Columns

In a CODABLOCK F symbol, the encoded data is enclosed inside bars that extend the entire height of the symbol. Each encoded character in this enclosed region is considered a column. The number of columns determines the number of alpha characters that are encoded in each row before a new row is started. The number of columns can be set to between 4 and 62.

Because there is a maximum number of rows for this symbology, when you decrease the number of columns, the amount of data that the symbol can contain can be significantly decreased.

The GS1 Composite symbology supports columns when the Type is GS1-128 (CC-C). In this symbol, the 2-D component (the upper symbol) is a modified PDF417 symbol, and its columns maintain the same attributes as the PDF417 symbology has.

The MicroPDF417 symbology supports one to four columns, each 10 modules wide. Only certain combinations of rows and columns can be used. Therefore, the number of rows that are available in the Rows option varies depending on the number of columns that are selected.

When the Columns option is set to Auto, BarTender automatically determines the number of rows and columns that are needed for the input data.

The PDF417 symbology supports 1 to 30 columns. Each column is 17 modules wide and consists of four bars and four spaces that define the fundamental unit of encoded data. Each row consists of a minimum of three columns of information (12 bars and spaces) in the encoded data area: one column of data and one column each on the left and right sides of the symbol that contain indicator code words. An indicator code word contains information that tells the scanner what encoding methods are used to encode the rest of each row of data. You can specify the number of columns in the data area by using the Columns option on the Symbology and Size property page.

When the Columns option is set to Auto, BarTender automatically determines the number of columns that are needed based on the number of specified rows and the amount of input data.

When you reduce the number of columns, you increase the number of rows that are required to encode the same amount of data. Therefore, although you can reduce the number of columns in order to reduce the width of the PDF417 symbol, doing this makes the symbol proportionally taller. When you encode larger amounts of data, a low Columns setting can result in a PDF417 symbol that is too tall to fit on the template.