codewords enable the printed symbol to withstand damage without data loss. The higher the security level, the greater the number of data layers required to contain the symbol – and hence, its overall size. If none of the Error correction levels is selected, Desktop Designer defines it automatically.

Format

Format defines the symbol size and its capacity using the number of column and row elements.

If using Data Matrix barcode on your labels, DMRE (Data Matrix Rectangular Extension) allows you to use multiple rectangular formats. These additional rectangular sizes increase the data encoding capacity of the barcode.

Note

For printers without internal DMRE support, enable Always print as graphics under General properties to print the Data Matrix barcode successfully.

Rows

Rows – PDF-417 barcode symbol is made of stacks of vertically aligned rows. Such barcode adapts its size to the amount of the encoded data and may contain from 3 to 90 rows.

Symbol Version

Symbol version defines the symbol data capacity. As the amount of data increases, additional modules are required to build a QR code. This makes the symbol larger on the printed label.

Truncated

Truncated reduces the PDF-417 barcode size by removing a single codeword and a stop bar from each symbol row.

Version

Version defines the symbol size based on the number of columns. One-, two-, three-, and four-column versions of Micro PDF417 barcode are available.

Pixel shaving

Pixel shaving or Bar width reduction (BWR) reduces the number of pixels for each individual dot in your barcode. Use Pixel shaving to adjust the graphics design file of your barcode to compensate for press gain (ink spread) at print time. Press gain can affect your barcode readability.

Pixel shaving doesn't change the overall size of your barcode.

Maxicode doesn't support Pixel Shaving.