postscriptbarcode Google Group

Right aligning barcodes

2009-11-17T14:38:10Z

I'm using Code-128 and wish to right align the barcode against the
right margin of the printable area.

When printing text using Postscript I can use the stringwidth function
to achieve this.

Is there any recommended or suggested way to achieve right alignment
with barcodewriter? The length of my barcode data is not fixed so I

Issue with text positioning: textxalign, textyoffset

2009-11-11T15:34:09Z

I'm using barcode.ps from a tarball which carries 2009-11-06 as the
most recent date in CHANGES.

1) textxalign=center
I'm trying using textxalign=center but the output I get is weird, it
doesn't seem to be really centered, sometimes using textxalign=center
gets things worse than the default from a centering perspective.

Web front end example source code

2009-11-07T00:25:48Z

(I couldn't find anything in the archives or docs, so I thought I'd
ask.)

Is there any available source code (PHP, Perl, etc.) for a web front-
end to the PostScript Barcode Writer?

The PostScript Barcode Writer is probably the most impressive barcode
generating library I've seen (open source or commercial), but I've

Are non-zero number systems allowed in UPC-E?

2009-11-05T08:36:28Z

Dear Terry,

After searching via Google, I found that:

1. "A UPC-E barcode has 6 digits with an implied number system 0."
[[link]]

2. "UPC-E is a variation of the UPC-A symbol that is used for number
system 0."
[[link]]

ASCII85 encoding of named resources and a new LTO tape label example

2009-10-13T14:59:16Z

Hi,
I've recently changed the packaging format for the PostScript named
resource delivery method [1] for BWIPP so that the resource files are
now ASCII85 encoded. This makes them a lot more suitable for copying
and pasting into PS documents.
They now look something like this:
% uk.co.terryburton.bwipp/code39

Documentation update

2009-10-01T18:12:22Z

Hi,
Just a quite note to say that I have recently updated the symbologies
documentation in the project wiki so that it is now up to date with
the options for 2D barcodes:
[link]
All the best,
Terry

Discussion on Code 93 Extended

2009-09-10T20:20:23Z

Hi Terry,

While using the "code93 ENCODER" to dump the full 128 character ASCII,
I found there are some "typos" in this page...

1. In the "Overview" section, code 93 is a continuous symbology, since
each symbol begins with a bar and ends
with a space
(in contrast to code 39)

how rotate a bardcode 2D ?

2009-08-25T09:52:46Z

Hi Terry,
congratulations for your webpage and excellent work..
so only one question, do you know who rotate 90º a bardcode
for example pdf417 or 39 to portrait to Landscape ?

Thanks for your support.
Regards

PDF417 barcode

2009-08-11T20:20:42Z

I am having difficulty with pdf417, if anybody can tell me what is
happening, I would appriciate it.

Here is a working example:
415 331 moveto (M000005392|RFS-042942|Q260|UE A|L501313910|F|A501313910|
D20090805|) (columns=13 eclevel=8) pdf417

Here is the example generating errors:
415 331 moveto (M000005392|RFS-042942|Q260|UE A|L501313810|F|A501313810|

Check digit FAQ

2009-08-10T10:18:43Z

From many@different people at many:different:times:
Hi,
The above is a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) that I often receive,
usually off-list. My answer is always along the following lines, so
I'm replying here so that we can direct users to this reply in future:
000...02312 is not a valid barcode, unlike 000...02313. This is

Start chars in Code 11

2009-08-06T03:19:52Z

Hi Terry,

The Code 11 encoder seems using "-" as the start symbol.

From wiki:
[link]
[link]

the start/stop symbol are both 1011001 (in barcode.ps, it's encoded as
(113311), the 12th symbol)

Sorry that I have no diff/patch tools right now thus can't submit a

maxicode

2009-08-04T20:57:16Z

Hi Terry,
for DANTE's journal "Die TeXnische Komödie" we need the maxicode
for the address. The german post expects a 52x52 maxicode with
a data only in hex numbers. I tried it with current barcode.ps
A data example is:

444541191400F7DC00980000508024 3F0001414243313233345800%
000000000000000000000000000000 00C5F04BF66C6E00000000%

Outstanding features list

2009-08-03T15:44:10Z

Hi,
I've recently added my TODO list [1] to the trunk of the BWIPP
repository so that people can see what features are possibly on the
horizon.
Please take a look at this and let me know what features you are
immediately interested in so that I can prioritise my future
development effort. Either respond either via this list or by the

Changes to GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional and Limited

2009-08-01T00:55:26Z

Hi,
For the sake of being consistent with the new input format of the
rssexpanded encoder (DataBar Expanded) I've modified the rss14 encoder
(DataBar Omnidirectional) and rsslimited encoder (DataBar Limited) to
require that the input is provided with the Application Identifier
prefix, always (01) for these symbologies.

