Data Matrix: 2D Barcode Generator Software

Data Matrix Application Areas

DataMatrix is used for encoding large amounts of data, it is mainly used in Europe and in the United States. The dominating application areas are direct part marking and laser marking (both especially in the aerospace, electronic, and automotive industry). In addition DataMatrix is used for general logistic purposes, document management applications, postal services (digital stamps for the Deutsche Post, Premiumadress Service), and medical / health industry related applications (HIBC).

Starting with 2006/2007 the use of the Data-Matrix barcode is also spreading in the area of mobile marketing, in such applications the Data-Matrix barcode is also known under the name SemaCode. In a mobile marketing scenario a Data-Matrix symbol is printed or displayed on products or marketing related materials (e.g. displays, magazines, and even web-pages). A user can now scan or decode this Data-Matrix using a mobile phone with a built-in camera and suitable decoder software. After decoding the DataMatrix barcode symbol the user is forwarded to marketing or product related web-sites and blogs.

Data Matrix Classification

DataMatrix is a 2D barcode symbology with very high data density. Data-Matrix symbols are printed in square or sometimes a rectangular pattern. Each dot of a DataMatrix symbol represents a bit. This is in contrast to linear bar-codes, where the information is encoded in the ratio of the bars or spaces to each other. Usually a black dot in a DataMatrix symbol is equivalent with the bit-value 1, but DataMatrix may also be printed white on black. The normative standards for the Data-Matrix barcode symbology are called ISO/IEC 16022:2000 and ISO/IEC 24720:2006 (ISO International Standard).

Data Matrix History

DataMatrix was developed by the company RVSI Acuity CiMatrix. This company was later acquired by Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc.

Data Matrix Technical Data

• DataMatrix data capacity: A single DataMatrix symbol can theoretically hold up to 3116 digits, 2335 alphanumeric characters, or 1556 bytes. Due to internal data compression algorithms the exact data capacity depends on the structure of the data to be encoded. The maximum Data Matrix capacity is also influenced by available printing space and the printer resolution.
• The default character set is Latin-1 or ANSI ASCII (equivalent to ECI 000003).
• Error correction: DataMatrix offers a built-in error correction method based on Reed-Solomon algorithms. The error correction level is not adjustable by the user but it is possible to restore approximately 25% of unreadable codewords in a DataMatrix symbol without data loss.
• ECC200: The term ECC200 refers to DataMatrix symbols which are generated according to the latest (and most sophisticated) built-in error correction methods. Older DataMatrix encodation schemes like ECC 000, ECC 050, ECC 080, ECC 100, ECC 140 must not be used for new applications. TEC-IT software only creates ECC 200 Data Matrix symbols.
• DataMatrix supports 'Structured Append'. Up to 16 DataMatrix symbols can be concatenated. If a scanner or decoder supports this feature, it returns the concatenated data content in the correct order.
• DataMatrix printing quality: To optimize barcode quality a DataMatrix symbol should not be printed with dots smaller than 4 to 5 device pixels.

The 2D barcode generator implemented by TEC-IT supports all features of the Data-Matrix barcode symbology. Check out the relevant products:

• TBarCode
  Barcode SDK (ActiveX, OCX, DLL, .Net), Linear and 2D Barcode Generator Software for Microsoft^® Windows, with DataMatrix (ECC200) support.
• TBarCode/X
  Barcode SDK (Shared Library, Executable), Linear and 2D Barcode Generator Software for Linux^® and Unix^®, with DataMatrix (ECC200) support.
• Barcode Studio
  Visual Barcode Editor for Linear and 2D Barcodes (Microsoft^® Windows), with DataMatrix (ECC200) support.
• TBarCode/SAPwin
  Linear and 2D Barcode Printing Software for SAP^® ERP systems, with DataMatrix (ECC200) support.
• TFORMer
  Label Printing Software with Linear and 2D Barcode Support, Report Generator, Output Engine for Microsoft^® Windows and Linux^®/Unix^®, with DataMatrix (ECC200) support.