FTA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2D BARCODES AT A GLANCE Carlos Gonzalez CTO Dataintro Software ABOUT 2D BARCODES Appeared in 1988 (with Code 49 - Intermec) Used in a variety of environments (surgical, electronic parts, transportation, stamps, taxes) PDF 417 (Symbol - 1990) More than 20 different 2D symbologies (2005) In 2003, Missouri started a new era of tax tools In 2004, AL, AZ, OK, MD, LA Our Phylosophy: 1 FORM = 1 BARCODE 2D BARCODES = SAFETY NET 1
1D & 2D BARCODES? Redundancy 3 of 9 Datamatrix PDF 417 1D Reading 2D Reading ECL in form of checksum Reads with Laser Small capacity Used as a Key to DB ECL in form of codewords Reads with Imager (CCD) Large capacity(*) Portable Database THE WORLD OF 2D BARCODES STACKED TYPE Code 49 PDF 417 Codablock MATRIX TYPE Code 1 Datamatrix QR Code OTHER TYPE 3di Array Tag DataGlyph 2
HOW TO GENERATE 2D BARCODES Libraries Have to be installed with software application Software app. has to be developed & maintained Fonts Have to be installed in the user PC (at least once) Need a specific encoding algorithm (similar as libraries) PDF Forms Do not install libraries Do not install fonts Leverage a general purpose platform (PDF) HOW TO READ 2D BARCODES Software (needs previous scan to Image) AllMyPapers, IBM IFP, Pegasus, TeleForm (Verity), Seaport, etc. Starting at 1,000$ Hardware (Laser & CCD) Symbol, Datalogic, Metrologic CCD, Laser Starting at 350$ 3
PAPER FORMS DATA CAPTURE ALTERNATIVES OCR, OMR, ICR (Pattern based methods) EXCEPTION HANDLING MANUAL HAND KEY (single, double, triple) BOTH HAVE ERRORS (& FALSE POSITIVES) 2D BARCODES are 100% ERROR FREE Less expensive to read (.90$ vs.30$) No error or false positives Starring PDF 417 PDF= Portable Data File ISO:IEC 15438 (SYMBOL TECH.) The basic unit: Mr. Codeword (a 417 pattern) 23134121 1 BARCODE = 925 MAX DATA CW 4
ANATOMY OF A PDF 417 LEADING QUIET ZONE Start Pattern Left Row Indicator DATA CODEWORDS (1-30 columns) Right R. Indicator Stop Pattern TRAILING QUIET ZONE SYMBOL CAPACITY 1,850 TEXT - 1,108 BYTE - 2,710 NUMBER (ECL-0) 2 CharPerCw 1.2 CharPerCw 2.93 CharPerCw 1,726 TEXT - 1,033 BYTE - 2,528 NUMBER (ECL-5 min rec) ROWS AND COLUMNS 2 COLUMNS ROW OVERHEAD 10 COLUMNS she sells sea shells by the sea shore she sells sea shells by the sea shore (76) Number of COLUMNS is between 1-30 Number of ROWS is between 3-90 5
ECL : Error Correction Level ECL 4 (118 DATA : 32 ECC) ECL 6 (118 DATA : 128 ECC) ECL 8 (118 DATA : 512 ECC) When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be (230) MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS (SYMBOL): Always try to maintain printing quality. Do not compensate poor printing quality with a raise of ECL RESOLUTION & X:Y RATIO 1:1 2:1 Y X MODULE RESOLUTION (X) measured in mils 3:1 1 mil = 1/10,000 inch 4X 3X 4:1 2X MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS (SYMBOL): At least minimum recommended ECL: 3x Less than minimum recommended ECL: 4x 6
2D BARCODE PARAMETERS QUANTITY OF DATA COMPRESSED, UNCOMPRESSED AVAILABLE PHYSICAL SPACE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AT DESIGN TIME, REDESIGN, SEPARATE SHEET READING METHOD HARD, SOFT, FAX NUM. COLUMNS 1-30 RESOLUTION 10-15 PRINTING ENV. CONTROLLED vs UNCONTROLLED ECL 1-8 X:Y RATIO 2:1-3:1 WHAT S INSIDE A 2D BARCODE? ALPHANUMERIC DATA - Static info (owner): DOR ID, Form Version... - Variable info (owner): Date, Time... - Control Characters (TAB, CR, F keys) - Variable info (user): User Data... - Any Format (CSV,TAB,XML) VALUABLE FORM INFO - NumChars, TimeToFill, ViewerVersion, etc... 7
MACRO PDF417 Up to 99,999 symbols can be chained together and be read as one file Totalling 100+ MB Macro vs Distributed 2D Barcoding MICRO PDF417 (aka Truncated ) MULTI PAGE BARCODING OPTIONS 1 BC = 1 Page Needs 3 captures 1 BC = 1 Form Watch print order 1 Page for all BCs. (what do I sign?) DON T ALLOW THE USER TO PRINT THE FORM PARTIALLY 8
2D BARCODES & ENCRYPTION 2D BARCODES ARE FOR DATA CAPTURE - What if we cannot read? Controlled vs Uncontrolled (Print env.) - Sign readable set DATA + KEY = Encrypted DATA Technology = Rsytbwpwyz FAXES & 2D BARCODES Capture from FAX Symbol needs more resolution 9
FIND THIS PRESENTATION AT: www.dataintro.com/fta/ send questions to: carlosg@dataintro.com TO KNOW MORE ABOUT 2D BARCODES... WWW.ADAMS1.COM WWW.SYMBOL.COM 2D BARCODES AT A GLANCE THANK YOU! 10