topic Re: Data Matrix Code: unexpected result (configuration issue?) in Application Development and Automation Discussions

Data Matrix Code: unexpected result (configuration issue?)

kralika — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 13:11:50 GMT

Hallo,

I have problems with creating a Data Matrix Code. The data content of the code is rather simple. However, when trying to create the Data Matrix Code, the result does not seem to be right. I have a template, which shows how the Data Matrix Code should look like. The template does not match with the result SAP gives. Has anybody an explanation for the mismatch?

Here is what I did to create the Data Matrix Code:

I created a SAPscript Font with SE73 for the code with Symbology "Datamatrix ECC200". Look at the following Screenshot for the chosen settings. (The settings are pretty much the default settings. However, I tried multiple different settings and encodation modes, as described in note 2001392, and it never led to the expected result.)

Then I tested the Bar Code Font with the testing tool provided in SE73 (F6) using the following data:

aBCD^11^DUEN4XK3WP8T^20201124

I got this Data Matrix Code as a result:

However the template looks like this:

When reading both Data Matrix Codes with the Bar Code Scanning App on my Smartphone, they both reveal the same data. When creating the Data Matrix Code with the App, it also looks like the template.

Why does the Data Matrix Code created by SAP look different? Is there something wrong with the Bar Code configuration? Will the SAP Data Matrix Code still be readable by any Scanner?

Thanks a lot!

Agnes

Re: Data Matrix Code: unexpected result (configuration issue?)

Sandra_Rossi — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 17:59:39 GMT

Does your client require a specific ECC 000-220 format? If yes, which one? Ask them, don't ask us, we humans are not able to decode barcodes!

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Matrix

Re: Data Matrix Code: unexpected result (configuration issue?)

kralika — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 10:09:29 GMT

I finally figured it out.

In Automatic Mode SAP chooses the encodations differently to what I need.

SAP switches to C40 encoding as follows:

a\C40\BCD^11^DUEN4XK3WP8T\ASCII\^20201124

Whereas the Data Matrix Code I need uses EDIFACT encoding for the middle part of the data sequence:

aBCD^11\EDIFACT\^DUEN4XK3WP8T^20\ASCII\201124

It seems I have to switch between encodations manually to get the result I need.

To find the answer to my problem this tool was very helpful: https://zxing.org/w/decode.jspx
It provides not only the decoded text of a Data Matrix Code, but also the raw bytes of the Code. This way you can figure out which codewords for switching the encodations are used.