NiceLabel Version 3.6. Release Notes. Version

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1 NiceLabel Version 3.6 Release Notes Version Euro Plus & NiceWare International LLC All rights reserved.

2 Table of Contents True Unicode support...4 New product in NiceLabel line - NiceLabel SDK...5 New version of NiceLabel for Linux...5 Support for Japanese and Ukrainian language...5 Updated font files...5 General...6 Improved support for Smart Keyboard...6 Find / Replace function in Expression Builder...6 NiceLabel Pro - Label Design and Printing Application...6 Faster connections to databases...6 Updated support for RFID...7 Dithering...7 Stock Management...8 Enhanced Export functionality...8 Handling of non-installed printers...9 Support for EMF graphics files...9 Easier navigation on the label...9 Choose the printer settings you want to use with the current label...10 The choice to show or hide phantom elements during print preview...10 Updated Contents Providers...10 Rich Text Formatting update...11 Improved multi-band printing setup...11 Updated communication with NiceLabel Technical Support...12 Auto-detection of the data in the Windows Clipboard...12 Updated ActiveX programming interface...12 Double-side multi-color label printing...12 Support for new bar codes...12 NiceForm - Data-Entry Application Design...13 NiceForm version information is available on the form...13 Password-locking of forms...13 Functions keys available as shortcuts for buttons...13 Database filters support variables...13 Support for colored buttons...13 Variable Graphics Anchoring Point...14 NiceWatch - Data-Detection and Connectivity...14 Verify definition action is added to Text Database Analysis filter...14 NiceMemMaster - Font and Graphics Downloader...14 New graphics format are supported...14 Updated support for various printer models...14 Pocket NiceLabel...15 Overall improved functionality...15 Support for functions...15 Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 2/15

3 Support for EAN.UCC Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 3/15

4 Major Enhancements in NiceLabel Software Version 3.6 True Unicode support Until version 3.6, NiceLabel software was a semi Unicode-aware application. Regardless of the operating system s locale settings, NiceLabel was able to read Unicode data from the database table and convert it to the specified codepage. You could use fixed or variable elements formatted in different languages on the label. NiceLabel version 3.6 and above introduces true Unicode data processing. You can actually use different language formatting inside the same text element, and NiceLabel is able to recognize and print such fields correctly. If you change the input language on your keyboard, and you are immediately able to enter the contents for the same element in an entirely different language. This is also valid for Unicode databases, where one field can contain data formatted in different codepages. You can even copy/paste Unicode data from other applications into a NiceLabel label template. In addition, NiceLabel 3.6 handles all data on the label (variables, functions, database) as Unicode data. This functionality is very useful for situations where multi-lingual labels need to be automatically generated. The common fields of usage are: 1. Complex chemical labels with Risk & Safety phrases, where the labels must be automatically generated for each selected product in all selected languages. Warning symbols on the labels are also accompanied with human interpretation in all languages. 2. Labels for textiles with multi-lingual descriptions of the materials. 3. All general requirements for multi-lingual labels. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 4/15

5 New product in NiceLabel line - NiceLabel SDK NiceLabel SDK is an ActiveX integrator edition of NiceLabel software. Its purpose is to be embedded to existing information systems or existing applications and provide them with support for label printing. It gives the application the entire label printing functionality of the NiceLabel Pro edition software. The heart of NiceLabel SDK is NiceLabel Engine, print-only engine. NiceLabel Engine is used for processing and printing labels. It provides the same reliability, speed and robust print engine as the stand-alone versions of NiceLabel software. NiceLabel SDK includes also NiceLabel Pro for label design. NiceLabel SDK is a great opportunity for businesses where the designer user-interface and other user-support files are not necessary and when only the ability to print labels matters. NiceLabel print engine includes only print related support files; the installation is stripped of all unnecessary files that accompany regular editions of the NiceLabel software. New version of NiceLabel for Linux Available is new version of NiceLabel for Linux edition with the updated support for all modern Linux distributions. Support for Japanese and Ukrainian language NiceLabel software is ready to be used in the native languages of new international clients. The new release has been translated into Japanese and Ukrainian languages and is ready to operate on such platform of MS Windows. Updated font files The font files EP Symbols has been updated with new symbols to comply with European medical directive EN 980. The font with care symbols is also updated with new symbols. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 5/15

