Features

Feature Summary

TICKET 2000 implements the latest Windows technologies

Fully 32 bit for Windows 95,98 and Windows NT.

OLE server and OLE automation.

Direct reading of Microsoft Access MDB tables and queries.

Built in macro scripts

Advanced text formatting language.

360 rotation of everything.

Automatic font scaling.

Large range of data sources.

Scale and Console interfaces

Predefined laser label sizes and unlimited custom sizes.

Fast, graphical, drag and drop.

Object Types

Text

Single line text fields.

Paragraph text,

In text formatting (subscript,bold etc)

360 degree rotation.

Manual and automatic vertical and horizontal stretching.

True-Type fonts.

Automatic word wrapping.

Padding, reversed text.

3D effects on all text.

Character and line spacing,

Graphics and Clipart

Advanced graphics support for jpg, gif, tif, pcx, png,bmp,cmp, wmf,tga,photoCD,WinFax, postscript, psd and more.

Colour rendering.

Transparent colours.

Contrast and colour adjustments.

Paint effects.

Flip/mirror/Invert.

Maintain proportions.

360 degree rotation.

TICKET 2000 includes a collection of common symbols and clipart for labels, such as certification symbols, warning symbols and pointers.

Shapes

Circle, ellipse, rectangle, triangle, stars, pentagon, hexagon, flowchart, octagon, cross, arrow and most other common shapes.

Free hand pencil tool.

Customisable grid object.

Full colour and rotation control.

Barcodes

UPC-E, UPC-A,EAN 8, EAN 13, EAN 128 (and EAN 128 Wizard), Code 128 Automatic, Code 128 -A, Code 128-B, Code 128-C, MSI, Codabar, PDF417, TradeUnits EAN, Code 39, Code 3 of 9, Code 93, Code 11, Code B, 4-State Postal, Code 2 of 5 Industrial, Code 2 of 5 Interleaved, JAN 8, JAN 13, EAN 13 Australian Variable Weight.

Very accurate drawing of barcodes.

All barcodes can be printed in different shapes, eg circular, square and many other forms.

Full checksum support.

Checksum modulo control.

Percentage and free scaling.

360 degree rotation.

Human readable text.

Colours.

Bar ratio adjustments.

Intercharacter gap adjustments.

Prices

Automatically formats any number into a price.

Huge range of pricing formats.

Handles any dollar or cents value.

360 rotation.

Bulleted Lists

Automatically formats any text into a bulleted list.

Selectable bullet character, indent and spacing.

360 rotation.

OLE Object

Insert an OLE object from any other OLE application eg: WordArt or Spreadsheet.

Data Sources

All objects (except the shapes) have a data source, the data source can be any of the following:

Static

The data and text is specified as part of the label. This may include a name, barcode data etc. Fixed text can also specify commands and field names, eg: [FieldName] to reference the data from another field or a function such as TrimSpaces([FieldName])

Prompted Question

A prompted question source displays a dialog box and waits for the user to respond. It can be setup to ask for a certain number of characters. The prompted question source can be used to retrieve variable data for the printed label, it can also be used to retrieve a value that is sent to a Microsoft Access query key value.

Prompted List

Similar to the prompted question, but prompts the user with a fixed list of alternatives. The list can be specified as part of the label, or stored in an external file so you can share the same list with many labels.

Date/Time

The data/time source generates a properly formatted date and time. It can get the time from the system clock, ask the user at print time, or calculate the date and time from another field on the label. The date/time source can add or subtract a number of days/months/weeks and hours from any date and time. It supports a huge range of output formats including: Julian dates, 24 hour, 12 hour times, day names, month names, 4 digits years, a total of 39 different formats !!!

Label Information

The label information source generates information about the label for printing on the label. For example: the number of fields on the label, the current page number, the current label number, the output media name etc.

Sequence

A sequence source generates an incrementing or decrementing number or alphanumeric series. You can specify a start value, a stop value and an and increment value. The number series can be in decimal, alpha, alphanumeric, hexadecimal and octal. The number can also be padded out to a fixed number of digits.

Serial Number

A serial number source is the same as sequence number, but the last value printed is stored. Next time a label is printed that uses a shared serial number, TICKET will correctly start at the next serial number value. Serial numbers can be shared across multiple labels.

System Variable

You can define a piece of text or data once and add it to many labels. If you change the value of the variable, it will be updated for all labels that use it. This is great for company details, tax rates etc. You don't need to re-edit every label to change common details.

