PDF417, or Portable Data File 417,
is a two-dimensional stacked barcode symbology capable of encoding over a
kilobyte of data per label. It was developed by Symbol Technologies (1989-1992)
and is currently maintained by ANSI / AIM USA.
Large amounts of text and data can be stored securely and inexpensively when
using the PDF417 symbology. The printed symbol consists of several linear rows
of stacked codewords. Each codeword represents 1 of 929 possible values from
one of three different clusters. A different cluster is chosen for each row,
repeating after every three rows.
PDF417 is a bar code symbology with the following basic characteristics:
- Encodable character set:
- Text Compaction mode permits all printable ASCII characters to be encoded, i.e. values 32 - 126 inclusive in accordance with ISO/IEC 646 (IRV), as well as selected control characters.
- Byte Compaction mode permits all 256 possible 8-bit byte values to be encoded. This
includes all ASCII characters value 0 to 127 inclusive and provides for international character set
support.
- Numeric Compaction mode permits efficient encoding of numeric data strings.
- Up to 811 800 different character sets or data interpretations.
- Various function codewords for control purposes.
- Symbol character structure: (n, k, m) characters of 17 modules (n), 4 bar and 4 space elements (k), with
the largest element 6 modules wide (m).
- Maximum possible number of data characters per symbol (at error correction level 0): 925 data
codewords which can encode:
- Text Compaction mode: 1 850 characters (at 2 data characters per codeword).
- Byte Compaction mode: 1 108 characters (at 1,2 data characters per codeword).
- Numeric Compaction mode: 2 710 characters (at 2,93 data characters per codeword)
At the minimum recommended error correction level, there is a maximum of 863 data codewords which
can encode:
- Text Compaction mode: 1 726 characters (at 2 data characters per codeword).
- Byte Compaction mode: 1 033 characters (at 1,2 data characters per codeword).
- Numeric Compaction mode: 2 528 characters (at 2,93 data characters per codeword).
- Symbol size:
- Number of rows: 3 to 90.
- Number of columns: 1 to 30.
- Width in modules: 90X to 583X including quiet zones.
- Maximum codeword capacity: 928 codewords.
- Maximum data codeword capacity: 925 codewords.
Since the number of rows and the number of columns are selectable, the aspect ratio of a PDF417 symbol
may be varied when printing to suit the spatial requirements of the application.
- Selectable error correction: 2 to 512 codewords per symbol
- Non-data overhead:
- Per row: 73 modules, including quiet zones.
- Per symbol: a minimum of 3 codewords, represented as symbol characters.
- Code type: continuous, multi-row two-dimensional.
- Character self-checking: Yes.
- Bi-directionally decodable: Yes.
PDF417 Barcode for .NET, ASP.NET supports:
- all 128 characters of ASCII
- Add Reference BarcodeLib.Barcode.dll to your .NET project (ASP.NET website, Forms, any .NET project)
In your .NET class.
BarcodeLib.Barcode.PDF417.PDF417 barcode = BarcodeLib.Barcode.PDF417.PDF417();
barcode.Data = "your barcode data";
// other barcode settings.
// save barcode image into your system
barcode.drawBarcode("c:/barcode.gif");
* Please set properties
UOB and
Resolution, before you set any image size related properties like BarWidth, LeftMargin.