Loftware Label Converter

Problem

A typical hurdle you face when switching to Loftware is converting your existing label templates to the Loftware format. Tools and services are available for new customers to help you bring your existing labeling assets into Loftware quickly and with fewer costs.

Our label converter transforms NiceLabel v5/v6, Seagull Scientific BarTender, and Teklynx CODESOFT label templates to the Loftware format.

The label converter does not produce 100% accurate conversions or complete one-to-one mapping between your old labels and newly created Loftware labels. The technical backgrounds of different label designers are too diverse to produce perfect results. If you didn't use best-practice label design techniques before and ended up with hundreds or thousands of label templates, migrating to Loftware is a good opportunity to consolidate and optimize your label templates and solutions.

To use the converter, you need a licensed copy of your old labeling software. For BarTender, you need version 2016 or newer. For Codesoft, you need version 2019 or newer and the "Enterprise" product level.

The converter also works with trial versions of Loftware software.

Download Loftware Label Converter

Solution

Conversion overview

Feature/Software	Seagull Bartender	Codesoft Teklynx
Printer	✓	✓
Page setup	✓	✓
Text	✓	✓
Rich text	X	X
Line	✓	All lines start at the top left corner
Rectangle	✓	✓
Ellipse	✓	✓
Image	✓	✓
Barcode	* See list below	Supports Loftware-supported barcodes. Others get imported as Code128.
Variables	Name and default value	✓
Database	X	MS Excel, MS Access, MS SQL
Encoders	X	X

NiceLabel v5/v6 support

NiceLabel 10 doesn't support all design features from NiceLabel v5 or v6.

BarTender support

Supported features

• Some barcode parameters do not convert. If the converter does not recognize the barcode type, it generates Code128.

  The converter supports the following barcode types: Aztec, Codabar, Code128, Code39, Code93, DataMatrix, Ean8, Ean13, IntelligentMail, I2of5, Maxicode, MSI, PDF417, QR, GS1Databar, UPCA, and UPCE.

• Only variable names and the default values are imported for variables.

• SubStrings convert to variables using the same names.

• When text or barcode object consist of many substrings, the converter creates a concatenate function.

• The converter imports time and date data types as time and date variables. The default date format is "dd/MM/yyyy" and default time is "HH:mm:ss".

• Embedded images are imported.

Unsupported features

• Complex text objects (RTF, word processor, arc, symbol font characters, HTML, XAML).

• Objects: RFID, Shape, MagneticStripe.

• Objects that have "Visual Basic Script" data sources.

• Barcode human readable (See Configurable options below).

• Barcode X dimension (See Configurable options below).

• Object anchoring points cannot always be determined (Set to top-left by default).

• Database data sources.

• Encoders.

Codesoft support

Supported features:

• Printers
• Page and paper setup
• Database (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL)
• Design:
  • Text (Font is set to that of the first letter)
  • Lines
  • Oblique lines (all lines start in the top left corner(with rotation = 0))
  • Rectangles
  • Ellipses
  • Images
  • Variables
  • Barcodes (Loftware converts unsupported barcodes to Code128)
    • Exceptions:
      • Code128 type is set to B, and you can later change them in Loftware.
      • EAN13 automatically displays check digit in human readable in Loftware.
      • Codabar: Start and stop characters are "A".
      • Datamatrix: For automatic sizing.
      • ITF14: automatically includes check digit in human readable in Loftware.
      • QR: doesn't set ECC.
      • Aztec: doesn't set ECC.
      • Bookland: only works, when value length is 2 or 5.
      • MicroQR: Has a margin in Codesoft but not in Loftware, comes off a bit shifted.

Unsupported features:

• Rich text

• Polygons

• Table lookups

Configurable options

To define defaults for some configuration options, update the following file:

• DefaultBarTenderBarcodeHumanReadable defines whether you want human-readable barcodes in converted labels. True/False.

• DefaultBarTenderBarcodeBaseModuleSize defines barcode X dimensions. Each unit is 0.01 mm.

• IncludeBackgroundImageInConvertedLabel defines whether you want the preview of the original label inserted as a background image. True/False.

Conversion folders

Select a folder containing legacy label files.

• By default, the converted labels save to a "ConvertedLabels" subfolder and label previews to a ”ConvertedLabels\LabelPreviews" folder to allow you to visually check your conversions.

• When your destination location is Document Storage in Loftware LMS and you have revision history enabled, your converted files are checked in and the revision comments contain links to the original file names. Use the switch UseInstalledProduct (see Using the license of installed Loftware software below).

• If converting your labels fails, a text document with more details is created in a "ConvertedLabels\CompatibilityReport" folder.

Assigning data to dynamic objects

You can assign values to dynamic label objects in your label previews. When you assign values, your label previews show objects with your provided data, not with question marks. To use your values, create a file variabledata.txt file with key-value pairs and save it in a folder with your original label files.

Example:

Company=Loftware
Email=john.doe@loftware.com

Using the license of installed Loftware software

To use your currently installed Loftware software for converting labels, start the converter with the parameter “UseInstalledProduct”. This is useful when your labels contain global variables.

Example: