Barcode

The barcode method creates editable vector barcodes in Illustrator. It supports QR and matrix codes, retail and logistics symbols, linear formats, GS1 encoding, placement into tagged artwork, color and text styling, and names or tags for generated parts.

Use the Barcode editor in Tools → Methods to choose a format, validate sample data, preview the result, and add the method block to Builder. See the Barcode editor guide for the editor workflow.

How Barcode Placement Works

A barcode can be created in either of two ways:

Leave the method block's Darty header blank to create the barcode at x and y, then use scale, rotation, or manual sizing properties as needed.
Put a tag search in the Darty header to use matching artwork as the placement target. The target is replaced by default; set replace to false to preserve it.

tagSearch is also accepted as a property when authoring a sheet manually. In Builder, the tag search is normally represented by the first header row above the barcode method.

Supported Formats

Choose a format that is valid for the supplied data. Format-specific options are ignored or rejected when they do not apply to the chosen symbology.

See Barcode Formats for plain-language descriptions, family and alias distinctions, and guidance on choosing among these formats.

Format	Format	Format	Format
Aztec	Aztec Code	Aztec Rune	Codabar
Code 32	Code 39	Code 39 Extended	Code 39 Standard
Code 93	Code 128	Compact PDF417	Data Matrix
DataBar	DataBar Expanded	DataBar Expanded Stacked	DataBar Limited
DataBar Omni	DataBar Stacked	DataBar Stacked Omni	DX Film Edge
EAN-2	EAN-5	EAN-8	EAN-13
EAN/UPC	GS1 Digital Link QR	ISBN	ITF
ITF-14	MaxiCode	Micro QR Code	MicroPDF417
PDF417	Pharmazentralnummer	QR Code	rMQR Code
rMQR	UPC-A	UPC-E

GS1 Digital Link QR, GS1 Digital Link QR Code, GS1 Digital Link, and GS Digital Link QR Code are accepted names for the Digital Link format. Builder currently serializes this format as GS Digital Link QR Code.

Core Encoding Properties

Property	Description
format	Barcode symbology. Examples: `QR Code`, `Code 128`, `EAN-13`, `Data Matrix`, `PDF417`, `GS Digital Link QR Code`.
data	Text or numeric content to encode. The value must satisfy the selected format's rules. Digital Link can use its dedicated fields instead.
variant	Optional variant supported by the selected generator.
ecLevel	Error-correction level for `QR Code`, `Micro QR Code`, and `rMQR`. Valid Values: `L`, `M`, `Q`, `H`.
creatorOptionsGs1	Enables GS1 mode where supported. Alias: `gs1`. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
bytes	Numeric byte array to encode instead of a text value in supported formats.
invert	Inverts the generated symbol. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
addHRT	Controls human-readable text. Valid Values: `true`, `false`; omit it to use the format default.
skip	Skips the method for this data row. See * and Skip. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.

The four QR error-correction levels recover approximately 7%, 15%, 25%, and 30% of damaged codewords respectively. Higher correction makes the symbol denser, so use only as much as the production environment requires.

GS1 Mode

The standard Tools control exposes GS1 mode for Code 128, QR Code, and Data Matrix:

Code 128 adds the FNC1 control character.
QR Code uses the GS1 first-position indicator.
Data Matrix support does not currently guarantee complete GS1 specification compliance; validate the result with the scanner and workflow that will consume it.

GS1 Digital Link QR

Digital Link can be assembled from GS1 fields or supplied as a complete URI.

Property	Description
gtin	Required GTIN. Digits only, up to 14 digits. A 13-digit value receives a calculated check digit; a 14-digit value must already have a valid check digit. Alias: `gs1DigitalLinkGtin`.
batch	Optional batch or lot value, encoded as GS1 AI `10`. Aliases: `batchLot`, `lot`.
serial	Optional serial number, encoded as GS1 AI `21`.
expiryDate	Optional expiration date, encoded as AI `17`. Use `YYYY-MM-DD` in the Tools editor.
bestBeforeDate	Optional best-before date, encoded as AI `15`. Use `YYYY-MM-DD` in the Tools editor.
productionDate	Optional production date, encoded as AI `11`. Use `YYYY-MM-DD` in the Tools editor.
resolverDomain	Resolver origin. Default Value: `https://id.gs1.org`. Alias: `resolver`.
useRawUri	Uses `rawUri` instead of assembling the link from GS1 fields. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
rawUri	Complete Digital Link URI used with `useRawUri`. If the scheme is omitted, Darty adds `https://`; the final value must be a valid URL.

Batch and serial identifiers are written as path segments. Date identifiers are written as Digital Link query parameters using GS1's YYMMDD representation.

Placement and Sizing

Property	Description
tagSearch	Finds target artwork for barcode placement. Builder normally writes this in the Darty header.
replace	Replaces tagged target artwork. Default Value: `true`; use `false` to keep the target.
fitToTargetBounds	Fits the barcode to the bounds of tagged target artwork. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
scale	Scale used when the barcode is created without a tagged target.
moduleSize	Size of one matrix module.
barWidth	Base bar width for supported linear formats.
xDimension	X-dimension for formats that define sizing with it.
width	Requested overall width.
height	Requested overall height.
size	Requested square size for supported matrix formats.
barHeight	Bar height for supported linear formats.
unit	Unit for placement and sizing values. Valid Values: `pt`, `mm`, `cm`, `in`.
quietZoneModules	Quiet zone on all sides, measured in modules.
quietZoneXModules	Horizontal quiet zone, measured in modules.
quietZoneYModules	Vertical quiet zone, measured in modules.
autoRotate	Allows Darty to rotate the symbol to better fit its target. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
rotation	Rotation in degrees. Aliases: `rotationDegrees`, `angle`.
x	Horizontal document position when no tagged target is supplied.
y	Vertical document position when no tagged target is supplied.

