C# Barcode Reader How-Tos
PM > Install-Package OnBarcode.Barcode.Reader
C#: How to Start
Read multi-barcodes
Scan image specified regions
Apply image processing
Async & multi-thread scanning
Process Barcode Text
Unicode text
Structured Append data
GS1 data elements
Setup .NET Projects
ASP.NET Core
ASP.NET Core MVC
ASP.NET Framework
WinForms (.NET Core)
WPF (.NET Core)
2D Barcode in C#
Data Matrix
PDF417
QR Code
Linear Barcode in C#
Code 39
Code 128
EAN-13
GS1-128
UPC-A

C# Data Matrix Reader SDK Integration

Online tutorial for reading & scanning Data Matrix barcode images using C#.NET class

How to read, scan, decode Data Matrix images in C#.NET class, ASP.NET Web & Windows applications

Scan Data Matrix barcode in C# class, Console applications
Read Data Matrix barcode in C# ASP.NET web projects
Read, decode Data Matrix images in Visual Studio C#.NET Windows Forms applications.
Easy and simple to integrate Data Matrix reader component (single dll file) into your C# project
Complete developed in C#.net 2005, for .net framework 2.0 and later version
Scanning, decoding Data Matrix from multiple image formats, like BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF formats
Scanning, reading Data Matrix from multi-page TIFF documents

How to scan, read Data Matrix 2D barcodes from image using C#

Download C# Barcode Reader Library
Install C# library to read Data Matrix from images in .NET apps
Step by Step Tutorial

C# Data Matrix Reader Introduction

Top

C# Data Matrix Reader SDK is a high performance C# linear and 2d barcode recognition SDK for Microsoft Visual Studio C#.NET platform.

Scan and read Data Matrix barcodes from image files is one of the barcode decoding functions in .NET Barcode Reader component. To help .net developers easiy integrate barcode reader control into your .net projects, we provide detailed online tutorial for

C#.NET Barcode Reader component supports scanning and reading 20+ linear, 2d barcodes, including

Read QR Code in C# | Read PDF-417 in C# | Read GS1/EAN-128 in C# | Read UPC-A in C#

You may also be interested in:

Install C#.NET Barcode Reader Control to Your C# project

Top

Copy OnBarcode.Barcode.BarcodeScanner.dll to your C#.NET project folder (do not copy dll file to your project bin folder).
Add OnBarcode.BarcodeReader.dll to your C# project reference.

Reading Data Matrix in C# Class

Top

Call BarcodeScanner.Scan() method in your C# class, and pass your barcode image file path or in Stream object, and Data Matrix barcode type (BarcodeType.Data Matrix) as method parameters.

string[] datas = BarcodeScanner.Scan("data-matrix-image.gif", BarcodeType.DataMatrix);

How to extract scanned Data Matrix barcode property information in C#?

Top

After you have got the scanned Data Matrix in BarcodeDetail object, you can explore the following Data Matrix barcode property information using method GetBarcodeProps()

FormatMode. Get scanned Data Matrix format mode used in encoding.
DataMode. Get scanned Data Matrix encoding data mode. If mixed, it will return DataMatrixDataMode.Mix
IsStructuredAppend. Indicate if Data Matrix contains structure append block.
SymbolPosition. If Data Matrix is in Structured Append mode, get it's symbol position. Start from 1.
SymbolCount. If Data Matrix is in Structured Append mode, get number of symbols in the group.
FileID. If Data Matrix is in Structured Append mode, get file identification. 2 codewords with range 1 to 254.

