SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
01-oktober-2010
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2003
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Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - PDF417
bar code symbology specification (ISO/IEC 15438:2006)
Informationstechnik - Verfahren der automatischen Identifikation und Datenerfassung -
Spezifikationen für Strichcodesystembologien: PDF 417 (ISO/IEC 15438:2006)
Technologies de l'information - Techniques automatiques d'identification et de capture
des données - Spécifications pour la symbologie de code à barres PDF417 (ISO/IEC
15438:2006)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ICS:
35.040 Nabori znakov in kodiranje Character sets and
informacij information coding
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010


EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO/IEC 15438

NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM
August 2010
ICS 35.040 Supersedes EN ISO/IEC 15438:2003
English Version
Information technology - Automatic identification and data
capture techniques - PDF417 bar code symbology specification
(ISO/IEC 15438:2006)
Technologies de l'information - Techniques automatiques Informationstechnik - Verfahren der automatischen
d'identification et de capture des données - Spécifications Identifikation und Datenerfassung - Spezifikation der
pour la symbologie de code à barres PDF417 (ISO/IEC Strichcodesymbologie PDF417 (ISO/IEC 15438:2006)
15438:2006)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 29 July 2010.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.






EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010 (E)
Contents Page
Foreword .3

2

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010 (E)
Foreword
The text of ISO/IEC 15438:2006 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1 “Information
technology” of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) and has been taken over as EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010 by Technical Committee
CEN/TC 225 “AIDC technologies” the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2011, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by February 2011.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO/IEC 15438:2003.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/IEC 15438:2006 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010 without any
modification.

3

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010


INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 15438
Second edition
2006-06-01


Information technology — Automatic
identification and data capture
techniques — PDF417 bar code
symbology specification
Technologies de l'information — Techniques d'identification
automatique et de capture des données — Spécifications pour la
symbologie de code à barres PDF417




Reference number
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2006

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
PDF disclaimer
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©  ISO/IEC 2006
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
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ii © ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. vi
Introduction . vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 2
4 Symbols, operations and abbreviated terms. 3
4.1 Symbols . 3
4.2 Mathematical operations. 4
4.3 Abbreviated terms . 4
5 Requirements . 5
5.1 Symbology characteristics . 5
5.1.1 Basic characteristics. 5
5.1.2 Summary of additional features . 6
5.2 Symbol structure . 7
5.2.1 PDF417 symbol parameters. 7
5.2.2 Row parameters . 7
5.2.3 Codeword sequence. 7
5.3 Basic encodation . 8
5.3.1 Symbol character structure . 8
5.3.2 Start and stop characters . 9
5.4 High level (data) encodation. 10
5.4.1 Function codewords. 10
5.4.2 Text Compaction mode . 13
5.4.3 Byte Compaction mode. 17
5.4.4 Numeric Compaction mode . 19
5.4.5 Advice to select the appropriate compaction mode . 21
5.4.6 Treatment of PDF417 reserved codewords. 21
5.5 Extended Channel Interpretation . 21
5.5.1 Encoding the ECI assignment number. 22
5.5.2 Pre-assigned and default Extended Channel Interpretations . 23
5.5.3 Encoding ECI sequences within compaction modes . 23
5.5.4 Post-decode protocol. 25
5.6 Determining the codeword sequence.25
5.7 Error detection and correction . 26
5.7.1 Error correction level. 26
5.7.2 Error correction capacity . 26
5.7.3 Defining the error correction codewords.27
5.8 Dimensions. 27
5.8.1 Minimum width of a module (X). 27
5.8.2 Row height (Y). 28
5.8.3 Quiet zones. 28
5.9 Defining the symbol format . 28
5.9.1 Defining the aspect ratio of the module . 28
5.9.2 Defining the symbol matrix of rows and columns . 28
5.10 Generating the error correction codewords . 30
5.11 Low level encodation. 31
5.11.1 Clusters. 32
5.11.2 Determining the symbol matrix . 32
5.11.3 Determining the values of the left and right row indicators. 32
© ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved iii

