Add Generated Barcodes to PDF Forms
Modern forms often require barcodes for efficient data capture and processing. Barcode-generation libraries can create accurate barcode images from application data, while pdfRest can extract form data and place those generated images into PDF forms.
Generate Barcodes with the Tools You Already Use
pdfRest does not generate barcode symbologies directly. Instead, you can use a barcode-generation library that fits your application and workflow. Common options include:
- libqrencode for generating QR codes.
- JsBarcode for generating barcodes in JavaScript applications.
- Code 39 and other barcode formats supported by your chosen library.
These tools can generate barcode images from values such as form identifiers, order numbers, inventory data, URLs, or shipment information. Your application can then send those images to pdfRest for placement in a PDF form.
Connect Barcode Generation with PDF Form Processing
A typical workflow combines barcode generation with pdfRest's form and PDF modification capabilities:
- Use the Export Form Data API Tool to retrieve values from an existing PDF form.
- Pass the extracted values to your preferred barcode-generation library.
- Generate one or more barcode images in your application.
- Use the Add to PDF API Tool to place the generated images into the PDF form.
This approach lets you keep barcode generation in the library or application layer where it belongs while using pdfRest to handle PDF-specific processing and image insertion.
Place and Size Barcode Images Precisely
The Add to PDF API Tool can place each generated barcode image at a precise position on a selected PDF page. You can also provide optional width and height values when the barcode must fit within a designated form field or layout area.
Barcode images can be added to existing PDF forms without rebuilding the entire document. This is useful when a form already contains labels, instructions, branding, or other fixed content that should remain unchanged.
For workflows that require multiple barcodes, your application can generate the images and submit them for placement as part of the same PDF-processing workflow. The resulting document can then continue through other pdfRest operations, such as compression, PDF/A conversion, or attachment processing.
Support Accessibility-Oriented Workflows
Add to PDF supports optional structure tagging for newly inserted images. When tagging is enabled, a generated barcode image can include alternative text and other tag metadata to help identify its purpose in the PDF structure.
Tagging applies to content inserted by the request. It does not automatically tag pre-existing untagged content in the source PDF, but it can add tagged barcode images to a PDF that already contains existing tags.
Build Your PDF Barcode Workflow
Use Export Form Data to retrieve values from PDF forms, generate barcode images with the library that best fits your application, and use Add to PDF to place those images into the final document.
You can experiment with the workflow in the pdfRest API Lab or find implementation details in the pdfRest API documentation.
Export Form Data |
Add to PDF |