Barcode PDF417 - How to fit 100 codes in one bar code?

[rc_itadmin]

Hi all,

 

We have a client that wants to have one 2d PDF417 barcode that contains 100 serial codes including a return or break on each codes.

 

For some reason i can only fit 14 codes is there a limit?

 

Here's the code used (for sure there is a shorter code for this):

 

return MakePDF417Barcode(Field("ICCID001")+'\r'+Field("ICCID002")+'\r'+Field("ICCID003")+'\r'+Field("ICCID004")+'\r'+Field("ICCID005")+'\r'+Field("ICCID006")+'\r'+Field("ICCID007")+'\r'+Field("ICCID008")+'\r'+Field("ICCID009")+'\r'+Field("ICCID010")+'\r'+Field("ICCID011")+'\r'+Field("ICCID012")+'\r'+Field("ICCID013")+'\r'+Field("ICCID014")+'\r'+Field("ICCID015")+'\r'+Field("ICCID016")+'\r'+Field("ICCID017")+'\r'+Field("ICCID018")+'\r'+Field("ICCID019")+'\r'+Field("ICCID020")+'\r'+Field("ICCID021")+'\r'+Field("ICCID022")+'\r'+Field("ICCID023")+'\r'+Field("ICCID024")+'\r'+Field("ICCID025")+'\r'+Field("ICCID026")+'\r'+Field("ICCID027")+'\r'+Field("ICCID028")+'\r'+Field("ICCID029")+'\r'+Field("ICCID030")+'\r'+Field("ICCID031")+'\r'+Field("ICCID032")+'\r'+Field("ICCID033")+'\r'+Field("ICCID034")+'\r'+Field("ICCID035")+'\r'+Field("ICCID036")+'\r'+Field("ICCID037")+'\r'+Field("ICCID038")+'\r'+Field("ICCID039")+'\r'+Field("ICCID040")+'\r'+Field("ICCID041")+'\r'+Field("ICCID042")+'\r'+Field("ICCID043")+'\r'+Field("ICCID044")+'\r'+Field("ICCID045")+'\r'+Field("ICCID046")+'\r'+Field("ICCID047")+'\r'+Field("ICCID048")+'\r'+Field("ICCID049")+'\r'+Field("ICCID050")+'\r'+Field("ICCID051")+'\r'+Field("ICCID052")+'\r'+Field("ICCID053")+'\r'+Field("ICCID054")+'\r'+Field("ICCID055")+'\r'+Field("ICCID056")+'\r'+Field("ICCID057")+'\r'+Field("ICCID058")+'\r'+Field("ICCID059")+'\r'+Field("ICCID060")+'\r'+Field("ICCID061")+'\r'+Field("ICCID062")+'\r'+Field("ICCID063")+'\r'+Field("ICCID064")+'\r'+Field("ICCID065")+'\r'+Field("ICCID066")+'\r'+Field("ICCID067")+'\r'+Field("ICCID068")+'\r'+Field("ICCID069")+'\r'+Field("ICCID070")+'\r'+Field("ICCID071")+'\r'+Field("ICCID072")+'\r'+Field("ICCID073")+'\r'+Field("ICCID074")+'\r'+Field("ICCID075")+'\r'+Field("ICCID076")+'\r'+Field("ICCID077")+'\r'+Field("ICCID078")+'\r'+Field("ICCID079")+'\r'+Field("ICCID080")+'\r'+Field("ICCID081")+'\r'+Field("ICCID082")+'\r'+Field("ICCID083")+'\r'+Field("ICCID084")+'\r'+Field("ICCID085")+'\r'+Field("ICCID086")+'\r'+Field("ICCID087")+'\r'+Field("ICCID088")+'\r'+Field("ICCID089")+'\r'+Field("ICCID090")+'\r'+Field("ICCID091")+'\r'+Field("ICCID092")+'\r'+Field("ICCID093")+'\r'+Field("ICCID094")+'\r'+Field("ICCID095")+'\r'+Field("ICCID096")+'\r'+Field("ICCID097")+'\r'+Field("ICCID098")+'\r'+Field("ICCID099")+'\r'+Field("ICCID100"));

[Dan Korn]

First, yes, there is a much simpler way to write this rule:

var arr = [];
for (var i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
   arr.push(Field("ICCID" + FormatNumber("000", i)));
return MakePDF417Barcode(arr.join('\r'));

Now, I don't have the exact data you're using, but I got it to accept more data than it allows by default by changing the number of barcode columns, following the guidelines here:

http://www.idautomation.com/pdf417faq.html#smallest

 

Specifically:

var arr = [];
for (var i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
   arr.push(Field("ICCID" + FormatNumber("000", i)));

var MyPDF417 = new PDF417Barcode;
MyPDF417.totalColumns = 10;
return MyPDF417.Make(arr.join('\r'));

You may need to experiment with the number of columns, or other settings, in order to come up with the most optimal barcode.

[rc_itadmin]

Hi Dan,

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

I've tried the solution but for some reason I don't see the preview nor the output barcode.

 

I've attached a few screen grabs and the data that i'm working on.

 

Thanks again!

test.txt

[rc_itadmin]

Hi Dan,

 

Forgot to include the FusionPro Desktop we're using.

 

version 7.1P1c

OS X 10.5.8

[rc_itadmin]

Hi Dan,

 

I was testing the script you've supplied and it can only take 53 fields.

each fields contains 18 characters in total so x 53 = 954 characters

Based on IDAutomation: limit 2D barcode symbol to 800 characters or less, using 20 columns or less.

 

Does FusionPro Desktop support Macro PDF417 Barcode?

[Dan Korn]

I was testing the script you've supplied and it can only take 53 fields.

each fields contains 18 characters in total so x 53 = 954 characters

Based on IDAutomation: limit 2D barcode symbol to 800 characters or less, using 20 columns or less.

Yes, there is a limit to the number of characters you can encode in a PDF417 barcode, which your 1800 characters greatly exceed.

 

Even when you encode those 900 or so characters and make a barcode, though, it's still a massive amount of data, which makes a huge barcode, and even if you lower the point size, I don't know how reliably that will scan. Does the client really have a scanner that could scan that much data?

Does FusionPro Desktop support Macro PDF417 Barcode?

No. Even if we did, though, that actually makes a series of barcodes, not a single giant barcode, so I don't think that would meet the client's needs as stated either.

 

It's simply not possible to encode that much data into a single barcode. You need to go back to the client and find out what business requirement he's trying to meet.