zint/docs/zint.1.pmd

% zint(1) Version 2.10.0.9
% Robin Stuart <robin@zint.org.uk>
% May 2022

# NAME

`zint` - Encode data as a barcode image

# SYNOPSIS

| `zint` [`-h` | `--help`]
| `zint` [*options*]

# DESCRIPTION

zint takes input data from the command line or a file to encode in a barcode which is then output to an image file.

The output image file (specified with `-o` or `--output`) may be in one of these formats: Windows Bitmap (`BMP`),
Enhanced Metafile Format (`EMF`), Encapsulated PostScript (`EPS`), Graphics Interchange Format (`GIF`), ZSoft
Paintbrush (`PCX`), Portable Network Format (`PNG`), Scalable Vector Graphic (`SVG`), or Tagged Image File Format
(`TIF`).

# OPTIONS

`-h`, `--help`
:   Print usage information summarizing command line options.

`-b TYPE`, `--barcode=TYPE`
:   Set the barcode symbology that will be used to encode the data. *TYPE* is the number or name of the barcode
    symbology. If not given, the symbology defaults to 20 (Code 128). To see what types are available, use the `-t`
    or `--types` option. Type names are case-insensitive, and non-alphanumerics are ignored.

`--addongap=INTEGER`
:   For UPC/EAN symbologies, set the gap between the main data and the add-on. *INTEGER* is in integral multiples of
    the X-dimension. The maximum gap that can be set is 12. The minimum is 7, except for UPC-A, when the minimum is 9.

`--batch`
:   Treat each line of an input file specified with `-i` or `--input` as a separate data set and produce a barcode
    image for each one. The barcode images are outputted by default to numbered filenames starting with "00001.png",
    "00002.png" etc., which can be changed by using the `-o` or `--output` option.

`--bg=COLOUR`
:   Specify a background (paper) colour where *COLOUR* is in hex RRGGBB or RRGGGAA format.

`--binary`
:   Treat input data as raw 8-bit binary data instead of the default UTF-8. Automatic code page translation to an ECI
    page is disabled, and no validation of the data's character encoding takes place.

`--bind`
:   Add horizontal boundary bars, aka bearer bars, to the symbol. The width of the boundary bars must be specified by
    the `--border` option. `--bind` can also be used to add row separator bars to symbols stacked with multiple `-d`
    or `--data` inputs, in which case the width of the separator bars must be specified with the `--separator` option.

`--bold`
:   Use bold text for the Human Readable Text.

`--border=INTEGER`
:   Set the width of boundary bars (`--bind`) or box borders (`--box`), where *INTEGER* is in integral multiples of
    the X-dimension.

`--box`
:   Add a box around the symbol. The width of the borders must be specified by the `--border` option.

`--cmyk`
:   Use the CMYK colour space when outputting to Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) or TIF files.

`--cols=INTEGER`
:   Set the number of data columns in the symbol to *INTEGER*. Affects Codablock-F, PDF417, MicroPDF417, GS1 DataBar
    Expanded Stacked (DBAR_EXPSTK) and DotCode symbols.

`--compliantheight`

:   Warn if the height specified by the `--height` option is not compliant with the barcode's specification, or if
    `--height` is not given, default to the height specified by the specification (if any).

`-d`, `--data=DATA`

:   Specify the input *DATA* to encode. The `--esc` option may be used to enter non-printing characters using escape
    sequences. The *DATA* should be UTF-8, unless the `--binary` option is given, in which case it can be anything.

`--direct`

:   Send output to stdout, which in most cases should be re-directed to a pipe or a file.

`--dmre`

:   For Data Matrix symbols, allow Data Matrix Rectangular Extended (RMRE) sizes when considering automatic sizes.

`--dotsize=NUMBER`

:   Set the radius of the dots in dotty mode (`--dotty`). *NUMBER* is in multiples of the X-dimension, and may be
    floating-point. The default is 0.8.

`--dotty`

:   Use dots instead of squares for matrix symbols. DotCode is always in dotty mode.

`--dump`

:   Dump a hexadecimal representation of the symbol's encodation to stdout.

`-e`, `--ecinos`

:   Display the table of ECIs (Extended Channel Interpretations).

