Generate Complex Barcodes

Generate Complex Barcodes

Complex barcode generation starts with a typed business object. The model validates and constructs the standardized payload before the barcode image is created.

The complete source code for this article is available on GitHub:

View GenerateComplexBarcodes.java

Create structured HIBC LIC data

HIBC LIC separates primary product identification from secondary production data:

HIBCLICCombinedCodetext codetext =
        new HIBCLICCombinedCodetext();

codetext.setBarcodeType(EncodeTypes.HIBCQRLIC);

PrimaryData primaryData = new PrimaryData();
primaryData.setLabelerIdentificationCode("A999");
primaryData.setProductOrCatalogNumber("12345");
primaryData.setUnitOfMeasureID(1);
codetext.setPrimaryData(primaryData);

Add expiry date, quantity, lot number, serial number, and manufacture date through SecondaryAndAdditionalData.

SecondaryAndAdditionalData secondaryData =
        new SecondaryAndAdditionalData();

secondaryData.setExpiryDateFormat(
        HIBCLICDateFormat.YYYYMMDD
);

secondaryData.setExpiryDate(
        LocalDateTime.of(2027, 12, 31, 0, 0)
);

secondaryData.setQuantity(30);
secondaryData.setLotNumber("LOT123");
secondaryData.setSerialNumber("SERIAL123");
secondaryData.setDateOfManufacture(
        LocalDateTime.of(2026, 1, 15, 0, 0)
);

codetext.setSecondaryAndAdditionalData(
        secondaryData
);

The model constructs the standard-compliant HIBC LIC payload automatically.

Generate a complex barcode image

SwissQRCodetext codetext = createSwissQRCodetext();

ComplexBarcodeGenerator generator =
        new ComplexBarcodeGenerator(codetext);

generator.save(
        "generated_swiss_qr.png",
        BarCodeImageFormat.PNG
);

The generator obtains the final payload and carrier type from the complex codetext object.

Configure appearance

Complex generators expose common generation parameters:

generator.getParameters()
        .setBackColor(new Color(245, 248, 252));

generator.getParameters()
        .getBarcode()
        .setBarColor(new Color(20, 45, 90));

generator.getParameters()
        .getBarcode()
        .getXDimension()
        .setPixels(3);

Padding and borders can be configured in the same way as for regular barcode generation.

generator.getParameters()
        .getBarcode()
        .getPadding()
        .getLeft()
        .setPixels(12);

generator.getParameters()
        .getBarcode()
        .getPadding()
        .getRight()
        .setPixels(12);

generator.getParameters()
        .getBorder()
        .setVisible(true);

generator.getParameters()
        .getBorder()
        .setColor(Color.GRAY);

generator.getParameters()
        .getBorder()
        .getWidth()
        .setPixels(2);

These settings affect only the generated image and do not modify the structured business data.

Save to a stream

ByteArrayOutputStream outputStream =
        new ByteArrayOutputStream();

generator.save(
        outputStream,
        BarCodeImageFormat.PNG
);

byte[] imageBytes = outputStream.toByteArray();

Stream output is useful for web responses, cloud storage, document composition, and database workflows.

Verify generated output

Use BarCodeReader to recognize the generated carrier barcode and compare the recognized payload with getConstructedCodetext().

BarCodeReader reader = new BarCodeReader(
        "generated_swiss_qr.png",
        DecodeType.QR
);

BarCodeResult[] results =
        reader.readBarCodes();

if (results.length != 1) {
    throw new IllegalStateException(
            "Expected exactly one QR barcode."
    );
}

if (!results[0].getCodeType().equals(
        DecodeType.QR
)) {
    throw new IllegalStateException(
            "Unexpected barcode type: "
                    + results[0].getCodeType()
    );
}

if (!results[0].getCodeText().equals(
        codetext.getConstructedCodetext()
)) {
    throw new IllegalStateException(
            "Recognized payload does not match "
                    + "the constructed codetext."
    );
}

This example uses only the public Aspose.BarCode API.

For critical workflows, decode the recognized text back into the typed model and compare business fields.

SwissQRCodetext decodedCodetext =
        ComplexCodetextReader.tryDecodeSwissQR(
                results[0].getCodeText()
        );

if (decodedCodetext == null) {
    throw new IllegalStateException(
            "The recognized payload could not be "
                    + "decoded as Swiss QR."
    );
}

if (!decodedCodetext.getBill()
        .getAccount()
        .equals(codetext.getBill().getAccount())) {
    throw new IllegalStateException(
            "Decoded account does not match "
                    + "the source data."
    );
}

Recommendations

• Build the typed model before creating the generator.
• Validate required fields before saving.
• Keep appearance configuration separate from business data.
• Use streams when intermediate files are unnecessary.
• Recognize the generated carrier with BarCodeReader.
• Decode the recognized text with the matching complex codetext reader.
• Compare important business fields after decoding.