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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Create Popular QR Codes for Mobile Tagging and vCard Business Cards

Latest TEC-IT Press Release

Austria, TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH (tec-it.com), leading vendor of AUTO-ID and bar code software presents a brand new feature for the popular barcode maker software Barcode Studio.

“Even in Europe 2D bar codes – mostly QR codes- are becoming more and more popular. Especially the increasing need in marketing and mobile tagging is causing a rise in demand for 2D barcodes. In light of this development TEC-IT is responding with its new version of Barcode Studio.”
(Guenter Kriegl, CEO of TEC-IT )

Mobile Tagging, vCard Business Cards and More

QR code business card including
encoded contact details (vCard)

Creating 2D bar-codes for electronic business cards with vCard and meCard formats is simplified dramatically: The brand new assistant leads you through the data input with a multifunctional dialog box, the user just enters the contact details and the assistant takes care of generating the 2D barcode with the correct data formatting. No special knowledge is needed. What’s more, mobile tagging barcodes for events, Android Market search, WiFi networks, Twitter tweets, LinkedIn profiles and Facebook likes are supported for the user’s convenience as well.

Even industrial applications benefit from the intuitive assistant: Create GS1 barcodes by using predefined application identifiers (so called AIs) quickly and without any special skills. Barcode Studio inserts the FNC1 delimiter characters automatically.

Try and Test

Barcode Studio V11 can be downloaded from TEC-IT’s website www.tec-it.com. A completely free and unlimited 10-day test drive is available. The bar code maker software is available for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and UNIX. Enjoy the product videos on YouTube.com to learn more about Barcode Studio

Please Contact

Susan Enzenhofer
TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH
Hans-Wagnerstrasse 6
A-4400 Steyr - Austria, EUROPE

Email
office@tec-it.com

Telephone/Fax
T ++43 (0)7252 72720
F ++43 (0)7252 7272077

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"Tag it Easy" - vCard and meCard QR-Codes!

A new version of the barcode creator software Barcode Studio is on the way!

What’s New?

Barcode Studio V11.5 introduces a new data input assistant. This special feature simplifies the creation of 2D codes for mobile tagging and electronic business cards (so-called vCard and meCard barcodes) dramatically.
With Barcode Studio V11.5 you are able to create more than 100 different linear, postal, GS1 and 2D barcode symbologies. The barcodes can be printed on simple labels or exported as bitmap or vector image files. Batch barcode creation with external data is supported.

2D Codes for Mobile Tagging

vCard Data Input Assistant

vCard and meCard QR-codes are used to encode contact details of a business card (like name, address, email, phone-number ...) in a 2D barcode symbol. When scanning such a barcode with a smartphone (camera and suitable scanner software is required of course), the data is automatically entered into the address book of the phone. No manual typing or copy/paste is required.

Try it Yourself - Scan the Code!

vCard and meCard barcodes encode the contact details in a certain format. The new data input assistant of Barcode Studio takes care of the right formatting. In order to create readable barcodes you just enter the contact data (see screen shot) and Barcode Studio creates the correct code. You do not need to know the details.

In addition the above mentioned vCard and meCard codes, Barcode Studio allows you to create 2D codes for mobile tagging applications. Currently supported are barcodes for sending text messages (SMS), phone calls, Twitter tweets, Facebook likes and profiles, LinkedIn contacts and profiles, Wi-Fi access and events (vCalendar). In future versions of Barcode Studio this list will be extended as appropriate.

GS1 DataBar - Application Identifier Support

GS1 Application Identifier Assitant

Users of the GS1 DataBar or GS1-128 barcode symbologies benefit from the data input assistant as well. Barcode Studio provides a searchable list of the available application identifiers (AIs) and ensures that the rules for a correct GS1 barcode are met. Application identifiers are used to designate the encoded data. More than hundred AIs are in common use (e.g. AI 10 designates the LOT number, AI 11 the production date ...). Barcode Studio also takes care to separate multiple AIs in a single barcode with the Function Code 1 (FNC1).

Download Pre-Release

Coming soon! Use these links to download the release candidates (BETA!):
Barcode Studio for Windows
Barcode Studio for Mac OS X

Video

Questions or Suggestions?

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Simply write us an email (support@tec-it.com), give us a call (++43 7252 72720, time zone GMT+1) or visit www.tec-it.com!

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Create vCard Business Cards with QR-Codes

How to Create vCard Business Cards with Barcode Studio

Some users of Barcode Studio are unsure regarding the correct data format for creating barcodes for so-called 2D code business cards.
Such an "electronic” business card encodes the contact data in a QR-Code or a Data Matrix symbol. These codes can be scanned with your smartphone. The business card data is recognized automatically, you will never need to key in contact data manually! Most camera-equipped mobile phones are able to decode QR-Codes on such business cards (Data Matrix is not in common use until now).

The example outlined in this post contains vCard sample data (.xls and .csv files) and a setting file for Barcode Studio. This settings file (*.BCS) can be used immediately to create premium quality QR-Codes with Barcode Studio.

Creating a vCard Data Format

A vCard barcode must follow certain rules, the different elements of a business cards (e.g. the phone number) are tagged with prefixes. Some sample prefixes:

• Begin of vCard data: begin: vcard
• Name on card: n:
• Telephone number: Tel:
• Email address: Email:
• End of vCard data: end: vcard

Please ensure the accurate order of the single data elements! Refer to Wikipedia to get a list of available property prefixes and more information about the vCard format.

Step by Step: Create your own QR-Code Business Cards

Follow the steps to create your QR-Codes. Use the included sample files to see how the data is encoded:

1. Download and unzip the example specified below.
2. Use Microsoft Excel to enter your vCard data in the sample Excel file. Separate the data elements with a new-line. Enter a new-line by pressing "Alt" + "Enter" simultaneously in a cell.
3. Export your data as CSV file.
4. Start Barcode Studio and open the settings file (*.BCS).
5. Importing your CSV file: Choose the "Datalist" tab and click the "Import" button. Ensure the correct import settings as shown in the screenshot. In most cases you should use the Field Separator comma (,) and the Text Qualifier ("). If this doesn't work, please check the generated CSV file.
6. Now export your QR-Codes.



Import Settings

Free Sample File Download
In order to use the sample files make sure you are using the current version of Barcode Studio.

• Download Sample and Setting Files
• Download Barcode Studio
  

If you have any questions just contact TEC-IT via email or give us a call (++43 (0)7252 72720).

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Online Barcode Generator 2.0

A few days ago TEC-IT published the updated version of the free online bar code generator. The user interface was revised completely and support for complex MECARD/VCARD business card barcodes as well as calendar barcodes was added.

This online barcode generator provides a very fast and responsive user interface utilizing some AJAX features. TBarCode SDK (a barcode generator software component developed and distributed by TEC-IT) is used on server-side for all barcode creation tasks.

Users are able to browse a list of supported barcode categories. Currently the categories linear barcodes, 2D bar codes, EAN / UPC, GS1 DataBar, ISBN bar codes, Postal codes, 2D codes for mobile tagging, MECARD and VCARD barcodes and calendar barcodes are available.

After selecting the required barcode symbology the barcode image is displayed immediately. Barcode parameters like module width and output resolution are adjustable. The created bar code images can be downloaded in various image formats.

The above mentioned MECARD and VCARD barcodes provide some very interesting possibilties: These 2D barcode formats are able to encode all contact details of a business card (e.g. name, address,  phone number, url, ...). When scanned with a smart-phone camera scanner (e.g. iPhone or Android devices) the contact details are detected and added to the  address book.

Finally so-called calendar barcodes (event barcodes) can be created online. Just enter the details of some event (description, start and end time), create the barcode, scan it with your smartphone - and voilá - a new calender entry is available (works fine with ZXing camera scanner on Android).

Just try it yourself: 2D Bar Code Generator

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