The BarTender Pro Version
The BarTender Professional Version includes all the features of the BarTender
Standard Version plus Printer
Drivers for most popular thermal printers. The benefits of
these printer drivers follow.
The Difference Between A Printer
Driver And A Label Program
Some people, especially those newer to Windows, are a bit hazy
about the difference between a Windows printer driver and a
Windows program. Users converting over from DOS software
programs may be particularly perplexed, since these DOS
programs usually have the printer support built right into them.
In contrast, a true Windows program does not contain
built-in printer support and does not output data specific to
any one brand of printer. Instead, true Windows programs output
a single “universal” language that a separate Windows
printer driver then converts into the commands for the
corresponding printer. This means that any true Windows program
can talk to any printer for which there is a Windows
printer driver.
Functionality When Used With Standard
Windows Programs
Seagull's printer drivers, included with the BarTender Pro, for
thermal label printers work with all Windows programs that we
know of, including all word processors, spreadsheets,
databases, and graphics programs. When using a Seagull printer
driver, Windows programs will be able to output the same type
of graphic images and TrueType fonts on the thermal printer
that they can print on laser printers. Any fonts built into the
printer can also be printed. However, access to some of the
printer's “intelligent” functions may only be
available when using the BarTender.
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General Bar Code Capabilities When
Used With Standard Programs
When used with general purpose Windows programs, these drivers
give the “Font” or “Type Specs” option of
your programs access to most of the bar codes built into your
label printer. This is the fastest way to output bar codes
using your thermal printer. However, you will not necessarily
have access to every single bar code symbology supported by the
printer, or certain options, such as whether or not to use
check digits. The drivers will also work with TrueType bar code fonts, although
these will print as bitmaps and can therefore reduce
performance. Also, if your program is one of the many that can
import graphics, you can bring in a bar code exported from
another program (such as the BarTender).
Capabilities When Used With the
BarTender
When the BarTender Pro for Windows is used with a Seagull thermal
printer driver, you will have access to just about every bar
code built into the printer, as well as various advanced bar
code options that may not necessarily be available when the
driver is used with another program. The BarTender Pro will also
give you access to your printers' built-in serialization
capabilities, as well as the ability to automatically separate
print jobs into changing and non-changing portions. Both of
these capabilities can have significant performance benefits
when printing certain label jobs. (See below for more
information.)
Identical Versus Changing
Labels
Any program used with Seagull’s drivers can access the
printers’ multiple copies commands. Therefore, regardless of
the amount of graphics being printed, once the first label has
printed out, all subsequent identical labels will print at the
printer’s full speed. However, Windows programs other than
the BarTender will not have access to the printers’
automatic incrementing or partial image storage capabilities.
Therefore, if the labels are not identical from label to
label, these programs will have to resend the entire
contents of each label. In contrast, the BarTender Pro will only
need to output the parts of the label that change from label to
label. Depending on the complexity of the label and your type of
communications port, this can significantly reduce the amount
of information sent to the printer and therefore significantly
increase label printing speed.
Details On Text Font
Capabilities
When you select the type specs or font menu in any Windows
program, you will have access to all fonts built into your
printer, as well as any Windows TrueType fonts currently
installed in Windows. The printer’s fonts can always be
printed very rapidly. However, TrueType fonts are transmitted
to the printer as bitmaps. For some printers, we take advantage
of the ability of the printer to store and reuse TrueType
fonts, so you only pay a performance penalty when the fonts are
first downloaded. On other printers, however, we have to resend
TrueType as graphics each time they are used. In this case, if
your document uses a lot of TrueType fonts and any data
changes from label to label, your printing performance will be
reduced when using a general purpose Windows program. This can
be compounded by the use of a serial port.
Printing Performance And Serial
Ports
In the following situations, overall performance will not be
reduced by the use of a serial port:
- When using a general purpose Windows program or the
BarTender and outputting only your printer's built-in text
or bar codes.
- When printing graphics or Windows TrueType fonts on
identical labels. (Your first label will print more
slowly, depending on the complexity of the image, but the
rest of the labels will print out at the printer’s full
speed.)
In the following situations, printing performance can be
significantly reduced if you don’t use a parallel port
instead of a serial port:
- When text is specified as Windows TrueType and the text
will be changing from label to label (using any program).
- When using a program other than the BarTender to print
labels containing any TrueType or graphics images (such as
logos or pictures) where the labels will not be identical
from label to label.
Graphics Data And Printer
Memory
Most label printers include enough memory to allow the printing
of graphics and TrueType text on at least medium size labels.
(If you don’t need to print graphics images or Windows
TrueType fonts, your printer’s factory-standard memory
will suffice, unless your labels are unusually large.) However,
when printing larger graphic images or large amounts of Windows
TrueType text, some printers may require additional memory.
Since the Datamax Prodigy Plus comes factory-equipped with zero graphics
memory, it requires the addition of a memory expansion module
in order to print bitmap graphics of any kind (including
TrueType fonts). All other Datamax printers come equipped with
at least some graphics memory.
The 16-bit version works with Windows 3.1x and Windows
95. The 32-bit version works with Windows 95/98/2000 and NT 4.0 and
higher.
See a list of the Printer
Drivers that come with the BarTender Pro.
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BarTender Links
BarTender Main Page
BarTender Features and Benefits
BarTender New Features
BarTender Tutorial (Design Your Next Level in 5 Minutes)
Supported Printers
Bartender Drivers
BarTender ODBC Support
BarTender Specifications
Software Comparison Chart
Year 2000 Compliance Statement
BarTender Professional Edition
Enterprise/RFID Enterprise Editions
BarTender Price List/Order Form
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HALLoGRAM Publishing, All
Rights Reserved.
Products mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners.
