Data Matrix
Data Matrix is one of the types of barcodes that can be added to a template; see Barcode.
The barcode can be added either using the Barcode toolbar button or through selecting Insert > Barcode on the menu; see Adding a Barcode.
Initially the barcode will have the barcode type's default properties. To change those properties, such as the scale and color, open the Barcode properties dialog: right-click the barcode (on the Design tab in the Workspace) and select the Barcode... option in the context menu.
Data Matrix barcodes can be read even if they are partially damaged, because of the error correction codes added to them (according to the ECC200 standard).
Barcode properties
This topic lists the properties of the Data Matrix barcode. For the properties of other barcode types, see Barcode type and properties.
Tilde characters in the data are processed as special characters (see the Java4less Barcodes Guide to learn what the tilde character can be used for).
Any tilde that needs to be included in the output must be escaped by adding another tilde (either "~~", or "7E7E" if the Hex input option is enabled). This can be done with a
Any tilde that needs to be included in the output must be escaped by adding another tilde (either "~~", or "7E7E" if the Hex input option is enabled). This can be done with a
replace() call in the Barcode script, after expanding the script. Hex Input
For optimized mailings, German Post requires the supplied data for the Data Matrix barcode to be hexadecimal input.
Check this option if your input data is a hexadecimal code. The incoming data will be interpreted as hexadecimal input and decoded to ASCII before passing the string to the Barcode library.
Dots Per Pixels
Type the number of dots per pixel. To optimize barcode quality a Data Matrix symbol should not be printed with dots smaller than 4 pixels.
Encoding
The data represented in the symbol can be compressed using of the following algorithms.
- ASCII is used to encode data that mainly contains ascii characters (0-127)
- C40 is used to encode data that mainly contains numbers and uppercase characters.
- Text is used to encode data that mainly contains numbers and lowercase
- Base256 is used to encode 8 bit values
- Auto Detect automatically detects the data content and encodes using the most appropriate method.
- None does not use any encoding.
Preferred format
Use the drop-down to select the size of the Data Matrix.
Scale
Defines if and how the rendered barcode is scaled in relation to the parent element:
- None: The barcode is rendered based on the module width.
- Proportional: The barcode is stretched up to where it fits either the width or height of the parent box, whichever requires the less stretching.
Tilde processing
Check this option to process tilde characters in the data as special characters. (See the Java4less Barcodes Guide to learn what the tilde character can be used for.)
Note that with this option checked, any tilde that needs to be included in the output must be escaped by adding another tilde: ~~.
Color
The Color group allows you to choose a different Barcode color (instead of black) and Background color (instead of white), by typing a hexadecimal color value (see for example w3school's color picker).
When black is a composite of CMYK or RGB values, it may incur a color click charge on some printers. Check the Output in Grayscale option to make sure that pure black is used.
Output format
Defines how the barcode is output on the page. There are two possible formats:
- SVG: Vector format. This is usually of higher quality, but may take longer to generate and is not compatible with Email output.
- PNG: Binary rasterized format. This has a slightly lower quality than SVG but is usually generated faster and will display properly in Email output.