Barcode in ASP.NET (C#)

An example of creating barcodes in ASP.NET using C# script and COM class-based version of StrokeScribe barcode generator. The barcodes shown here are GIF images.

How to Proceed

Download and install the barcode generator on your IIS machine;
Create an .aspx file in the website folder;
Paste the following C# code into the .aspx file;
Open the page in a browser.

This example requires the application pool to be NET 4.0 or higher.

A Code Example

This code creates a GIF image of a barcode in memory and sends the image to a browser.

Expand/Collapse

<%@ Page Language="C#"  Debug="true" %>
<%
Type StrokeScribeClass = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("STROKESCRIBE.StrokeScribeClass.1");
dynamic barcode = Activator.CreateInstance(StrokeScribeClass);

barcode.Alphabet = 25;  //25=QRCODE 
barcode.Text = "ABC1234";  //Any data to encode in the barcode 

int w = barcode.BitmapW;   //The barcode width in pixels
int h = barcode.BitmapH;

byte[] buf = barcode.GetPictureArray(1, w*5, h*5); //1=GIF, 5x5 pixel barcode modules

if (barcode.Error>0)
{
  Response.Write(barcode.ErrorDescription);
  return;
}

Response.Clear();
Response.ClearHeaders();

Response.ContentType = "image/GIF";
Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=barcode.gif"); //Sending the barcode's GIF image to the browser

Response.BinaryWrite(buf);
%>

The BitmapW/BitmapH properties show the minimum picture size that fits the barcode.

For square barcodes (QR Code, Data Matrix), specify the same value for width and height: GetPictureArray(1, w, w) or GetPictureArray(1, h, h).

For linear barcodes (CODE-128, EAN-13), you need to use the value received from BitmapW (and it's multiplies) for the picture width and absolutely any value for height: GetPictureArray(1, barcode.BitmapW*3, 100).

Code Snippets

All Barcode Types

How to Encode a Byte Array

barcode.Alphabet = 25; // 25=QR CODE
barcode.CodePage = -1; // no code page conversion
byte[] data = {1,2,3,4,5};
barcode.Text = data;

CODE 128

To create a Code 128, modify your code in the following way:

barcode.Alphabet = 5; // 5=CODE128
int w = barcode.BitmapW;
byte[] buf = barcode.GetPictureArray(1, w*2, w);

How to Specify an Alternative Text Below the Barcode

barcode.TextBelow = "Hello";

QR Code

To create a QR Code, modify your code in the following way:

barcode.Alphabet = 25; // 25=QR CODE
barcode.Text = "ABCDEF";

Mobile-friendly Barcodes

Use UTF-8 encoding to make barcodes with national characters readable by mobile barcode readers.

barcode.Alphabet = 25; // 25=QR CODE
barcode.CodePage = 65001; // 65001 = UTF-8 
barcode.Text = "ΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦ";

How to Modify the Error Correction Level

barcode.Alphabet = 25; // 25=QR CODE
barcode.QrECL = 0; // 0 = weakest error correction

How to Force the Minimum Matrix Size

barcode.Alphabet = 25; // 25=QR CODE
barcode.QrMinVersion = 10; // 57x57 modules QR CODE matrix

PDF417

To create a PDF417 barcode, modify your code in the following way:

barcode.Alphabet = 6;   // 6 = PDF-417
barcode.Text = "123ABC";
int w = barcode.BitmapW;
int h = barcode.BitmapH;
byte[] buf = barcode.GetPictureArray(1, w, h);

To create a Compact PDF417:

barcode.Alphabet = 6;
barcode.CompactPDF417 = true;

How to Set the Non-default Error Correction Level

barcode.Alphabet = 6;
barcode.PDF417ErrLevel = 8;

How to Fix the Number of Rows or Columns

barcode.Alphabet = 6;
barcode.PDF417Cols = 3;
barcode.PDF417Rows = 7;

DATA MATRIX

To create a Data Matrix barcode, modify your code in the following way:

barcode.Alphabet = 8;  // 8 = DATA MATRIX
barcode.Text = "ABC123DEF";

How to Force the Minimum Matrix Size

barcode.DataMatrixMinSize = 132;

How to Modify the Quiet Zone Size

barcode.QuietZone2D = 0;

AZTEC

To create an Aztec barcode, modify your code in the following way:

barcode.Alphabet = 33; // 33 = AZTEC
barcode.Text = "ABC123";

How to Force the Minimum Matrix Size

barcode.AztecMinLayers = 132;

How to Set the Desired Error Correction Level

barcode.AztecECL = 50;

How to Modify the Quiet Zone Size

barcode.QuietZone2D = 0;