


The number of rows and columns can be selected, allowing the symbol to be created in various forms.When creating symbols with more than 10 columns, IDAutomation recommends using a ratio of 1:4 or 1:5. Most scanners, such as the IDAutomation PDF417 2D USB Scanner, read PDF417 barcodes well at 1:3. By lowering the ratio, a significant amount of space can be saved however, some scanners cannot read X to Y ratios of less than 1:3. The PDF417 barcode is usually printed at an X to Y ratio of 1:2 to 1:5, with 1:3 being the most popular. The Y dimension is the height of each row within the PDF417 symbol. The X dimension is the width of the narrowest bar in a printed codeword.The chart below indicates the number of error correction codewords that are added to the printed symbol and AIM recommendations for the EC level.įig. The error correction levels range from 0 to 8. The error correction level depends on the amount of data that needs to be encoded, the size and the amount of symbol damage that could occur. AIM standards recommend a minimum error correction level of 2. This error correction allows the symbol to endure some damage without causing loss of data. PDF417 uses Reed Solomon error correction instead of check digits. Because the codewords in each cluster are unique, the scanner is able to determine what line each cluster is from. A different cluster is chosen for each row, repeating after every three rows. Each codeword represents 1 of 929 possible values from one of three different clusters. The printed symbol consists of several linear rows of stacked codewords. Large amounts of text and data can be stored securely and inexpensively when using the PDF417 barcode symbology.

Formatting Data for FedEx® Specifications.Compaction Modes and Amount of Data Encoded.Generating and Printing PDF417 Barcodes.This FAQ provides information and answers to commonly asked questions. The PDF417 barcode is a two-dimensional (2D), high-density symbology capable of encoding text, numbers, files and actual data bytes.
