Free Online PDF-417 Barcode Generator
Generating & Printing PDF 417 2D Barcode Images Online
Online PDF-417 Generator is developed based on OnBarcode
Barcode for .NET controls.
NOTE
We are providing free online streaming barcode generation service. Now you can
generate barcode image through the following url:
http://generator.onbarcode.com/linear.aspx?TYPE=4&DATA=123456789
To get this free online service, please contact us support@onbarcode.com
Watch a quick video tutorial and get started
OnBarcode barcode products
OnBarcode also provides the following libraries and components for generating and reading PDF-417 barcodes.
Barcode Software & Libraries
OnBarcode provides professional barcode software and libraries for you.
- Generate Barcode for Java - how to create linear, 2D barcodes in Java, iReport, java class library, etc.
- Create Barcode for Java - control to generate barcodes in Java applications like Java class.
- Read Barcode for .NET - barcode library to create, generate barcodes in various .NET projects.
- Scan Barcode for .NET - how to easily read, scan barcodes in .NET using C#, VB.NET programming.
- Generate Barcode for ASP.NET - mature barcode dll library to create, stream barcodes in ASP.NET web applications.
- Create Barcode for ASP.NET - how to easily create, stream barcode images in ASP.NET aspx / html pages.
- Generate Barcode for .NET WinForm - barcode component to create dynamic barcodes in .NET windows projects.
- Create Barcode for .NET WinForm - how to create high-quality barcode images in .NET windows form.
- Generate Barcode for C# - how to generate, print barcodes in Visual C# projects sample codes.
- Generate Barcode for VB.NET - how to create, print barcodes in Visual Basic .NET applications.
- Generate Barcode for .NET Crystal Report - barcode library to print multiple barcodes in .NET Crystal Reports.
- Generate Barcode for .NET - mature barcode libarary dll to generate barcodes in .NET applications.
QR Code Software & DLLs
OnBarcode provides high performance QR Code software and dlls for you.
- QR Code Java Reader - Reading, scanning QR Code barcodes in Java applications.
- QR Code .NET Reader - Scanning, reading QR Code barcodes in .NET projects.
- QR Code VB.NET - Generating, creating QRCode images with Visual Basic / VB.NET sample codes.
- QR Code C# - Generating, creating QR Code image with Visual C# sample code.
- QR Code ASP.NET - Creating, streaming QR Code bar codes in ASP.NET aspx / html pages.
- QR Code .NET WinForms - printing, generating QR Code 2D barcodes in Windows Forms.
PDF-417 Software & Components
OnBarcode provides several PDF-417 barcode generating component, library, and SDK for you.
How to Generate free PDF417 Barcode online?
Here we will learn how to generate, encode, and customize PDF417 (a 2D stacked linear barcode symbology designed for high-capacity data storage) in online web browser and web application projects. It covers basic quick generation, data encoding rules, text and special format handling, dimension customization, and advanced features to ensure seamless rendering, compatibility, and scanning across all online web environments.
PDF417 Barcode Data Encoding for Online
Understanding PDF417 encoding rules is essential for ensuring compatibility with diverse web-based data types. This section covers supported character sets, encoding modes, and maximum data capacity tailored for web projects.
PDF417 Valid Character Set
PDF417 supports a wide range of character sets to meet the needs of online web applications:
- Full ASCII characters (128 total characters, including printable and control characters)
- Extended ASCII characters (values 128-255, in accordance with the ISO 8859-1 standard) for international web content
- Up to 811,800 different character sets or data interpretations for enterprise web applications
- Various function codewords for control purposes in web-based data transmission
PDF417 Data Encoding Mode
PDF417 uses three compact encoding modes to optimize data compression for web-based storage and transmission. The online barcode generator can auto-select the best mode or be manually configured for specific web use cases:
- Text Compaction Mode: Encodes all printable ASCII characters (values 32-126, per ISO/IEC 646 IRV) and selected control characters. Ideal for standard web text and user input.
- Byte Compaction Mode: Encodes all 256 possible 8-bit byte values. Supports all ASCII characters (0-127) and international character sets for multilingual web applications.
- Numeric Compaction Mode: Efficiently encodes numeric data strings, perfect for web-based identifiers like order numbers, IDs, and product codes.
Use the Data Mode property to set the encoding mode. For most web projects, Auto is recommended, as it lets the online generator choose the optimal mode for your data.
