I'm new to bar codes. How I can benefit from their use?

Scanning bar codes is an alternate method of data entry that is exceptionally quick and error-free. By scanning a bar code, you can also continue a script that pulls up a record and processes data automatically. This is significantly faster than using the keyboard.

  What about plug-ins?

There are a few good plug-ins out there, and a bunch of not so good ones. Even the good ones can fail when you upgrade to a newer operating system or to a newer version of FileMaker Pro. Plug-ins are notoriously restrictive and difficult to configure. We use only native FileMaker Pro files to avoid such problems. Barcodet, for example, allows you to create high-quality bar codes from data stored in your FileMaker Pro databases. The fonts used for display and printing are scalable and are available in multiple sizes, e.g., typefaces as small as a millimeter in height allow you to use bar codes wherever vertical space is limited, such as on lists and small labels. Having different font sizes to work with lets you precisely control the dimensions of the bar codes, and they deliver accurate, reliable printing under a variety of conditions using laser, ink-jet, and thermal printers such as the Dymo LabelWriter. Plus, you can use them with other application programs. Texcodet, on the other hand, uses no special fonts are needed. In either case, there are NO plug-ins to cause compatibility problems and NO scripts needed to generate the bar codes. Whether data is typed, pasted, or imported, the bar codes appear instantly. Therefore, if you can use FileMaker Pro, you have everything you need to generate professional-quality bar codes.

  I've heard that all one needs to do to print bar codes is assign a barcode font to some text to get a bar code symbol. Is it really that simple?

Unfortunately, the answer is "no." At a minimum all bar codes require stop/start characters so the scanner can recognize a coded string as a specific type of bar code. Most bar codes also require one or more check digits for error verification. For many bar codes there is no direct correspondence between the barcode symbols and the characters they represent. For example, some bar codes use identical groups of bars and spaces to represent entirely different things, depending where certain characters appear in the code, or what characters precede others. With one type of bar code, bars convey one type of data while intervening spaces convey completely different information. The calculations required to compute and assemble such bar codes can be quite complex.

  I only want to scan existing bar codes and then process the information. What do I need in order to do this?

All you need is a reliable scanner. We recommend the kind that connects via the keyboard. When you scan a bar code, the information is decoded and sent to your application program just as if you had typed it in the first place.

  Can I print your bar codes using a specialty label printer such as the Dymo LabelWriter?

Yes. Current models print at 300 dpi, which is the minimum recommended resolution for obtaining reliable bar codes.

  Can we incorporate your software into our client projects?

Yes. We offer low-cost developer licensing for this purpose. Some restrictions apply, so please contact us directly if you have questions.

  How do I reach you if I have questions?

Full contact information can be found on the Order Form.

  I sent you an email, but never got a response. How come?

We normally respond within 24 hours. To ensure that your email gets noticed, the subject line should contain the name of the program you are inquiring about. If for some reason you don't receive a reply, please send another email or give us a call.

  Do you accept returns if I decide for some reason not to use the products I ordered?

For reasons specified in the License Agreement there can be no returns. All sales are therefore final.