# All about pdf417 - 2D Barcodes


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FTA TECHNOLOGY
CONFERENCE
2D BARCODES AT A GLANCE
Carlos Gonzalez
CTO Dataintro Software
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
ABOUT 2D BARCODES
• Appeared in 1988 (with Code 49 - Intermec)
• Used in a variety of environments
(surgical, electronic parts, transportation, stamps, taxes)
• PDF 417 (Symbol - 1990)
• More than 20 different 2D symbologies (2005)
In 2003, Missouri started a new era of tax tools
In 2004, AL, AZ, OK, MD, LA
Our Phylosophy: 1 FORM = 1 BARCODE
2D BARCODES = SAFETY NET
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FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
1D & 2D BARCODES?
2
ycnadnudeR Datamatrix PDF
3 of 9 417
1D Reading
2D Reading
•ECL in form of checksum •ECL in form of codewords
•Reads with Laser •Reads with Imager (CCD)
•Small capacity •Large capacity(*)
•Used as a Key to DB •Portable Database
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
THE WORLD OF 2D BARCODES
STACKED TYPE
Codablock
Code 49 PDF 417
MATRIX TYPE
Code 1 Datamatrix QR Code
3di OTHAErrRa yT TYaPgE DataGlyph

FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
HOW TO GENERATE 2D BARCODES
Libraries
• Have to be installed with software application
• Software app. has to be developed & maintained
Fonts
• Have to be installed in the user PC (at least once)
• Need a specific encoding algorithm (similar as libraries)
PDF Forms
• Do not install libraries
• Do not install fonts
• Leverage a general purpose platform (PDF)
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
HOW TO READ 2D BARCODES
Software (needs previous scan to Image)
AllMyPapers, IBM IFP, Pegasus,
TeleForm (Verity), Seaport, etc.
Starting at 1,000$
Hardware (Laser & CCD)
Symbol, Datalogic, Metrologic
CCD, Laser
Starting at 350$
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FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
PAPER FORMS DATA CAPTURE ALTERNATIVES
OCR, OMR, ICR (Pattern based methods)
EXCEPTION HANDLING
MANUAL HAND KEY (single, double, triple)
BOTH HAVE ERRORS (& FALSE POSITIVES)
2D BARCODES are 100% ERROR FREE
•Less expensive to read (.90 vs .30 )
$ $
•No error or false positives
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
Starring PDF 417
PDF= Portable Data File
ISO:IEC 15438 (SYMBOL TECH.)
The basic unit: Mr. Codeword
(a 417 pattern)
23134121
1 BARCODE = 925 MAX DATA CW
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FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
ANATOMY OF A PDF 417
Start Left Row DATA Right R. Stop
Pattern Indicator CODEWORDS Indicator Pattern
(1-30 columns)
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ENOZ
TEIUQ
GNIDAEL
ENOZ
TEIUQ
GNILIART
SYMBOL CAPACITY
1,850 TEXT - 1,108 BYTE - 2,710 NUMBER (ECL-0)
2 CharPerCw 1.2 CharPerCw 2.93 CharPerCw
1,726 TEXT - 1,033 BYTE - 2,528 NUMBER (ECL-5 )
min rec
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
ROWS AND COLUMNS
ROW
2 COLUMNS OVERHEAD
10 COLUMNS
she sells sea shells by the sea shore she
sells sea shells by the sea shore (76)
Number of COLUMNS is between 1-30
Number of ROWS is between 3-90

FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
ECL : Error Correction Level
ECL 4 (118 DATA : 32 ECC)
ECL 6 (118 DATA : 128 ECC)
ECL 8 (118 DATA : 512 ECC)
MANUFACTURER
RECOMMENDATIONS (SYMBOL):
When I find myself in times of
trouble Mother Mary comes to Always try to maintain printing
me speaking words of wisdom,
let it be. And in my hour of quality.
darkness She is standing right
in front of me speaking words
of wisdom, let it be. Let it Do not compensate poor
be, let it be (230)
printing quality with a raise of
ECL
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
RESOLUTION & X:Y RATIO
X
1:1 MODULE
RESOLUTION (X)
2:1 measured in mils
1 mil = 1/10,000 inch
3:1
4X
3X
2X
4:1
MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS (SYMBOL):
At least minimum recommended ECL: 3x
Less than minimum recommended ECL: 4x
6
Y

FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
2D BARCODE PARAMETERS
QUANTITY OF DATA
COMPRESSED, UNCOMPRESSED
AVAILABLE PHYSICAL SPACE
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AT DESIGN TIME, REDESIGN, SEPARATE SHEET
READING METHOD PRINTING ENV.
HARD, SOFT, FAX CONTROLLED vs UNCONTROLLED
NUM. COLUMNS ECL
1-30 1-8
RESOLUTION X:Y RATIO
10-15 2:1 - 3:1
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
WHAT’S INSIDE A 2D BARCODE?
ALPHANUMERIC DATA
- Static info (owner): DOR ID, Form Version...
- Variable info (owner): Date, Time...
- Control Characters (TAB, CR, F keys)
- Variable info (user): User Data...
- Any Format (CSV,TAB,XML)
VALUABLE FORM INFO
- NumChars, TimeToFill, ViewerVersion, etc...
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FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
MACRO PDF417
Up to 99,999 symbols can be chained
together and be read as one file
Totalling 100+ MB
• Macro vs Distributed 2D Barcoding
MICRO PDF417 (aka “Truncated”)
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
MULTI PAGE BARCODING OPTIONS
1 BC = 1 Page 1 BC = 1 Form 1 Page for all BCs.
Needs 3 Watch print order (what do I sign?)
captures
DON’T ALLOW THE USER TO
PRINT THE FORM PARTIALLY
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FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
2D BARCODES & ENCRYPTION
2D BARCODES ARE FOR DATA CAPTURE
- What if we cannot read?
Controlled vs Uncontrolled (Print env.)
- Sign readable set
DATA + KEY = Encrypted DATA
Technology = Rsytbwpwyz
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
FAXES & 2D BARCODES
• Capture from FAX
• Symbol needs more resolution
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FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
FIND THIS PRESENTATION AT:
www.dataintro.com/fta/
send questions to:
carlosg@dataintro.com
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT 2D BARCODES...
WWW.ADAMS1.COM
WWW.SYMBOL.COM
FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
August 7-10 | Columbus, OH
2D Barcodes at a Glance
Carlos Gonzalez (Dataintro Software)
2D BARCODES AT A GLANCE
THANK YOU!
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