GS1 DataBar Expanded (Stacked) autoencoder

2009-07-30T23:42:47Z

Hi all,
I've now integrated an autoencoder for GS1 DataBar Expanded into the
latest release of BWIPP, 2009-07-30-1.
This means that you now invoke this symbology as in the following examples:
0 0 moveto ((01)98898765432106(3202)01234 5(15)991231) () rssexpanded
0 0 moveto ((99)Smile :-^041) () rssexpanded

GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked support available

2009-07-19T22:30:21Z

Hi,
Support for GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked is now in the latest release,
2009-07-19.
The stacked format is activated by supplying the number of segments
per row with the "segments" option, for example:
50 50 moveto (00000001001100101010000100000 0010000) (segments=2) rssexpanded
Just as with the non-stacked format have to perform the ASCII to

GS1 DataBar Truncated, Stacked, Stacked-Omnidirectional

2009-07-11T03:44:47Z

Hi,
Just a quick note to mention that support for GS1 DataBar Truncated,
Stacked, Stacked-Omnidirectional has now ready for a bit of testing
here [1].
Example uses:
50 50 moveto (00012345678905) () rss14
50 50 moveto (00034567890125) (format=omni) rss14 % Same as above,
nothing new here.
50 50 moveto (00034567890125) (format=truncated) rss14

">" character added to ISBN 13 code

2009-07-04T16:07:38Z

Hello Terry,

I was using the online generator ([link]
barcodewriter/generator/) and I noticed that ISBN 13 output includes
an extra ">" character at the end.

This is true for the default sample included and for an ISBN entry I
entered with or without a price.

I have never seen an ISBN barcode with the ">" at the end.

Autoencoder for MaxiCode

2009-07-03T14:56:04Z

Hi,
I have now created a simple autoencoder for MaxiCode which makes
invoking MaxiCode as trivial as:
150 150 moveto (This is MaxiCode) () maxicode
The above invocation will created either a mode 4 or mode 5 symbol
depending upon the encoded length of the given data. Mode 5 will be
chosen when the encoded data is sufficiently small to use the more

C40, TEXT and X12 encoders for Data Matrix now available

2009-06-22T00:49:22Z

<...snip...>
Hi all,
C40, TEXT and X12 encoders for Data Matrix are now in, e.g.
150 50 moveto (This is C40) (encoding=c40) datamatrix
250 50 moveto (This is TEXT) (encoding=text) datamatrix
350 50 moveto (THIS IS X12) (encoding=x12) datamatrix
Here be dragons! There are bits in the specification for these

Byte-mode autoencoder for Data Matrix. EDIFACT, C40, TEXT and X12 encoders coming soon.

2009-06-03T00:51:41Z

<...snip...>
Hi.
I've just added byte-mode encoding to Data Matrix and made this the
default encoding method since it is generally more efficient than
ASCII-mode encoding. The remaining EDIFACT, C40, TEXT and X12 modes
will be added in about a week's time thanks mainly to a generous code
contribution by Jörg Walter - thanks Jörg!

I need a smaller datamatrix!!

2009-05-20T20:18:18Z

hello, I notice the comments show the minimum size for the data matrix
to be 32.

I need the kind of 2D datamatrix that is just one square big (not 2
tall and 2 wide), and I only need it about 24 cols/rows . how do I get
a datamatrix like this from the generator? is it possible?
thanks.

