Migrating from Neodynamic Barcode to IronBarcode

The Fundamental Problem

The core issue in any codebase that used both Neodynamic SDKs for a complete barcode workflow is that QR code reading was never possible:

// Before: Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes
using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader;
using System.Drawing;

public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    using var bitmap = new Bitmap(imagePath);
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap);

    // Results are always null or empty for 2D barcodes
    if (results == null || !results.Any())
    {
        throw new NotSupportedException(
            "Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes");
    }

    return results.First().Value;
}

// Before: Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes
using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader;
using System.Drawing;

public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    using var bitmap = new Bitmap(imagePath);
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap);

    // Results are always null or empty for 2D barcodes
    if (results == null || !results.Any())
    {
        throw new NotSupportedException(
            "Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes");
    }

    return results.First().Value;
}

Imports Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader
Imports System.Drawing

Public Function ReadQrCode(imagePath As String) As String
    Using bitmap As New Bitmap(imagePath)
        Dim results = BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap)

        ' Results are always null or empty for 2D barcodes
        If results Is Nothing OrElse Not results.Any() Then
            Throw New NotSupportedException("Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes")
        End If

        Return results.First().Value
    End Using
End Function

After migrating to IronBarcode, the same operation becomes a standard read call with no format-specific handling:

// After: IronBarcode reads QR codes with the same call used for all formats
using IronBarCode;

public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    var result = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath).FirstOrDefault();
    return result?.Value;
}

// After: IronBarcode reads QR codes with the same call used for all formats
using IronBarCode;

public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    var result = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath).FirstOrDefault();
    return result?.Value;
}

Imports IronBarCode

Public Function ReadQrCode(imagePath As String) As String
    Dim result = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath).FirstOrDefault()
    Return If(result?.Value, Nothing)
End Function

Every throw new NotSupportedException(...) placeholder in a codebase that references 2D barcode reading is removed during this migration and replaced with a working read call.

Step 1: Remove Both Neodynamic Packages

Both packages must be removed. They have no shared dependencies that affect removal order:

dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader

dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader

Verify both entries are gone from the .csproj file before proceeding.

Step 2: Add IronBarcode

dotnet add package IronBarcode

dotnet add package IronBarcode

Step 3: Replace Dual License Configuration

Remove both Neodynamic license blocks and replace them with a single IronBarcode key assignment. This assignment is made once at application startup — in Program.cs, Startup.cs, or the application's composition root:

// Before: two license blocks, two products
using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode;
using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader;

BarcodeInfo.LicenseOwner = "Your Company";
BarcodeInfo.LicenseKey = "GEN-LICENSE-KEY";

Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader.BarcodeReader.LicenseOwner = "Your Company";
Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader.BarcodeReader.LicenseKey = "READ-LICENSE-KEY";

// Before: two license blocks, two products
using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode;
using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader;

BarcodeInfo.LicenseOwner = "Your Company";
BarcodeInfo.LicenseKey = "GEN-LICENSE-KEY";

Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader.BarcodeReader.LicenseOwner = "Your Company";
Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader.BarcodeReader.LicenseKey = "READ-LICENSE-KEY";

Imports Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
Imports Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader

BarcodeInfo.LicenseOwner = "Your Company"
BarcodeInfo.LicenseKey = "GEN-LICENSE-KEY"

Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader.BarcodeReader.LicenseOwner = "Your Company"
Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader.BarcodeReader.LicenseKey = "READ-LICENSE-KEY"

// After: one key covers generation and reading across all formats
using IronBarCode;

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-IRONBARCODE-KEY";

// After: one key covers generation and reading across all formats
using IronBarCode;

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-IRONBARCODE-KEY";

Imports IronBarCode

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-IRONBARCODE-KEY"

Any configuration files, environment variables, or secrets stores that hold Neodynamic license keys can be decommissioned after the migration is verified.

