RFID Support in BarTender
Overview
Full RFID support is available in these BarTender editions:
- Enterprise Automation
- Automation
- Professional
Click here to view a list of currently-supported RFID-capable
printers.
For more details on supported RFID standards, download the
BarTender brochure, or visit our
Specifications and Features page.
The Smarts for "Smart Labels"
RFID Power from the Leaders in Windows Label Software
BarTender has developed a world-wide reputation for making even advanced label design
features intuitive enough for beginners. The available RFID encoding features uphold
that tradition of flexibility and ease of use. Use simple mouse motions to "drag
and drop" RFID objects into your label design the same way you would create bar
codes and other label objects.
Step 1: One click and BarTender's
"Toolbox" is ready to create RFID objects.
Full-sized Image
Step 2: Simply drag desired RFID objects
to anywhere on the label. (Since RFID objects
never print, they display next to the label.)
Support for the Latest Tag Types
Both the Enterprise Automation and Automation editions support most of the tag types
available in today's RFID-capable printers. This includes EPC Class 1, Gen2, ISO
18000-6b, ISO 15693, Tag-It, I-CODE, TagSys, My-d, and Picotag. (Because new tag
types get introduced from time to time, please check with us regarding the most
up-to-date compatibility.) Please click here
for a table of supported printers and tag types.
Data Formats for Wal-Mart, DoD, EPC, and more
Most RFID tags allow data to be encoded in a variety of formats. Formats currently
supported by BarTender include DoD, SGTIN, SSCC, GIAI, GID, GRAI, and SGLN (for
both 64 and 96 bit tags). You can also specify your own custom RFID data formats.
Use predefined RFID objects "as is," or customize as desired.
"Gen2" Compliant
The adoption of the UHF Generation 2 standard by the EPCglobal consortium is a key
development in the march toward broader adoption of RFID technology. Because BarTender
is fully Gen2 compliant, you can use it with RFID-capable printers from a variety
of manufacturers. BarTender also supports numerous printers and RFID tags based
on established "Generation 1" technology.
Ability to Print RFID Data in Text and Barcodes
The same data you encode into your RFID tags can also be printed in text and bar
codes. This allows the option of using RFID or barcode scanning hardware and provides
data redundancy in the event of a non-functional RFID tag.
Unicode Compliance Simplifies International Use
When encoding text into an RFID tag, you can select from 20 different codepages
from around the world, including Unicode (which supports most characters from most
of the world's languages).
On-Screen RFID Tag Display
With the "ghosted" outline of the RFID antenna, chip and substrate displayed on
screen, you understand in advance whether you are placing any label objects in an
undesirable location. Our predefined label stocks come with graphic files that show
the appropriate outline image, but you can supply your own custom images as well.
On-screen RFID tag display lets you optimize your label design.
Ready for the Future
Because RFID is a new technology undergoing rapid development, additional applications
and enhanced capabilities are inevitable. Fortunately, key BarTender functionality
is provided by printer driver and component modules that are often upgradeable by
free download. This makes it less likely that you will need to purchase upgrades
of the full software package in order to comply with minor changes to available
RFID tags and standards.