Does NiceLabel software run on Windows XP operating system?

Microsoft has certified NiceLabel with logos "Designed for Windows 95, 98 & NT", indicating assurance of reliability and compliance of operations in the latest Windows ME, 2000 and XP environments as well.

NiceLabel software can be normally used on Windows XP operating system. There is no limitation to the operations of the software. All functionality and program options are available in the same way as with all other distributions of Windows operating system.

NiceLabel software from version 3.1 is Windows XP compatible software regarding program functionality and graphical outlook.

If you are using NiceLabel software prior to version 3.1 you might observe the lack of true Windows XP style and feel in some dialog boxes and especially with buttons. However, from version 3.1 NiceLabel software is fully compatible with Windows XP scheme.

Please note, if you are using stand-alone NiceLabel software version prior 3.1 equipped with HASP protective device, the enclosed HASP device driver does not work in Windows XP environment. An error message Error(s) occurred while installing dongle support. Please check documentation to solve this problem. (5) will appear. The installation will complete anyway. But you must upgrade you HASP device driver. You should be using driver of at least version 4.65. The latest and most recommended version of the driver is always available for transfer from Download pages. Run application NiceDiag from NiceLabel CD-ROM (\Updates\Hardware Key) to find out more information about your hardware key and its device driver.

Applies to: all versions from 3.1, all editions
Last revision: June 26, 2002

Is there support for Unicode data processing? I want to design multi-lingual label templates.

NiceLabel software from version 3.6 introduces true Unicode data processing. Unicode is character-encoding standard that supports all worlds' languages. Unicode is the only standard available to achieve a true multi-lingual experience. NiceLabel can read data from any Unicode database and allow user to mix any language combination inside label elements.

The primary advantage of Unicode support is ability to use text formatted in different languages on the same label. But not just that, you can mix different languages within the same text element. It can contain Cyrillic, Arabic, Western, Chinese, Hebrew, Eastern European etc. characters at the same time.

All modern operating systems have Unicode support built-in. NiceLabel software supports Unicode processing on the following Windows operating systems: Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2003.

Multi-lingual label design is done in a straightforward way requiring no further actions or knowledge. All you have to make sure is that you have appropriate language support enabled in your operating system, i.e. install Chinese keyboard support if you want to use Chinese idioms on the label and Russian keyboard to use Cyrillic letters.

Internal data processing in NiceLabel software is all handled in Unicode-aware manner. The most obvious advantages of Unicode support are:

• Prompted multi-lingual text elements
  You can use different language formatting inside the same text element. NiceLabel software is able to recognize and print such fields correctly. If you change the input language on your keyboard, you are immediately able to enter the contents for the same element in an entirely different language.
• Database multi-lingual fields
  The Unicode database field can contain characters from different languages at the same time. You are no longer limited to using separate fields for separate languages.
• Automatic handling of Unicode data
  You can transfer the data from other Unicode-aware to NiceLabel software simply using Copy/Paste functionality. The characters are automatically identified as Unicode encoded data and are properly processed.

NiceLabel Pro is fully aware Unicode application. The additional modules in NiceLabel Suite edition (NiceForm, NiceWatch, NiceData, NiceMemMaster) do not have Unicode support at this time.

Applies to: all versions from 3.6.0, all editions except NiceLabel Express
Last revision: October 29, 2003

Can I use NiceLabel software with Windows 2000 Terminal Services or Citrix MetaFrame?

NiceLabel software can be used in multi-user terminal environment. However, there are some fact and installation procedures that you have to follow to successfully deploy NiceLabel software and NiceDrivers for thermal/transfer printers.

For a detailed information how to set up the software components please refer to the White Paper: NiceLabel Software used from Microsoft Windows Terminal Services and Citrix MetaFrame. It is available for download in PDF format, 88kB.

Applies to: all versions, NiceLabel Suite Network edition
Last revision: January 15, 2003

Sometimes NiceLabel switches to demo mode, or printer produces corrupted labels.

It can happen that NiceLabel unexpectedly switches to demo, which allows printing of only 5 labels. Or, some labels get corrupted with distorted graphics, unpositioned fonts and random blots during printing. The problem occurs due to a very rare combination of hardware equipment that is not mutually compatible. Hardware key is not properly detected on the computer.

