Confusion with the use of PDF417 Barcodes

[Former Community Member]

I am trying to get clarification on what is required to utilize the Acrobat Designer to create a form that creates a PDF417 barcode. Here is the scenario:



We would like to create a form with Designer (bundled with Acrobat 7.0 Professional)that will be used as an index sheet for a document scanning system.



The form would contain one or more fields that a user would complete using the standard Acrobat 7.0 Reader that they can download from Adobe. When the user completes the data entry into the fields, they will print out the form (containing the 2D barcode (PDF417).



The form would be scanned and put through recognition software that is supposed to ready PDF417 2D barcodes.



I have read through the literature and have seen inconsistent representations regarding the ability of a user to use the Acrobat reader to complete the form and print it with the PDF417 barcode.



In one of the forum postings a user was told that they needed certain decoder software from Adobe or extensions.



I am not clear if the user filling out a form using Acrobat 7.0 reader, which generates the PDF417 barcode supposedly, can be read by an application which supports that barcode type. Or, if this is a special type of PDF417 barcode that has some additional attributes that requires special software from Adobe to be recognized.



Please explain how I accomplish the objective set forth above.

[Former Community Member]

If you would like to use the
Paper Forms Barcode then you will need to license the technology from Adobe. If you do not own the Adobe LiveCycle Barcoded Forms license then you will not be able to decode the PDF417 Barcode that was created by the
Paper Forms Barcode object in Designer.



However, if you simply want a static Barcode on your form for identification purposes then simply select the
PDF417 Barcode and NOT the Paper Forms Barcode from the object library. This is a fixed value that will contain a single value and will not change as users enter their data into the form (or how ever you select to encode the data).



Feel free to contact me directly if you do need further explanation. 1-800-866-8006.

[Former Community Member]

Sounds like you may bee looking for a combination of Reader Extensions and Barcode forms.



I can discuss options with you.



Send me a e-mail at limelifter (@) hotmail (.) com

[derekt26803290]

Hi Guys,

I am inserting barcode for data collection but in the Object field is grayed out.  Please help.

[Former Community Member]

Mike,



It looks like I scanned over your email a little too quickly and missed a
VERY important point. You mention that your form will be "bundled with Acrobat 7.0 Professional". This is VERY important.



In fact, you will need to license nothing else from Adobe. You DO NOT need Reader Extensions because you are deploying Acrobat Professional on the work stations that will be filling in your forms. You do not need to "turn on" hidden functionality of the Free Reader if you are using Acrobat Pro. You already have all the functionality you need.



Second, when you fill in a Barcoded Form with Acrobat Professional the PDF417 Barcode that is rendered in your form will be a 100% standard PDF417 Barcode. But do not turn on compression. When filled in - in Acrobat - the Barcode is rendered so that it can be read by ANY Decoder that can read PDF417. However, if you enable compression you will need to use the Adobe Decoder. If you start decoding and see you are getting lower than a 99.9% decode rate, take a look at buying the Adobe Decoder. Not the whole "Barcoded Forms" license, just the Decoder.



Again,
if you are using Acrobat to fill in these forms, you have nothing else to buy. If you want to deploy these forms with the Free Reader then you will need to license Adobe LiveCycle Barcoded Forms and possibly ARES.