PDF417

PDF417 (Portable Data File) is a stacked linear two-dimensional bar code used in a variety of applications; primarily transport, postal, identification card and inventory management. It has spawned an Open Source decoder project together with an Open Source encoder.

The PDF417 bar code is also called a symbol bar code and usually consists of 3 to 90 rows, each of which is like a small linear bar code.

The following properties are specific to the PDF417 type and available in the Property Grid under the Symbology property:

• Columns

  Specifies the number of bar code columns, which allows you to control the logic width of the bar code.

• Compaction Mode

  Specifies whether textual information or a byte array should be used as the bar code’s data.

• Error Correction Level

  Specifies the amount of redundancy built into the bar code’s coding, to compensate for calculation errors.

• Rows

  Specifies the number of bar code rows, which allows you to control the logic height of the bar code.

• Truncate Symbol

  Specifies whether the special end-symbol should be appended to the bar code.

• Y to X Ratio

  Specifies the height-to-width ratio of a logical unit’s graphic representation.