Code Based Label Design Information : Windward Software Customer Care

Code Based Label Design Information

Before We Can Begin

When you are requesting code based label design work to be done or requesting a quote on having the work done, there is a certain amount of information that will need to be collected before we can either quote or start on the label design work.

First we need to be aware of the barcode numbers you are currently using, because it may limit the barcode formats that can be used. This is because some barcode types do not allow for Alpha characters (A to Z).

Are all of your barcodes numeric (1234567891011) or do you have a mix of numeric and alphanumeric (A123B456C7890)?
Are all of your barcodes a standard size (standard UPC codes are 12 or 13 digits)? Or do you also have a mix of long and short barcodes (more than or less than 12 and 13 digits)?

All of the fields you are using on your labels must not contain any special characters. Some of these special characters are commas, open and closing brackets () or {} or [], greater than and less than signs <>, pipes |, colons :, semicolons ;, and single or double quotes “ or '. All these symbols mean specific things within a code based label, so having them in your part numbers, descriptions, and comment fields will cause issues with printing your code based labels.

To try and clarify why this is so important, here is an example of a code based label for the TEC label printers:

{D0250,1270,0230|}

{C|}

{D0250,1270,0230|}

{AX;+000,+000,+00|}

{AY;+00,0|}

{XB00;0080,0100,9,3,04,0,0076,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB00;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC000;0040,0132,10,10,E,33,B|}

{RC000;<PRICE.0,-1>|}

{PC001;0080,0170,05,05,M,00,B|}

{RC001;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC002;0080,0030,05,05,M,00,B|}

{RC002;<DESCRIPTION,-1>|}

{XS;I,0001,0002C3200|}

Important Details and Measurements

Printer Information

Make of Label Printer ………..
Model of Label Printer ………..

Label Stock

How many labels across ………..
How many labels down ………..

This is an example of a 3 across label. I am showing 2 down just for clarity and to show label orientation for the feed direction.

Page Width ………..

(width across all labels including margins and gaps between labels)

Margin width ………..

This is the gap on the left side of the first label, and right side of the last label.

Width of gap between labels ………..

As shown, this is the vertical gap between each label.

Height of gap below labels ………..

This is the horizontal gap between each row of labels.

Label width ………..

The width of each individual label, not including any gaps.

Label height ………..

Height of each individual label, not including any gaps.

Additional information that may be required:

Distance between the leading edge of the first label to the leading edge of the next label ………..

As shown, this will include the vertical gap between the two labels, but not the left margin.

Distance between the top edge of the first label and the top edge of the next label ………..

As shown, this will include the horizontal gap between the two labels.

If you have a design that you are currently using and are happy with the design, it can be very helpful to send a copy of these labels (faxed or emailed) along with the request for a quote. This will help the designer in creating a label similar to it. Keep in mind that creating an exact duplicate of the label may not be possible.

Garden Center Specific Tags

Garden Center labels add another level of complexity to the label designs because of the label stock that they commonly use.

Stick tags (perennial tags).

For these tags the size of the tag and the printable area of these tags are very important. Also, the direction of the print will be a factor (readable from the left or the right). These tags commonly come in either a 4 inch by 1 inch or a 5 inch by 1 inch. Usually the bottom inch or two would not be printed on because it would be inserted into the soil in the pot.

Loop Tags (Tree Tags).

For these tags the size of the tag and the printable area of these tags are very important, as is the position of the holes and the tear-off (does the hole exit the printer first or last). Also, the direction of the print will be a factor (readable from the left or the right).

Loop Tags (Tree Tags).

Same as above but the printer is capable of wider stock, so the part of the label that has the holes in it would exit out the side of the printer. Again the location of the holes and the tear off are very important.

Completed Loop Tags (Tree Tags) on yellow stock.

Example of code for the above label.

{D2349,1049,2349|}

{C|}

{D2349,1049,2349|}

{AX;+000,+000,+00|}

{AY;+00,0|}

{PC000;0215,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC000;<DESCRIPTION,40>|}

{XB00;0190,0056,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB00;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{XB01;0200,1058,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB01;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC001;0210,0100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC001;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC002;0131,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC002;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC003;0208,0398,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC003;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC004;0153,0758,10,10,Q,11,B|}

{RC004;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC005;0074,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC005;<N.FREEFORM:1,-1>|}

{PC006;0056,0165,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC006;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC007;0066,1100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC007;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC008;0469,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC008;<DESCRIPTION,40>|}

{XB02;0444,0056,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB02;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{XB03;0454,1058,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB03;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC009;0464,0100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC009;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC010;0385,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC010;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC011;0462,0398,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC011;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC012;0407,0758,10,10,Q,11,B|}

{RC012;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC013;0328,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC013;<N.FREEFORM:1,-1>|}

{PC014;0310,0165,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC014;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC015;0320,1100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC015;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC016;0723,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC016;<DESCRIPTION,40>|}

{XB04;0698,0056,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB04;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{XB05;0708,1058,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB05;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC017;0718,0100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC017;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC018;0639,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC018;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC019;0716,0398,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC019;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC020;0661,0758,10,10,Q,11,B|}

{RC020;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC021;0582,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC021;<N.FREEFORM:1,-1>|}

{PC022;0564,0165,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC022;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC023;0574,1100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC023;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC024;0977,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC024;<DESCRIPTION,40>|}

{XB06;0952,0056,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB06;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{XB07;0962,1058,9,3,03,1,0101,+0000000000,000,0,00|}

{RB07;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC025;0972,0100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC025;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC026;0893,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC026;<PARTNO,-1>|}

{PC027;0970,0398,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC027;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC028;0915,0758,10,10,Q,11,B|}

{RC028;<LIST,-1>|}

{PC029;0836,0600,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC029;<N.FREEFORM:1,-1>|}

{PC030;0818,0165,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC030;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{PC031;0828,1100,05,05,Q,11,B|}

{RC031;<BARCODE,-1>|}

{RM;-00-00|}

{XS;I,0001,0002C6200|}

A Warning About Colored Stock

While colored label stock can draw attention to the label, it can have a big drawback as well. If you are planning to put barcodes on your labels, you will need to stay away from any mid to dark colored stock. This is because the barcode scanners are designed to read black markings on white stock. So the scanner will not be able to differentiate between the black print and the colored stock. Some colors to stay away from would be Dark Greens, Reds, Browns, Blues, etc. Light colors like Yellow, Light Tan, Light Gray, or Light Pink should work OK. An easy way to tell is to test by putting one of those colors on a photocopier and make a black and white copy. IF it barely shows up on the photocopied image, then it will be ok. If it comes out Gray it MIGHT work. But if it comes out Dark Grey or Black, it won't work.

You can see by the examples on the left and right here, that the tan and light blue stock might work, but the red definitely will not work as a barcode label.