PDF417 byte-mode autoencoder

2009-05-20T17:25:30Z

Hi,
Continuing with the recent theme, I have now created a simple
byte-mode-only autoencoder for PDF417.
This makes invoking PDF417 as trivial as:
150 150 moveto (This is PDF417) (columns=2) pdf417
You can also provide a raw codewords just like you had to previously
by using the new raw option alongside the other options such as the

Example needed

2009-05-20T14:57:48Z

Hi, I'm Marco and I'm trying to understand how to use barcodes in my
postscript.
I am making the first attempts to use postscript files to create my
PDFs, but I don't know how to use barcodes in the postscript files and
have a preview of the document with barcodes displayed.
I need an example where I can see how (and where) to import into the

Aztec Code byte-mode autoencoder

2009-05-17T00:01:23Z

Hi,
As with Data Matrix and QR Code, I have now created a simple
byte-mode-only autoencoder for Aztec Code.
This makes invoking Aztec Code as trivial as:
150 150 moveto (This is Aztec Code) () azteccode
You can also provide a raw bitstream just like you had to previously
by using the new raw option alongside the other options such as format

QR Code byte-mode autoencoder

2009-05-15T12:39:57Z

Hi,
As I recently did for Data Matrix, I have now created a simple
autoencoder that will encode ASCII input into a byte-mode-based
bitstream for QR Code. It uses a simple scheme with no mode switching
optimisations.
This makes invoking QR Code as trivial as:
150 150 moveto (This is QR Code) () qrcode

Data Matrix

2009-05-05T16:56:16Z

I am a total newbie to this. My goal is to take a string from a
particular column in my database and put it onto a pdf file in data
matrix bar code format as that is what my customer (a printing firm)
desires.

So the string example would be 0000001001 or 0000000002 and it needs
to end up on my pdfs that are generated using a ps template, populated

Clarification on Datamatrix Generater Barcodes

2009-04-09T03:38:00Z

I'm currently working with a vendor who is scanning/reading the
datamatrix barcodes I'm generating from the RGhost Ruby Ghostscript
Barcode library. I've been converting my values to ascii and then
feeding the values to the generator, however the vendor is not
returning the correct values. In conversation with them I've mentioned

Function key barcode

2009-04-05T17:55:47Z

Hello,

I am trying to work out how to make my LS2208 barcode scanner enter a
key combo to create a new field in my database, I was hoping it could
be F5 but let me know if this is possible I could not make it work.

sizing as an option

2009-03-25T02:59:17Z

Do you have any plans to add barcode scaling that keeps text scaling
as intended? This seems to be the biggest issue that I see with this
wonderful library. It seems like it has everything I need except this
option. I've read the tip about scaling barcodes you have, but it
doesn't work when I don't have any way to know what's the default

Getting barcode size

2009-03-12T19:36:45Z

Terry,

Thanks for the excellent barcoding solution.

I'd like to contribute this bit of code which I hope others will find
useful. It allows you to get the dimensions of the barcode produced,
similar to the stringwidth operator. It uses the dontdraw option to
return the rendering dictionary, totals up the bar widths and heights,

Resource-izing BWIPP. Request for review.

2009-03-06T15:49:46Z

Hi,
Hot on the heels of the most recent changes I have some further code
changes that I would like to open up for review.
The code at [1] represents my first attempt at "resource-zing" the
BWIPP library and provides a better behaved delivery mechanism for all
of the functionality.
This version creates a ProcSet resource called uk.co.terryburton.bwipp

HEADS UP: Changes that will affect the way that frontends integrate with BWIPP

2009-03-06T01:35:36Z

Hi,
I have just tagged a new release 2009-03-06 that incorporates some
changes that will require frontends to make some simple adjustments to
the PostScript that they generate.
Firstly, to simplify the way that a barcode is invoked I have done
away with the dispatcher procedure (barcode) and amended the encoders

Interleaved 2of 5, little help.

2009-03-02T19:13:29Z

Hi! First i would like to say thaks, this group and barcodewriter
helped me a lot!

I have one question about interleaved2of5.

Im using:
150 700 moveto (23794509300000404760356190000 000001300027370) ()
interleaved2of5 barcode
0 -17 rmoveto (Interleaved 2 of 5) show

It works fine, but i would like to read the number above.

Tab space in a barcode

2009-02-27T08:22:39Z

Hello everybody,

I'm looking for a way to encode a tab space inside of a barcode. I am
using Terry's web-based generator but am unable to figure out how to
use produce anything in the nature of tabs, backspaces, etc.

I am wanting to print something along the lines of:

GUY<tab>

This is so when I provide my input, the cursor moves to the next field

Request for some simple testing

2009-02-25T01:40:13Z

Hi,
I have made some changes to the internal operation of the options
passing mechanism in BWIPP that need testing on the major PostScript
engines to ensure that they are compatible.
I would be grateful if those of you who regularly test the codebase
for me would test the rendering of this file to ensure that there are

EAN-13

2009-02-17T19:51:59Z

Hi, I'm using your barcode generator and I have a problem, when I try
to create a EAN-13 barcode (7503010190020) the final number always
change, I't apear: 7503010190028 and that happen with every number I
use like 7503010190009 goes to: 7503010190004. Hope you can help me.
Thank's!

