ECC 200 · ISO/IEC 16022 · FNC1 · HRI
DataMatrix Generator for GS1 data
Bulk-generate compliant GS1 DataMatrix barcodes with matching Human Readable Interpretation (HRI). For product identification, logistics, manufacturing, direct part marking (DPM), traceability and pharmaceutical / medical-device (UDI) labelling.
- AI & length validation
- AI order warnings
- Barcode & HRI as separate files
- ZIP / PDF
Enter one GS1 string per line — AIs in parentheses
Example: (01)09506000134352(17)260101(10)BATCH01
★ Downloads are part of Pro. Free: 10 previews.
How to generate GS1 DataMatrix codes
- Enter data in HRI formatWrite each Application Identifier in parentheses followed by its value, e.g. (01)09506000134352(17)260101(10)BATCH01.
- Arrange in the recommended orderPrimary key first (01), then predefined-length AIs (11, 13, 15, 17, 31xx…), then variable-length AIs (10, 21, 240…). Variable AIs need an FNC1 separator, which the tool inserts for you.
- One GS1 string per linePaste hundreds of lines at once — each becomes a separate symbol. Ctrl + Enter generates.
- Click Generate AllEvery line is validated: unknown AI, wrong length, bad date, invalid GTIN check digit or characters outside CSET 82 are reported with the line number.
- Review and downloadCheck the previews and HRI, then download a single PNG/SVG, a ZIP with the barcode and HRI as separate files, or a PDF grid.
Need to convert from a spreadsheet? Use the bulk generator template, or build the strings with a formula such as ="(01)"&A2&"(17)"&B2&"(10)"&C2.
GS1 DataMatrix vs. standard Data Matrix vs. QR Code
| GS1 DataMatrix | Standard Data Matrix | QR Code / GS1 QR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data structure | FNC1 + GS1 element string (AIs). Universally interpretable. | Free text or binary. Meaning is private to the application. | Free text, or GS1 element string / Digital Link URI. |
| Typical use | Pharma & medical devices (UDI, serialisation), DPM on parts, logistics labels. | Internal part tracking, electronics, documents. | Consumer packaging, marketing, Digital Link, tickets. |
| Links to a website? | Not directly (a GS1 Digital Link variant exists). | Only if the content is a URL. | Yes — phones open it natively. |
| Space efficiency | Highest — smallest symbol for the same data; rectangular formats available. | Highest. | Larger: three finder patterns and a 4-module quiet zone. |
| Error correction | Reed–Solomon ECC 200, ~25 % damage. | ECC 200. | Selectable L/M/Q/H, 7–30 %. |
| Minimum size (retail/healthcare) | X ≥ 0.255 mm (healthcare), quiet zone 1 module. | Application-defined. | X ≥ 0.396 mm (retail POS), quiet zone 4 modules. |
Why use the QR-DigitalCode generator?
Easy data verification
Review the HRI beneath every symbol — the same text your verifier and pharmacist will read.
Bulk generation
Hundreds of lines at once, each validated separately with the line number of every error.
Separate barcode and HRI files
The ZIP contains the bare symbol, the HRI text file and a combined image, so your label software can lay them out freely.
GS1 encoding best practice
FNC1 in first position, correct AI separators, predefined-length AIs first, CSET 82 enforcement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Data Matrix a QR code?
No. Both are 2D matrix symbologies, but Data Matrix (ISO/IEC 16022) uses an L-shaped finder pattern and a dotted clock track, while QR Code (ISO/IEC 18004) uses three square finder patterns. Data Matrix is smaller for the same data and is preferred for tiny items and direct part marking; QR Code is what consumer phones open natively. Most industrial 2D imagers read both.
What makes a GS1 DataMatrix different from a standard Data Matrix?
A GS1 DataMatrix starts with the FNC1 character in the first position, which tells the scanner that the content is a GS1 element string of Application Identifiers. Any GS1-capable system can then interpret (01) as GTIN, (17) as expiry, (10) as lot and so on without a private agreement.
When should I choose GS1 DataMatrix instead of a GS1 QR Code?
Choose GS1 DataMatrix when the item is small, marked directly (laser/dot peen), or regulated — pharmaceuticals, medical devices (UDI), tobacco — and when scanning is done by professional equipment. Choose a GS1 QR / Digital Link when consumers should scan it with a phone or the retail POS transition (Sunrise 2027) is your goal.
Does a GS1 DataMatrix link to a website?
A classic GS1 DataMatrix does not — it carries the element string only. GS1 also defines GS1 Digital Link in Data Matrix, which encodes the same https URI as a Digital Link QR; it is used where a small symbol is needed but web resolution is still wanted.