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:

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.

Documents and Standards

The following comprehensive document describes the solution:

 DMRE DataMatrix Extension Intro+Sources r160405

DMRE was developped by the ORM working group of AIM D-A-CH resulting in the following document containing only the extsion compared to Data Matrix ECC200:

AIM-D Symbology Specification: "Data Matrix Rectangular Extension" Version 1.01

Standard DIN16587:Data Matrix Rectanglar Extension

DIN Standard 16587 "Rechteckige Erweiterung des Data Matrix Codes - Data Matrix Rectanglar Extension"

ISO/IEC Standard purchasing page:

https://www.iso.org/standard/70947.html

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).

Barcode generation products by dLSoft

dLsoft barcode generation products feature DMRE:

https://www.dlsoft.com/barcode_types/DMRE.htm

• Barcode extensions for Crystal reports: https://www.dlsoft.com/products/BarcodesForCrystalReports.htm
• Barcodes and Labels for Office: https://www.dlsoft.com/products/blo_dmre.htm

 

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.

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 DMRE extension is not jet included in the mainstream distribution.

Nevertheless, the code is ready and contained in this pull request.

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.

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