Database

TICKET 2000 reads Microsoft Access databases directly. It can read Access 2.0, Office 95 and Office 97, 2000 Access MDB tables and queries. TICKET automatically sets an query parameters with data from a label field with the same name.

Other database formats, such as dBase,Paradox, Text can also be read.

Console Link

When using one of the TICKET Console modes, data can be sent to the label via Console link data sources. For example: the current scale weight, the label quantity, the price per kg etc.

Tools

Rotation

Rotation of any label object can be achieved by dragging the rotate left or rotate right tools onto the object. On the right click pop-up menu, there are options for 90 rotation and free rotation.

Alignment

There are tools for aligning groups of objects. For example: align left, align top, center vertically, distribute horizontally etc.

Object Creation

Label fields are created by dragging a picture of a field onto the label area. The properties for the new field are set by double clicking on the label to open the field properties dialog.

Sizing

Sizing of any object can be achieved by dragging the handles around the object. The keyboard can be used to increase or decrease the size of any object. The properties dialog also contains measurement settings for all objects. Sizing of objects is not restricted.

Drag and Drop Colour & Fonts

Like most tools, you can drag colour and font buttons on to any field object to set its colour and font. The font tool bar contains a preview of all true type fonts and standard colours. All buttons in the preview can be dragged on to the label.

Security

Passwords

A password can be attached to a label to stop it being opened without authorisation.

Audit Logging

All printed data from any label can be automatically saved into a text or Microsoft Access database table.

Console Modes

TICKET 2000 has a Console screen that hides the TICKET 2000 interface and just gives access to a restricted list of labels. The user can enter a code, see a preview of a label and select a print button.

Windows login name

The Windows user login name can be printed on any label.

Programming Support

Macro Language

Macros (small sets of instructions) can be specified to run, before a label is printed, before a label is saved, while a label is printing and after a label has printed. The macro code can shows prompt messages, group and alignment label objects, write a database, present a list of records from a database and much more. For example:

ShowMessage("Make sure the printer is on")

OLE Automation Interface

Most of the functions of TICKET can be controlled using OLE automation from another application. You can use systems like Visual Basic, Delphi and MS Word to open a label, set field values and print labels in the background.

A developers license must be purchased as an optional extra. Contact support@hexcom.com to inquire.

Other Features

Object Relationships

A relationship can be defined between any two fields on a label. The relationship ensures the two fields stay a certain distance apart. So if one field moves the other moves also, or if one field has no data, then another field can move to take its place.

Object Alignment

Fields are automatically aligned on a point when their content changes at print time.

Undo

TICKET supports multiple levels of undo and redo.

Label Grid

An optional grid is drawn on the background of the label to assist in placement of fields at design time. The grid automatically changes scaling depending on the screen zoom factor.

Label Zooming

The label design can zoomed smaller and larger to suit the user.

Store objects in library

You can add commonly used fields (or groups of fields) to the TICKET library. These stored fields can then be added back to any label at any time and they are exact copies of the original field or fields.

Measurements

TICKET 2000 can report all measurements in millimetres, inches, centimetres, 10th of an inch, 100th of an inch, 300th of an inch, 600th of an inch and in points (72 per inch).

Label Statistics

A label stores the dates and times it was last printed, saved, and modified.

Resizable Labels using rulers

WYSIWYG rulers on the label can be moved and dragged to resize the label width, height and margins dynamically. This avoids having to open the media setup dialog and manually change values for the margins and dimensions.

Network Capable

TICKET 2000 can be shared across a network. Each user can maintain local preferences. Labels and the application files are shared centrally.

Value Substitution Tables

Global substitution tables can be configured. For example: a table to convert numeric numbers into spelled numbers, or to convert weight ranges into prices. Any data source can have a substitution table applied.

Global serial numbers
[Features]
[Objects]
[Data Sources]
[Text Formatting]
[Tools]
[Console Modes]
[Printers]
[Dates and Times]
[Variables]
[Substitutions]
[Automation]
[Security]

Serial numbers can be shared across multiple labels and users on different networked computers.

Themes

The look of the TICKET 2000 buttons can be changed by selecting a different theme, the current themes are Wood effect, Grey Stone, TICKET 2000 Gold and blank.

Optional Automatic Backups

A backup copy of each label is saved.

On-Line Help

The full TICKET 2000 user guide is contained in the on-line help.