# pdf417BarcodeGenerator() Generates a high-density linear barcode. ``` class func pdf417BarcodeGenerator() -> any CIFilter & CIPDF417BarcodeGenerator ``` ## Return Value The generated image. ## Discussion This method generates a PDF417 barcode as an image. PDF417 is a high-density stacked linear barcode format defined in the ISO 15438 standard. Use this filter to generate alphanumeric or numeric-only barcodes. Commonly used on identification cards or inventory management because of the large amount of data the barcode can hold. The PDF417 barcode generator filter uses the following properties: - `message`: An object representing the data to be encoded as a barcode. - `minWidth`: A `float` representing the minimum width of the barcode’s data area, in pixels as an . - `maxWidth`: A `float` representing the maximum width of the barcode’s data area, in pixels, as an . - `maxHeight`: A `float` representing the maximum height of the barcode’s data area, in pixels, as an . - `minHeight`: A `float` representing the minimum height of the barcode’s data area, in pixels, as an . - `dataColums`: A `float` representing the number of columns in the data area as an . - `rows`: A `float` representing the number of rows in the data area as an . - `preferredAspectRatio`: A `float` representing the desired aspect ratio as an . - `compactionMode`: An option that determines which method the generator uses to compress data as an . See the note below for the possible values. - `compactStyle`: A `Boolean` value of `0` or `1` that determines the omission of redundant elements to make the generated barcode more compact as an . - `correctionLevel`: A `float` between 0 and 8 that determines the amount of redundancy to include in the barcode’s data to prevent errors when the barcode is read. If left unspecified, the generator chooses a correction level based on the size of the message data. - `alwaysSpecifyCompaction`: A `Boolean` value of `0` or `1` that determines the inclusion of information about the compaction mode in the barcode as an . If a PDF417 barcode doesn’t contain compaction mode information, the reader assumes text-based compaction. The `compactionMode` property takes one of the following numeric values: |Value|Name |Description | |-----|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |`1` |Automatic|The generator automatically chooses a compression method. This option is the default. | |`2` |Numeric |Valid only when the message is an ASCII-encoded string of digits, achieving optimal compression for that type of data. | |`3` |Text |Valid only when the message is all ASCII-encoded alphanumeric and punctuation characters, achieving optimal compression for that type of data.| |`4` |Byte |Valid for any data, but least compact. | Select either 1 or the appropriate valid value for your data that gives the most compact output. The following code creates a filter that generates a PDF417 barcode: ```swift func pdf417Barcode(inputMessage: String) -> CIImage { let pdf417BarcodeGenerator = CIFilter.pdf417BarcodeGenerator() pdf417BarcodeGenerator.message = inputMessage.data(using: .ascii)! pdf417BarcodeGenerator.minWidth = 56 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.maxWidth = 58 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.maxHeight = 283 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.minHeight = 13 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.dataColumns = 9 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.rows = 6 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.preferredAspectRatio = 0.0 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.compactionMode = 1 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.compactStyle = 1 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.correctionLevel = 0.01 pdf417BarcodeGenerator.alwaysSpecifyCompaction = 0 return pdf417BarcodeGenerator.outputImage! } ```  --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)