Once LabelWorks has been configured for use with MicroBiz, the printing process is nearly identical. The difference is in the extra features offered by LabelWorks (Figure 14-2, above).
According to their web site, LabelWorks "supports virtually all Windows printers." After your printer has been installed to Windows, both MicroBiz and LabelWorks need to be configured to work together.


Configuring MicroBiz for use with LabelWorks (part one of two)


The first step is to create a sample label file from MicroBiz to be loaded in LabelWorks. Assuming you have not yet configured MicroBiz for LabelWorks:

  1. From the Main Menu, choose Inventory | Barcode Label Printing | Other Printers/Programs | LabelWorks Program.
  2. Click on the "SKUs" button and select the SKU for which you want your first label.
    • This is for setting up a template, so choose one with many data fields completed.
  3. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the Barcode Printing window.
  4. Click OK for the number of labels to print.
    • A confirmation window should appear, giving you the location of the BCR.TXT file created (C:\BizWin by default).


Configuring LabelWorks for use with MicroBiz


Once the sample label file (BCR.TXT) has been created by MicroBiz you can use it to create your first label template using LabelWorks. You can create as many templates (label styles or layouts) as you like, but keep in mind that only one can be selected in MicroBiz at any given time.
Follow these steps for configuring LabelWorks:

  1. Once you have opened LabelWorks 3.0 you should be looking at a blank label (Figure 14-6). Choose Edit, Label Properties (F7) to configure your label size, etc.Configure your label properties as needed on this window (Figure 14-7). Click on the OK button at the bottom of the window when done.
    Once your label properties are set, it's time to load the data to your label. Choose Data, Connect database to label (Figure 14-8). The Connect Data window should now appear.Click on the icon in the upper-left for "Connect a new database to this label" (Figure 14-9).
    The Data Connection Wizard will assist with loading the data to your label (Figure 14-10). On this screen, enter a name for this "database connection" and then choose Next.

    Figure 14-6

    Figure 14-7

     Figure 14-8

    Figure 14-9

    Figure 14-10

    Figure 14-11
    Figure 14-12


  2. For the Database type, choose "Text" (Figure 14-11). The data directory is the location in which your "BCR.TXT" file was saved. This path is set under the first option on the LabelWorks tab in MicroBiz (see Figure 14-19), which is C:\BizWin by default. Click Next to proceed.


  3. Choose Finish to proceed (Figure 14-12).
  4. A confirmation window will appear (Figure 14-13). Choose Yes to proceed.
  5. Leave the first option selected and click on the Next button (Figure 14-14).
  6. You should see "bcr#txt" in the list on this window (Figure 14-15). If not, then the data directory specified in step 7 did not contain the BCR.TXT file. If so, then select bcr#txt and choose Next to proceed.
  7. All fields should be included by default (Figure 14-16). Click on the Next button.
  8. Selecting a sort order is not necessary here, so just click on the Next button (Figure 14-17).
  9. This window allows you to preview the data in the table selected (Figure 14-18). Just choose Next to proceed.

Figure 14-13

Figure 14-14

Figure 14-15

Figure 14-16
Figure 14-17
Figure 14-18


14. You can name your dataset here (the default should be fine), then click on the Finish button (Figure 14-19).

15. Your data is now connected to the label and ready for use! The label is represented in the white area in the upper-left (Figure 14-20).


    • The bottom part of the Connect Data window contains your data fields (SKU, Description, Price, etc.)
    • The Tools window lets you add custom data (such as company name, logo, etc.) to your label.

16. To place the SKU as a barcode onto your label, choose the barcode button (just above "NoName" and between the "A" and image buttons). Next, click and drag the "NoName" field onto your label (Figure 14-21).


    • The barcode can be moved anywhere you like and resized as desired.
    • Be careful when resizing, as some barcode scanners require barcodes of specific dimentions.
    • The font/size of the SKU can be changed here as well.

17. The item description is listed as "F2" (Figure 14-22). To place this on your label, first choose the text button (the letter "A" above "NoName"). Next, click and drag the "F2" field onto your label.


    • The size, position and font properties of this field can all be modified from here.

18. Add any additional fields as desired from the Connect Data window to the label and configure as needed (Figure 14-23).

19. For a listing of each fields available, see the list following the walkthrough. Don't forget that custom fields can be added with the tools window.


    • Shown in Figure 14-24 is a company logo (using the image button in the lower-right), company name (using the text button, the "A"), and a US dollar sign (also using the text button).

20. When you are finished configuring your label, choose File, Save.

21. Save your label in the local files path (usually C:\BizWin) and give it a simple name.

Figure 14-19

Figure 14-20

Figure 14-21

Figure 14-22

Figure 14-23

Figure 14-24


The following list describes the different data fields available from the "Connect Data" window:

  • NoName – SKU (when used as barcode, displays barcode and SKU text)
  • F2 – Description
  • F3 – Size (code)
  • F4 – Price (Level A)
  • F5 – Price Level B
  • F6 – Price Level C
  • F7 – Price Level D
  • F8 – Price Level E
  • F9 – Style (code)
  • F10 – Color (code)
  • F11 – Suggested List Price
  • F12 – Vendor SKU
  • F13 – Vendor (code)
  • F14 – Bin Number
  • F15 – Alternate SKU
  • F16 – Department (code)
  • F17 – PField1
  • F18 – Pfield2



Configuring MicroBiz for use with LabelWorks (part two of two)

Now that you have created your label file, it's time to tell MicroBiz where to find it. After configuring these few settings, you should be able to create barcode labels for any item using the same layout used for your test SKU!
From the Main Menu, choose Management | Custom System Settings | Print Settings. Next, choose the LabelWorks tab at the top. Configure the settings on this window to integrate MicroBiz with LabelWorks.


Figure 14-25


  1. The default path should be set to your installed BizWin location.
    • Used for the "data directory" setting in LabelWorks as covered in the section above.
  2. Choose the label file that you saved earlier from LabelWorks.
    • This setting applies to labels printed from the "Make Labels" prompt directly after a purchase order is received.
  3. Similar to step one, but two options are available here in case you wish two use different label templates depending on how labels are printed from MicroBiz.
  4. Similar to step two, but this setting applies to labels printed manually by choosing Inventory | Barcode Label Printing | Other Printers/Programs | LabelWorks Program.
  5. Browse to the LabelWorks program file here.
    • The default path is: C:\PROGRAM FILES\AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS, LTD\LABELWORKS\LWORKS3.EXE

Click on the Save button to complete the configuration process.
Once the configuration process is complete, barcodes labels are printed the same way as described above for using MicroBiz only, except the option for "LabelWorks Program" should be selected (either after receiving a purchase order, or under Inventory | Barcode Label Printing).