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| Black Ice Software LLC. 561-757-4107 |
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PRESS RELEASE
Black Ice Software Announces PDF417 Barcode SDK/ActiveX Release.
Date: September 1, 2004
Black Ice Software is proud to announce the release of both a PDF417 Read and PDF417 Write module for the Black Ice Barcode SDK/ActiveX. The PDF417 Barcode modules are imaging toolkit independent, and as such can be used with any Black Ice or third party imaging toolkit. The Black Ice PDF417 Barcode Reading SDK/ActiveX toolkit is a robust and efficient 2D PDF417 library of reading/decoding, searching barcodes, and detecting barcode orientation functions.
PDF417, or Portable Data File 417, is a two-dimensional stacked bar code capable of encoding over a kilobyte of data per label. This is useful for situations when a bar code will be used to store a substantial amount of data about an item, allowing developers to avoid database interaction. PDF417 also offers the ability to encode binary data (not just ASCII or alphanumeric characters); this makes it possible to encode photographs, fingerprints and any other type of data structure. Since a PDF417 barcode symbol can store a substantial amount of information, item specific data, such as the content of a shipping manifest or equipment maintenance history, can be stored directly on the item without requiring access to a database. PDF417 is used today in a wide variety of industries and applications, such as healthcare, transportation, retailing, government, and manufacturing.
Developers can read PDF417 barcodes regardless of orientation, skewing or flipping. PDF417 barcodes can be detected and read from specific areas of interest from an image. When combined with additional Black Ice Imaging toolkits, barcodes can be read from a variety of supported image file formats and can be acquired from scanners or digital cameras.
Developers can download a fully functional evaluation version of the Black Ice Barcode SDK/ActiveX demo from the Black Ice Website at http://www.blackice.com/barcode.htm. The Barcode SDK/ActiveX demo includes support for PDF417 Reading, PDF417 Writing, Data Matrix Reading and Writing, and Linear 1D barcode Reading and Writing.