GS1 DataMatrix

GS1 DataMatrix

GS1 DataMatrix is an implementation of the Data Matrix (ECC 200) barcode symbology with GS1 formatted data.

Uses:

• Healthcare: human and veterinary pharmaceutical (drug) packs (including the EU Falsified Medicines Directive and the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act) and medical devices (UDI).
• Direct part marking, such as by laser, chemical etching or dot peen.
• Retail point of sale in 2D, one of the symbols that GS1 US's Sunrise 2027 initiative aims for scanners to read.
• Unit packets and aggregated packaging of tobacco products under EU traceability Regulation (EU) 2018/574.
• Patient wristbands and staff identification in hospitals (GSRN).
• Logistic (shipping) labels, beside the GS1-128 barcode or alone on small logistic units.
• Returnable and individual assets (GRAI, GIAI).

Variants:

• GS1 DataMatrix Rectangular is equivalent to using format=rectangle.
• GS1 Digital Link Data Matrix encodes GS1 data as a Digital Link URI.

Data syntax: GS1 Application Identifiers.

Standards: ISO/IEC 16022, ANSI/AIM BC11 - ISS Data Matrix, GS1 General Specifications.

Data and Options

• The data field input is provided in GS1 Application Identifier standard format.
• The interpretation of data by readers is in accordance with ISO/IEC 646 IRV (US-ASCII), as the GS1 General Specifications restrict element strings to a subset of it.
• Note that it is not necessary to specify FNC1 characters since the encoder will insert these automatically where necessary.
• Deprecated. The dontlint option disables GS1 Application Identifier syntax validation allowing images to be generated for input that does not comply with GS1 standards.
• The gssep option separates the AIs with GS (ASCII 29) characters in place of FNC1. The GS1 standards tolerate this but do not encourage it. It is intended only for applications that mandate it, since a reader that conforms to the standards transmits either separator as GS. See Use of Group Separator character as an AI separator.
• The format option is used to specify the shape of the symbol, either square (default) or rectangle.
• The columns and rows options are used to specify the size of the symbol.
• The version option can also be used to specify the symbol size, as version=RxC. Valid options are:
  • With format=square: 10x10, 12x12, 14x14, 16x16, 18x18, 20x20, 22x22, 24x24, 26x26, 32x32, 36x36, 40x40, 44x44, 48x48, 52x52, 64x64, 72x72, 80x80, 88x88, 96x96, 104x104, 120x120, 132x132, 144x144
  • With format=rectangle: 8x18, 8x32, 12x26, 12x36, 16x36, 16x48
• If columns, rows and version are unspecified the encoder will default to creating a symbol of the specified format that is the minimum size to represent the given data.
• With strictspec, the ast option sizes the symbol to a GS1 application standard, such as:
  • ast=gs1.sst6 - healthcare primary packaging, such as a blister or vial
  • ast=gs1.sst8 - healthcare packs also scanned in general distribution
  • ast=gs1.sst10 - healthcare packs dispensed to the patient, such as an outer pack carrying the EU Falsified Medicines Directive's unique identifier
  • ast=gs1.sst7.dpm.a - direct part marking with a connected finder pattern, such as by laser or chemical etching
  • ast=gs1.sst7.dpm.b - direct part marking with separate modules, such as by dot peen
  • ast=gs1.sst12.trade, ast=gs1.sst12.group - tobacco unit packets, and aggregated packaging

Examples

GTIN 9521234543213; Weight 0.123kg:

Data:    (01)09521234543213(3103)000123
Options:
Encoder: gs1datamatrix