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LEADTOOLS Barcode C API Introduction

Summary

The LEADTOOLS Barcode C API provides functions to detect, read, and write barcodes in images.

The API features a fast, highly accurate, and reliable barcode software engine that outperforms most hardware-supported barcode read products. Fast document scanners can maintain full speed while performing barcode recognition operations on-the-fly for document-indexing purposes.

Programmers can integrate this technology into their applications in just a few lines of code, see Barcode Tutorial. Use the toolkit to easily add barcode support for reading and writing over 100 different 1D and 2D barcode symbology types and sub-types, including UPC, EAN, Code 39, Code 128, ITF (2 of 5), CodaBar, GS1 DataBar (formerly RSS14), QR, Data Matrix, PDF417, and Aztec.

For background and full details, see Barcode Technology.

Key Features

Fast, accurate, and reliable barcode detection, reading, and writing:
- Large volume document batch processing
- Single and multipage documents
Read barcodes of any quality at any orientation
Industry-leading support of more than 100 Linear (1D) and 2D barcode types (including sub-types)
Supports color and bitonal (black and white) images
Easy-to-integrate into any application with only a few lines of code
Error-Correcting Codes (ECC) provide enhanced accuracy in low-quality images
Return recognized barcodes with 100% confidence
Comprehensive reporting of the recognized barcode
- Data
- Type
- Subtype
- Location
- Orientation
- Group
Automated image cleanup
- Deskew
- Undither
- Omnidirectional noise removal
Fully configurable recognition engine
- Select which barcode types to search for
- Foreground and background color
- Granularity
- Orientation and rotation angle
- Full page or region of interest
Read/write barcodes from/to any of over 150+ supported raster image file formats
Write barcodes to any windows-compliant printer
Integrate LEADTOOLS' extensive image processing technologies for complete control over barcode recognition process.

LEADTOOLS 1D Linear (read/write)

Automatic barcode type detection.
Read in four basic directions: horizontal, vertical, or skewed.
Read multiple barcode symbols anywhere in the image at any orientation.
Read mixed barcode types.
Write barcode symbol with size and position parameters.
Check character handling.
Write/read GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) and GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Expanded on multiple lines (Stacked version).
Sub-types supported:
- Airline Code 2 of 5
- Australian Post 4-State
- CODABAR
- Code 3 of 9 (39)
- Code 3 of 9 (39) Extended
- Code 11
- Code 32
- Code 93
- Code 93 Extended
- Code 128
- EAN 8
- EAN 13
- EAN EXT 2
- EAN EXT 5
- Interleaved Code 2 of 5
- MSI (Modified Plessey)
- Patch Code
- Planet
- PostNet
- Royal Mail (RM4SCC)
- USPS 4 State
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Omnidirectional
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Expanded
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Expanded Stacked
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Limited
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Stacked
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Stacked Omnidirectional
- GS1 Databar (formerly RSS14) Truncated
- Standard Code 2 of 5 (Industrial 2 of 5)
- UCC EAN 128 (Read Only)
- UPC A
- UPC E

LEADTOOLS 2D (read/write)

Automatic barcode type detection.
Read in four basic directions (horizontal, vertical), or skewed.
Read multiple barcode symbols anywhere in the image at any orientation.
Write barcode symbol with size and position parameters.
Error correction handling.
Types Supported:
- DataMatrix
- PDF 417
- MicroPDF417
- QR
- Aztec
- Maxi
- MicroQR

Barcode 2D DataMatrix (read/write)

Reads and writes color and gray symbols.
Store up to 2,218 ASCII characters in one barcode symbol.
Chain symbols to encode up to 33,225 characters.
Sub-types supported:
- Default DataMatrix Size
- DataMatrix size 10x10 to 144x144
- DataMatrix size 8x18
- DataMatrix size 8x32
- DataMatrix size 12x26
- DataMatrix size 12x36
- DataMatrix size 16x36
- DataMatrix size 16x48
- DataMatrix Default Rectangular size

Barcode 2D PDF 417 (read/write)

Store up to 1,815 ASCII characters in one barcode symbol.
Support Truncated PDF417.
All Compaction Modes: Text, Byte, Numeric.

Barcode 2D MicroPDF 417 (read/write)

Store up to 150 bytes, 250 alphanumeric characters, or 366 numeric digits in one barcode symbol.
Support Function Code word Code 128 emulation.
All Compaction Modes: Text, Byte, Numeric.

Barcode 2D QR (read/write)

Create QR Code barcode symbols from alpha/numerical text.
Reads and writes color, gray, and black/white symbols.
Stores up to 2,335 ASCII characters in one barcode symbol.
Sub-types supported:
- QR Default size
- QR Model 2 Version 1 to 40
- QR Model 1 Version 1 to 14
- QR Model 1 Default size

Barcode 2D Aztec (read/write)

Create Aztec Code barcode symbols from alpha/numerical text.
Read and write color, gray, and black/white symbols.
Store up to 3,067 ASCII characters in one barcode symbol.
Sub-types supported:
- Aztec Compact Mode 1 to 4
- Aztec Full Mode 1 to 32
- Aztec Rune

Barcode 2D Maxi (read/write)

Create MaxiCode barcode symbols from alpha/numerical text.
Read and write color, gray, and black/white symbols.
Sub-types supported:
- Maxi Modes 2 to 5

Barcode 2D MicroQR (read/write)

Create Micro QR Code barcode symbols from alpha/numerical text.
Read and write color, gray, and black/white symbols.
Sub-types supported:
- MicroQR Modes 1 to 4

Supported Environments

Cloud Services

Does your application require document recognition or conversion, but its implementation language is preventing you from using LEADTOOLS directly? Consider using the LEADTOOLS Cloud Services Web API instead. It is a high-powered and scalable Web API. Its hassle-free interface can be used to integrate advanced OCR, barcode, MICR, and document conversion into any application.