B-Coder FAQs
B-Coder generates bar codes as graphics for use by other
Windows applications. With B-Coder you actually print bar
codes on labels or documents right from within your other
Windows applications.
| What
Windows applications will it work with? |
B-Coder inputs bar codes into Word, Access, PageMaker, Corel
and any other Windows application that can accept graphics.
B-Coder creates bar codes in all popular graphic formats
Windows Metafile (WMF), EPS, TIFF, bitmap, GIF, etc. to work
with most Windows applications and even some MAC applications.
B-Coder Pro also has features to allow you to automate barcode
production on demand for high quantity barcode labeling,
bar coded "mail merges", etc. These features work best with
MS Word and Access but can also be used with other DDE supporting
applications such as WordPerfect.
| What
printers can I print bar codes to? |
You can print perfect bar codes to any printer that has
a Windows printer driver. For instance, when you print from
Word all the printers you have available under Windows will
appear and you can print to any of these. This includes laser,
inkjet, dot matrix and thermal printers. In fact the bar
codes generated by B-Coder, in the default WMF format, will
print to the highest possible resolution of any printer – even
2500+ dpi image setters!
If you do not have a Windows printer driver for your printer,
please contact the manufacturer. You may be able to download
this driver from their web site or they could mail it to
you on diskette.
| Why
is B-Coder better than bar code fonts? |
" Bar code fonts have been known to create EAN/UPC symbols
with serious design defects. The problems may be caused by
the design of the font, an operator input, or a combination
of both."
UCC Guidelines for Providers of EAN/UPC Symbol Design Software,
July 1997.
"Extreme caution should be used when producing EAN/UPC symbols
with bar code fonts."
The Uniform Code Council does not recommend the use of bar
code fonts. As problems it cites in particular the ability
to manipulate the size of individual characters (distortion),
spacing between the characters (kerning) and the possibility
of font or resolution substitution at the output stage. However
there are many other problems with bar code fonts. The user
cannot specify the module (bar) width exactly in printer
dots. Fonts do not support Bar Width Reduction. Nor do they
support many of the features specific to bar code symbols
such as Bearer Bars, Quiet Zones, independent symbol height
and module (bar) width specification, symbol rotation and
support for binary data (including ACSII nulls in Code 128,
Code 39, Code 93 and PDF 417).
In addition, most fonts do not automatically calculate and
add check digits and other security features to bar codes.
To add check digits you usually need a separate application
that calculates the check digits first before you create
the bar codes.
Visit Printing Perfect Bar Codes for more information about
all the bar code printing options available to you.
| What
is the difference between B-Coder and a barcode label
program? |
Barcode label programs are typically stand-alone Windows
programs designed to print bar codes on labels on specialized
barcode label printers. B-Coder is very different in that
it is designed to add bar code printing to your existing
Windows application – such as Word and Access. B-Coder is
also different in that it you can print perfect bar codes
on any printer. Barcode label programs only work with specialized
bar code label printers. You need to decide what is best
for you as they are very different.
| Will
bar codes be completely to spec and 100% readable? |
B-Coder creates the highest quality bar codes possible in
Windows. The default Windows Metafile graphic format for
the bar codes is a vector format so it not only creates bar
codes that print to the highest resolution of any printer
the bar code graphics are very small to store and print very
fast. B-Coder will not let you create a bar code that is "out
of spec". It also warns you if you try to create a bar code
with bars that are too narrow for your printer (this is dependent
on the dot resolution of the printer).
There are many issues that you should be aware of when printing
bar codes from any application to any printer. Please visit
our Printing
Perfect Bar Codes page to really understand how to always
print perfect bar codes.
| What
is the difference between B-Coder Pro and B-Coder Lite? |
B-Coder Pro allows the user to automate bar code production
in programs such as MS Word and Access. This is because it
supports the DDE command language not supported in the Lite
version. In addition B-Coder Pro supports all the major bar
code symbologies, including the 2-D symbologies (such as
PDF417).
B-Coder Lite creates the same high quality bar code graphics
as the Pro version but it only creates them one at a time.
This is fine for users only needing one or a very small number
of bar codes but it is too tedious for others. It is however
perfect for graphic design applications where the user just
needs one bar code for a product design. It supports Code
39, UPC, EAN, BookLan and PostNet bar codes. However it does
not support Code 128 or any of the 2-D symbologies.
| What
bar code symbologies Does B-Coder Pro support? |
- Code 39 (Normal, Full ASCII & HIBC)
- UPC A
- UPC E
- EAN 8
- EAN 13 (+BookLan)
- Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF)
- Code 128
- Code 93
- EAN/UCC 128
- PostNet
- Codabar
- MSI Plessey
- PDF 417
- Aztec Code
- Data Matrix
- MaxiCode
- RSS-14
| Does
TAL provide FREE support? |
Not only is the software extremely easy to use it also comes
with unlimited FREE technical support by phone, fax and email,
a clearly written manual and on-line help. To ensure your
satisfaction B-Coder is also covered by TAL’s 90-day unconditional
money-back guarantee.
Related Links
Choosing the right bar code software for your
application
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