6 Detailed Description of Enhancements in NiceLabel Software Version 3.6 General Improved support for Smart Keyboard The Smart Keyboard Downloader from the NiceLabel Suite edition has been rewritten for better labeling performance. Benefits in the new version: 1. Optimizations in the code improve overall readability and understanding of the Basic script and speed up the entire printing process. 2. Custom download: the option to download some extra files along with the label. This is a great option if you want to download some other BAS (Basic) file to the keyboard and not the one created by Smart Keyboard Downloader. 3. Support for Concatenate and Subset functions. The labels using these two NiceLabel functions can be exported to the Smart Keyboard, where the functions are executed as well. New revision of Smart Keyboard Downloader utility exports more optimized labels and provides more functionality and faster off-line printing. Find / Replace function in Expression Builder Expression Builder is a built-in programming editor that is used for building your VB scripts in NiceLabel and it s modules. The Expression Builder helps you with the creation of Expressions, JOB files and Visual Basic scripts. The Expression Builder is becoming more and more powerful with every version and has a new function to Find/Replace selected strings. The find / replace option is invaluable when some string needs to be replaced on several places in some larger script. NiceLabel Pro - Label Design and Printing Application Faster connections to databases You will notice a major boost in performances when using data from large corporate databases. This is especially true when databases reside on remote servers accessible through slow network connections. The optimizations in the software cut times of database processing by up to 40%. Performance is optimized also during the definition of the database Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 6/15

7 connection in Database Wizard. In some cases the table selection used to cause large delays while retrieving the field information. This process has been improved and the time needed reduced to just a fraction of time needed before. Updated support for RFID Support for RFID was completely rewritten in NiceLabel software. As a result of the rewrite there is also new user interface for setting RFID properties on the label. It provides more intuitive operations and access to all RFID functionality. NiceLabel supports any type of RF tag that most smart label printers can output (EPC tags: class 0 and class 1, EPC tags: 64 and 96 bits, ISO from Texas Instruments, Infineon, and Phillips, Picotag from Inside Tech, Tag-IT from Texas Instruments, I-Code from Phillips). For better block oriented tags review a grid is used which represent the blocks in the tag. Programmed blocks can be locked in some tags preventing them to be rewritten. It is possible to write to non sequential blocks and write the data (fixed or variable) over multiple blocks. Added is possibility to read the RF Tag Unique ID from the tag and print this value on the label in shape of text or bar code element. RF Tag Unique ID is the identification number (sort of a serial number) that is programmed in the tag during the manufacture process. Dithering For customized printing of graphic elements NiceDrivers include the dithering options. You can specify how the grayscale or color graphic is dithered to black / white thermal printer head. Different dithering options are available. The outlook of graphics on the label depends on the dithering option set in the printer driver. All color images (except WMF and EMF files) are converted to monochrome images and Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 7/15

8 previewed in the same way as they will be printed accordingly to the dithering setting. More accurate print preview is guaranteed this way. If you want to print the images with different dithering, change the dithering setting in the printer driver. Stock Management A whole new built-in component for label stock (predefined label formats with set printer and other custom settings) management has been added to the NiceLabel Pro edition software. The default NiceLabel installation provides you with a library of stocks from major label manufacturers. You can also update the stock database and add your own formats either manually or using an automated import from your custom stock database. Label stocks can be configured with an on-hand quantity and a minimum quantity. Custom messages can be displayed when minimum quantities are reached as a result of label printing. Stock Management provides better administration of the available stocks and is an irreplaceable tool when it comes to selecting, grouping and using the stocks. Enhanced Export functionality Export functionality until now was capable of dealing only with prompted variables. The label you wanted to export for usage outside of the desktop NiceLabel Pro needed to follow strict formatting instructions and no NiceLabel functions could be used. Updated export can handle NiceLabel functions and make the printing operation easier for the end user. The following functions are supported at this time: linear function, concatenate, subset, EAN.UCC 128 support, date addition, currency exchange and user-defined check digit. Such exported label can then be used from external applications. At this time General Export and Export to Pocket PC are available with these new features. New label export functionality provides powerful opportunity to create intelligent labels that use NiceLabel functions and not everything is hard-coded on the label. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 8/15