ScanOptions ops = new ScanOptions(BarcodeType.DataMatrix);
BarcodeDetail[] result = BarcodeScanner.Scan(imgFilePath, ops);
if (result != null && result.Length > 0)
{
    foreach (BarcodeDetail b in result)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", b.GetMessage());
        if (b.Type == BarcodeType.DataMatrix)
        {
            DataMatrixProps props = (DataMatrixProps)b.GetBarcodeProps();
            //  Get format mode used in encoding.
            Console.WriteLine("Format Mode: {0}", props.FormatMode.ToString());
            //  Get data mode used in encoding.
            //  DataMatrixDataMode.Mix for more than 1 data modes used.
            Console.WriteLine("Data Mode:   {0}", props.DataMode.ToString());
            //  Indicate if it contains structure append block.
            Console.WriteLine("Is Structure Append: {0}", props.IsStructuredAppend);
            if (props.IsStructuredAppend)
            {
                //  Get symbol position. Start from 1.
                Console.WriteLine("Symbol Position:     {0}", props.SymbolPosition);
                //  Get number of symbols in the group.
                Console.WriteLine("Symbol Count:        {0}", props.SymbolCount);
                //  Get file identification.
                //  2 codewords with range 1 to 254.
                Console.WriteLine("File ID:             {0},{1}", props.FileID[0], props.FileID[1]);
            }
        }
    }
}

How to decode and parse scanned Data Matrix data in C#?

Top

Data Matrix ISO and GS1 standards support the following data encoding

ASCII characters. Including digits (0-9), uppercase letters (A-Z), lowercase letters (a-z), some special characters and control characters.
Unicode text
Binary data. It may contain compressed information, data from database.
GS1 data message. Including one or more combinations of GS1 Application Identifier and its data.

Here we will learn how to scan and parse the Data Matrix value from the image file using C# Barcode Reader library.

ASCII characters

OnBarcode C# Barcode Reader library allows you easily to extract ASCII characters (with printable and non-printable chars) from Data Matrix barcode using method GetASCIITextMessage in class BarcodeDetail.

BarcodeDetail[] datas = BarcodeScanner.ScanInDetails(
    "C://Input//data-matrix-demo.png", BarcodeType.DataMatrix);
foreach (BarcodeDetail obj in datas)
{
    Debug.WriteLine(" Barcode Text: " + obj.GetASCIITextMessage());
}

Unicode text

After you have scanned and detected the Data Matrix barcode information in BarcodeDetail objects, you can get the Unicode text using the following steps in C# source codes.

Use method GetDataBytes to get the binary data from the Data Matrix row data scanned.
Get Unicode text string by using right text encoding. Most of the Unicode text encoding are using UTF8 encode.

BarcodeDetail[] datas = BarcodeScanner.ScanInDetails("data-matrix-unicode-demo.png", 
    BarcodeType.DataMatrix);
for (int j = 0; j < datas.Length; j++)
{
    byte[] dataInBytes = datas[j].GetDataBytes();
    string textMsgDecoded = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(dataInBytes);
    Console.WriteLine("message: " + textMsgDecoded);
}

Binary data

In the returned barcode information BarcodeDetail object, call method GetDataBytes to extract the binary data from the Data Matrix raw data in C# project.

BarcodeDetail[] datas = BarcodeScanner.ScanInDetails("data-matrix-unicode-demo.png", 
    BarcodeType.DataMatrix);
for (int j = 0; j < datas.Length; j++)
{
    byte[] dataInBytes = datas[j].GetDataBytes();
}

GS1 data message

To scan and extract GS1 data message from a GS1 Data Matrix barcode image, you need follow the steps below using C# Barcode Reader library in your C# ASP.NET, WinForms projects.

Create a ScanOptions object with barcode format BarcodeType.DataMatrix specified.
Apply scan option EnableGS1 to true. The barcode library will detect Data Matrix and extract raw data and parse to GS1 data message in C# project.
In the scanned BarcodeDetail object, call the value of parameter IsGS1Compitable to determine whether it is GS1 data.
Use method GetMessage to get the formatted GS1 data message in C# application.

ScanOptions opts = new ScanOptions(BarcodeType.DataMatrix);
opts.EnableGS1 = true;
BarcodeDetail[] result = BarcodeScanner.Scan("data-matrix-gs1-sample.png", opts);
foreach (BarcodeDetail b in result) {
    //  Indicate if the barcode is conform to GS1 specification.
    if (b.IsGS1Compitable) {
        //  Get message in string format.
        //  Eg. "(415)5412345678908(3911)710125"
        String msg = b.GetMessage();
        Console.WriteLine("Data: '{0}'", b.Data);
        Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", msg);
    }
}

Common Asked Questions

How to install a Data Matrix reader library in an ASP.NET or WinForms project?