Please refer to the topic NiceLabel runs in DEMO mode and follow that suggestions to solve the problem with the hardware key.

Solution: If that topic does not solve your problem, exchange your parallel port hardware key with the USB equivalent. Contact your local dealer, from whom you have purchased your copy of NiceLabel, to carry out the key swap. Note that your computer has to be equipped with USB connector to plug in the USB hardware key. The latest computers have USB support already built-in.

Applies to: all versions, all editions except NiceLabel Pro Standard, NiceLabel Suite Standard
Last revision: December 2001

What is the difference if I change printer settings from NiceLabel or if I change the default printer properites in Control Panel?

Each label in NiceLabel is connected to the selected printer and then designed for this printer. Each printer has its own properties such as resolution, ability to print internal fonts and internal bar codes, support for additional memory cards etc. When designing label all these settings of the printer are taken into consideration.

When you create a brand new label, you first have to connect it with a specific printer driver. NiceLabel reads printer's default settings and uses them on the label. These settings are furthermore stored inside the label file and read with every opening of the label. Even if you change the default settings for your printer in the meantime, previously designed and saved labels will preserve their settings from the time of creation.

Default settings can be set in printer preferences for every printer. All settings you change here will become default settings for this printer from now on and will be applied with every new label. However these default settings can be later modified from within NiceLabel and stored with individual label.

If you change the printer connected to the label with some other printer, as many settings from first printer as possible will be used with the second one. If the printers are mutually compatible (printer models from the same manufacturer tend to be compatible in some extent) chances are that many settings from the first printer will be successfully used with the second one. If some settings could not be transferred to the second printer the default ones will be used instead.

To summarize: if you change the printer settings from within NiceLabel, these changes will reflect whenever you open the label at a later time and these changes will apply for this label only. If you change the printer settings from outside of NiceLabel (in Printer Properties dialog box), they will not be applied to already designed labels but will be considered when creating new label from scratch.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: December 2002

On some Windows NT and 2000 computers you may experience problems saving changed label. We have already identified the problem (some Windows internal functions are not returning expected values) and fixed it (fix is already implemented in a new version of NiceLabel software 3.0). Problem is related to the file's security rights.

Workaround: If you do not plan to upgrade to the latest version of NiceLabel at this time, there is a workaround that will allow you to normally save the file. The problem can be solved by changing the file access rights. Adding your user name with full rights to the label file in question should solve your problem.

This is how you apply the workaround:

1. Start Windows Explorer and browse to your label folder.
2. Select the problematic label file and right-click it.
3. Choose Properties from the context menu.
4. Go to Security tab.
5. Click Add button and add your username to the list. Apply all privileges (Full Control) to your username.
6. Close dialog boxes.

It is not enough that Everyone has full access to the file, your exact username has to be granted full access as well. Note that, if you can not modify security settings, please contact your system administrator, who will change the settins for you.

It would probably be nest to make this modification on the whole folder, where the labels are stored. This way you will be able to access all labels in the normal manner.

Solution: Upgrade to the newest version of your NiceLabel edition.

Applies to: all versions before 3.1, all editions
Last revision: December 2002

When you place an image to the label or create a connection to the database, NiceLabel and NiceForm remember the original location of these files. On the customer's computer you have copied the files to some other folder and this is the reason for failure.

However, NiceLabel software does not query only the original location of the files, but has comprehensive check algorithm to search other locations as well. It is able to search for such files not only in the absolute folders (where the files originate from), but can check for them using relative paths.

This is how the searching for associated files is performed. There are four levels of search. If the file is not found in the current level, the next level is tried.

Level 1.:The defined folders are checked
Designed files with links to:
      C:\Solution\Labels\label.lbl
      C:\Solution\Forms\form.off
      C:\Solution\Database\products.db
      C:\Solution\Graphics\logo.bmp

Level 2.: The folders of NiceLabel preferences are checked
T hese folders can be modified in the Directories tab of NiceLabel preferences - accessible from Preferences command in Tools menu).
      C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\My Labels\Labels\label.lbl
      C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\My Labels\Forms\form.off
      C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\My Labels\Database\products.db
      C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\My Labels\Graphics\logo.bmp

