Sage 100

I have been working for months on getting a UPC label that will work for my client's 2018 Advanced system. None of the normal Azalea fonts would scan so we purchased the UPC fonts (also from Azalea). At that point we could print a UPC label to a standard laser printer and it would scan, but the client's Zebra label printer would only print blank labels. From other helpful 90Minds posts we slowed the printer down and added the font directly to the printer and now a label prints and it looks right, but only scans 4 out of 5 labels. A label that scans one time might not scan the next time they print it. We loaded them a free version of BarTender and the labels generated by BarTender scan every time. They could just keep using BarTender but the free version can only print one at a time and it requires manual entry of the UPC number. All of the fancy capability like using the ActiveX script or database monitoring requires the client to purchase BarTender. Has anyone ever seen labels behave like this where sometimes they scan and sometimes they don't? I haven't found a BarTender VAR yet, is it crazy expensive but somehow worth it?

​I'm sure UPC labels have only good intentions -  this post is coming after months of trying to get this thing to work and my head hurts from all the brick walls.

------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

I bought stand alone Bartender two or three years ago.  I believe I bought it from ScanForce and the cost was maybe $300.   If you just need single user Bartender that runs on one computer then it is inexpensive.  You can also get multiuser that has Bartender commander that runs on a server as a service.  The multi user can start to get expensive.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

------Original Message------

I bought stand alone Bartender two or three years ago.  I believe I bought it from ScanForce and the cost was maybe $300.   If you just need single user Bartender that runs on one computer then it is inexpensive.  You can also get multiuser that has Bartender commander that runs on a server as a service.  The multi user can start to get expensive.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

Scanning reliability often relates to the size of the label and the printer resolution.

To keep the cost down with one license, several years back I wrote button and event scripts to allow any user to queue (receipt and shipping) label content to a CSV file such that a user with the Zebra printer and BarTender license could print everyone's labels. In the latest configurations of BT, you will need the Automated version which supports ActiveX if you intend to script it.

------------------------------
Dan Burleson
Software Consultant
Connex Software
Corvallis OR
541-224-6642
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 01:09
From: Jim Woodhead
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

I agree. Bartender commander is great..

Get Outlook for iOSo

Original Message------

I bought stand alone Bartender two or three years ago.  I believe I bought it from ScanForce and the cost was maybe $300.   If you just need single user Bartender that runs on one computer then it is inexpensive.  You can also get multiuser that has Bartender commander that runs on a server as a service.  The multi user can start to get expensive.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

When you use azalea to print to a thermal the thermal sees the font as an image. Resolution for images are too low to be very accurate so it is a hit and miss if you print to a thermal that way. I always use the built in barcodes to the driver. The driver will transmit it to the printer and the printer will be able to print it as a font which is much clearer than an image. With Crystal runtime, what I have had to do is font substitution. I would setup my barcode fonts in crystal as a MS Trebuchet then use the driver to substitute that to the built in barcode font. 

The driver usually by default only had one barcode font setup as a sample so you would add in the UPC font. Just make sure that the exact same setup is done on all machines needing to print.

------------------------------
Todd Martin - President
MBA Business Software (https://www.mbabsi.com)
------------------------------

I was just going to say that printing from CR to a Zebra printer is known to cause issues (sent as an image vs print instructions).  Zebra and SAP websites have some tips that helped me with some recent labels (Code39 using Azalea... font size 72).

------------------------------
Kevin Moyes
Technical Systems Analyst
Munjal White Consulting Co.
Toronto ON
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 09:10
From: Todd Martin
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

When you use azalea to print to a thermal the thermal sees the font as an image. Resolution for images are too low to be very accurate so it is a hit and miss if you print to a thermal that way. I always use the built in barcodes to the driver. The driver will transmit it to the printer and the printer will be able to print it as a font which is much clearer than an image. With Crystal runtime, what I have had to do is font substitution. I would setup my barcode fonts in crystal as a MS Trebuchet then use the driver to substitute that to the built in barcode font.