You can manually download the free trial version of C# Barcode Reader library dll from website, and add the Data Matrix scanner dll to the .NET project reference. Or you can also install the OnBarcode C# Barcode Reader library nuget package through NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio.

Can I read Data Matrix from image file and image object in memory in C# project?

Yes. You can read, scan Data Matrix from an image file or image data in Stream object or byte array using method BarcodeScanner.Scan() in C# ASP.NET, MVC, WinForms, WPF web and desktop application. The method will load, scan and decode all Data Matrix and other barcode formats from the image content in C# project.

Is it possible to read multiple Data Matrix barcodes or with other barcode formats from a single image file?

Yes. The C# Barcode Reader library supports read and detect multiple Data Matrix barcodes from a single image file, and also scan and decode multiple Data Matrix and other specified barcode formats' data from an image file in C# application. You will get each scanned barcode's value, barcode format, location, rotation in the BarcodeDetail object.

Does C# Data Matrix Scanner library support rotated Data Matrix barcode image?

Yes. The Barcode library will automatically scan and detect rotated Data Matrix barcodes from the image file in C# ASP.NET, Windows applications.

What is a data matrix code?

A data matrix code is a 2-dimensional code that is made of black and white cells that are usually arranged in a square pattern. Using C# barcode scanner library, you will quickly scan, and decode Data Matrix code from barcode image files in C# ASP.NET Core, MVC, Windows Forms, WPF apps.

What is the ISO standard for Data Matrix?

Data Matrix ISO specification is ISO/IEC 16022, and the latest standard version is ISO/IEC 16022:2024. C# Barcode Reader library will scan and recognize Data Matrix barcode codes from image files in C# web and Windows apps.

Can you scan a Data Matrix?

Yes. You can use your smartphone (iPhone or Android phone) installed app to scan and decode the Data Matrix code from images. If you are a C# developer, you can use OnBarcode C# barcode library to build a Windows or web app to scan and recognize Data Matrix code from barcode images.

Can a Data Matrix be damaged?

Yes. a Data Matrix barcode can be damaged. Data Matrix (ECC200) is using the Reed-Solomon algorithm for error correction. A ECC200 Data Matrix barcode image can still be decodable when upto 50% of the Data Matrix bar modules are damaged. Using OnBarcode C# Barcode Scanner library, you can easily scan and read Data Matrix text from a damaged Data Matrix barcode image in C# app.

How to scan GS1 data information from Data Matrix?

Data Matrix barcode supports GS1 System. The Data Matrix with GS1 data encoded should follow the GS1 stanadard. OnBarcode C# Barcode Reader library supports scan and read GS1 data text from Data Matrix images in C# ASP.NET, MVC, Windows applications.

What image formats are supported using C# Data Matrix Barcode Reader library?

C# Barcode Reader library supports multiple raster image formats, such as bitmap, jpeg, png, gif, multi-page TIFF image from image file path, in Stream object or byte array in C# .NET projects.

How to scan and read binary data from Data Matrix barcode image in C#?

Using C# Barcode Reader library, you can use method BarcodeDetail.GetDataBytes() to extract binary data from Data Matrix image.

Can I get the Data Matrix locations in the image after they are scanned by the barcode library?

Yes. For each scanned Data Matrix barcode, you will get one BarcodeDetail object. The Data Matrix position information is stored in property X1, Y1, X2, Y2, X3, Y3, X4, Y4, which define the four positions inside the Data Matrix image.

Besides Data Matrix, does C# Barcode Reader library support other 2d, and 1d barcode formats?

OnBarcode C# Barcode Reader library supports all major popular 2d and linear barcode formats, including QR Code (both ISO and GS1 standard), Data Matrix (both ISO and GS1 standard), Code 128, GS1-128, EAN/UPC with add-on, Code 39, PDF417 and other barcode types. Using C# Barcode library, you can easily scan and detect all supported barcode formats using BarcodeType.All in C# application.

How to improve Data Matrix scanning speed in C# ASP.NET web or Windows application?

C# Barcode Reader library procodes mutliple scanning options to speed up the barcode reading, such as specified barcode scanning direction, scanning interval, partial image region scanning, multi-thread and async barcode scanning in C# ASP.NET, MVC, WinForms, WPF, console applications.

In this page

Start with free trial package: