• Are barcodes generated by TALtech software better than barcode fonts?
• What barcode symbologies are supported?
• What programmable applications will work with the DLLs?
• Does TALtech provide technical support?

Yes. In short, barcodes generated by TALtech software is much better than barcode fonts. In fact, GS1 (formally the Uniform Code Council) does not recommend the use of fonts.

" Barcode fonts have been known to create EAN/UPC symbols with serious design defects. The problems may be caused by the design of the font, an operator input, or a combination of both."

"Extreme caution should be used when producing EAN/UPC symbols with barcode fonts."

- UCC Guidelines for Providers of EAN/UPC Symbol Design Software.

Fonts have limited ability to manipulate the size of individual characters (distortion), spacing between the characters (kerning) and the possibility of font or resolution substitution at the output stage. However there are many other problems with barcode fonts. The user cannot specify the module (bar) width exactly in printer dots. Fonts do not support Bar Width Reduction. Nor do they support many of the features specific to bar code symbols such as Bearer Bars, Quiet Zones, independent symbol height and module (bar) width specification, symbol rotation and support for binary data (including ACSII nulls in Code 128, Code 39, Code 93 and PDF 417).

In addition, most fonts do not automatically calculate and add check digits and other security features to barcodes. To add check digits you would need a separate application that calculates the check digits first before you create the barcodes.

B-Coder is barcode GENERATING software. So it can guarantee perfect, totally to specification, barcodes every time. It checks that the barcode size your are requesting is within the specifications and warns you before creating a barcode if it wil be "out of spec". B-Coder also automatically adds check digits to your barcodes if tehy need them.

• Code 39 (Normal, Full ASCII & HIBC)
• UPC A
• UPC E
• EAN 8
• EAN 13 (+BookLan)
• Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF)
• Code 128
• Code 93
• EAN/UCC 128
• PostNet
• Codabar
• MSI Plessey
• PDF 417
• Aztec Code
• Data Matrix
• MaxiCode
• RSS-14

The DLLs can be used with any programmable application that can call a DLL and supports Windows MetaFile graphics. WMFs are the native graphic format for Windows and are fully supported by VB, C/C++, Access, PowerBuilder, FoxPro, Word and other popular programmable applications.

Yes. Not only is the software extremely easy to use, it also comes with unlimited FREE technical support by phone, fax and email, a clearly written manual and on-line help. To ensure your satisfaction all TAL software products are covered by a 90-day unconditional money-back guarantee.