The driver usually by default only had one barcode font setup as a sample so you would add in the UPC font. Just make sure that the exact same setup is done on all machines needing to print.

------------------------------
Todd Martin - President
MBA Business Software (https://www.mbabsi.com)
------------------------------

When it comes to printing bar codes on a Zebra, I go with Teklynx Label Matrix (Bartender equivalent).  Life is way too short to be going back and forth trying to save the client some money.  In the end, you either eat the time or charge the client way more than if you would have just gone with a label printing program in the first place.  Create the label templates, create a shortcut in the Sage 100 favorites folder.  Label Matrix is subscription only.  A three user annual subscription is $450 SLP.

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
FORMER 90M Board Member
Bottomline Software, Inc.
Waynesboro VA
540-221-4444
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 09:34
From: Kevin Moyes
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

I was just going to say that printing from CR to a Zebra printer is known to cause issues (sent as an image vs print instructions).  Zebra and SAP websites have some tips that helped me with some recent labels (Code39 using Azalea... font size 72).

------------------------------
Kevin Moyes
Technical Systems Analyst
Munjal White Consulting Co.
Toronto ON
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 09:10
From: Todd Martin
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

When you use azalea to print to a thermal the thermal sees the font as an image. Resolution for images are too low to be very accurate so it is a hit and miss if you print to a thermal that way. I always use the built in barcodes to the driver. The driver will transmit it to the printer and the printer will be able to print it as a font which is much clearer than an image. With Crystal runtime, what I have had to do is font substitution. I would setup my barcode fonts in crystal as a MS Trebuchet then use the driver to substitute that to the built in barcode font.

The driver usually by default only had one barcode font setup as a sample so you would add in the UPC font. Just make sure that the exact same setup is done on all machines needing to print.

------------------------------
Todd Martin - President
MBA Business Software (https://www.mbabsi.com)

We've had issues with the label size, another issue i found was if users are using the scaled up windows UI it can have some weird effects on crystal but thats pretty rare. 

if you are particularly stubborn and would like to solve the problem of UPC's for yourself i found the following site. now I will say it was a devil to write the conversion program for the checksum but it does work. 
 http://grandzebu.net/informatique/codbar-en/ean13.htm

------------------------------
Jeremy Fox
Velosio LLC
------------------------------

I recommend Bartender too.  Seagull Scientific, the developer, also has updated print drivers for 100s  of printers, and they are free.  Sometimes, updating the driver is all you need to overcome a printing issue for a label.  https://www.bartendersoftware.com/support/downloads/drivers/

------------------------------
Moira Goggin
Executive Director
90 Minds, Inc.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 11:33
From: Jeremy Fox
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

We've had issues with the label size, another issue i found was if users are using the scaled up windows UI it can have some weird effects on crystal but thats pretty rare. 

if you are particularly stubborn and would like to solve the problem of UPC's for yourself i found the following site. now I will say it was a devil to write the conversion program for the checksum but it does work.
 http://grandzebu.net/informatique/codbar-en/ean13.htm

------------------------------
Jeremy Fox
Velosio LLC
------------------------------

@Moira Goggin Makes a great point.  Before you buy anything, try installing the Seagull Scientific (bartender) driver first and see if that solves the issue.  I never use the Zebra drivers and al​​most always install the Seagull Scientific drivers for label printers.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 11:47
From: Moira Goggin
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

I recommend Bartender too.  Seagull Scientific, the developer, also has updated print drivers for 100s  of printers, and they are free.  Sometimes, updating the driver is all you need to overcome a printing issue for a label.  https://www.bartendersoftware.com/support/downloads/drivers/

------------------------------
Moira Goggin
Executive Director
90 Minds, Inc.
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2019 11:33
From: Jeremy Fox
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

We've had issues with the label size, another issue i found was if users are using the scaled up windows UI it can have some weird effects on crystal but thats pretty rare. 

if you are particularly stubborn and would like to solve the problem of UPC's for yourself i found the following site. now I will say it was a devil to write the conversion program for the checksum but it does work.
 http://grandzebu.net/informatique/codbar-en/ean13.htm

------------------------------
Jeremy Fox
Velosio LLC

​Thanks so much for all this help! I'm comforted to know that others have fought this battle and won. I have a few things to try now so thank you again! I will follow up when I've had a chance to test some things.