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
5.11.4 Row encoding. 33
5.12 Compact PDF417. 33
5.13 Macro PDF417. 33
5.13.1 Compaction modes and Macro PDF417 . 34
5.13.2 ECIs and Macro PDF417 . 34
5.14 User guidelines . 34
5.14.1 Human readable interpretation. 34
5.14.2 Autodiscrimination capability. 34
5.14.3 User-defined application parameters. 34
5.14.4 PDF417 symbol quality. 35
5.15 Reference decode algorithm. 35
5.16 Error detection and error correction procedure . 35
5.17 Transmitted data . 35
5.17.1 Transmitted data in the basic (default) interpretation. 35
5.17.2 Transmission protocol for Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) . 36
5.17.3 Transmitted data for Macro PDF417 . 37
5.17.4 Transmission of reserved codewords using the ECI protocol. 37
5.17.5 Symbology identifier. 37
5.17.6 Transmission using older protocols. 37
Annex A (normative) Encoding/decoding table of PDF417 symbol character bar-space sequences. 39
Annex B (normative) The default character set for Byte Compaction mode . 55
Annex C (normative) Byte Compaction mode encoding algorithm . 56
Annex D (normative) Numeric Compaction mode encoding algorithm. 58
Annex E (normative) User selection of error correction level . 60
E.1 Recommended minimum error correction level . 60
E.2 Other user consideration of the error correction level . 60
Annex F (normative) Tables of coefficients for calculating PDF417 error correction codewords . 61
Annex G (normative) Compact PDF417 . 66
G.1 Description. 66
G.2 Print quality. 66
Annex H (normative) Macro PDF417. 67
H.1 Macro PDF417 overview . 67
H.2 Macro PDF417 syntax . 67
H.3 High level encoding considerations . 70
H.4 Encodation example . 70
H.5 Macro PDF417 and the Extended Channel Interpretation protocol . 71
H.6 Macro PDF417 data transmission . 72
Annex I (normative) Testing PDF417 symbol quality. 75
Annex J (normative) Reference decode algorithm for PDF417 . 76
J.1 Initialisation . 76
J.2 Reference decode algorithm for line decoding. 76
J.3 Filling the matrix . 78
J.4 Interpretation . 79
Annex K (normative) Error correction procedures . 80
Annex L (normative) Symbology identifier . 82
Annex M (normative) Transmission protocol for decoders conforming with original PDF417
standards . 83
M.1 Basic Channel mode. 83
M.2 GLI encoded symbols. 83
M.3 Macro PDF417 symbols. 85
M.4 Transmission of reserved codewords using the original PDF417 protocol . 86
M.5 Achieving compatibility between old and new PDF417 equipment. 86
Annex N (informative) Algorithm to minimise the number of codewords . 89
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
Annex O (informative) Guidelines to determine the symbol matrix. 91
O.1 Parameters affecting the determination of the matrix . 91
O.2 Guidelines should any parameters not be achieved. 94
Annex P (informative) Calculating the coefficients for generating the error correction codewords
– worked example. 95
Annex Q (informative) Generating the error correction codewords - worked example. 96
Annex R (informative) Division circuit procedure for generating error correction codewords. 99
Annex S (informative) Additional guidelines for the use of PDF417. 100
S.1 Autodiscrimination compatibility. 100
S.2 Pixel-based printing. 100
Bibliography . 102

© ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved v

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 15438 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 15438:2001), which has been technically
revised.
vi © ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
Introduction
The technology of bar coding is based on the recognition of patterns of bars and spaces of defined
dimensions. There are various methods of encoding information in bar code form, known as symbologies, and
the rules defining the translation of characters into bars and space patterns and other essential features are
known as the symbology specification.
Manufacturers of bar code equipment and users of bar code technology require publicly available standard
symbology specifications to which they can refer when developing equipment and application standards. It is
the intent and understanding of ISO/IEC that the symbology presented in this International Standard is entirely
in the public domain and free of all user restrictions, licences and fees.
© ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved vii

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)

Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — PDF417 bar code symbology
specification
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the requirements for the bar code symbology known as PDF417. It
specifies PDF417 symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions, error
correction rules, reference decoding algorithm, and a number of application parameters.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 646:1991, Information technology — ISO 7-bit coded character set for information interchange
ISO/IEC 8859-1, Information technology — 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets — Part 1: Latin
alphabet No. 1
ISO/IEC 15415, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code
print quality test specification — Two-dimensional symbols
ISO/IEC 15424, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Data
Carrier Identifiers (including Symbology Identifiers)
ISO/IEC 19762-1, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 1: General terms relating to AIDC
ISO/IEC 19762-2, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Part 2: Optically readable media (ORM)
ISO/IEC 24723, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques —
EAN.UCC Composite bar code symbology specification
AIM Inc. International Technical Standard: ITS/04-001, Extended Channel Interpretations —- Part 1:
1
Identification Schemes and Protocols

1
Published by AIM Global, 125 Warrendale-Bayne Road, Suite 100, Warrendale, PA 15086, USA.
© ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved 1

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 15438:2010
ISO/IEC 15438:2006(E)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762-1, ISO/IEC 19762-2 and
the following apply.
3.1
basic channel model
standard system for encoding and transmitting bar code data where data message bytes are output from the
decoder but no control information about the message is transmitted
NOTE A decoder complying with this model operates in Basic Channel Mode.
3.2
bar-space sequence
sequence which represents the module widths of the elements of a symbol character
3.3
cluster
any of three mutually exclusive subsets of PDF417 symbol characters; the symbol characters in a given
cluster conform with particular structural rules which are used in decoding the symbology
3.4
compaction mode
any of three data compaction algorithms in PDF417 (Text, Numeric and Byte Compaction modes) which are
used to map 8-bit data bytes efficiently to PDF417 codewords
3.5
e-d
...