Level 3: The current folder is checked
The current folder is the one containing the opened label file .LBL.
      E:\some-folder\label.lbl
      E:\some-folder\form.off
      E:\some-folder\products.db
      E:\some-folder\logo.bmp

Level 4: The "labels, forms, database, graphics" structure is checked
      D:\New folder\Project\Labels\label.lbl
      D:\New folder\Project\Forms\form.off
      D:\New folder\Project\Database\products.db
      D:\New folder\Project\Graphics\logo.bmp

Solution: To make sure that your solution for the customer will work independently of the folder to which you have copied the files always use the folder structure from Level 4. When you start working onoject. the project that will be running on some other computer, create a folder for it, for example PrThen make four sub-folders in this folder; they should be named Labels, Forms, Database and Graphics. It is important to use these exact folder names in English.

Then create or copy the files in the appropriate folders: labels go into Labels folder, forms go into Form folder, database files must be stored to Database folder and images should be saved to Graphics folder. This folder structure will ensure that the associated files will always be found, no matter where the location of the master Project folder.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: May 15, 2004

The license is always occupied by NiceLabel Pro application. Whenever the label is designed or printed the license is occupied. Even, when you run NiceForm or NiceWatch on their own, the license is still taken because NiceLabel Pro is also running in the background. Its icon is not visible, but it is listed in processes in Task Manager.

Please follow the check-list below and make sure your system complies with it.

1. The user that is currently logged in needs to have full (read, write, modify, delete...) permissions to the NiceLabel System folder on the server. All other folders can be accessible in read mode. The location of this folder usually is \\server\nicenet\bin\system.
   
   
2. Make sure that NET DIR setting in BDE Administrator points to the same folder for all clients. During the client installation process the value is correctly set, but perhaps some other application has changed it later. The default folder specified for NET DIR is NiceLabel System folder (NiceNet\Bin\System) on your NiceLabel server computer. Use must use the UNC-style folder syntax. If you have the server with name MY_SERVER and are sharing NiceLabel main folder as NiceNet, you would write \\my_server\nicenet\bin\system as the value for NET DIR folder. Check the value of NET DIR on other working clients first.
   If one of the clients has this setting set to some other folder than the other clients, it will lock NiceLabel internal databases for itself and no other user will be able to access them.
   
   

   - Start BDE Administrator from Control Panel.
   - Select Configuration tab.
   - Select Drivers, then Native and finally Paradox.
   - Select NET DIR parameter and make sure it points to the correct folder.
   
   You can simply verify such situation by presence of *.LCK files in the System folder on the server. It is safe to delete all *.LCK files. Then set the proper settings for NET DIR.
   
   More information:
   Locking Paradox database in multi-user network environment
   
   

3. Make sure that the network drive used in NET DIR is mapped to the same drive for all clients. If this network folder is shared as \\server\net and you have it mapped as drive H: (so that H: points to \\server\net) make sure that all clients use H: letter for this share. If only one of them will have location \\server\net mapped to G:, the connection to NiceLabel system databases will not work for this client.
   
   
4. If you are running NiceLabel Network client on the server computer as well, you must make the following modification to the BDE Administrator. LOCAL SHARE parameter for database access must be set to TRUE.
   
   

   - Start BDE Administrator from Control Panel.
   - Select Configuration tab.
   - Select System, then INIT.
   - Select LOCAL SHARE parameter and change it to TRUE.
   
   This step is particularly important when using Citrix environment, where NiceLabel server and client installations are made on the same computer.

5. If you are running License Manager on some client, the license will still be occupied, even if NiceLabel Pro is not running. License Manager also takes one license.
   
   
6. If you use Novell Netware, make sure that you have enabled support for long filenames.
   

Applies to: all versions before and including 3.6.5, NiceLabel Suite Network edition
Last revision: November 4, 2004

Please follow the check-list below and make sure your set-up complies with them.

1. The user that is used to run NiceWatch in service mode must have the administrative rights on the system (it does not matter if the user is local or domain user).
   
   
2. Before starting NiceWatch in service mode for the first time, you need to set up parameters in the Service Preferences in NiceWatch (menu Options, command Preferences). Then you must open Services dialog box from Control Panel (Start/Settings/Control Panel/administrative Tools/Services). Go to tab "Log on" and re-enter the same password as entered in Service Preferences then click Apply button.
   Go to tab "General" and start the service by clicking the Start button.
   This procedure is required only for the first run in service mode. After that NiceWatch user-interface application can be used to start and stop service mode.
   
   
3. NiceWatch in service mode will run in the DEMO mode, if the user used in the service mode has never run NiceLabel Pro on this computer. This can be noted in the NiceWatch log file, if you have it enabled. When NiceWatch is run in such set-up, the first entry in the log file reads "Service start DEMO".
   To solve this problem, log into Windows system as the user you are using in the service mode and then start NiceLabel Pro. This action ensures that proper values are entered in the Windows registry for this user.
   
   
4. When you are setting up service parameters in NiceWatch and when you are switching from the normal to the service mode, you need to be logged in the system with the same user that NiceWatch later uses for triggering. This is important because NiceWatch copies some settings in the registry from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
   Note, you must never manually change the path to the .NWC file in the registry, even if only changing it from the "mapped" syntax to the UNC syntax.
   
   
5. Whenever you are changing the properties of the triggers in NiceWatch, you need to stop and then start the NiceWatch service. This action is required only when NiceWatch runs in service mode. If it is running normally, you do not need to restart it.
   
   
6. Whenever you decide to run NiceWatch in service mode, log on as the same Windows user and start trigger checking at least once before the real production takes place and thus verify, if everything operates OK.
   When you detect no problems with NiceWatch operations, you can log off as that user that NiceWatch uses in service and log in as somebody else.
   
   
7. When running in service mode, the log pane in NiceWatch user-interface application does not update. To monitor NiceWatch operations, enable the option Save log to file in the Preferences accessible from Options menu. Then open this log file in text viewer.
   

From version 3.6 onward NiceLabel is Unicode-aware application. Multi-lingual contents can be used in the same text element and different code-pages for the fonts can be used with the same element. Previous versions handled more languages and code-pages on the label differently. Each text element could be formatted in only one code-page at that time.

If the label created in pre-3.6 version uses text elements, which fonts are not formatted in the current system code-page, NiceLabel 3.6 will make the text conversion upon the label opening. The regular characters will be encoded into the Unicode formatting, based on the character set of the font that is used with the text element.

This should be done only once, when the label is opened. Unfortunately the same conversion is done for the second time whenever you edit such element, when you switch to some other printer on the label or when you change the printer properties. The second conversion will convert the text contents to question marks. The original content is lost.

Workaround: Open the label in NiceLabel Pro. The conversion is done correctly and you can see the proper contents in the text elements. Then save the label and close it. Unicode formatting will be correctly saved into the label. Upon another label opening no additional conversion is done and you can normally use the label.

Solution: Upgrade to NiceLabel version 3.6.4 or newer.

WebEx is the online web meeting system. It hosts web meetings or web conferences. NiceLabel Technical Support team primarily uses it for handling support incidents that require attention in-person.

WebEx gives NiceLabel technicians access to your computer from our central location. You can show the problem on your computer and we watch. If needed; we can take control of your computer upon your approval.

Not all problem reports received in the emails are always entirely understandable. Sometimes language barrier represents a problem, sometimes the user is not skilled enough to describe the problem in enough detail. Using WebEx we can connect to your computer and just look at the problem. Some errors also cannot be reproduced on the available test systems. In some cases the problem is triggered only under certain circumstances or combinations of installed software. Again, WebEx is tremendously useful in such cases. You can simply show us the problem.

All that is needed for WebEx to work is the connection to the internet. If you can browse internet websites from your computer, you are already set for WebEx. WebEx operates on TCP/IP port 80 so no extra settings on the company's firewall are necessary. No extra communication parameters need to be set up. WebEx is safe to be used.

When NiceLabel support technician sets up WebEx meeting, you will receive the invitation for it in the email. Follow the instructions in the email to get connected. As a quick solution to stay in touch with the Technical Support technician there is chat utility available inside WebEx. Usually the telephone communication is used for voice and WebEx for graphic.

Before the first use of WebEx on your system, you will be prompted to install 'WebEx Client' from 'WebEx coomuncation Inc.'. It is safe to install this ActiveX component. When the component is run, the WebEx session will begin with the Meeting Manager.

For more information about WebEx please visit www.webex.com.

NiceLabel is compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 2. No extra modifications are necessary to be applied to the system. The functionality of NiceLabel software remains untouched.