------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

Update: we installed the Seagull Scientific Zebra-specific driver and directed the Crystal form to​ the Zebra printer. The word from the client is that every label scans (yay!) but they may have to hit the scanner trigger as many as 5 times before it actually scans. Sometimes it scans the first time but usually not. Is this issue something in the form/font/driver/printer arena or does that sound like a hardware issue? I'd love to hear if you guys have seen this one as well. Thank you!

------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

When you setup your UPC in the printer driver, what was the setting for the x Dimension? I typically set mine to 9.9mils but I think it defaults to one much higher. I also set my width to normal.

------------------------------
Todd Martin - President
MBA Business Software (https://www.mbabsi.com)
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 09:36
From: Kate Krueger
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Update: we installed the Seagull Scientific Zebra-specific driver and directed the Crystal form to​ the Zebra printer. The word from the client is that every label scans (yay!) but they may have to hit the scanner trigger as many as 5 times before it actually scans. Sometimes it scans the first time but usually not. Is this issue something in the form/font/driver/printer arena or does that sound like a hardware issue? I'd love to hear if you guys have seen this one as well. Thank you!

------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

My previous post mentioned "bold".  I believe in Bartender it is "darkness".  Try increasing the darkness setting.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 09:36
From: Kate Krueger
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Update: we installed the Seagull Scientific Zebra-specific driver and directed the Crystal form to​ the Zebra printer. The word from the client is that every label scans (yay!) but they may have to hit the scanner trigger as many as 5 times before it actually scans. Sometimes it scans the first time but usually not. Is this issue something in the form/font/driver/printer arena or does that sound like a hardware issue? I'd love to hear if you guys have seen this one as well. Thank you!

------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

Have you seen this article from Zebra - You may be able to correct the issue by resizing your barcodes before sending to the printer. This is because the barcodes generated when printing from Crystal Reports are rendered as graphics. If the size of the barcode is not an exact multiple of the print head dpi for your Zebra printer it can print but may not be scannable. This will take some trial and error to find a larger or smaller version of the barcode that will scan.

Printing to a thermal printer from Crystal Reports is a hell that I escaped from in the 90's and I don't think it's changed much. However, its database features and templates were a pleasure with which to work. I recall it was straight-forward to create an integration that allowed from printing one label per item or one per item quantity.

------------------------------
Dan Burleson
Software Consultant
Connex Software
Corvallis OR
541-224-6642
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 09:36
From: Kate Krueger
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Update: we installed the Seagull Scientific Zebra-specific driver and directed the Crystal form to​ the Zebra printer. The word from the client is that every label scans (yay!) but they may have to hit the scanner trigger as many as 5 times before it actually scans. Sometimes it scans the first time but usually not. Is this issue something in the form/font/driver/printer arena or does that sound like a hardware issue? I'd love to hear if you guys have seen this one as well. Thank you!

------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

Check the DPI on the print driver and make sure it is set to the highest resolution.  If that doesn't work then try setting the font to bold.  The issue could also be related to the scanner they are using.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

The scanners itself may have a learning mode that you may need to walk through to set up the scanners initial settings.

------------------------------
Moira Goggin
Executive Director
90 Minds, Inc.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 11:08
From: Doug Higgs
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Check the DPI on the print driver and make sure it is set to the highest resolution.  If that doesn't work then try setting the font to bold.  The issue could also be related to the scanner they are using.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
------------------------------

Wow - I did not know that this was such an issue ... I have been printing barcodes from Crystal (Azalea) to Zebra printers for years... I can say that I ran into some of these issues, but using the Seagull drivers, getting the font size right, creating a custom form size for the label itself and choice of barcode type seemed to ease my pains.  You did not mention which barcode type you are using, but I had the best luck with Code 128 for a 1D code and PDF417, QR Code and Data Matrix for the 2D codes ... my favs are 128 and Data Matrix - anyway, I look forward to hearing how you resolve this!