Generating a Code 128 Barcode

Neodynamic Approach:

using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;

public void GenerateCode128(string data, string outputPath)
{
    var barcode = new BarcodeInfo();
    barcode.Value = data;
    barcode.Symbology = Symbology.Code128;
    barcode.TextAlign = BarcodeTextAlignment.BelowCenter;
    barcode.Dpi = 300;

    System.Drawing.Image image = barcode.GetImage();
    image.Save(outputPath, ImageFormat.Png);
}

using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;

public void GenerateCode128(string data, string outputPath)
{
    var barcode = new BarcodeInfo();
    barcode.Value = data;
    barcode.Symbology = Symbology.Code128;
    barcode.TextAlign = BarcodeTextAlignment.BelowCenter;
    barcode.Dpi = 300;

    System.Drawing.Image image = barcode.GetImage();
    image.Save(outputPath, ImageFormat.Png);
}

Imports Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
Imports System.Drawing.Imaging

Public Sub GenerateCode128(data As String, outputPath As String)
    Dim barcode As New BarcodeInfo()
    barcode.Value = data
    barcode.Symbology = Symbology.Code128
    barcode.TextAlign = BarcodeTextAlignment.BelowCenter
    barcode.Dpi = 300

    Dim image As System.Drawing.Image = barcode.GetImage()
    image.Save(outputPath, ImageFormat.Png)
End Sub

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

public void GenerateCode128(string data, string outputPath)
{
    BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, BarcodeEncoding.Code128, 300)
        .SaveAsPng(outputPath);
}

using IronBarCode;

public void GenerateCode128(string data, string outputPath)
{
    BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, BarcodeEncoding.Code128, 300)
        .SaveAsPng(outputPath);
}

Imports IronBarCode

Public Sub GenerateCode128(data As String, outputPath As String)
    BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, BarcodeEncoding.Code128, 300) _
        .SaveAsPng(outputPath)
End Sub

The System.Drawing.Imaging import is no longer required. The BarcodeInfo instance and its property assignments collapse into a single method call. For sizing, annotation, and output format options, see the creating 1D barcodes guide.

Generating a QR Code

Neodynamic Approach:

using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode;

public void GenerateQrCode(string data, string outputPath)
{
    var barcode = new BarcodeInfo();
    barcode.Value = data;
    barcode.Symbology = Symbology.QRCode;
    barcode.QRCodeECL = QRCodeErrorCorrectionLevel.H;

    barcode.GetImage().Save(outputPath, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Png);
}

using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode;

public void GenerateQrCode(string data, string outputPath)
{
    var barcode = new BarcodeInfo();
    barcode.Value = data;
    barcode.Symbology = Symbology.QRCode;
    barcode.QRCodeECL = QRCodeErrorCorrectionLevel.H;

    barcode.GetImage().Save(outputPath, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Png);
}

Imports Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
Imports System.Drawing.Imaging

Public Sub GenerateQrCode(data As String, outputPath As String)
    Dim barcode As New BarcodeInfo()
    barcode.Value = data
    barcode.Symbology = Symbology.QRCode
    barcode.QRCodeECL = QRCodeErrorCorrectionLevel.H

    barcode.GetImage().Save(outputPath, ImageFormat.Png)
End Sub

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

public void GenerateQrCode(string data, string outputPath)
{
    QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode(data, 500, QRCodeWriter.QrErrorCorrectionLevel.Highest)
        .SaveAsPng(outputPath);
}

using IronBarCode;

public void GenerateQrCode(string data, string outputPath)
{
    QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode(data, 500, QRCodeWriter.QrErrorCorrectionLevel.Highest)
        .SaveAsPng(outputPath);
}

Imports IronBarCode

Public Sub GenerateQrCode(data As String, outputPath As String)
    QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode(data, 500, QRCodeWriter.QrErrorCorrectionLevel.Highest) _
        .SaveAsPng(outputPath)
End Sub

The generation translation changes only the API surface. The critical difference introduced by this migration is that the same application can now also read the QR codes it generates, through the same IronBarcode library and the same license. For a full treatment of 2D barcode creation, see the creating 2D barcodes guide.

