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How to Create PDF 417 for MS Word 2019/2016

How to Generate 2D PDF-417 Barcode in MS Word Document 2019, 2016, 2013 and 2010

Easy to install & use PDF-417 Barcode Addin for Word in MS Word 2019/2016/2013/2010/2007
Generate high-quality PDF-417 barcode according to ISO+IEC+15438-2006
Support creating PDF-417, Truncated PDF-417 and Macro PDF-417 barcodes in MS Word
Able to create Word serial letters with various PDF-417 barcodes
No need for barcode programming knowledge and barcode fonts
User-defined 2D PDF-417 barcode generating plugin for Microsoft Word

This guide walks you through using the KeepAutomation PDF417 Barcode Add-In to create high-quality 2D barcodes in Microsoft Word.

PDF-417 Barcode Overview

PDF-417 (also known as Portable Data File 417, PDF 417 and PDF417 Truncated) was created by Symbol Technologies Co. and currently maintained by AIM USA. It is a staked linear symbology generally used in applications like transport, identification cards and inventory management.

PDF-417 Character Set Encoding in Word

PDF-417 encoding characters

PDF417 is a versatile 2D barcode that supports multiple character encoding standards, making it suitable for global applications. Think of it as a "digital data container" that can hold large amounts of information in a compact space. PDF417 format supports the following character set and compact modes:

Text Compaction mode permits all printable ASCII characters to be encoded
Byte Compaction mode permits all 256 possible 8-bit byte values to be encoded.
Numeric Compaction mode permits efficient encoding of numeric data strings
Up to 811,800 different character sets or data interpretations
Several function codewords for control purposes.

Note: Function codewords are inserted automatically by the add-in. You don't need to manually input them, as this could cause scanning errors.

PDF-417 maximum characters size

Maximum possible number of characters a PDF417 barcode (at error correction level 0).

Text Compaction mode: 1,850 characters
Byte Compaction mode: 1,108 characters
Numeric Compaction mode: 2,710 characters

PDF-417 symbol size

Number of rows: 3 to 90
Number of columns: 1 to 30

PDF-417 Data Mode

PDF417 has defined three high level data encoding modes, each of which defines a particular efficient data encoding.

Text Compaction mode
Byte Compaction mode
Numeric Compaction mode

PDF-417 Error Correction Level (ECL)

The error correction level for a PDF417 barcode is selectable at the time of barcode creation. The following table shows the number of error correction codewords for each error correction level.

Error Correction Level, Total Number of Error Correction Codewords

0, 2
1, 4
2, 8
3, 16
4, 32
5, 64
6, 128
7, 256
8, 512

How to Create A PDF-417 Barcode in Word

If you want to generate professional PDF-417 barcode image in Microsoft Word, please refer to the following steps.

Go to "Add-Ins" and click "Insert Barcode" to activate a barcode setting panel.
Choose "PDF417" in "SYMBOLOGY" pull-down menu.
In the text box of "VALID DATA", type valid PDF-417 barcode data.
If necessary, change the default values of barcode properties in the barcode setting panel.
Click "Insert" and you can see a required PDF-417 barcode is generated on the document
Users can also adjust the parameters of the created PDF-417 barcodes and click "Update".

How to Adjust PDF417 Settings in the Word Add-In Panel

You can customize your PDF417 barcode using the Barcode Settings panel in Microsoft Word application, which offers flexible options for both regular users.

Select the PDF417 barcode you want to modify (a border will appear around the barcode to confirm selection).
Open the Barcode Settings panel (if it's not already visible, click Create Barcode under the Add-Ins tab).
Navigate to the 2D Barcode section of the settings panel.
Adjust the settings as needed (options are detailed below).

Key Customization Options

Apply tilde (~): Check this option to enable encoding of special characters and binary data. This is useful for supply chain or retail applications.
Truncated PDF417: Check this to generate a compact version of the PDF417 barcode, ideal for documents with limited space.
Data mode: Select the appropriate data mode based on your input (e.g., ASCII, extended ASCII) for optimal encoding.
Error correction level: Choose the level of error correction to ensure scannability even if the barcode is slightly damaged.
Row count and Column count: Adjust these to control the size and layout of the PDF417 barcode.

How to Create Compact (Truncated) PDF417 in Word

Truncated PDF417 is a space-optimized version of the standard PDF417 barcode. It's perfect for applications where space is limited, such as small product labels or dense documents.

Open the Barcode Settings panel in Word (Add-Ins tab > Create Barcode).
Navigate to the 2D Barcode section.
Check the Truncated PDF417 option.
Ensure your data and dimension settings are correct (keep data concise to maintain scannability).
Click Update to generate the compact barcode.

Note: Truncated PDF417 reduces the barcode size but may be less resilient to printing errors. Use it only when space is a critical constraint, and always verify scannability.

Summary

The KeepAutomation PDF417 Barcode Add-In for Word is a user-friendly, reliable tool for generating high-quality PDF417 barcodes without the need for fonts or programming skills. It integrates seamlessly with all modern Word versions and offers flexible customization options to meet your specific needs. Whether you're creating single barcodes for internal documents or bulk labels via mail merge, this add-in provides a efficient, standards-compliant solution for all your PDF417 barcode needs in Microsoft Word.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the use of PDF417?

PDF417 is a dense, stacked 2D barcode format. It's applied in many scenarios, such as driver's licenses, travel documents, secure identification cards, airline boarding passes, transport, and inventory management.

What's the main difference between a PDF417 and a QR code?

These are two common 2D barcode formats. PDF417 can still be scanned if up to 50% of it is damaged. By contrast, Q but QR codes only up to 30%.

What's the highest storage capacity of a PDF417 barcode?

Under the lowest error correction:

Text: 1,850 characters
Bytes: 1,108 characters
Numerals: 2,710 characters

What determines the aspect ratio of a PDF417?

A printed PDF417's aspect ratio is based on two measurements:

X: The size of the smallest bar and smallest space.
Y: The height of each row.

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PDF417 for Word

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