New: Barcode Studio Creates Mobile Tagging QR-Codes with Shortened URLs

Data List with Shortened URLs

Version 12 of TEC-IT's barcode maker software will be released shortly. This post introduces the built-in URL shortener capabilities of the Barcode Studio update.

The new URL shortening feature provides 3 main benefits:

• Dramatically Reduced QR-Code Size
  URL shortening means squeezing a long URL into a shorter one. This is important when creating mobile tagging QR-Codes for vCards, meCards, SPARQcodes, etc. With URL shortening you reduce the amount of data to be encoded. Smaller, better readable, easier-to-share QR-Codes are the result.
• Free QR-Code Traceability
  URL shortening providers like Google (http://goo.gl) and Bitly (http://bit.ly) offer simple and free tracking features. More on this below.



Data Import Assistant

• Batch URL Shortening
  The data import assistant of Barcode Studio is able to shorten thousands of URLs with a single click.

Shortened URLs

You are not familiar with shortened URLs? Let me give you an example: A typical URL looks like this:

http://www.tec-it.com/software/barcode-software/barcode-creator/barcode-studio/Default.aspx

In total this example URL requires 91 characters. By shortening this URL you will get the following results:

• http://goo.gl/fnBby
  (when shortened with Google's URL shortener service http://goo.gl)
• http://bit.ly/c1ZTRO
  (when shortened with http://bit.ly)

The shortened URL requires only 19 (or 20) characters and still points to the same target URL. Just try it out by clicking on them!

QR-Code Tracking

A shortened URLs provide an easy way to analyze the usage of the codes. Whenever a shortened URL is used to visit a web-page the shortening provider tracks this event. It does not matter if the user scanned the code with a smart phone, simply clicked on it in a twitter status message or entered the shortened URL manually into the address bar of the browser. At the time being both providers offer publicly visible tracking statistics for free.

For Google's shortener service you get the tracking statistics by simply adding ".info" to the shortened URL: http://goo.gl/fnBby.info. When using Bitly just add the plus sign: http://bit.ly/c1ZTRO+

Privacy notice: Take care - the tracking statistics are usually publicly visible to everyone!

Free Release Candidate Downloads

A free pre-release is available for Barcode Studio on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Check it out!

Download Barcode Studio for Microsoft Windows

Download Barcode Studio for Mac OS X

About TEC-IT

Secret QR-Code

TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH provides high quality software in the areas of bar-coding, barcode extensions for ERP systems, label and form printing, reporting and automated data acquisition. TEC-IT products are available for all major platforms, thus customers benefit from complete and versatile software solutions for all possible requirements. The company is located in Austria / Europe and can be reached via www.tec-it.com.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Update! Barcode Maker Software for QR-Code vCards and More

vCard Data Import

Check out this post to learn more about the new features of Barcode Studio V11.6.

With Barcode Studio you quickly create high-quality bar code images for pre-press requirements and desktop publishing applications. More than 100 different linear and 2D codes are supported by this software!

The new release focuses on bar-code creation for mobile tagging with vCard and meCard QR codes and provides enhanced label printing features.

Features and Enhancements in Detail

QR-Code vCard Assistant

• Mobile Tagging
  2D codes for mobile tagging are now using the lowest possible error correction level. This minimizes the size of the generated barcodes.
• Intelligent Data Import
  It is possible to import predefined data formats for vCard, vCalendar, meCard, etc. in a structured way. This is especially helpful for mass-creation of business card bar-codes.
• Copy Counter for Label Printing
  The user can specify how many identical copies of a single label should be printed.
• ISBN / ISSN / ISMN
  The data assistant now makes it easier to enter codes in ISBN, ISSN, and ISMN format.
• Pixel Shaving
  For 2D codes like QR-Code or Data Matrix, the pixel shaving algorithm was improved.
• Appearance
  The appearance of several dialogs was improved.

Bug Fixes

• Label preview crash was fixed.
• The check for the bar code sizes was improved.
• Fixed the wrong display of the number of errors in the data list.

Free Trial with 10 Days Unlimited License

Demo downloads are available for Mac OS X and for Microsoft Windows. Check them out today!
Barcode Studio for Mac OS
Barcode Studio for Microsoft Windows
The above downloads are FINAL releases (as of 07/25/2011) - have fun!

About TEC-IT

TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH provides high quality software in the areas of bar-coding, barcode extensions for ERP systems, label and form printing, reporting and automated data acquisition. TEC-IT products are available for all major platforms, thus customers benefit from complete and versatile software solutions for all possible requirements. The company is located in Austria / Europe and can be reached via www.tec-it.com.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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New Barcode Maker Software: Barcode Studio V10

The new version of TEC-IT Barcode Studio - the popular barcode maker software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux or UNIX - is to be released shortly!

Barcode Studio V10 introduces bar code standard compliance by providing pre-defined barcode templates. If such a barcode template is selected, Barcode Studio loads all settings and presents the user a bar code image which meets all requirements of the respective standard. After the required bar code data was entered the barcode can be saved immediately as bitmap or vector image file. No parameters need to be adjusted, no barcode know how is required.

Currently 45 bar code templates are part of Barcode Studio:

• Deutsche Post Premiumadress
• Deutsche Post Pressepost Etikett
• Deutsche Post Pressepost Randbeschriftung
• EAN 13 (SC0, SC1, SC2, ..., SC8, SC9)
  SCn denotes the sizing mode of the bar code, EAN 13 SC0 stands for 82% of the default symbol size, the resulting symbol dimension is 30.51 x 21.25 mm
• EAN 8 (SC0, SC1, SC2, ..., SC8, SC9)
• UPC A (SC0, SC1, SC2, ..., SC8, SC9)
• UPC E (SC0, SC1, SC2, ..., SC8, SC9)

Additional improvements:

• New barcodes
  Barcode Studio now supports QR-Code 2005. This code is similar to QR-Code but uses the code page Latin1 (instead of Japanese Shift JIS) for character conversions. In addition, the two barcode-types SCANPAY Service-ID and SCANPAY Transaction-ID were implemented.
• Persistent options
  Program options (Menu: Tools -> Options) are now saved in (and loaded from) an options file.
• Improved Character Conversion
  Barcode Studio displays an error message if the data to be encoded cannot be converted to the specified code page. This is especially useful for encoding Simplified Chinese (or similar languages) in QR-Codes.
• Check for Updates
  Barcode Studio can now check for newer version. Use the following menu command: Help -> Check for Updates...

Pricing, detailed descriptions and free downloads are available shortly from TEC-IT.

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Generate Free Barcodes on barcode.tec-it.com

TEC-IT's free online barcode generator was relocated recently. The new URL for this convenient service is now http://barcode.tec-it.com.


The online barcode generator currently supports approximately 60 different barcode symbologies. Among them are:

• Linear barcodes (like EAN, UPC, Code39, Code128, ....)
• 2D-codes (QR-Code, Data Matrix, Aztec Code, PDF417, MaxiCode, ...)
• Postal barcodes (USPS PostNet, Intelligent Mail barcode, Royal Mail 4 State, Australian Mail Postal Code, ...)
• GS1 DataBar (GS1 DataBar Stacked, GS1 DataBar Limited, GS1 DataBarExpanded, ITF14, GTIN, ...)
• ISBN, ISMN, ISSN codes (Barcodes for books, periodicals and media)

Important bar-code parameters like the module width, the output resolution of the barcode image and finally the image type are freely adjustable. 


Just check it out! Free Online Barcode Generator

P.S.: If you have special requirements or enhancements requests just let us know: support@tec-it.com.

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Free Online Barcode Generator - Choose from 60 Barcodes!

The popular free online barcode generator of TEC-IT got another upgrade! The list of supported bar codes was recently extended with the following symbologies:

• ISBN (barcodes for books, International Standard Book Number)
• ISSN (barcodes for periodicals, International Standard Serial Number)
• ISMN (barcode type for media like CD and DVD, International Standard Music Number)

In total TEC-IT's online bar code service creates 60 different barcode symbologies. To name just a few of them: Code 128, Code 2 of 5 Interleaved, Code 39, Code 93, EAN, UPC, EAN/UCC 128, GS1 DataBar, Pharmacode, USPS PostNet, Royal Mail 4 State,  Aztec, CodablockF, DataMatrix, MaxiCode, MicroPDF417, PDF417, QRCode, MicroQR, etc.


Barcodes are generated as raster image with adjustable resolution. Just select the required symbology, enter the bar code data and generate your code! This service is completely free, no registration is required -  all you need is your browser!


Besides this, the barcode generator is  available in the following languages:

• Chinese - 免费在线生成条码
• English - Generate Free Barcodes Online
• German Strichcodes online erstellen! Kostenlos!
• Italian - Genera gratis codici a barre online
• Spanish - ¡Cree gratis códigos de barras online!
• Russian - Бесплатный онлайн генератор штрих-кода
• Turkish - Barkodu canli üretin! Bedava!
• French - Créer des codes barres en ligne!! Gratuit!

Try it yourself - online barcode generator!

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Barcode Videos on Youtube - Update

Hello there!

This is an update regarding the available video playlists for barcode software from TEC-IT on YouTube.

NEW:

Barcode Maker Software (English)

Content:

Five videos demonstrating how to create perfect barcodes with Barcode Studio.

