TBarcodeFmx2D_DataMatrixECC200

The component is used to create the Data Matrix (ECC 200) 2D barcode symbols. It's defined in the pfmxDataMatrixEcc200 unit.

Data Matrix code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode symbology consisting of black and white "cells" or modules arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern. The information to be encoded can be text or raw data. Usual data size is from a few bytes up to 2 kilobytes. The length of the encoded data depends on the symbol dimension used. Error correction codes are added to increase symbol strength: even if they are partially damaged, they can still be read.

Data Matrix was invented by International Data Matrix, Inc. (ID Matrix) which was merged into RVSI/Acuity CiMatrix, who were acquired by Siemens AG in October, 2005 and Microscan Systems in September 2008.

There are 2 types of Data Matrix symbology, namely ECC 000 - 140 and ECC 200. The component can be used to generate the ECC 000 - 140 symbols. It is the newest version of Data Matrix and supports advanced encoding error checking and correction algorithms. It allows the routine reconstruction of the entire encoded data string when the symbol has sustained 30% damage, assuming the matrix can still be accurately located. So it's recommended for new application or open systems.

ECC 200 symbols have an even number of rows and an even number of columns. Some symbols are square with sizes from 10 * 10 to 144 * 144 not including quiet zones. Some symbols are rectangular with sizes from 8 * 18 to 16 * 48 not including quiet zones. All ECC 200 symbols can be recognised by the upper right corner module being light.

If you want to generate the Data Matrix ECC (000 - 140) symbols, please use another component TBarcodeFmx2D_DataMatrix in this components package.

Shapes

There are two shapes of Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols, square and rectangle, as described in following list:

• Square: Indicates to generate the square symbols.

  

• Rectangle: Indicates to generate the rectangle symbols.

  

You can use the Shape property to specify which shape of symbol will be selected to generate the barcode symbol. It can be one of values dsSquare and dsRectangle, corresponding to the shapes square and rectangle. These values are defined in the pfmxDataMatrixEcc200 unit.

Symbol sizes

Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols have an even number of rows and an even number of columns. The sizes of the square symbols are from 10 * 10 to 144 * 144 (modules) not including quiet zones. The sizes of the rectangle symbols are from 8 * 18 to 16 * 48 (modules) not including quiet zone.

• The sizes of square symbols (excluding quiet zones) and their maximum data capacities are listed in following table:

  Symbol size values	Symbol sizes (modules)	Maximum data capacities
  		Numeric	Alphanumeric	Byte
  dmSize_10_10	10 * 10	6	3	1
  dmSize_12_12	12 * 12	10	6	3
  dmSize_14_14	14 * 14	16	10	6
  dmSize_16_16	16 * 16	24	16	10
  dmSize_18_18	18 * 18	36	25	16
  dmSize_20_20	20 * 20	44	31	20
  dmSize_22_22	22 * 22	60	43	28
  dmSize_24_24	24 * 24	72	52	34
  dmSize_26_26	26 * 26	88	64	42
  dmSize_32_32	32 * 32	124	91	60
  dmSize_36_36	36 * 36	172	127	84
  dmSize_40_40	40 * 40	228	169	112
  dmSize_44_44	44 * 44	288	214	142
  dmSize_48_48	48 * 48	348	259	172
  dmSize_52_52	52 * 52	408	304	202
  dmSize_64_64	64 * 64	560	418	277
  dmSize_72_72	72 * 72	736	550	365
  dmSize_80_80	80 * 80	912	682	453
  dmSize_88_88	88 * 88	1152	862	573
  dmSize_96_96	96 * 96	1392	1042	693
  dmSize_104_104	104 * 104	1632	1222	813
  dmSize_120_120	120 * 120	2100	1573	1047
  dmSize_132_132	132 * 132	2608	1954	1301
  dmSize_144_144	144 * 144	3116	2335	1555

• The sizes of rectangle symbols (excluding quiet zones) and their maximum data capacities are listed in following table:

  Symbol size values	Symbol sizes (modules)	Maximum data capacities
  		Numeric	Alphanumeric	Byte
  dmSize_8_18	8 * 18	10	6	3
  dmSize_8_32	8 * 32	20	13	8
  dmSize_12_26	12 * 26	32	22	14
  dmSize_12_36	12 * 36	44	31	20
  dmSize_16_36	16 * 36	64	46	30
  dmSize_16_48	16 * 48	98	72	47

You can use the MinSize and the MaxSize properties to specifiy the minimum and maximum sizes for a Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbol. They can be one of values from dmSize_10_10 to dmSize_16_48 (they are defined in the pfmxDataMatrixEcc200 unit), corresponding to every symbol size shown above. The smallest symbol size that accommodates the barcode text will be automatically selected between minimum and maximum symbol sizes.

If the barcode text does not fill the maximum data capacity of the Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbol, remaining data capacity of the symbol will be filled by using PAD characters. If the barcode text is so long that it cannot be encoded using the maximum symbol size specified by the MaxSize property, an OnInvalidLength or OnInvalidDataLength event will occur. The CurrentSize property can be used to get the factual symbol size.

Quiet zones

The minimum quiet zone is equal to 1 module on all four sides. So the minimum values of LeadingQuietZone, TrailingQuietZone, TopQuietZone, and BottomQuietZone properties are equal to 1. For applications with moderate to excessive reflected noise in close proximity to the symbol, a quiet zone of 2 modules to 4 modules is recommended.