9 Handling of non-installed printers Each label template in NiceLabel remembers the name and settings of the printer that was saved during label design. If you open the label on a system that does not have this exact printer driver installed, you can choose between the list of available printer drivers. NiceLabel will automatically recommend the driver that the most resembles the original printer driver. This new functionality ensures that you do not loose the label formatting that was based on some printer model particular features (internal fonts, internal counters, etc.). Support for EMF graphics files The list of supported graphics formats has expanded again. For users who need additional support for vector image formats, the Enhanced Metafile format was added. Easier navigation on the label There is a new option to set the appropriate view of the label. You can interactively move the viewpoint on the label with your mouse without using the scroll bars. You can grab the label Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 9/15

10 with Space bar pressed on your keyboard and move the label freely around with the mouse, similar to the professional desktop publishing and image processing applications. Save design time by managing the viewpoint on the label with better selection technique. Choose the printer settings you want to use with the current label Every label that you create in the NiceLabel software remembers the printer settings of the currently selected printer. This is great functionality if you frequently change the label media and/or ribbon because there is no need to manually alter the settings before printing. The new option allows you to use the printer settings stored in the label or the printer settings set as default for this printer (in Control Panel Printers and Faxes). Easily select the option that takes precedence to set the printer settings. The choice to show or hide phantom elements during print preview The properties of NiceLabel software allow you to customize the preview of non-printable elements. You can choose to have them displayed in the label preview or not. You have the option to show the phantom elements and preview the label exactly as it would look like when printed, or don t show the phantom elements and preview the elements as they will be printed. Updated Contents Providers The list of available Contents Providers for label elements has expanded. The Link to file contents provider allows you to get the data for the element from an external data file such as a text file. There are new methods for acquiring variable data for the elements. You can choose the source for the variable data directly in its properties. This is great shortcut for experienced users. The list of variables has been divided into separate lists accordingly to the source of the variable. Variable can be either defined on the label (prompted, counter, date/time field), can be function-generated or connected to the field in the database. An additional shortcut is available to define the connection to the database field directly from the element properties. There is no longer any need to define database connections before their actual use. The updated contents providers allow you to define variable elements on the fly. You no longer need to define them in advance. Create them only, if the need for them emerges during the label design. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 10/15

11 Rich Text Formatting update Updated implementation of the RTF element brings new functionality for demanding users. 1. The RTF contents can be edited in WYSIWYG mode (as in previous versions) or you can edit RTF codes directly. 2. RTF element adapted the functionality of the paragraph element and its Best-fit option. The contents of the element can be auto-resized to fit into the designed frame. 3. The most important new functionality is the support for variable Rich Text elements. You can use variable values directly in the RTF contents. Each variable field can therefore be formatted in its own way. You can use one RTF element and encode variables into it, while they all use different formatting parameters. Rich Text element has become a very powerful component of the label design. Variable contents formatted in different text styles can now be created with ease. Improved multi-band printing setup Multiband printing support allows you to print wider labels than the actual width of your printer. The solution is to print labels in bands (strips) and then join them together in a wider label. Multiband setup can now be specified using two methods. You can let NiceLabel Pro know the width of the end multiband label or you can let it know the width of the individual band, their total number and optional overlapping setting. It does not matter which dimensions of the final multi-band label design are known to you. All possible combinations are covered to allow you create the label template as easily as possible. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 11/15

12 Updated communication with NiceLabel Technical Support NiceLabel software gives you the opportunity to contact NiceLabel Technical Support with a click of a mouse button. You can send a quick message using the Internet Support option in the Help menu. Apart from your label, graphics and database file you can also send the auto-generated list of valuable information about your system configuration. This functionality was developed with your privacy in mind; no information is sent without your prior approval. As much information as possible that is sent to NiceLabel technical support, the more accurate and quicker the respond is. Auto-detection of the data in the Windows Clipboard NiceLabel Pro auto-distinguishes the format of the data placed in the Windows Clipboard. If you paste the plain text data to the label, a Text element will be used with it. If you use a richtext formatted data, then RTF element is used on the label. For all other data formats the OLE object is inserted on the label. If you have other Unicode-aware applications, you can copy the data directly to NiceLabel from that application. Unicode formatting will be properly recognized and used n the label in the same way as in the original application. Updated ActiveX programming interface Several new properties are available in the programming interface allowing you to easier manage the embedded printing process in your application. Learn more about the ActiveX programming interface in the separate programming manual. Double-side multi-color label printing NiceLabel software supports double-side printing and multi-color printing on all printers with such possibilities. Some thermal printer models have installed multiple print heads. They can be used not only for double-sided printing, but also for multi-color printing. Each head is equipped with its own color ribbon. If you have appropriate NiceDriver for such printer model, these new options become available in NiceLabel Pro. Support for new bar codes There are several new bar code symbologies supported in NiceLabel software. They include Barcode Dun-14 and Upc Case Code as clones of EAN 14 bar code, MicroQR bar code and new 2D bar code type InfoGlyph. This barcode requires a licence for activation. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 12/15