`--eci=INTEGER`

:   Set the ECI code for the input data to *INTEGER*. See `-e` or `--ecinos` for a list of the ECIs available.

`--esc`

:   Process escape characters in the input data. The escape sequences are:

    - `\0`      (0x00)        `NUL`   Null character
    - `\E`      (0x04)        `EOT`   End of Transmission
    - `\a`      (0x07)        `BEL`   Bell
    - `\b`      (0x08)        `BS`    Backspace
    - `\t`      (0x09)        `HT`    Horizontal Tab
    - `\n`      (0x0A)        `LF`    Line Feed
    - `\v`      (0x0B)        `VT`    Vertical Tab
    - `\f`      (0x0C)        `FF`    Form Feed
    - `\r`      (0x0D)        `CR`    Carriage Return
    - `\e`      (0x1B)        `ESC`   Escape
    - `\G`      (0x1D)        `GS`    Group Separator
    - `\R`      (0x1E)        `RS`    Record Separator
    - `\\`      (0x5C)        `\`     Backslash
    - `\xNN`    (0xNN)                Any 8-bit character where NN is hexadecimal
    - `\uNNNN`  (U+NNNN)              Any 16-bit Unicode BMP character where NNNN is hexadecimal

`--fast`

:   Use faster if less optimal encodation (currently affects Data Matrix only).

`--fg=COLOUR`

:   Specify a foreground (ink) colour where *COLOUR* is in hex RRGGBB or RRGGGAA format.

`--filetype=TYPE`

:   Set the output file type to *TYPE*, which is one of `BMP`, `EMF`, `EPS`, `GIF`, `PCX`, `PNG`, `SVG`, `TIF`, `TXT`.

`--fullmultibyte`

:   Use the multibyte modes of QR Code, Han Xin, and Grid Matrix for non-ASCII data.

`--gs1`

:   Treat input as GS1 compatible data. Application Identifiers (AIs) should be placed in square brackets `"[]"` (but
    see `--gs1parens`).

`--gs1nocheck`

:   Do not check the validity of GS1 data.

`--gs1parens`

:   Process parentheses `"()"` as GS1 AI delimiters, rather than square brackets `"[]"`. The input data must not
    contain parentheses.

`--gssep`

:   For Data Matrix in GS1 mode, use `GS` (0x1D) as the GS1 data separator instead of `FNC1`.

`--guarddescent=INTEGER`

:   For UPC/EAN symbols, set the height of the guard bars' descent, where *INTEGER* is in integral multiples of the
    X-dimension.

`--height=NUMBER`

:   Set the height of the symbol in multiples of the X-dimension. *NUMBER* may be floating-point. Increments of 0.5
    are recommended for raster output (BMP, GIF, PCX, PNG and TIF).

`--heightperrow`

:   Treat height as per-row. Affects Codablock-F, Code16K, Code 49, GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked (DBAR_EXPSTK),
    MicroPDF417 and PDF417.

`-i`, `--input=FILE`

:   Read the input data from *FILE*.

`--init`

:   Create a reader initialisation/programming symbol.

`--mask=INTEGER`

:   Set the masking pattern to use for QR Code, Han Xin or DotCode to *INTEGER*, overriding the automatic selection.

`--mirror`

:   Use the batch data to determine the filename in batch mode (`--batch`).

`--mode=INTEGER`

:   For MaxiCode and composite symbols, set the encoding mode to *INTEGER*. The meaning is symbol-specific.

`--nobackground`

:   Remove the background colour (EMF, EPS, GIF, PNG, SVG and TIF only).

`--noquietzones`

:   Disable any quiet zones for symbols that define them by default.

`--notext`

:   Remove the Human Readable Text.

`-o`, `--output=FILE`

:   Send the output to *FILE*. When not in batch mode, the default is "out.png" (or "out.gif" if zint built without
    PNG support). When in batch mode (`--batch`), special characters can be used to format the output filenames:

    - `~`                  Insert a number or 0
    - `#`                  Insert a number or space
    - `@`                  Insert a number or `*`
    - Any other            Insert literally

`--primary=STRING`

:   For MaxiCode, set the content of the primary message. For Composite symbols, set the content of the linear symbol.

