Crystal Reports Data Matrix Barcode Generator
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- Fully customizable Barcode Control to create powerful reporting solution
- Entirely compliant with .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0
- Create Data Matrix in Crystal Reports using Visual Studio 2005, 2008 and 2010
- Generate square (10X10 to 144X144) or rectangular (8X18 to 16X48) Data Matrix easily
- Offer flexible data mode options, including ASCII, Auto, Base256, C40 etc.
- Rotate created Data Matrix barcode image in 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees
- Provide free trial package with optional C#.NET & VB.NET demo codes
Data Matrix Barcode Generator for Crystal Reports Overview
KA.Barcode for Crystal Reports helps you easily add barcode generation capability into Crystal Reports. .NET programmers have full control of properties of created Data Matrix barcode image. Barcode generation SDK is a code product 100% created in managed C#.NET.
Data Matrix Barcode Symbology Overview
Data Matrix is a two-dimensional / 2D barcode symbology which was designed in 1989. It is a high-density barcode either in a square or rectangular form and widely used for marking small items.
Data Matrix Valid Character Set
- Standard ASCII values: 0-127
- Extended ASCII values: 128-225
Data Matrix characters encoding in Crystal Reports Data Matrix encoding characters
Data Matrix barcode supports full ASCII characters and extended ASCII character set encoding.
Data Matrix encodable character set
- Full ASCII chars code values 0 - 127 in accordance with the US national version of ISO/IEC 646
- Extended ASCII chars code values 128 - 255 in accordance with ISO 8859-1.
- Other character sets (e.g. Arabic, Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew) may be supported when using the Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) protocol
- Unicode text in byte array
Data Matrix maximum characters size
Depends on the encoding Data Matrix data type, Data Matrix supports maximum length from 1,555 to 3,116 characters.
- Alphanumeric data: up to 2,335 characters
- Byte data (8-bit): 1,555 characters
- Numeric data: 3,116 digits
If your Data Matrix data exceeds the maximum number of characters, the barcode generator component will automatically generate an empty image with text
"Invalid Barcode Settings" printed on your Crystal Reports report files.
Data Matrix data mode
To encode data efficiently into the Data Matrix symbology, the Data Matrix will apply the following 6 data modes.
- ASCII (double digit numerics; ASCII values 0 – 127; Extended ASCII values 128 – 255)
- C40 (Upper-case alphanumeric; Lower case and special characters;)
- Text (Lower-case alphanumeric; Upper case and special characters)
- X12 (ANSI X12 EDI data set)
- EDIFACT (ASCII values 32 - 94)
- Base 256 (All byte values 0 - 255)
Download Data Matrix Barcode Control for Crystal Reports
- KACrystalData.mdb
- ProductDataSet.xsd
- KeepAutomation.Barcode.Crystal.dll
- End User License Agreement
- User Manual & Order Page
Please note that Data Matrix barcode image generated with this trial version of Barcode Control for Crystal Reports may include a "KA Barcode" watermark. So users can not apply this trial version to commercial applications.
How to Encode Complex Data in Data Matrix for Crystal Reports
Encode Non-Printable ASCII Characters
For special characters (like line breaks) in Crystal Reports data:
- Replace non-printable characters with ~ + 3-digit ASCII value (example: carriage return = ~013)
- Set ProcessTilde = true to enable special character processing
- Set DataMode = DataMatrixDataMode.Auto
Note: When scanning barcodes from Crystal Reports outputs, you can configure your scanner to decode tilde values and restore original non-printable characters.
Encode Unicode & Multilingual Text
To add Unicode text (foreign languages) in Data Matrix for Crystal Reports:
- Create a DataMatrix object
- Assign Unicode text to the Data property
- Enable EncodeUnicodeText = true
- Generate the barcode and display it in CrystalReportViewer (WinForms/WPF)
Additional Supported Data Formats
Data Matrix supports advanced data structures for Crystal Reports:
- Binary data: Raw file bytes (compatible with serialized DataTable data)
- GS1 business messages: Supply-chain compliant identifiers
- Structured Append mode: Split large report data across multiple barcodes
Data Matrix Barcode Dimension Settings for Crystal Reports (C# & VB.NET)
You can adjust Data Matrix size to fit Crystal Reports sections (Page Header, Details, Footer).
Square Data Matrix (Standard)
You can create a fixed-width square Data Matrix barcode.
Rectangular Data Matrix (ECC200)
Data Matrix supports 6 rectangular sizes (perfect for narrow Crystal Reports columns):
- Initialize the DataMatrix object
- Set FormatMode to your preferred rectangular size
- Set width and height to match the symbol ratio
Data Matrix Color & Image Settings for Crystal Reports
Color Customization
You can set custom foreground and background colors for Data Matrix barcodes.
Note: Unusual color combinations may reduce scanning reliability. You can test readability before deploying reports to production servers.
Image Format Settings
Use OutputFileFormat to define the image type for Crystal Reports export/print.
Advanced Data Matrix Features for Crystal Reports
Custom Format Mode
Choose from 24 square and 6 rectangular ECC200 sizes to match your report layout.
Structured Append Mode
Split large Crystal Reports datasets across multiple barcodes:
- Enable StructuredAppend = true
- Set SymbolCount (total barcodes in the set)
- Set SymbolIndex (sequence number, starting at 0)
- Set FileId (unique ID for all linked barcodes)
GS1 FNC1 Support (Supply Chain Compliance)
Enable GS1 Application Identifier support for business and logistics reports.
Summary
This guide has walked you through generating, customizing, and printing Data Matrix 2D barcodes in Crystal Reports using the KeepAutomation Barcode Library for .NET.
- Full integration with ASP.NET Web Forms, WinForms, WPF, and VB.NET projects using ReportDocument and CrystalReportViewer
- Flexible data encoding: ASCII, Unicode, GS1, and non-printable character support for Crystal Reports fields
- Complete customization: square/rectangular dimensions, colors, image formats, and advanced barcode features
- Reliable rendering and exporting in PDF, Word, and Excel formats for enterprise reporting
You can now implement professional, standards-compliant Data Matrix barcodes in any Crystal Reports .NET application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a data matrix code?
A Data Matrix code is a 2-dimensional barcode.
It's encodes information within a square or rectangular grid of contrasting light and dark cells. It's designed to store data efficiently
and is often used for marking small items.
What's the ISO standard for Data Matrix barcode?
The ISO standard for Data Matrix is ISO/IEC 16022, and its latest release is ISO/IEC 16022:2024.
What are the two main types of Data Matrix?
There are two primary versions. The original types are ECC 000-140, but the current and most widely used type is ECC 200, which offers superior data reliability.
What is the data storage limit of a Data Matrix?
A Data Matrix code has a maximum capacity of 3,116 digits. For text, it can store up to 2,335 alphanumeric characters, or 1,555 bytes of binary data.
How big or small can a Data Matrix code be?
The format supports a wide range of sizes. The smallest possible is 10x10 modules, while the largest can be 144x144 modules.
Can phones scan Data Matrix codes?
Yes. To scan a Data Matrix on both Android and iPhone, you just need to have a third-party app installed.
Do Data Matrix and QR Code mean the same thing?
No, they are different types of barcodes. But they have many common features: Both can hold various data types,
and both are 2D, can encode ASCII text, Unicode text, binary data, and both are used for encoding GS1 business data messages. But they are not interchangeable.
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