> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.taltech.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# B-Coder Pro support

> Get help using our software to create barcodes for labels, documents, and other applications.

[Support home](https://support.taltech.com/index.md)B-Coder Pro

## Quick links

### Getting started

[What is B-Coder Pro?](https://support.taltech.com/b-coder/what-is-b-coder.md)

[B-Coder Pro Introduction](https://support.taltech.com/b-coder/b-coder-pro-introduction.md)

[Video tutorials](https://support.taltech.com/b-coder/video-tutorials.md)

### Orders & licensing

[View your orders](https://store.taltech.com/myaccount)

[Order and licensing information](https://taltech.com/ordering)

### Downloads & resources

[Download trial version](https://www.taltech.com/support-resources/free-trial-downloads)

[Manuals & brochures](https://www.taltech.com/support-resources/software-manuals-brochures)

[B-Coder Pro product page](https://www.taltech.com/bcoder/)

## B-Coder Pro videos

Watch barcode creation and integration walkthroughs.

[All video tutorials](https://support.taltech.com/b-coder/video-tutorials.md)

## Support articles

Search articles…

> [accordion] Getting started
>
> * (Watch a video introduction to B-Coder Pro, TALtech’s barcode software for Windows, and see how it works.)
> * (See how to create and use barcodes with B-Coder Pro.)
> * (B-Coder Pro is TALtech’s barcode software for Windows. Create high-resolution 1D and 2D barcodes, or automate them in Word, Excel, and Access.)

> [accordion] Barcode concepts
>
> * (Learn how barcodes work, how a barcode reader decodes them, and how much data each barcode type, such as UPC, Code 128, Data Matrix, and PDF417, can hold.)
> * (Find the reference article for your barcode type, from Code 39, Code 128, and UPC to Data Matrix, PDF417, and postal barcodes.)
> * (Learn why vector formats like WMF and EPS make better barcodes than bitmaps or barcode fonts, and which B-Coder Pro file format to use in Windows, on a Mac, or on the web.)
> * (Print barcodes that scan reliably on laser, inkjet, or thermal label printers by choosing the right bar width, bar width reduction, and graphic type.)
> * (Learn what GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) means for your UPC and EAN barcodes, and why the barcodes you print today still work.)
> * (Learn how the main types of barcode readers work and how they send scanned data to your PC, so you can choose the right setup.)
> * (Print barcodes that scan reliably on a dot matrix printer by choosing B-Coder Pro bar width settings that match the printer.)
> * (Learn whether a barcode reader can scan barcodes from a computer screen, and what barcode size makes it work.)
> * (Not sure which TALtech barcode software product you need? Answer a few questions to find the right software for creating or reading barcodes.)
>
> The current release supports all versions of Windows.

> [accordion] Barcode types
>
> * (Learn what Aztec Code is, a compact square 2D barcode that holds a lot of data, and when to use it in your barcode labels.)
> * (Learn what BPO 4 State (Royal Mail) barcodes are and how they encode UK postcodes on mail, so you can tell whether you need them.)
> * (Learn what Codabar barcodes are, which characters they allow, and the start and stop character rules you need to follow in B-Coder Pro.)
> * (Learn what Code 128 barcodes are and why they suit compact labels that mix letters and numbers, before creating them in B-Coder Pro.)
> * (Learn how Code 39, a common barcode in manufacturing and healthcare, works, and when to use its Full ASCII version for lowercase text.)
> * (Learn what Code 93 barcodes are and how they compare with Code 39, so you can decide which one fits your labels.)
> * (Learn what Data Matrix is, a small square 2D barcode that holds a lot of data, and what its error correction settings mean.)
> * (Learn what Discrete 2 of 5 numeric barcodes are, how they differ from Interleaved 2 of 5, and why few scanners still read them.)
> * (Learn what EAN barcodes are, the European version of UPC used on retail products and books, and how B-Coder Pro adds the check digit.)
> * (Learn what GS1-128 (formerly EAN/UCC 128) barcodes are, how they differ from Code 128, and when product labels require them.)
> * (Learn what GS1 DataBar (formerly RSS-14) barcodes are and why they suit small products that need more data in less space.)
> * (Learn what Interleaved 2 of 5 numeric barcodes are, why they need an even number of digits, and how scanners read them reliably.)
> * (Learn what MaxiCode is, the fixed-size 2D barcode UPS designed for fast package sorting, and how much data it can hold.)
> * (Learn what MSI-Plessey numeric barcodes are, where they are still used on store shelves, and why many modern scanners can't read them.)
> * (Learn what PDF417 is, a stacked 2D barcode that can hold thousands of characters, and when it is a good choice for your labels.)
> * (Learn what USPS POSTNET and OneCode postal barcodes are, how they encode ZIP codes on mail, and why most scanners can't read them.)
> * (Learn what UPC barcodes are, the standard for retail products in North America, and how B-Coder Pro adds the check digit for you.)