`--quietzones`

:   Add compliant quiet zones for symbols that specify one.

`-r`, `--reverse`

:   Reverse the foreground and background colours (white on black).

`--rotate=INTEGER`

:   Rotate the symbol by *INTEGER* degrees, where *INTEGER* can be 0, 90, 270 or 360.

`--rows=INTEGER`

:   Set the number of rows for Codablock-F or PDF417 to *INTEGER*. It will also set the minimum number of rows for
    Code 16k or Code 49, and the maximum number of rows for GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked (DBAR_EXPSTK).

`--scale=NUMBER`

:   Set the X-dimension. *NUMBER* may be floating-point.

`--scmvv=INTEGER`

:   For MaxiCode, prefix the Structured Carrier Message (SCM) with `"[)>\R01\Gvv"`, where vv is a 2-digit *INTEGER*.

`--secure=INTEGER`

:   Set the error correction level (ECC) or check character options to *INTEGER*. The meaning is symbol-specific.

`--segN=ECI,DATA`

:   Set the *ECI* & *DATA* content for segment N, where N is 1 to 9. `-d` or `--data` must still be given, and counts
    as segment 0, its ECI given by `--eci`. Segments must be consecutive.

`--separator=INTEGER`

:   Set the height of row separator bars for stacked symbologies, where *INTEGER* is in integral multiples of the
    X-dimension.

`--small`

:   Use small text for Human Readable Text.

`--square`

:   For Data Matrix symbols, exclude rectangular sizes when considering automatic sizes.

`--structapp=I,C[,ID]`

:   Set Structured Append info, where `I` is the 1-based index, `C` is the count of total symbols in the sequence, and
    `ID`, which is optional, is the identifier that all symbols in the sequence share.

`-t`, `--types`

:   Display the table of barcode types (symbologies). The numbers or names can be used with `-b` or `--barcode`.

`--vers=INTEGER`

:   Set the symbol version (size, check digits, other options) to *INTEGER*. The meaning is symbol-specific. For most
    matrix symbols, it specifies size. For a number of linear symbols, it specifies check character options. For a
    few other symbologies, it specifies other characteristics.

`-v`, `--version`

:   Display the zint version.

`--vwhitesp=INTEGER`

:   Set the height of vertical whitespace above and below the barcode, where *INTEGER* is in integral multiples of the
    X-dimension.

`-w`, `--whitesp=INTEGER`

:   Set the width of horizontal whitespace either side of the barcode, where *INTEGER* is in integral multiples of the
    X-dimension.

`--werror`

:   Convert all warnings into errors.

# EXAMPLES

Create "out.png" (or "out.gif" if zint built without PNG support) in the current directory, as a Code 128 symbol.

```bash
zint -d 'This Text'
```

Create "qr.svg" in the current directory, as a QR Code symbol.

```bash
zint -b QRCode -d 'This Text' -o 'qr.svg'
```

# BUGS

Please send bug reports to https://sourceforge.net/p/zint/tickets/

# SEE ALSO

Full documention for `zint` (and the API `libzint` and the GUI `zint-qt`) is available from
http://zint.org.uk/Manual.aspx, and at https://sourceforge.net/p/zint/docs/manual.txt.

# STANDARDS

Zint is designed to be compliant with a number of international standards, including:

- EN 798:1996, EN 12323:2005, ISO/IEC 15420:2009, ISO/IEC 15417:2007,
- ISO/IEC 15438:2015, ISO/IEC 16022:2006, ISO/IEC 16023:2000,
- ISO/IEC 16388:2007, ISO/IEC 18004:2015, ISO/IEC 20830:2021,
- ISO/IEC 24723:2010, ISO/IEC 24724:2011, ISO/IEC 24728:2006,
- ISO/IEC 24778:2008, ISO/IEC 16390:2007, ISO/IEC 21471:2019,
- ANSI-HIBC 2.6-2016, ANSI/AIM BC12-1998, ANSI/AIM BC6-2000,
- ANSI/AIM BC5-1995, AIM ISS-X-24, AIMD014 (v 1.63), USPS-B-3200,
- USS Code One (1994), GS1 22.0 (2022), AIM ITS/04-023 (2022)