Print PDF417 as a Font
- Print PDF417 as a Font
- Works with Crystal Reports
- Compatible with many operating systems
- Uses IDAutomation Vertical Interleaved Technology™
- Includes ActiveX Control, Java Library and .NET DLL.
IDAutomation's PDF417 symbology barcode fonts allow printing of two dimensional,
multi-row PDF 417 barcodes from MS Windows and any other operating system with a
Java Virtual Machine that supports TrueType, BDF, FON, SFP, PCL laserjet soft
fonts, PostScript (type 1) Binary or PostScript ASCII fonts. Implementing bar
code solutions with our fonts, provides a high level of scalability with operating
system, application and printer independence.
PDF417 Barcode Symbology General Information
Large amounts of text and data can be stored securely and inexpensively when using
the PDF-417 symbology. Using Reed Solomon error correction, the printed PDF417
symbol can withstand damage without causing loss of data. This high level of error
correction is far more advanced than one dimensional barcodes with check digits.
The Reed Solomon error correction adds significantly to the size of the PDF417
barcode, but this is usually not a problem because the barcode is two-dimensional,
multi-row and can be printed at very small x dimensions. Up to about 850 characters
can be dependably encoded with our PDF417 Font and Encoder package.
PDF417 Font Implementation Options & Automation
This advanced PDF417 font uses IDAutomation Vertical Interleaved Technology™
which allows increased throughput and printing at small X dimensions. The
implementation of PDF417, as a font, consists of both the encoder and the font.
The purpose of the encoder is to convert the data to encode into proper bar and
space patterns formatted to our PDF417 barcode font. The encoder returns a text
string that when printed or displayed as our PDF417 font creates the PDF417 symbol.
It is necessary to use the encoder because of the complexity of the symbology and
the required Reed Solomon error correction.
IDAutomation's PDF417 font encoder is accessible as a Windows DLL, .NET DLL and
a Java class library. However, there are a few options available for printing PDF417
from other operating systems that do not have this support:
- PDF417 may be printed on another system by using the encoder (DLL or java
library) to populate a database with the "text string to print" and then access the
database from the other operating system with the PDF417 font.
- The source code for printing PDF417 directly from Java,
C++ .NET and Visual Basic
6 can also be supplied with the purchase of 3 Developer Licenses and a signed
source code license agreement. The VB source code consists of about 1200 lines of code
using simple functions and arrays that can be easily converted to a programming language
for another operating system.
- If you are a java programmer, we also have complete JavaBeans, applets and
servlets that can create several 1D barcodes plus PDF417 on any OS with a Java virtual
machine, including web pages.
In Microsoft Windows, the encoder is an ActiveX DLL that is installed when you install
the PDF417 Fonts and Encoder application. The other tools provided such as MS Office
macros, access the encoder from the PDF417 DLL.
Running the INSTALL.exe file in the package will install the following components:
- The PDF417 Encoder for Windows -- an application that provides an easy method
for users to create PDF417 barcodes and print them or paste them into other applications.
For more information on this application, please review the PDF417 Encoder for Windows
Tutorial.
- Crystal Reports UFL and sample report -- for barcoding in
Crystal Reports version
9 and above.
- MS Office Macros -- are provided as MS Word Mail-Merge,
Access 97 and Access 2000
macros. The VBA macro code can also be used in other MS Office applications.
- The PDF417 DLL -- with this DLL, programmers can use the PDF417 encoding functions
in any development environment that can use ActiveX DLL technology.
- Visual Basic source code to access the DLL -- this is the
VB source code used to create the PDF417 Encoder for Windows. The source code for printing
PDF417 directly from Visual Basic, a C++ DLL or Java can be revealed
with the purchase of 3 Developer Licenses and a signed source code license agreement.
- TrueType PDF417 fonts -- four fonts are installed for printing with different ratios
from 1:2 to 1:5.
- PDF417 ActiveX Control -- our ActiveX Control is also supplied with the font and
encoder package. The control is easy to use in Access, Excel,
Visual Basic, Visual Foxpro and C++.
For the operation of this control, please refer to the PDF417 ActiveX
Control & DLL User Manual.
The following encoders are included in the ZIP file but are not installed with INSTALL.exe:
Font and Encoder Advanced Options
IDAutomation's PDF417 font encoders allow advanced users to re-shape the PDF417 symbol
and define specific options such as error correction levels, row and column limits, and
truncation.
Error Correction Levels
By default, if the error correction level is not defined, the encoder chooses an error
correction level between 2 and 5 that is recommended by AIM standards. The error correction
level automatically chosen depends on the amount of data that needs to be encoded. The error
correction can also be manually selected from level 1 to level 8.
Font Point Sizes, X and Y Dimensions
The X dimension is the width of the narrowest bar. When printing at 10 points, the X dimension
is set to .015 inches, or 15 mil. If your barcode scanner supports it, we recommend printing
the PDF417 font at 6 points (which is about .009 inches, or 9 mil), if you need to print very
small symbols. We have been able to dependably scan our PDF417 font printed as small as 4 points
(6 mil) with the Hand Held Products PDF417 CCD scanner we sell at our scanner site.
The Y dimension is the height of each row within the PDF417 symbol. We recommend printing
the standard PDF417 font which has an X to Y ratio of 1:3. Fonts are also provided for ratios
of 1:5, 1:4 and 1:2. To get the full benefit of changing the X to Y ratio, you should also
adjust your font size.
Aspect Ratio, Row and Column Limits
The aspect ratio is the ratio between the height and width of the entire PDF417 symbol. By
default, the aspect ratio is 1:3 which will generate a PDF417 symbol which is 3 times wide
as it is high. The number of rows and columns can also be selected to place the symbol in
specific form. If either the number of rows or columns is set then the PDF417 code created
will have the number of rows and columns selected. The PDF417 symbol has limits and if the
rows or columns cause the symbol to go beyond the limits of the symbol the row and column
settings will be ignored. The PDF417 symbol is limited to 30 columns and 90 rows. When
selecting columns, keep in mind that you are only selecting the number of data columns in
the symbol. The normal PDF417 symbol has two row start columns and two row stop columns.
Truncated PDF417 contains only two row start columns.
Truncated PDF417
A truncated PDF417 symbol is more area efficient than normal PDF417. By selecting this
option, the right hand side of the PDF417 is removed or truncated. This option should only
be used in clean environments since it is less immune to damage.
Scanning PDF417
With a 600 DPI laser printer, the PDF417 font can be printed at 4 points or smaller if the
scanner supports reading it. Printed with a HP Laserjet at 600 DPI, we have been able to
dependably scan our PDF417 font printed at 4 points with the Hand Held Products PDF417 CCD scanner we sell
at our IDAutomation.com site. The symbol should be printed at 8 to 10 points for open systems.
PDF417 Fonts and Encoder Specifications
PDF417 Java class library
.NET DLL and Forms Control
Licensing Agreement
Price List & Order Form