> [accordion] Integrations
>
> * (Paste B-Coder Pro barcodes into Word, Excel, and other programs with Paste Special so they keep their Windows Metafile format and print correctly.)
> * (Generate a barcode beside the active Excel cell using a B-Coder Pro VBA macro.)
> * (Add B-Coder Pro barcodes to merged labels or documents with a Word 6/7 WordBasic macro.)
> * (Fix barcode text that appears upside down when you place B-Coder Pro WMF barcodes into Adobe Illustrator, with three workarounds for Illustrator CS6.)
> * (Choose the right file format for B-Coder Pro barcodes you'll use on a Mac or in Windows programs that can't open WMF files.)
>
> For older versions of Corel Draw and WordPerfect, see [Legacy articles](#legacy-articles).

> [accordion] Macros, add-ins, and DDE
>
> * (Look up the DDE commands other Windows programs can send to B-Coder Pro to create, save, and copy barcodes automatically.)
> * (Use a Word macro that turns the text you select into a B-Coder Pro barcode, right in your document, without copying and pasting.)
> * (Use a Word macro with B-Coder Pro to put barcodes in the header or footer of a Word document, so they appear on every page.)
> * (Find ready-made B-Coder Pro macros and code samples that automate barcode creation in Word, Excel, Access, and other programs.)
> * (Use a Word 97/2000 macro with B-Coder Pro that finds text formatted with a "barcode" style and turns it into barcodes.)
> * (Watch a short video that shows how to add barcodes to mail-merged labels in Word with the B-Coder Pro Merge Barcode Labels macro.)
> * (Install the B-Coder Pro add-ins for Microsoft Word to add high-quality barcodes to documents and print them on labels.)
> * (Use a WordPerfect macro that asks for a barcode message, creates the barcode in B-Coder Pro, and pastes it into your document.)
> * (Watch a short video that shows how to turn typed or prompted text into barcodes in Word with the B-Coder Pro macros.)
> * (Add POSTNET postal barcodes to Word envelopes and mail merges with Word's own barcode feature, with no extra software needed.)
> * (Turn mail merge fields into barcodes in Word with B-Coder Pro, so each merged label or letter gets its own barcode.)
> * (Watch a short video that shows how to install the B-Coder Pro add-ins for Microsoft Word, step by step.)

> [accordion] Troubleshooting
>
> * (Fix barcodes that won't scan after you paste them into Excel, usually caused by cell grid lines or borders around the barcode.)
> * (Fix B-Coder Pro barcodes that print or scan poorly after pasting into Word or Excel 2010 by pasting them as standard Windows Metafiles.)
> * (Fix the MakeBarcodeLabels Word macro running endlessly without adding barcodes when you use custom labels narrower than 1 inch.)
> * (Fix blurry or unreadable barcodes in Photoshop, Paint, and other image editors when you paste barcodes from B-Coder Pro.)

> [accordion] Legacy articles
>
> Articles about software versions, Windows releases, and programs that are many years old. We keep them for customers who still use those versions.
>
> * (Fix B-Coder barcodes that grow to fill the whole page when pasted into Corel Draw 4.0, and keep them at their original size.)
> * (Fix B-Coder barcodes that become unreadable when pasted into WordPerfect 6 by changing how WordPerfect imports graphics.)
> * (Fix the "illegal operand" error in Adobe Illustrator when opening barcodes saved as .ai files from B-Coder 3.0 or earlier.)

Still need help?
[Contact support](https://support.taltech.com/contact.md)

Mon-Fri, 9 AM–5 PM E.T.


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