Barcodes:  

NiceLabel has the ability to create most standard industry bar codes including linear and 2D bar codes, such as EAN, UCC 128, RSS (both linear and composite), Data Matrix, Aztec, PDF 417, MaxiCode and many more. In total, the Pro version offers over 75 barcode fonts. In terms of RFID labels and tags it supports both ISO and UHF types; however, it requires NiceDriver printer driver to print to thermal printers.

Connectivity/ Communication:  

NiceLabel can work with almost any kind of data and database. It can import ASCII or CSV type text as well as from Excel. It offers complete ODBC and OLE DB database support and BDE database drivers for most others. For added convenience it can work with Unicode and custom SQL scripting. Unlike most of the other programs we looked at, NiceLabel has a database manager that makes working with multiple databases and database types much less complicated. The Pro version offers basic database support but if you utilize NiceWatch, you can get serial (COM) port connectivity and you can print from the Internet through a POP3 or TCP/IP interface. NiceWatch also supports non-Windows originated print jobs. Their network edition supports Citrix and terminal server environments. Basically, this software can send print jobs to any printer, including all common thermal printers and window based printers, with NiceDriver.

For global compatibility, they offer this software in 26 languages and International support.

Label Designer:  

NiceLabel includes a variety of features to help with the design process. It can work with Windows fonts, printer fonts, bar code fonts, basic drawing elements and can incorporate graphics. The basic drawing elements include lines, ellipses, inverse and rectangle. It can also resize and realign text based on best fit and can work with rich text. Additionally you can manipulate the thickness, line length, line color and line style of the bar codes. It also has the ability to work with automatic or generated information like time stamps, prompted values and serialized fields. If the design tools do not meet your needs you can import images or utilize the ActiveX programming interface to implement your designs.

Label Design Ease of Use:  

NiceLabel has helpful installation wizards and is simple to navigate and use. The software also includes extensive help files, tutorials and FAQs, all basic functions are clearly explained through the toolbar. One of the aspects we didn’t like is that we could not figure out how to create labels that our printers did not support. This program only allows creation of labels that the printer supports, so we could not experiment with the RFID elements of the software.

Help/ Support:  

NiceLabel offers great support, including comprehensive tutorials, FAQs and online help. They also provide responsive email support; they answered our emails right away. They also offer onsite and web training for a fee and support a user forum on their website. They also offer free and fee-based training for resellers. Though they do not provide telephone support, you may be able to receive telephone support through their trained resellers.

NiceLabel can satisfy all of your company’s compliance labeling, industry specific and barcode creation needs. This software includes every feature that we were looking for and offers a variety of training resources. If you team up with NiceLabel, you can have a competent barcode solution up and running in no time.