The DataMatrix barcode was created by the CiMatrix company. Every DataMatrix is composed of two solid adjacent borders in an "L" shape (called the "finder pattern") and two other borders consisting of alternating dark and light "cells" or modules (called the "timing pattern"). Symbol sizes vary from 8×8 to 144×144. The DataMatrix is used to mark small products.
For compatibility of the DataMatrix barcode with GS1, it is necessary to do the following:
Set the Process Tilde property to true;
Add the prefix ~FNC1 in the Code field. For example, the expression will be like this: ~FNC1{your_datasource.field_name}.
Data Matrix symbols are rectangular in shape and usually square, they are made of cells: little elements that represent individual bits.
The barcode contains error correction codes so the barcode can be read even if it is partially damaged. There are two main versions of this barcode: the first version is called ECC-000 or ECC-140. The second version is described as ECC-200 version, and uses the Reed-Solomon method for error correction. In Stimulsoft Reports the second version of this barcode is used.
The barcode consist of black and white square elements, which are joined into square or rectangular regions. Symbol sizes vary from 8×8 to 144×144. All available combinations of sizes is shown on the table below:
Barcode size |
Length, bites |
Barcode size |
Length, bites |
10 × 10 |
3 |
32 × 32 |
62 |
12 × 12 |
5 |
36 × 36 |
86 |
8 × 18 |
5 |
40 × 40 |
114 |
14 × 14 |
8 |
44 × 44 |
144 |
8 × 32 |
10 |
48 × 48 |
174 |
16 × 16 |
12 |
52 × 52 |
204 |
12 × 26 |
16 |
64 × 64 |
280 |
18 × 18 |
18 |
72 × 72 |
368 |
20 × 20 |
22 |
80 × 80 |
456 |
12 × 36 |
22 |
88 × 88 |
576 |
22 × 22 |
30 |
96 × 96 |
696 |
16 × 36 |
32 |
104 × 104 |
816 |
24 × 24 |
36 |
120 × 120 |
1050 |
26 × 26 |
44 |
132 × 132 |
1304 |
16 × 48 |
49 |
144 × 144 |
1558 |
The barcode size can be set using the MatrixSize property. If this property is used to specify the specific size of the barcode, then the barcode will be of that fixed size. If this property is set to Automatic (the default), then the minimal size that is necessary to encode the data will be selected from the list. There are 6 types of the barcode. If it is required to get a square barcode in the Automatic mode, then the UseRectangularSymbols property should be set to false (the default). If the property is set to true, then square and rectangular forms are used.
There are several modes of data encoding. Which is used depends on the type of the encoded information. Each mode allows encoding their own set of characters and their own rate of compression.
-
Encoding mode |
Valid symbols |
Bits per symbol |
ASCII |
ASCII character 0 to 127 ASCII character 128 to 255 ASCII numeric |
8 16 4 |
C40 |
Upper-case alphanumeric Lower-case letters and punctuation |
5,33 10,66 |
TEXT |
Lower-case alphanumeric Upper-case letters and punctuation |
5,33 10,66 |
X12 |
ANSI X12 |
5,33 |
EDIFACT |
ASCII character 32 to 94 |
6 |
BASE 256 |
ASCII character 0 to 255 |
8 |
The ASCII is the universal mode of data encoding (the default). It allows encoding any characters, but pairs of digits are compressed the best and the ASCII values (128-255) are compressed the worst.
A "DataMatrix" barcode.