Error checking and correcting (ECC)

Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols are fixed at a repair level of about 25% damage and overhead ranges from 60% for a small number of characters downward to 26% for a large number of characters encoded.

Character set

• All 8-bit values can be encoded. The default interpretation shall be:

  • For values 0 to 127, in accordance with the U.S. national version of ISO/IEC 646 (ASCII); Note this version consists of the GO set of ISO/IEC 646 and the CO set of ISO/IEC 6429 with values 28 to 31 modified to FS, GS, RS and US respectively).
  • For values 128 - 255, in accordance with ISO/IEC 8859-1 (Extended ASCII).

  This interpretation corresponds to ECI 000003.

• Two non-data characters can be encoded, FNC1 for compatibility with some existing applications and ECI indicator blocks for the standardized encoding of message interpretation information.

  • FNC1: The FNC1 character following an application standard agreed with AIM International, identifies a symbol which conforms to a specific industry standard. FNC1 shall be used as defined in the EAN.UCC General Specifications in the first position. The FNC1 character may also be used as a field separator, in which case it will be represented in the transmitted message as GS character (ASCII value 29). The escape sequence "\f" can be used to placed the FNC1 character to barcode text.
  • ECI: The escape sequence "\e[<ECI_Number>]" can be used to place the ECI indicator block to barcode text. See also the "Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI)" section below.

  The AllowEscape property should be set to true in order to place the FNC1 characters or the ECI indicator blocks.

Escape sequences

If the AllowEscape property is set to true, following escape sequences are supported by the component, you can insert them to the barcode text:

• \\: Insert a backslash to barcode text.
• \5: Insert a 05 macro to barcode text. It's used to abbreviate the industry specific header "[)>{RS}05{GS}" and trailer "{RS}{EOT}", in order to reduce the size of symbol. It must be placed at beginning of the barcode text and it shall not be used in conjunction with structured append.
• \6: Insert a 06 macro to barcode text. It's used to abbreviate the industry specific header "[)>{RS}06{GS}" and trailer "{RS}{EOT}", in order to reduce the size of symbol. It must be placed at beginning of the barcode text and it shall not be used in conjunction with structured append.
• \f: Insert a FNC1 character to barcode text. See also the "Character set" section above.
• \e[<ECI_Number>]: Insert an ECI indicator block to barcode text. See also the "Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI)" section below.
• \s[<Index>, <Amount>, <File_Id>]: Insert a structured append block to the barcode text in order to create the symbol in a structured append. See also the "Structured append" section below.
• \r: Indicates that the symbol encodes a message used to program the reader system. It shall be placed at beginning of the barcode text and it shall not be used with structured append.

Note, the "{RS}" is ASCII character RS (ASCII value 30), the "{GS}" is ASCII character GS (ASCII value 29), and the "{EOT}" is ASCII character EOT (ASCII value 4).

Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI)

The Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) protocol allows the output data stream to have interpretations different from that of the default character set. Four broad types of interpretations are supported in Data Matrix (ECC 200):

• International character sets (or code pages).
• General purpose interpretations such as encryption and compaction.
• User defined interpretations for closed systems.
• Control information for structured append in unbuffered mode.

The ECI protocol provides a consistent method to specify particular interpretations on byte values before printing and after decoding. The ECI is identified by an integer (up to 6 digits) which is encoded in the Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbol by the ECI indicator block. The escape sequence "\e[<ECI_Number>]" is used to place the ECI indicator block to the barcode text:

• ECI_Number: The ECI number, it's an integer between 0 and 999999 (including the boundaries), the leading zero is optional.

ECI indicator blocks may be placed anywhere in the barcode text in a single or structured append set of Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols. For example:

ABC\e[123]DEFabc\e[000003]def

The AllowEscape property should be set to true in order to place the ECI indicator blocks. Any ECI invoked shall apply until the end of the barcode text, or until another ECI indicator block is encountered. Thus the interpretation of the ECI may straddle two or more symbols.

Structured append

In order to handle larger messages than are practical in a single symbol, a data message can be distributed across several Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols. Up to 16 Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols may be appended in a structured format to convey more data. If a symbol is part of a structured append this shall be indicated by a structured append block in barcode text. The escape sequence "\s[<Index>, <Amount>, <File_Id>]" is used to place the structured append block to the barcode text:

• Index: The position index of the symbol within the set of Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols in the structured append format. It's an integer between 1 and 16 (including the boundaries) in string format.
• Amount: The total amount of the symbol within the set of Data Matrix (ECC 200) symbols in the structured append format. It's an integer between 2 and 16 (including the boundaries) in string format.
• File_Id: The file identification. It's an integer between 1 and 64516 (including the boundaries) in string format. The purpose of the file identification is to increase the probability that only logically linked symbols are processed as part of the same message. Also the field can be expressed as two integers between 1 and 254 (including the boundaries), separated with a comma.

The AllowEscape property should be set to true in order to place the structured append block. The structured append block may only be placed once in the barcode text. Also, it shall be placed at beginning of the barcode text. The OnInvalidChar or OnInvalidDataChar event will occur if the structured append block be placed more than once, or it isn't placed at beginning of the barcode text. The following is the examples of structured append:

\s[2, 5, 25431]ABCDEFGabcdefg1234567890

\s[2, 5, 101, 31]ABCDEFGabcdefg1234567890

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