Builder's current Barcode preview writes the common placement fields—target, replace, scale, quiet zone, rotation, x, and y. The method also accepts the manual sizing properties above, but some of them are not yet emitted by every Tools sizing control. Add those columns directly when you need an accepted property that is missing from the preview.

Colors and Overprint

Barcode modules and the optional background are independent colors. Each can use a general color value, swatch, or explicit color-model channels.

Property pattern	Description
moduleColor	General module or foreground color. The aliases beginning with `foregroundColor` are also accepted.
moduleColorModel	Module color model. Valid Values: `none`, `swatch`, `color`, `cmyk`, `rgb`, `gray`, `lab`, `hsb`, `hsv`, `hsl`.
moduleColorName	Swatch name when `moduleColorModel` is `swatch`.
moduleColorR / G / B	RGB channels. Long aliases such as `moduleColorRed` are accepted.
moduleColorC / M / Y / K	CMYK channels. Long channel-name aliases are accepted.
moduleColorGray	Gray channel.
moduleColorL / A / B	Lab channels.
moduleColorH / S / V	HSB, HSV, or HSL channels according to `moduleColorModel`.
backgroundColor	General background color.
backgroundColorModel	Background model; accepts the same models as `moduleColorModel`.
backgroundColorName	Background swatch name.
backgroundColorR / G / B	RGB background channels. Equivalent CMYK, Gray, Lab, HSB, HSV, and HSL channel properties are also accepted.
overprint	Applies overprint to supported generated artwork. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.

Use adequate contrast and preserve the quiet zone. Always test final artwork after color conversion, scaling, rasterization, or printing; a valid vector preview does not guarantee that every production scanner can read the result.

Human-Readable Text

Linear barcode formats can include human-readable text below the symbol.

Property	Description
addHRT	`true` forces text, `false` removes it, and an omitted value uses the symbology default.
fontSize	Text size. Alias: `textSize`.
textUnit	Unit for `fontSize`. Valid Values: `pt`, `mm`, `cm`, `in`.
font	Font or PostScript name. Aliases: `fontName`, `fontFamily`, `family`, `postscriptName`.
gap	Space between the symbol and text. Aliases: `textGap`, `distance`.
gapUnit	Unit for `gap`. Alias: `distanceUnit`.
fitBarcodeWidth	Fits the text across the barcode width. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
tracking	Character tracking.
horizontalScale	Horizontal text scale.

Naming and Tagging Generated Parts

Darty can assign Illustrator names and tags to the complete symbol and to format-specific parts. Finder and data parts are primarily useful for matrix formats, while the text part is relevant only when human-readable text exists.

Part	Name property	Tags property
Complete symbol	symbolName	symbolTags
Human-readable text	textName	textTags
Finder patterns	finderName	finderTags
Data marks	dataName	dataTags
Background	backgroundName	backgroundTags

Tag values may be supplied as arrays or list-style spreadsheet values according to the normal Darty array syntax.

Advanced Format Options

The following accepted properties are format-specific and are most often added manually. A generator may ignore or reject a property that does not belong to its format.

Property	Typical purpose
eci	Extended Channel Interpretation assignment.
readerInit	Reader-initialization mode where supported.
forceSquare	Forces a square form for a supporting matrix format.
columns and rows	Requested dimensions for stacked formats such as PDF417 variants.
version	Explicit symbol version for supporting QR-family formats.
dataMask	Explicit data mask where supported.
guardDescent	Guard-bar descent for supporting retail formats.
compliantHeight	Uses the generator's compliant-height behavior. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.
heightPerRow	Row height for a supporting stacked format.
creatorOptions	Advanced generator options object for programmatic use.
dryRun	Runs supported barcode processing without committing normal artwork output. Valid Values: `true`, `false`.

Many advanced properties also accept a creatorOptions prefix, such as creatorOptionsEci, creatorOptionsColumns, and creatorOptionsVersion.

Sample Spreadsheets

QR Code at a Document Position


*
barcode
format	data	ecLevel	scale	x	y	moduleColorModel	moduleColorR	moduleColorG	moduleColorB
Format	Content	Correction	Scale	X	Y	Color model	Red	Green	Blue
QR Code	https://darty.ai	M	4	72pt	72pt	rgb	30	30	30

Code 128 in Tagged Artwork

The first matching object tagged product-code is the placement target. replace: false preserves that object.


product-code
barcode
format	data	creatorOptionsGs1	addHRT	replace	symbolName
Format	Content	GS1	Show text	Keep target	Illustrator name
Code 128	0109501101530003	true	true	false	Product Barcode

GS1 Digital Link QR


package-qr
barcode
format	gtin	batch	serial	expiryDate	resolverDomain	ecLevel
Format	GTIN	Batch	Serial	Expiration	Resolver	Correction
GS Digital Link QR Code	09501101530003	LOT-204	SN-1832	2027-12-31	https://id.gs1.org	H

Raw Digital Link URI


*
barcode
format	useRawUri	rawUri	quietZoneModules
Format	Use complete URI	URI	Quiet zone
GS Digital Link QR Code	true	https://id.gs1.org/01/09501101530003/21/SN-1832	4

Validation and Troubleshooting

Confirm that the data is valid for the selected symbology. Retail formats require specific lengths and check digits.
For Digital Link, verify the GTIN check digit and use a valid resolver or raw URL.
Do not crop the quiet zone or stretch a symbol non-proportionally after generation.
Use addHRT: false if text is not appropriate for the selected format; not every symbol supports human-readable text.
Format-specific properties should only be supplied to formats that support them.
Test the final exported or printed result with the intended scanners and production conditions.