DataMatrix Font Tools and Encoder for Windows®
For use with data-matrix Bar Code Fonts

IDAutomation's DataMatrix font tools and encoder for Windows enable easy printing of DataMatrix bar codes from TrueType or PostScript fonts with MS Windows operating systems. The DataMatrix Fonts and Encoder package includes the DataMatrix encoder application, MS Office Macros and an ActiveX DLL. Please visit the primary DataMatrix site for details about the DataMatrix font or printing from other operating systems.

Font & Encoder Manual | Specifications | Download Demo

The implementation of DataMatrix as a font consists of both the encoder and the font. The purpose of the encoder is to convert the data to encode into proper bar and space patterns formatted to IDAutomation's DataMatrix barcode font. It is necessary to use the encoder because of the complexity of the symbology and the required Reed Solomon error correction. The encoder is a COM ActiveX DLL that is installed when the DataMatrix font tools for Windows are installed. The other tools provided such as MS Office macros, access the encoder from the DataMatrix ActiveX DLL.

The installation of the DataMatrix font tools for Windows package will install the following components:

1. The DataMatrix Encoder for Windows is an application that provides an easy method for users to create DataMatrix barcodes and print them or paste them into other applications.
2. Crystal Reports UFL - Used for adding Data Matrix to Crystal Reports.
3. MS Office Macros are provided for the following: Word Mail-Merge, Access 97 and Access 2000 macros; however, they can be used in other MS Office applications.
4. The DataMatrix ActiveX DLL - With this DLL, programmers can use the DataMatrix encoding functions in any development environment that can access a COM DLL. The DLL was created in C++ ATL and has no dependencies.
5. Visual Basic source code to access the DLL - This is the VB source code used to create the DataMatrix Encoder for Windows.
6. The DataMatrix font - This is a TrueType font with the name "DMatrix".

Choose the button below to download the evaluation version:

After the application is installed, it can be accessed by an icon placed in Start - Programs - Group where group is the name that was specified during installation.

Step 1: After the application starts up, enter the data to encode in the "data to encode in barcode" field. Print directly from this application to the printer by choosing the "print barcode" checkbox and choosing the "Print / Generate DataMatrix Code" button.

Alternatively, choose the "Copy to Clipboard" option and press the "Print / Generate DataMatrix Code" button for pasting into other Windows applications. After pressing this button, several lines of numbers and text will appear in the "string to print the barcode" field. To see the string represented as the font, choose  "show string as selected font".

Step 2: In Microsoft WordPad, place the cursor on the area to put the barcode and then choose the DMatrix or the IDAutomationDMatrix font.

Step 3: Then choose Edit - Paste to paste the barcode string into the application.