'AVS Barcode Source' - Specification of features

Overview

AVS Barcode Source is barcode software designed to create barcode images in graphics files, from a string of data that you enter. It is designed to be used interactively by a user - it is not intended for batch use. It is designed for users who may be creating labels for their products using desktop publishing software, and need a 'source' of high-quality barcode images to import into their DTP application. You cannot print directly from the product; it is designed for use in conjunction with another graphics application such as your DTP or labeling application.

Barcode formats supported

Note: In all standards, checksums are automatically added as appropriate - this is a user option in standards where the checksum is optional.

• EAN-13
  • Automatic addition of checksum (or verification of checksum entered, if entered by the user)
  • Including optional quiet-zone indicator
• ITF-14
  • Automatic addition of checksum (or verification of checksum entered, if entered by the user)
  • Optional horizontal and/or vertical bearer bars (black box around the barcode to increase scanning accuracy)
  • Optional human-readable text below the barcode
• ISBN-13
  • Full ISBN-13 support
  • As EAN-13, above, plus:
  • Full support for optional 2 or 5 digit add-on characters (for US$ price information, etc)
  • Display of ISBN number above barcode, including optional hyphens, spaces and prefix
• ISSN
  • Full ISSN barcode support
  • As EAN-13, above, plus:
  • Full support for optional 2 or 5 digit add-on characters (for daily/weekly/monthly issue number, etc)
  • Display of ISSN number above barcode, including display of automatically-calculated 8th digit 'ISSN checksum'
• UPC (UPC-A)
• Code 128
  • Support for all 3 codesets (A, B, and C) with automatic switching between sets as necessary
  • Automatically use most efficient coding for a given string resulting in most compact barcode
• Code 39 and Code 39 Extended
• Codabar
• 2-of-5 family
  • Including Industrial 2-of-5, Interleaved 2-of-5, Matrix 2-of-5, IATA 2-of-5, COOP 2-of-5
  • Optional horizontal and/or vertical bearer bars (black box around the barcode to increase scanning accuracy)
  • Optional human-readable text below the barcode
• DataMatrix 2D barcode (ECC200)
  • ASCII mode only supported at the moment
  • Automatic selection of smallest-possible grid, in square format
  • Automatic addition of Reed-Solomon error detection / error correction

Graphics formats supported

Images can be saved in the following graphics formats:

• EPS vector graphics format - suitable for use with Adobe Illustrator, DTP packages, etc
• BMP
• GIF
• JPG / JPEG
• PNG
• TIFF
• EXIF

Supported operating systems

The software runs on the following operating systems:

• Windows XP (SP2 and later)
• Windows Vista (all versions)
• Windows 7 (all versions)

Support for Mac OS X will be added during Autumn 2009.

Other features

• On-screen preview of barcode with current settings
• On-screen indication of barcode image size, in millimeters, inches and pixels, for both height and width, as well as the equivalent 'magnification factor' for EAN-13 and UPC
• DPI (dots-per-inch) setting to ensure resulting image is perfectly matched for the target printer
• Complete control over barcode size (height, width and surrounding space), while retaining exactly correct bar-width ratios
• Option to enforce sizing standards to EAN / UPC standards, simplifying the process of creating an image that matches the standard
• Selection of colours for both bars and spaces
• Ability to save all settings (optionally including the source data) in a 'profile', which can be loaded for use later
• Bar Width Reduction - high-end feature, allowing width of all bars to be reduced to compensate for ink-spread on some print surfaces