DMRE Datamatrix Rectangular Extension
What is DMRE?
Data Matrix Code with additional rectangular formats.
The example code below shows an extended rectangular Data Matrix with a module size of 8x64 fitting well in the available space on the object:
Message about DMRE from Dennis Priddy, one of the original Datamatrix developpers
"I love it! Your implementation of the Extension could not be more perfect in its simplicity, execution and effectiveness. And yes, it does make me a bit proud to know that Data Matrix can still help solve real-world problems – when in the hands of some very smart people.
Thank you!
Best regards and best wishes,
Dennis Priddy"
Message from Henri Barthel, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC31 Chairman
"We have just published a new DataMatrix rectangular barcode (ISO/IEC 21471), which can be engraved onto very small medical instruments and equipment for hospital theatres and used to track them. We are also working on a similar approach for a rectangular QR code (ISO/IEC 23941)."
Source: IEC e-tech
Current Data Matrix Rectangular Formats (not DMRE)
Data Matrix following ISO16022 ECC200 already features the following rectangular formats:
| Size | Numeric | Alphanum | Byte | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 x 18 | 10 | 6 | 3 |  |
| 8 x 32 | 20 | 13 | 8 |  |
| 12 x 26 | 32 | 22 | 14 |  |
| 12 x 36 | 44 | 34 | 22 |  |
| 16 x 36 | 64 | 46 | 30 |  |
| 16 x 48 | 98 | 72 | 47 |  |
Use-Cases for extended Data Matrix Rectangular formats
The following use-cases require additional rectangular sizes if higher data amount must be encoded:
Highly rectangular marking surface
Typically, the height of 8 modules is used and should be extended to a higher width if more than 13 alphanumeric characters are encoded. The upper example encodes a standard product ID following EDIFICE guidelines for electronic products.
Curved surface
Curved surfaces like tubes should have a code at minimum height (typically 8 modules) and an increased width. The example features a PPN code on a drug.
Code height limited by printing technology
Continuous InkJet technology is limmited in print height while print width may be extended.
In consequence, a maximum module height of 26 modules should not be extended. Nevertheless, the requirements on data capicity for pharmaceutical products exceed the capacity of a 26x26 symbol and thus rectangular symbols help to solve this issue.
Especially the various serialization projects with inline printing processes mostly by inkjet technologies have shown a clear need for these new rectangular formats.
ISO/IEC 21471 DMRE
The ISO/IEC standard is published 2020-02-03 and may be purchased here:
https://www.iso.org/standard/70947.html
DMRE was developped within the working group ISO/IEC 1 / SC 31 / WG 1 as project 70947
https://sd.iso.org/projects/project/70947/overview#
I want to thank the very active members of this group who made this possible.
The prior versions of DMRE published by AIM and within DIN16587 had another set of chosen formats. The column "Standards" below includes the document covering the format.
The formats 24x32, 24x32 and 26x32 were present in DIN16587 and are not adopted by ISO/IEC21471 due to not sufficient width to height ratio.
New formats with height of 8 and 12 were added, as a use cases are seen for marking of round objects, specially in the scope of UDI.
New formats with height of 20 and 22 were added to support contact inkjet printing with an additional text line below the code.
| Size | Numeric | Alphanum | Byte | Standards | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 x 48 | 36 | 25 | 16 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 8 x 64 | 48 | 34 | 22 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 8 x 80 | 64 | 46 | 30 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 8 x 96 | 76 | 55 | 36 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 8 x 120 | 98 | 72 | 47 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 8 x 144 | 126 | 93 | 61 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 12 x 64 | 86 | 63 | 41 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 12 x 88 | 128 | 94 | 62 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 16 x 64 | 124 | 91 | 60 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 20 x 36 | 88 | 64 | 42 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 20 x 44 | 112 | 82 | 54 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 20 x 64 | 186 | 124 | 82 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 22 x 48 | 144 | 106 | 70 | ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 24 x 48 | 160 | 118 | 78 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 24 x 64 | 216 | 160 | 106 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 26 x 40 | 140 | 103 | 68 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 26 x 48 | 180 | 133 | 88 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
| 26 x 64 | 236 | 175 | 116 | DIN16587+ISO/IEC21471 |  |
DMRE Code Generation
WEB Generator
This web frontend may be used to generate DMRE codes by choosing:
The underlying project bwipp features DMRE code generation for many applications including SAP integration etc.