13 NiceForm - Data-Entry Application Design NiceForm version information is available on the form NiceForm can display the information about the version of the opened form. This information is useful to learn which version of the NiceForm application was used to create the form. Password-locking of forms Every form can be locked with a password. Without a valid password, the form is accessible exclusively in read-only mode. This functionality allows the designer of the form to protect it from undesired modification from the end user or another supervisor. The password option minimizes the maintenance costs, as users cannot corrupt the form design. Functions keys available as shortcuts for buttons User can assign one of the available function keys to the button. F2 to F12 can be used. F1 is reserved for displaying the help. Pressing assigned key executes the actions defined in the button. Database filters support variables The filters to the database fields can be linked to variables. Previously only static values were supported in a filter. This is a great feature, if you need to change the filter to the table in real time. You can create a combo box with the list of available filter values and link the contents to the filter in the database. The user can change the appearance of data in the table on-the-fly. Only the records complying with the filter will be displayed. Support for colored buttons New versions of forms can be designed with more colors and can be more appealing to the eye. The default Windows gray buttons have been replaced with colored buttons. You can specify the button s colors in detail (normal button, active button, shadow, frame). Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 13/15

14 You can create more vivid forms using colored buttons. Associate the color of the button with some action so the user is instantly aware of the button behavior. Variable Graphics Anchoring Point Anchoring point is the point where graphics elements are attached on the label and from which point it grows to other directions. Now you can specify how the variable graphics should be aligned in the designed graphics frame. Anchoring point gives you better control over the outlook of the variable graphic within the designed graphics frame. NiceWatch - Data-Detection and Connectivity Verify definition action is added to Text Database Analysis filter When defining the Text Database Analysis filter you can test the functionality of your filter prior to deploying NiceWatch to actual label production. You can point to the file with the data values and the filter will process it. The result is displayed on screen in a table. The definition of the filter can thus be easily validated. Save labels and time by previewing the data for the labels on screen instead test print them. NiceMemMaster - Font and Graphics Downloader New graphics format are supported The support for new graphics formats is now available. All formats as available in NiceLabel Pro (over 30 different graphics file formats) can be downloaded to printer memory (memory card, external memory, flash memory). Updated support for various printer models Better support for graphics on many printers has been implemented. Images in PCX format were not downloaded and used correctly. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 14/15

15 Pocket NiceLabel Overall improved functionality New version ensures more stable operations and implements numerous internal improvements: 1. More descriptive error messages give you better description of the error and information how to find a solution. 2. Date offsets can be used, which is great for expiration dates. Support for functions Previously Pocket NiceLabel could use only the exported labels with prompted variable fields. The new release has support for NiceLabel functions. You no longer have to provide the label on a Pocket PC device with the exact data that needs to be printed on the label. You can let Pocket NiceLabel take the burden of the data processing. Pocket NiceLabel can handle the following NiceLabel functions: linear function, concatenate, subset, date addition, currency exchange and user-defined check digit. New support for functions on Pocket PC platform provides powerful opportunity to create intelligent labels that use NiceLabel functions and not everything is hard-coded on the label. Support for EAN.UCC 128 Pocket NiceLabel can be used to print EAN.UCC 128 bar codes with ease. Previously you need to provide the data for the whole formatted data stream, including all control characters, start/stop characters and special FNC codes. In new version the user can enter the data values for Application Identifiers alone, and Pocket NiceLabel takes care of the proper formatting. This functionality greatly simplifies printing of EAN.UCC 128 enabled labels. Now you provide only the data for particular Application Identifiers. There is no need to construct the whole bar code data yourself, including all special characters in the bar code. Please see other available White Papers for further information about labeling opportunities and solutions when using NiceLabel products. Release Notes for NiceLabel Software 3.6 Page 15/15