Create a GS1 DataMatrix Symbol

Description

Currently, the GS1 GS1 is a non-profit international organization devoted to developing and maintaining standards for supply chain visibility, including standards for identification, encoding and capturing data, and data sharing. GS1 was formed as a global organization in 2005 derived from the Uniform Code Council (UCC) and EAN International (EAN). DataMatrix symbology is not available as a barcode Symbology Grouped bar and space patterns used to represent different characters, designed to meet the needs of a specific application or industry. Refer to the advanced bar code symbologies that are supported by Loftware that include PDF 417, Maxicode, MicroPDF, Datamatrix, PostNet, QR, TLC39, and GS1 Symbologies. in the Loftware Label A label is a design area on the computer screen where a label format is created or edited. Manager Design Barcode Wizard.

To Reproduce

1. Create a new label, or open an existing label in Loftware Label Manager Design.
2. Click the Insert menu, and select Bar Code Wizard A program included in Loftware Label Manager that builds a bar code based on a particular specification. It includes a list of the symbologies available for that specification. In Loftware Label Manager, you build the bar code step by step by choosing which components to add as you respond to each dialog box presented to you..
3. Expand the UCC Wizards item, and note that GS1 DataMatrix is not an available choice.
   

Cause
The GS1 DataMatrix barcode requires the GS1 Symbology Identifier in the first position. This is a different requirement than other Data Matrix ECC 200 symbols.

Solution

You can design a GS1 DataMatrix barcode using Loftware Label Manager Design and print that barcode using the Loftware Print Server provided the Datamatrix symbol is sent to the printer as an image. To print GS1 DataMatrix symbols on your labels you must create a Formula data source for the barcode and enable a Loftware Print Server system setting for printing barcodes as images.

Requirements

• Identify the printer models that will be used to print the GS1 DataMatrix symbols.

Create a label with a Datamatrix symbol

1. Create a barcode on the label.
2. SelectDatamatrix from the Symbology drop down on the Properties box.
    
   Properties Box with DataMatrix Symbol A machine readable pattern typically composed of quiet zones, start/stop or finder pattern(s), and symbol characters (which include special function and error detection and/or correction characters) required by a particular symbology. Selected
3. Open the Data Sources window - click the button in the Data Sources field of the Properties box.
4. Select Formula, and create a formula for your specific needs.
   
   Formula Data Source Where data is extracted to produce labels. Loftware Label Manager provides a variety of data sources, including the keyboard, a database, serial number, a formula, via the UCC or UPN Wizard. For RFID labels and tags, data can come from the Keyboard data source or by configuring data blocks using the Block Configuration data source. Example for GS1 DataMatrix Symbol

Identify the Printer IDs to Configure for Barcode Bitmaps

1. Use ~1 to enter the FNC1 Symbol Character A unique bar and/or space pattern, or a dark and light cell pattern, which is defined for a specific symbology.  There is not necessarily a one-to-one unique correlation between symbol characters and data characters.  Depending on the symbology, symbol characters may have a unique associated symbol value..
   Example Formula
   The following example formula contains:
   "~1" GS1 Symbology Identifier
   GTIN AI
   GTIN value (14 chars)
   Serial Number AI
   Serial Number value (Variable Length)
   "~1"
   Batch/Lot AI
   Batch/Lot Value
2. Open the prslst32.lfw file in a text editor. The default location for this file is C:\Program Files\Loftware Labeling.
3. Locate the names of the printer models you identified in the Requirements section.
   For Example
   Find the entry for a Zebra 220xiIII
   "Loftware Zebra 90xiIII",3191,"ZEBRA32.DLL",1,9600,8,2,1,0,6"Loftware Zebra 96xiIII",3195,"ZEBRA32.DLL",1,9600,8,2,1,0,6"Loftware Zebra 140xiIII",3192,"ZEBRA32.DLL",1,9600,8,2,1,0,6"Loftware Zebra 170xiIII",3193,"ZEBRA32.DLL",1,9600,8,2,1,0,6"Loftware Zebra 220xiIII",3194,"ZEBRA32.DLL",1,9600,8,2,1,0,6
   
   

Note the 4-digit number after the printer model. This is the Loftware Printer ID.
"Loftware Zebra 220xiIII",3194,"ZEBRA32.DLL",1,9600,8,2,1,0,6

Alternate Method

1. Note the Printer number of the configured printer you will be using.
2. Open the printr32.ini file and locate the printer numbered one less than your printer number
   For Example
   Printer Number 5 will be numbered 4 in the printr32.ini file
3. Note the 4-digit number prior to the last comma. This is the Loftware Printer ID.
   Printer0=Loftware Zebra 140xiIII,172.16.60.04:9100,3192,prt1

Enable BarcodeBitmaps in Llmwdn32.ini

1. Select Start | Programs | Loftware Labeling | System Folders | Configuration, and open the LLMWDN32 configuration file in a text editor.
2. Add the [BarcodeBitmaps] setting to the file.
3. Under the BarcodeBitmaps setting, add Datamatrix= and the Loftware Printer IDs that you identified.
   For Example
   [BarcodeBitmaps]Datamatrix=3194
   For multiple printers, enter IDs separated by commas.
   [BarcodeBitmaps]Datamatrix=3194,3224,3345
   
   Note: It is not necessary to add Windows printers to the INI file.
   Loftware Print Server is Configured to use Windows Registry Settings
   If your Loftware Print Server is configured to use settings in the windows registry you must perform the following additional steps to enable BarcodeBitmaps.
4. Select Start | All Programs | Loftware Labeling | Print Server | LPS Configuration. The Loftware Print Server Configuration Utility opens.
5. Press Shift | F2. The Advanced tab appears. Select the Advanced tab.
6. Clear the Remap Ini Files to Registry checkbox, and click OK.
7. Add the BarcodeBitmap setting to the LLMWDN32 configuration file as described previously.
8. Repeat steps 1 and 2, and then reselect the Remap Ini Files to Registry checkbox. Click OK.

Result
DataMatrix symbols sent to the printer models you enabled in the configuration file will be sent from the Loftware Print Server as images as opposed to native printer commands. When you scan the printed DataMatrix barcode, the Symbology Identifier (]d2) will appear at the start of the code if your scanner firmware and software support the GS1 Datamatrix symbology.

For Example
When you scan the barcode created with the example formula and .lwl file in this article, you see the following result.
]d20111112222333344212263[GS]10BR549
Note: the first ~1 scans as the Symbology Identifier (]d2) and that the second ~1 scans as the Group A logical organization of resources. Resources are not failed from one cluster member to another, groups are. This allows the administrator to place dependent resources into one unit, which guarantees that the same cluster member always owns a resource and all its dependencies. Separator, [GS], as described in the GS1 DataMatrix Introduction and Technical Overview.