Offline Generator
The Windows/Linux program "zint" may be used to create DMRE codes:
ZINT Bar Code Generator Open Source Project on SourceForge (external link)
A ready to go windows binary may be found here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/zint/files/zint/2.6.5/zint_2.6.5_win32.zip/download
The following picture shows an example code which may be acheved by selecting symbology "DataMatrix" and a DMRE size (which are all available beside the standard sizes).
NiceLabel 2017.3 features DMRE support
Great full-featured Labeling software NiceLabel features DMRE support in version 2017.3 released in October 2017:
Free label designer "gLabels" supports DMRE via zint: www.glabels.org
DMRE Code scanning
The following current possibilities exist to scan DMRE codes:
Handheld scanner from Code Corporation
Handheld scanner from Code Corporation decode DMRE Codes starting with firmware 1096.
|
Example Scanner |
Control code: Enable DMRE |
REA Verifier
REA 2D Matrix Code Verifiers feature DMRE.
Scandit App
Scandit Apps for iOS and Android feature DMRE. You may active the "Tiny-Code" mode in the lower-right corner of the App.
CortexScan App
Code Corporation CortexScan App for iOS and Android features DMRE since version 1.5.
CortexDecoder
Code Corporation CortexDecoder features DMRE and may be embedded in applications on a wide set of systems.
Tachyon IQ
The Cortex Decoder Keyboard Emulation and SDK features DMRE on a varity of platforms including iOS, Android, Linux, Xamarin and Windows.
zxing open source barcode scanner (Android, iPhone and others)
The zxing open source barcode decoder app features DMRE in decode and encode mode.
zxing-cpp: open source c++ barcode scanning library with wrappers for other languages
The DMRE extension was added by this pull request and is included since 1.2.0.
Datalogic Scanner
All Matrix-N series scanners (210N, 300N, 410N) feature DMRE since software version 1.3.0.811.
DMRE is actually also available for QuickScan QD2430 via special firmware SS5916 rel.1.00 ( p/n 610119500). Please contact your Datalogic tech support in case of interest.
Zebra Scanner
Zebra has successfully tested the DMRE ISO formats with one of its scanners.
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Honeywell ScannerHoneywell has implemented the DMRE ISO formats to the standard decoder, where following scanners are supporting DMRE (January 2021):
More Product Information from https://sps.honeywell.com/ DMRE support for other 2D Imager will be available with the next standard / maintenance release. |
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Cognex ScannerAll DataMan 370 and 470 series fixed-mount scanners feature DMRE with firmware version 6.1.7 or higher. All DataMan 8700 series handheld scanners feature DMRE with firmware 6.2.0 or higher. DMRE is actually also available for DataMan 50, 60, 170, 150 and 260 series fixed-mount readers, in form of a special firmware version (5.7.0 cr23). More product information from http://www.cognex.com/ |
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Axicon VerifierAxicon 15000 series verifiers feature DMRE with software version 2.0.More product information from https://www.axicon.com/ |
ViziotixThe Viziotix professional barcode scanner SDKs for Windows and Linux can be embedded in applications and solutions to scan and decode DMRE codes. More product information from https://www.viziotix.com/ |
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Opticon ScannerOpticon has implemented the DMRE ISO formats to its MDI-4xxx series 2D scan engines, where following scanners are supporting DMRE:
All current and upcoming scanner models based on the high-performance MDI-4xxx series support DMRE barcodes. |
Contact
In case of any questions please feel free to contact Harald Oehlmann at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
technical support https://elmicron.de