Overview of the General 2D Codes

Name

Formats and permitted characters

Aztec

Format: any. Note the options dialog, where you can set the data layer.

Permitted characters: any

Datamatrix

In order to enter non-printable characters (binary data) in the barcode text, they must be packaged in a special string. The data is inserted using the ~dNNN string, whereby NNN stands for ASCII-Code.

Example: DEA~d065~d015~d000~d247~d220 (~d065 stands for "A")

To represent an EAN data matrix, you can code the special FNC1 character as ~1.

The Datamatrix symbology uses the ECC 200 error correction code. Note the options dialog, where you can set the module format and the encoding.

EPC

According to specification of the European Payments Council. Please note the options dialog.

PDF417

Can display all available and non-printable characters. Note the options dialog, where you can set the Error correction, Truncated and the x:y ratio.

In order to enter non-printable characters (binary data) in the barcode text, they must be packaged in a special string. The data is inserted using the "{binary:nn}" string, whereby nn stands for any sequence of two-character hexadecimal numbers. This is especially important if Maxicodes are to be created according to UPS specifications; the special characters needed for this can be entered in this way:

In order to pack a Null and a Backspace (BS) character in the data, use "{binary:0008}" (corresponds to "{binary:00}{binary:08}").

Use "Hallo{binary:0d0a}World" to include a line break.

MicroPDF417

Can display all available and non-printable characters. Note the options dialog, where you can set the Format, Encoding and the x:y ratio.

The MicroPDF417 supports an even higher information density than PDF417 - the x:y bar ratio can be set as low as 1:1.

QR Code

Format: any. Note the options dialog.

Permitted characters: all characters

Example: ~d065 stands for the letter "A".