Reading 1D Barcodes

Neodynamic Approach:

using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader;
using System.Drawing;

public string[] Read1DBarcodes(string imagePath)
{
    using var bitmap = new Bitmap(imagePath);
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap);
    return results?.Select(r => r.Value).ToArray() ?? Array.Empty<string>();
}

using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader;
using System.Drawing;

public string[] Read1DBarcodes(string imagePath)
{
    using var bitmap = new Bitmap(imagePath);
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap);
    return results?.Select(r => r.Value).ToArray() ?? Array.Empty<string>();
}

Imports Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader
Imports System.Drawing

Public Function Read1DBarcodes(imagePath As String) As String()
    Using bitmap As New Bitmap(imagePath)
        Dim results = BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap)
        Return If(results?.Select(Function(r) r.Value).ToArray(), Array.Empty(Of String)())
    End Using
End Function

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

public string[] Read1DBarcodes(string imagePath)
{
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath);
    return results.Select(r => r.Value).ToArray();
}

using IronBarCode;

public string[] Read1DBarcodes(string imagePath)
{
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath);
    return results.Select(r => r.Value).ToArray();
}

Imports IronBarCode

Public Function Read1DBarcodes(imagePath As String) As String()
    Dim results = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath)
    Return results.Select(Function(r) r.Value).ToArray()
End Function

The Bitmap construction and System.Drawing import are removed. IronBarcode accepts the file path directly. The result.Value property name is the same in both APIs, so downstream code that processes the returned values does not change. For multi-barcode image reading and preprocessing options, see the reading barcodes from images guide.

Reading QR Codes (Previously Impossible)

Neodynamic Approach:

// This method could not be implemented with Neodynamic Barcode Reader
public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    throw new NotSupportedException(
        "Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes");
}

// This method could not be implemented with Neodynamic Barcode Reader
public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    throw new NotSupportedException(
        "Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes");
}

' This method could not be implemented with Neodynamic Barcode Reader
Public Function ReadQrCode(imagePath As String) As String
    Throw New NotSupportedException("Neodynamic Barcode Reader does not support QR codes")
End Function

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    var result = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath).FirstOrDefault();
    return result?.Value;
}

using IronBarCode;

public string ReadQrCode(string imagePath)
{
    var result = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath).FirstOrDefault();
    return result?.Value;
}

Imports IronBarCode

Public Function ReadQrCode(imagePath As String) As String
    Dim result = BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath).FirstOrDefault()
    Return If(result?.Value, Nothing)
End Function

Every throw new NotSupportedException(...) placeholder that references 2D barcode reading becomes a standard read call. The method body changes from a thrown exception to a working implementation. No special handling is required for QR codes; IronBarcode identifies the format automatically.

Reading Barcodes from PDF Documents (New Capability)

Neodynamic Approach:

// Neodynamic Reader cannot read barcodes from PDF files directly
// An image extraction step using a separate library was required before reading
// No direct equivalent exists

// Neodynamic Reader cannot read barcodes from PDF files directly
// An image extraction step using a separate library was required before reading
// No direct equivalent exists

' Neodynamic Reader cannot read barcodes from PDF files directly
' An image extraction step using a separate library was required before reading
' No direct equivalent exists

IronBarcode Approach:

using IronBarCode;

public void ReadBarcodesFromPdf(string pdfPath)
{
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(pdfPath);

    foreach (var result in results)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Value: {result.Value} | Format: {result.Format} | Page: {result.PageNumber}");
    }
}

using IronBarCode;

public void ReadBarcodesFromPdf(string pdfPath)
{
    var results = BarcodeReader.Read(pdfPath);

    foreach (var result in results)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Value: {result.Value} | Format: {result.Format} | Page: {result.PageNumber}");
    }
}

Imports IronBarCode

Public Sub ReadBarcodesFromPdf(pdfPath As String)
    Dim results = BarcodeReader.Read(pdfPath)

    For Each result In results
        Console.WriteLine($"Value: {result.Value} | Format: {result.Format} | Page: {result.PageNumber}")
    Next
End Sub

IronBarcode reads barcodes directly from PDF documents across all pages. The page number on which each barcode was found is returned in the result. This capability requires no additional library and no intermediate image extraction step.

Issue 1: Two-Package Removal Order

Problem: Developers removing only one Neodynamic package and leaving the other causes compilation errors because the two SDKs share no types but some source files may import both namespaces in the same file.

