A typical hurdle you face when switching to NiceLabel is converting your existing label templates to the NiceLabel format. Tools and services are available for new customers to help you bring your existing labeling assets into NiceLabel quickly and with fewer costs.
Our label converter transforms NiceLabel v5/v6, Seagull Scientific BarTender, and Teklynx CODESOFT label templates to the NiceLabel format.
The label converter does not produce 100% accurate conversions or complete one-to-one mapping between your old labels and newly created NiceLabel labels. The technical backgrounds of different label designers are too diverse to produce perfect results. If you didn't use best-practice label design techniques before and ended up with hundreds or thousands of label templates, migrating to NiceLabel is a good opportunity to consolidate and optimize your label templates and solutions.
To use the converter, you need a licensed copy of your old labeling software. For BarTender, you need version 2016 or newer. For Codesoft, you need version 2019 or newer and the "Enterprise" product level.
The converter also works with trial versions of NiceLabel software.
Conversion overview
Feature/Software |
Seagull Bartender |
Codesoft Teklynx |
---|---|---|
Printer |
✓ |
✓ |
Page setup |
✓ |
✓ |
Text |
✓ |
✓ |
Rich text |
X |
X |
Line |
✓ |
All lines start at the top left corner |
Rectangle |
✓ |
✓ |
Ellipse |
✓ |
✓ |
Image |
✓ |
✓ |
Barcode |
* See list below |
Supports NiceLabel-supported barcodes. Others get imported as Code128. |
Variables |
Name and default value |
✓ |
Database |
X |
MS Excel, MS Access, MS SQL |
Encoders |
X |
X |
NiceLabel v5/v6 support
NiceLabel 10 doesn't support all design features from NiceLabel v5 or v6. See the KB article Differences between NiceLabel 10 and NiceLabel 6.
BarTender support
Supported features
-
Some barcode parameters do not convert. If the converter does not recognize the barcode type, it generates Code128.
The converter supports the following barcode types: Aztec, Codabar, Code128, Code39, Code93, DataMatrix, Ean8, Ean13, IntelligentMail, I2of5, Maxicode, MSI, PDF417, QR, GS1Databar, UPCA, and UPCE.
-
Only variable names and the default values are imported for variables.
-
SubStrings convert to variables using the same names.
-
When text or barcode object consist of many substrings, the converter creates a concatenate function.
-
The converter imports time and date data types as time and date variables. The default date format is "dd/MM/yyyy" and default time is "HH:mm:ss".
-
Embedded images are imported.
Unsupported features
-
Complex text objects (RTF, word processor, arc, symbol font characters, HTML, XAML).
-
Objects: RFID, Shape, MagneticStripe.
-
Objects that have "Visual Basic Script" data sources.
-
Barcode human readable (See Configurable options below).
-
Barcode X dimension (See Configurable options below).
-
Object anchoring points cannot always be determined (Set to top-left by default).
-
Database data sources.
-
Encoders.
Codesoft support
Supported features:
-
Printers
-
Page and paper setup
-
Database (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL)
-
Design:
-
Text (Font is set to that of the first letter)
-
Lines
-
Oblique lines (all lines start in the top left corner(with rotation = 0))
-
Rectangles
-
Ellipses
-
Images
-
Variables
-
Barcodes (NiceLabel converts unsupported barcodes to Code128)
-
Exceptions:
-
Code128 type is set to B, and you can later change them in NiceLabel.
-
EAN13 automatically displays check digit in human readable in NiceLabel.
-
Codabar: Start and stop characters are "A".
-
Datamatrix: For automatic sizing.
-
ITF14: automatically includes check digit in human readable in NiceLabel.
-
QR: doesn't set ECC.
-
Aztec: doesn't set ECC.
-
Bookland: only works, when value length is 2 or 5.
-
MicroQR: Has a margin in Codesoft but not in NiceLabel, comes off a bit shifted.
-
-
-
Unsupported features:
-
Rich text
-
Polygons
-
Table lookups
Configurable options
To define defaults for some configuration options, update the following file:
%LocalAppData%\Loftware\Loftware Label Converter\Loftware-LabelConverter.exe.config
-
DefaultBarTenderBarcodeHumanReadable
defines whether you want human-readable barcodes in converted labels. True/False. -
DefaultBarTenderBarcodeBaseModuleSize
defines barcode X dimensions. Each unit is 0.01 mm. -
IncludeBackgroundImageInConvertedLabel
defines whether you want the preview of the original label inserted as a background image. True/False.
Conversion folders
Select a folder containing legacy label files.
-
By default, the converted labels save to a "ConvertedLabels" subfolder and label previews to a ”ConvertedLabels\LabelPreviews" folder to allow you to visually check your conversions.
-
When your destination location is Document Storage in NiceLabel LMS and you have revision history enabled, your converted files are checked in and the revision comments contain links to the original file names. Use the switch
UseInstalledProduct
(see Using the license of installed NiceLabel software below). -
If converting your labels fails, a text document with more details is created in a "ConvertedLabels\CompatibilityReport" folder.
Assigning data to dynamic objects
You can assign values to dynamic label objects in your label previews. When you assign values, your label previews show objects with your provided data, not with question marks. To use your values, create a file variabledata.txt file with key-value pairs and save it in a folder with your original label files.
Example:
Company=Loftware Email=john.doe@loftware.com
Using the license of installed NiceLabel software
To use your currently installed NiceLabel software for converting labels, start the converter with the parameter “UseInstalledProduct”. This is useful when your labels contain global variables.
Example:
Loftware-LabelConverter.exe UseInstalledProduct