IDAutomation PDF417 Barcode Font and Encoder

-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
-Supports TrueType, SFP, PCL laserjet soft fonts, PostScript (type 1) Binary or PostScript ASCII fonts
-Custom BDF, FON, AFP, Xerox Metacode, XES and FNT fonts can also be created with the Developer's License and one year of support
-Implementing bar code solutions with our fonts, provides a high level of scalability with operating system, application and printer independence. Learn more about the quality of our fonts.

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. More about data limits in PDF417...

PDF417 Font Implementation Options & Automation


Our 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, SFP, PCL laserjet soft fonts, PostScript (type 1) Binary or PostScript ASCII fonts. 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. Please review the PDF417 Encoder for Windows# Tutorial for a simple encoder usage example.

Our 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 any single encoder (available in Java, C++, C# .NET or Visual Basic 6) can be supplied with the purchase of the Unlimited Developer License and a signed source code license agreement. The VB 6 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.
We also offer complete JavaBeans, applets and servlets that create several 1D barcodes plus PDF417 on any OS with a Java virtual machine, including Unix, Linux and the Macintosh.
In Microsoft Windows#, the encoder is an ActiveX COM 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. More info...
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. More info...
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:

PDF417 Java class library
.NET DLL and Forms Control
For more information about the PDF417 Java class library, .NET DLL and Forms Control, DLL API and other specifications, please review the FAQ and online Support Manual. We also have a general PDF417 FAQ and Tutorial available for questions about the symbology itself.

Choose the button below to order, we offer a 30 day money back guarantee if our products do not work in your application:

Font and Encoder Advanced Options


Our 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 PDF417 CCD scanner we sell at our IDAutomation.com site. The symbol should be printed at 8 to 10 points for open systems.

For more information about the PDF417 Font and Encoder, please refer to the User Manual. For more information about the PDF417 symbology, please refer to the PDF417 FAQ and Tutorial.

PDF417 Bar Code Fonts is the Shareware version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 199USD. And get -5% Discount off!