Barcode fields transform data entry of a PDF document into a visual pattern that can be easily scanned and interpreted for analysis. It eliminates the need to manually incorporate information into a database, preventing potential data-entry errors from happening.

Create and edit a barcode field

  1. Open a PDF file and choose Form > Form > Barcode Tool .

  2. Drag a rectangle to define the size and the location of the barcode area.

  3. Do any of the following to call out the Barcode properties dialog box in which you can adjust the barcode properties using the given tabs:

    • The dialog box pops up upon the creation of a new barcode.

    • Using the Select Tool, double-click a barcode field.

    • Using the Select tool, right-click a barcode field and select Properties… from the options.

  1. The tabs in the Barcode properties dialog box offer the following settings:

Options

    • Symbology. Select a Symbology option from the drop-down menu, including PDF417, QR Code, and Data Matrix.

    • Compress Data Before Encoding to barcode. This enables compressing data before it is encoded into a barcode so that more user data can be stored. Make sure your processing device can read compressed data before using this function.

    • Decode Condition. Select the type of hardware to process the barcode data, including Handheld Barcode Scanner, Fax Server, Document Scanner and Custom.

    • Click Custom to set a custom X Dimension, Y/X Ratio, and Error Correction Level.

    • Manage Barcode Parameters…. In the Manage Barcode Parameters dialog box, you can add new edit, delete, import, and export parameters. For more information, see Manage custom barcode settings.

Value

    • Select Encode using and then select a format, either Tab Delimited or XML, from the drop-down menu. Then click .. and select the fields you wish to be encoded in the barcode.

    • Select Include field names to include the field names in the barcode data. If you do not want to include the field names, umcheck it.

    • Select Custom calculation script and then click the Edit… In the JavaScript Editor dialog box, enter your custom JavaScript code.

    • Reference to published form. It shows the path to the PDF form. You are allowed to edit this by typing information in the field. The URL reference is encoded into the barcode and displayed on the form below the barcode if you choose to encode the barcode field using XML values.

  1. If needed, make changes to the settings in the General and Actions tabs and then click Close.

Manage custom barcode settings

You can adjust your custom barcode parameters and also edit, delete, and share a set of customs settings for barcode parameters in the Barcode properties dialog box.

 

Create a new barcode parameters set

  1. Open the Barcode properties dialog box by doing either of the following using the Select Tool:

    • Right-click a barcode field and select Properties….

    • Double-click a barcode field.

  1. In the Options tab of the Barcode properties dialog box, click the Manage Barcode Parameters…

  2. In the Manage Barcode Parameters dialog box, select an existing parameter set you want to use as the basis of the new set and then click New… or directly click New….

  3. In the Barcode Parameters dialog box, enter a name for the new parameter set in the Name field and a description in the Description

  4. Select options for the Symbology, X Dimension, Y/X Ratio, and Error Correction Level and then click OK.

Note: after the newly defined custom parameter set is created and appears in the list of parameter sets, all options to the right become available, by which you can edit, delete, import or export the selected custom parameter set.

 

Edit or delete a new set of barcode parameters

  1. In the Options tab of the Barcode properties dialog box, click the Manage Barcode Parameters…

  2. In the Manage Barcode Parameters dialog box, select a custom barcode parameter from the list and then do the appropriate action listed below:

    • Click Edit… to make adjustments to the settings of the selected barcode parameter.

    • Click Delete to remove the select barcode parameter from the list.

  1. Click Close.

 

Import or export a set of barcode parameters

  1. In the Options tab of the Barcode properties dialog box, click the Manage Barcode Parameters…

  2. In the Manage Barcode Parameters dialog box, do the appropriate action listed below:

    • Select a custom barcode parameter set from the list and then click Export…. In the Save As dialog box, specify a file name for the file that will end with the extension .bps and a location to save the file.

    • Click Import… and locate a .bps file you want to import and then click Open.

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