------------------------------
Randy Marion
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 16:22
From: Moira Goggin
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

The scanners itself may have a learning mode that you may need to walk through to set up the scanners initial settings.

------------------------------
Moira Goggin
Executive Director
90 Minds, Inc.
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 11:08
From: Doug Higgs
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Check the DPI on the print driver and make sure it is set to the highest resolution.  If that doesn't work then try setting the font to bold.  The issue could also be related to the scanner they are using.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc

Randy ,
I agree. We have been doing it for years as well and haven't had any issues as long as we follow the procedure. We did have an issue when Crystal runtime changed things with .net not allowing non-screen fonts to be used. But once we setup font substitution that was fixed. BTW the font was UPC, which Kate mentioned in the original post.

------------------------------
Todd Martin - President
MBA Business Software (https://www.mbabsi.com)
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-03-2019 11:09
From: Randy Marion
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Wow - I did not know that this was such an issue ... I have been printing barcodes from Crystal (Azalea) to Zebra printers for years... I can say that I ran into some of these issues, but using the Seagull drivers, getting the font size right, creating a custom form size for the label itself and choice of barcode type seemed to ease my pains.  You did not mention which barcode type you are using, but I had the best luck with Code 128 for a 1D code and PDF417, QR Code and Data Matrix for the 2D codes ... my favs are 128 and Data Matrix - anyway, I look forward to hearing how you resolve this!

------------------------------
Randy Marion
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 16:22
From: Moira Goggin
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

The scanners itself may have a learning mode that you may need to walk through to set up the scanners initial settings.

------------------------------
Moira Goggin
Executive Director
90 Minds, Inc.


Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2019 11:08
From: Doug Higgs
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

Check the DPI on the print driver and make sure it is set to the highest resolution.  If that doesn't work then try setting the font to bold.  The issue could also be related to the scanner they are using.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc

I heard back from the client after sending all of the fantastic suggestions generated here and we have success!
From the client: "I went in and wiped all the present and past printer drivers for the Zebra, and reinstalled a new Zebra Setup Utilities, then reinstalled some new drivers I that came with the utilities. Reset the labels (which corrected my problem on alignment and the 1" cap to the right of the label) and they are now centered. I also darkened the print through the new utility and turned the speed down another notch. Tried out quite a few of the fonts....but finally went back to last months UPCTallNarrow which gave the best scan, minus the few that did not work. Because I got rid of the 1" cap, I was able to size the font up to 48.............and all the test UPC labels work fine finally. ​"
And there was much rejoicing.
Thank you all so much for your help!


------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------

Yay!

------------------------------
Steve Iwanowski, NextStep Technology Advisors, aka DSD Lancaster PA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-10-2019 09:44
From: Kate Krueger
Subject: UPC Labels - Are they inherently evil or is it just me?

I heard back from the client after sending all of the fantastic suggestions generated here and we have success!
From the client: "I went in and wiped all the present and past printer drivers for the Zebra, and reinstalled a new Zebra Setup Utilities, then reinstalled some new drivers I that came with the utilities. Reset the labels (which corrected my problem on alignment and the 1" cap to the right of the label) and they are now centered. I also darkened the print through the new utility and turned the speed down another notch. Tried out quite a few of the fonts....but finally went back to last months UPCTallNarrow which gave the best scan, minus the few that did not work. Because I got rid of the 1" cap, I was able to size the font up to 48.............and all the test UPC labels work fine finally. ​"
And there was much rejoicing.
Thank you all so much for your help!


------------------------------
Kate Krueger
Business Applications Manager
Eide Bailly, Inc.
Denver CO
970-692-5113
------------------------------