1. Create Perfect Barcodes Part 1: Barcode Studio User Interface
2. Create Perfect Barcodes Part 2: EAN-128 with FNC1
3. Create Perfect Barcodes Part 3: Data Import
4. Create Perfect Barcodes Part 4: Bar Code Image Export
5. Create Perfect Barcodes Part 5: Serial Number Generator

EXISTING:

Barcode Label Printing Software (English)

Content:

Tutorial videos for the barcode label printing software TFORMer Designer.

1. Barcode label printing with TFORMer Designer

Barcode Label Printing Software (German)

Content:

Tutorial videos for barcode label printing software TFORMer Designer.

1. Barcode-Etikettendruck mit TFORMer Designer

Barcode Generator Component (English)

Content:

Tutorial videos for the bar code generator SDK TBarCode.

1. Using Barcodes in Microsoft Office / Microsoft Word
2. Creating Serial Letters with Barcodes

Please check out the TEC-IT Barcode Software channel on YouTube on a regular base. More videos are to be expecied...

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Barcode Maker Software: Barcode Studio V9.4.1

The service update of our Barcode Maker Software Barcode Studio for Windows and Mac OS X is ready for download!

Barcode Studio V9.4.1 now supports the Spanish language. Moreover, a multi threading problem in conjunction with PostScript generation was fixed.

Update is free of charge for existing Barcode Studio V9.x customers!

Download Barcode Studio Update

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Barcode Maker Software: Barcode Studio V9.4

Software update notice: The new version 9.4 of the barcode creator software Barcode Studio offers improved CSV-file import functionality on Mac OS X. The version history lists all improvements in detail.

Update is free of charge for existing Barcode Studio V9.x customers!

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Barcode Maker: Barcode Studio V9.3 released

Just a short notice for Barcode Studio users: V9.3 is available for download, it introduces the following new feature:

• EPS files may now be generated with embedded TIFF preview.

And fixes the following bugs:

• Fixed the problem with auto-resizing PDF files.
• Set the missing resolution settings and reduced the image file sizes (TIFF Export).
• File extension is now always adapted to the chosen image type (Data List Export).
• It is now possible to load files that do not have a file name extension (Mac OS).
• CMYK color settings can now be used directly for EPS generation (Mac OS Color dialog).

Many thanks to the HP SmartStream team for their valuable feedback!

Users of Barcode Studio 9.0 or higher may update to this version free of charge.

Download it here: Barcode Studio V9.3 (Windows), Barcode Studio V9.3 (Mac OS X - Universal Binary for PPC and Intel), Linux (on request)

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Barcode Studio V9.3 RC is available!

A new release (V9.3) of the barcode creator software Barcode Studio will be available to the public in a few days. This release introduces the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• TIFF preview in EPS files
• PDF Export - Fixed the problem with auto-resizing PDF files.
• Data List Export - File extension is now always adapted to the chosen image type.
• Mac OS X - Option All Files in the File Open Dialog
• Mac OS X - CMYK colors can now be adjusted

As usual the release candidates are available exclusively to readers of this blog:

• MAC OS X: Barcode Studio V9.3
  
• Microsoft Windows: Barcode Studio V9.3
• Linux: available on request!

Update: Barcode Studio V9.3 was released on 05-26-2009.

Existing customers of Barcode Studio V9.0, V9.1 or V9.2 can update to this version free of charge. All license keys are still valid.

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Barcode Maker Software: Barcode Studio V9.2

Barcode Studio V9.2 is available to the public!

As mentioned in a previous blog-entry this release fixes a major problem with missing human readable texts when exporting barcodes as image on Mac OS X and Linux.

In addition a minor DataMatrix encoding bug was fixed. The handling of quiet zones was also corrected.

More information and downloads are available here: Barcode Maker Software: Barcode Studio.

Enjoy - and feedback is more than welcome!

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Barcode Studio V9.2 RC is available!

A new release (V9.2) of the barcode creator software Barcode Studio will be available to the public in a few days. This release introduces just one enhancement - but it is a major one:

Barcode image export with human readable text works now on all operating systems.
In previous versions of Barcode Studio this feature was only available on Windows.

Barcode Studio V9.2 was release on 04.29.2009 - see XXX.

The release candidates are available exclusively to readers of this blog:

• MAC OS X: Barcode Studio V9.2


• Microsoft Windows: Barcode Studio V9.2


• Linux: available on request!

Existing customers of Barcode Studio V9.0 or V9.1 can update to this version free of charge. All license keys are still valid.

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Barcode Studio V9.1 is coming!

In a few days TEC-IT will release the new version of Barcode Studio (V9.1).

The most important new features are:

* Data List for Multiple Bar Codes
* Improved File Import
* Better Serial Number Generator
* Improved Bar Code Export
* Improved Bar Width Reduction
* HP SmartStream Designer Integration (more details are available from HP)


Barcode Studio was released on 03/25/2008! Download Barcode Studio here: Barcode Creator Software.

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