However, when Service Pack 2 is installed on the computer and you run Windows Update, the service can find the update for the Aladdin hardware key version 5.11. This is the hardware key that NiceLabel software uses for software protection on some markets. If you choose to install this update, the hardware key will stop working. Microsoft Windows Update does not contain proper ID for the driver. The hardware key is installed as 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key 00' and not as 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key'. Both Microsoft and Aladdin companies are aware of the problem and are working on its resolution.

For normal operation NiceLabel software requires the hardware key driver version 4.95 to be present, it will not work with version 5.11. On the other hand you need the version 5.11 to be installed so Windows Update service will not prompt you for the update.

Workaround: Do not install the update to Aladdin Knowledge Systems key from Windows Update. This is an optional hardware update, not necessarily important for the system. Select the option 'Hide this item' and it will not be available for you any more. If you have already updated the driver to new version and NiceLabel does not function any more read on.

Solution: Download and install the updated device driver. It is available from Aladdin or NiceLabel website.

1. Remove the device 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key 00' from list of device on your computer. Double click the icon System in Control Panel. Go to Hardware tab and click on the button Device Manager. Select the device 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key 00' and delete it.
2. Download the hardware key device driver version 4.95. Run the downloaded application and follow on-screen instructions to install the device driver.
3. Download the updated hardware key device driver version 5.11. This one is a newer installation than the one offered through Windows Update service. Unpack the ZIP file to a temporary location. Select Run command from the Start menu, browse to the location of the extracted files, point to the HASPDIST.EXE and and then install the device driver like this:
   
   HASPDINST.EXE /i
   
   
4. You will have two device drivers installed for the same hardware key. Version 4.95 for NiceLabel software and version 5.11 for Windows XP SP2.

Note: If you are having troubles installing the device driver following the steps 2. and 3. above, first try to remove the existing (partially installed) device drivers.

1. Download the command-line utility HINSTALL.EXE then run it like this:
   
   HINSTALL.EXE /r
   
   
2. Download the the command-line utility HASPDINST.EXE, extract the ZIP file to the temproary folder then run the utility like this:
   
   HASPDINST.EXE /r

In both cases you will remove the partially installed HASP device driver, so the computer is ready for the fresh installation. Reboot the computer if prompted to do so.

Applies to: all versions, all editions with hardware keys (excluded are DLP (Dongle Less Protection) editions, Standard editions and NiceLabel Suite Network)
Last revision: February 22, 2005

Yes, NiceLabel 4 was specially developed with the idea in mind to run it along the previous generation of NiceLabel software. NiceLabel 4 is installed in its own folder and uses different system components than NiceLabel 3 so they can safely co-exist on the same computer.

If you are solution provider this functionality will proove to be very successfull as you can still maintain the label printing solutions built with the NiceLabel 3 software.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: April 11, 2005

NiceWatch can be set up to monitor changes in a set of files in the specified folder. For example, this functionality is useful to monitor the appearance of incoming command JOB files. To determine which file exactly has triggered the action, you would normally use the internal variable 'TriggerFileName'. It stores the name of the JOB file, so the proper JOB file can be executed in the action 'Run job'.

NiceWatch is multi-threaded operation. The label processing and label printing run in the separate threads. The problem occurs when you use 'TriggerFileName' variable and you enable the option 'Delete the trigger file'. When the data from the JOB trigger file is prepared for printing, the JOB file is deleted, but you still need it in the printing phase to read and execute the NiceCommands from it.

The JOB file has been deleted before it was used in the actions.

Before the trigger files are processed, NiceWatch always makes a temporary copy of the trigger file and use it as a working copy. NiceWatch internally never works with the original trigger file. This approach ensures that all trigger files are detected, even the one that take a long time to be processed. Each trigger file is processed in a separate thread. Making a copy of the original trigger file also ensures that a new copy of the trigger file overwriting the old one does not erase the data that hasn't been processed yet.

Solution: Do not use the internal variable 'TriggerFileName' that points to the original trigger file. Instead use the internal variable 'DataFileName' that points to the copy of the trigger file. Even if the original trigger file gets deleted, the copy remains accessible until the action is executed.

Applies to: version 4.0, NiceLabel Suite edition
Last revision: May 3, 2005