DotCode

The Symbology and Size property page for the DotCode symbology includes the following options.

Symbology: Specifies the symbology that is selected. You can use this list to select a different symbology.

Dimensions

X dimension: Specifies the width of the X dimension.

Opens the Barcode X Dimension dialog, which you can use to configure advanced X dimension settings.
Ratio: Specifies the ratio between the widths of the wide and narrow elements in a barcode symbol. By default, this option is set to Auto and cannot be changed.
Density: Not available for this symbology.
Height: Not available for this symbology.

Symbology Specific Options

Sizing mode: Specifies how the number of rows and columns of dots is determined. The following options are available:

Auto: Sets the number of rows and columns automatically by determining the amount of data to be encoded, at an approximate 1:2 height-to-width ratio.
Manual: Sets the number of rows and columns to the values that you provide in the Rows and Columns fields.

Rows: Specifies the number of rows.
Columns: Specifies the number of columns.

Specified Rows: Sets the number of rows to the value that you provide in the Rows field, and then sets the number of columns automatically based on the amount of data to be encoded.

Rows: Specifies the number of rows.

Specified Columns: Sets the number of columns to the value that you provide in the Columns field, and then sets the number of rows automatically based on the amount of data to be encoded.

Columns: Specifies the number of columns.

Specified Ratio: Sets the height-to-width ratio to the values that you provide in the X and Y fields, and then sets the number of rows and columns automatically based on the parameters of the ratio and the amount of data to be encoded. The sum of the integer values that you provide for X and Y must be an odd number.

X: Specifies the ratio component for the number of rows.
Y: Specifies the ratio component for the number of columns.

Printer limitations and label layouts may impose a height limit (meaning a limit on the number of rows). Square-shaped dot arrays are easier to frame and read with hand-held image readers than are long and narrow rectangles. We recommend that you use aspect ratios between 1:2 and 2:1 whenever possible.

Mask: Specifies that a mask is used. By default, this option is set to Auto, but you can use this list to select a different mask scheme.
Dot shape: Specifies whether the dots in the symbol are in the shape of a circle or a square. This setting has no effect on the function of the barcode but may be important to you if you are using high-resolution printing and you want the dots to appear one way or the other.
Use ECI protocol: Specifies a protocol for adding escape sequences to the data that uses the Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) standard. BarTender can use the ECI protocol to encode text into a barcode by using various international character sets or Unicode (UTF-8).
Text encoding: Specifies the character set that BarTender uses to convert the text message string to the data representation that is encoded in the barcode symbol.
Use GS1-formatted data: Specifies that you can define application identifiers (AIs) for your barcode symbol according to the GS1 specifications. After you select this option, you can click GS1 Application Identifier Data Source Wizard to start the wizard and configure your AIs.
GS1 Application Identifier Data Source Wizard: Starts the GS1 Application Identifier Data Source wizard so that you can add GS1 application identifiers (AIs) to the barcode.

Color: Displays the currently selected color of the barcode symbol. To select a different color, click this option, and then use the Color Picker to select the color that you want. For more information, refer to Color Picker.

Barcode scanners cannot read colored barcodes as well as they can read barcodes that are printed in black. Therefore, we recommend that you do not modify the color of barcode objects unless they are used only for decoration.

Print Method: Opens the Print Method Options dialog, where you can specify how your barcodes are printed on thermal printers. Available when you use a thermal printer that has Drivers by Seagull™ installed.