PDF417 Maximum Data Length
Maximum data capacity varies by encoding mode (measured at error correction level 0), which is critical for planning web-based data storage:
- Text Compaction Mode: 1,850 characters (ideal for web URLs, descriptions, and short text)
- Byte Compaction Mode: 1,108 characters (for extended ASCII and international web content)
- Numeric Compaction Mode: 2,710 characters (for large numeric web data like transaction IDs)
Encoding Text and Advanced Data Formats in PDF417 for Web Projects
Online web applications often require encoding diverse text formats. This section explains how to handle ASCII (printable and non-printable), Unicode text, and other advanced data types in web-based PDF417 generation.
Encode ASCII Text in Web PDF417
PDF417 supports all 128 ASCII characters, including 95 printable characters and 33 non-printable control characters (no graphical label).
Printable ASCII Characters
Encoding printable ASCII text for web applications is straightforward
Non-Printable ASCII Characters
Non-printable control characters (e.g., Carriage Return [CR]) require special encoding for web projects:
- Convert non-printable characters to the format ~ddd, where ddd is the three-digit ASCII value (e.g., [CR] = ~013).
- Enable the Process Tilde property to true, so the generator recognizes and processes the ~ddd format.
Note: Always use three digits for the ASCII value in the ~ddd format. For single-digit or double-digit values, pad with leading zeros (e.g., ASCII 9 = ~009) to avoid encoding errors in web-based PDF417 generation.
Encode Unicode Text in Web PDF417
For multilingual online web applications, encoding Unicode text (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, Spanish) is simple with the online barcode generator. Use this quick method for web compatibility:
- Set EncodeUnicodeText to true (tells the generator the Data property contains Unicode text for web display)
- Assign your Unicode text to the Data property
- Generate the PDF417 image for web use
PDF417 Barcode Dimension Settings for Online Web Browsers
Customize PDF417 dimensions to fit responsive web design, ensuring clear display across all web browsers and devices.
Use these properties to fine-tune PDF417 dimensions for web display and scanning:
- UOM (Unit of Measure): Choose PIXEL (recommended for web), CM, or INCH to align with web UI design standards.
- X: Width of the barcode module (minimum value defined by your web application's scanning requirements).
- XtoYRatio: Ratio of bar width to bar height (default: 0.3333333f), optimized for web readability.
- Row Count: Number of rows (3 to 90), adjusted to fit web UI space constraints.
- Column Count: Number of columns (1 to 30), balanced with row count for web display.
- LeftMargin/RightMargin/TopMargin/BottomMargin: Quiet zone (blank border) with a minimum width of 2X to ensure reliable web scanning.
- Resolution: Set to 300 DPI for high-quality web images, or 96 DPI for standard web display.
Note: Ensure the Row Count and Column Count are balanced to avoid distorted PDF417 symbols in web browsers. Test dimensions across different web screen sizes to maintain readability.
Advanced PDF417 Options for Online Web Applications
Leverage advanced PDF417 features to meet the needs of enterprise and space-constrained web applications, including error correction, compact symbols, and large data handling.
PDF417 Error Detection and Correction (ECL)
PDF417 includes error correction codewords to ensure data integrity, even if the symbol is damaged in web display or scanning. The ECL property controls the error correction level, with the following options (number of error correction codewords per level):
- Error Correction Level 0: 2 codewords (minimum error correction, ideal for low-risk web environments)
- Error Correction Level 1: 4 codewords
- Error Correction Level 2: 8 codewords
- Error Correction Level 3: 16 codewords
- Error Correction Level 4: 32 codewords
- Error Correction Level 5: 64 codewords
- Error Correction Level 6: 128 codewords
- Error Correction Level 7: 256 codewords
- Error Correction Level 8: 512 codewords (maximum error correction, ideal for high-traffic web applications)
Compact (Truncated) PDF417 for Web UI
Compact (Truncated) PDF417 is a space-saving variant, ideal for web applications with limited UI space (e.g., mobile web, compact dashboards).
It is also named as Truncated PDF417.
To create Compact PDF417 for web use:
- Set the Truncated property to true
- Use this variant only where space is critical and symbol damage is unlikely (e.g., controlled web environments)
Macro PDF417 for Large Web Data
Macro PDF417 is a feature that splits large web data (e.g., large documents, web form submissions, enterprise data) into multiple PDF417 symbols. It is similar to Structured Append mode in QR Code and Data Matrix.
- Each Macro PDF417 symbol contains control information to ensure the original data is reconstructed correctly, regardless of scanning order.
- Up to 99,999 individual PDF417 symbols can be used to encode a single data file for web applications.
- Ideal for enterprise web applications that need to encode large datasets (e.g., supply chain records, web-based reports).