Re: GTIN-13 embed fonts

2009-02-14T00:25:51Z

Hi Emanuel,
I always answer directed questions about BWIPP via the mailing list,
so I've anonymized your details...
The font embedding appears to be functioning properly using my install
of Ghostscript 8.63 (vanilla from Ubuntu 8.10).
Are you certain that it hasn't been working all along without you

Implemented JapanPost customer code

2009-02-09T14:47:40Z

Hi list,

I've implemented JapanPost customer code.
The code is a clocked code type which can carry up to 20 chars (0to9,
AtoZ, hyphen and space).
You can find a brief description at [link]
Or JavaScript implementation delivered by Japan Post available at

rotating barcodes

2009-02-01T04:02:27Z

I see that the online barcode generator allows for rotation of
barcodes, but when I try to do it using the rotate cmd the barcode is
not drawn. Can you give me an example of how you would rotate a UPCA
barcode?

Thanks.

How to generate barcode "EAN13 P2"?

2009-01-30T14:00:09Z

Hi,

searching for a tool for generating barcodes I stumbled upon "Barcode
Writer in Pure Postscript" (just found it in my debian package list).
What I've seen so far looks great!

I just want to know whether it's possible to generate "EAN13 P2"-
Barcodes -- and if so, how to do it. I read the manual and took a look

BARCODE EAN 13

2009-01-27T14:07:00Z

I recently used your website [link]
to get our barcodes from however we require the barcode to have light
margin indicators, similar to the one below but obviously with 13
digits rather than 8.

Please advise where and how we get these light margin indicated

RGhost Barcode on Github

2008-12-29T19:57:22Z

Hi guys ,
That's just a little update, I've just put RGhost Barcode project on
Github<[link]>.
I'll keep the project there.
thx Terry,
- Shairon Toledo <[link]>

Significant performance improvement for QR Code symbols

2008-12-22T12:37:04Z

Hi all,
Because of some excellent work by John Desrosiers, the efficiency of
the mask evaluation algorithm for QR Code symbols is now
/significantly/ improved in release 2008-12-22.
And for those with a particular interest in the PostScript language
I'm sure that you will find that his code makes for interesting

Data Matrix ECC200 144x144 bugfix

2008-12-15T01:52:27Z

Hi all,
Data Matrix 144x144 symbols appear to have an interesting property
that is distinct from other sizes of the said symbology. Specifically,
in 144x144 symbols the error correction block alignment for
reinterlacing needs to be "rotated right" by two positions so that the
ECC blocks corresponding to the two "short" data blocks are placed

secrypt 2D-Barcode

2008-12-11T15:22:15Z

Hi,

does anybody knows something about the "secrypt 2D-Barcode" ?
I can't find any information about the way it is constructed.
I'm very interested in it cause of the missing finderpatterns (not
sure) and quite zones (sure).
Here's the company's homepage:
[link]

New release adds colour support for 2D barcodes

2008-12-07T22:20:22Z

Hi all,
Thanks to the efforts of Ray Johnson the latest release of BWIPP adds
colour support for 2D barcodes, invoked as follows:
10 10 moveto (^453^178^121^239) (columns=2 rows=10 color=442222
backgroundcolor=AABBCC) pdf417 barcode
He has also helpfully provided an example of using BWIPP with a custom

isbntext position

2008-12-01T00:20:38Z

Hi there,

Is there a standard for the isbntext position used in barcode? Now, it
seems that /isbnxpos control the horizontal position of isbntext, and
if it's isbn-10, /isbnxpos is set to -1, and if it's isbn-13, /
isbnxpos is set to -12. Is it the standard?

Is there a option to control the position of isbntext, such as

pdf417 encoding

2008-11-21T13:40:43Z

Hi,
Could you please give me some hints about the pdf417 encoding? I have
google'd a lot, but didn't find any specification.
Thank you!

Áron

QR Code full mode symbol evaluation code for testing

2008-11-20T17:20:51Z

Hi,
For those that requested it, I have just added the code to allow the
QR Code encoder to select the mask that produces the optimal symbol
output.
The problem is that whilst I believe that the code adheres to the
ISO/IEC18004:2006 specification (or at least my interpretation of it,
since the section contains some ambiguity) it does not agree with the