Solution: Remove both packages before making any source changes. After both are removed, search for all using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode and using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader directives and remove them together:

dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader

dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader

Then audit with:

grep -r "Neodynamic.SDK" --include="*.cs" .

grep -r "Neodynamic.SDK" --include="*.cs" .

Issue 2: Dual License Configuration Cleanup

Problem: The two Neodynamic license blocks often appear in different locations — one in the application startup class and one in a service initializer. If only one block is removed, the remaining code references a namespace that no longer exists and fails to compile.

Solution: Search for all four Neodynamic license property assignments and remove them together before adding the IronBarcode key:

grep -r "LicenseOwner\|LicenseKey" --include="*.cs" .

grep -r "LicenseOwner\|LicenseKey" --include="*.cs" .

Replace all four lines with a single assignment:

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-IRONBARCODE-KEY";

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-IRONBARCODE-KEY";

Imports IronBarCode

IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-IRONBARCODE-KEY"

Issue 3: NotSupportedException Removal from Catch Blocks

Problem: Some codebases that used Neodynamic Reader added catch (NotSupportedException) blocks specifically to handle the silent failure of 2D barcode reads. Those catch blocks must be removed along with the throwing code; otherwise, the catch clause references a code path that can no longer occur.

Solution: Search for NotSupportedException in barcode-related files and review each occurrence. If the exception was raised in response to a 2D format read attempt, remove both the throw and the catch:

grep -r "NotSupportedException" --include="*.cs" .

grep -r "NotSupportedException" --include="*.cs" .

Replace the throwing method body with BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath) and remove the corresponding catch clause from any caller.

Pre-Migration

• Search for all Neodynamic package references: grep -r "Neodynamic.SDK" --include="*.csproj" .
• Search for all Neodynamic using directives: grep -r "using Neodynamic" --include="*.cs" .
• Search for license configuration locations: grep -r "LicenseOwner\|LicenseKey" --include="*.cs" .
• Search for all BarcodeInfo instantiation sites: grep -r "new BarcodeInfo\(\)" --include="*.cs" .
• Search for all Neodynamic read calls: grep -r "BarcodeReader.Read" --include="*.cs" .
• Search for all NotSupportedException usages in barcode paths: grep -r "NotSupportedException" --include="*.cs" .
• Identify any third-party library (ZXing.Net or similar) that was added specifically to cover the 2D reading gap — this can be removed after migration
• Record all Neodynamic license keys so they can be decommissioned from secrets stores after verification

Code Update Tasks

1. Run dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode
2. Run dotnet remove package Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader
3. Run dotnet add package IronBarcode
4. Remove all using Neodynamic.SDK.Barcode and using Neodynamic.SDK.BarcodeReader directives
5. Add using IronBarCode in all files that perform barcode operations
6. Remove both Neodynamic license configuration blocks
7. Add IronBarCode.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-KEY" once at application startup
8. Replace new BarcodeInfo() + property assignments + barcode.GetImage().Save(...) with BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode(data, encoding).SaveAsPng(path)
9. Replace QRCodeWriter patterns accordingly using QRCodeWriter.CreateQrCode()
10. Replace BarcodeReader.Read(bitmap) calls by removing the new Bitmap(imagePath) construction and passing the file path directly to BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath)
11. Remove all throw new NotSupportedException(...) placeholders for 2D reading and replace with BarcodeReader.Read(imagePath)
12. Remove corresponding catch (NotSupportedException) blocks from callers
13. Remove any third-party library that was added solely to cover the Neodynamic 2D reading gap

Post-Migration Testing

• Verify Code 128 barcode generation produces output matching previous dimensions and DPI settings
• Verify QR Code generation produces scannable output
• Verify 1D barcode reading returns the same values as the previous Neodynamic Reader implementation
• Verify QR Code reading succeeds on images that previously threw NotSupportedException
• Verify DataMatrix and PDF417 reading succeeds if those formats appear in the application's input
• Test PDF barcode reading if the application processes PDF documents
• Confirm all Neodynamic license key references have been removed from configuration files and environment variables
• Confirm the third-party 2D library (if one was present) has been fully removed and no remaining imports reference it