You can create custom product and location ID labels in Microsoft Word using mail merge, then upload them to Mintsoft as label templates. You'll need Microsoft Word and the product number of your label manufacturer's labels.
Tip: If you'd like a template to work from, download the Generic Product Label Document or Generic Location Label Document attached at the bottom of this article.
Creating a product label document
If you'd like to create a product label from scratch, follow these steps in Microsoft Word:
Open Microsoft Word, then click the Mailings tab.
Click Start Mail Merge, then click Labels.
Select the label manufacturer from the Label Vendors drop-down.
Select the Product Number, then click OK.
Click the Insert tab, then click Quick Parts.
Click Field, then select MergeField from the Field names drop-down.
In the Field Name field, type the name you require. The possible values are:
SKU.
EAN.
UPC.
DESCRIPTION.
NAME.
PRODUCT_ID.
Select (none) as the Format.
Click OK.
Align the text to your preference, either Left, Center or Right.
Enter a new line, then repeat steps 5 to 9.
When you've created the label, click the Mailings tab, then click Update Labels.
Save the Word document as DOC or DOCX.
Tip: We recommend using PRODUCT_ID if you have Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) longer than 10 characters. If you're a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, use PRODUCT_ID if your clients have SKUs longer than 10 characters.
Add barcodes to a product label
You can also add different barcode types to your product labels. The supported values are:
Image:EAN.
Image:EAN_SMALL.
Image:EAN_CODE128.
Image:EAN_CODE128_LABEL.
Image:UPC_CODE128_LABEL.
Image:UPC.
Image:SKU.
Image:PRODUCT_ID.
Image:EAN_QR.
Image:UPC_QR.
Image:SKU_QR.
Note: European Article Number (EAN) barcodes only work with valid EANs.
Create a location label document
If you'd like to create a location label from scratch, follow these steps in Microsoft Word:
Open Microsoft Word, then click the Mailings tab.
Click Start Mail Merge, then click Labels.
Select the label manufacturer from the Label Vendors drop-down.
Select the Product Number, then click OK.
Click the Insert tab, then click Quick Parts.
Click Field, then select MergeField from the Field names drop-down.
In the Field Name field, type the name you require. The possible values are:
LocationName.
Image:LocationName.
Image:ID.
Image:NAME_QR.
Image:ID_QR.
Image:ID_SMALL.
Image:NAME_SMALL.
Select (none) as the Format.
Click OK.
Align the text to your preference, either Left, Center or Right.
Enter a new line, then repeat steps 5 to 9.
When you've created the label, click the Mailings tab, then click Update Labels.
Save the Word document as DOC or DOCX.
Upload a template to Mintsoft
When you've created your label document, upload it to Mintsoft as a template.
Important: Select the correct document type and client (if applicable) when you upload a template. Upload the document as DOC or DOCX, as Mintsoft doesn't accept PDF files.
To upload your template:
In Mintsoft, click Settings, then click Label / Document Templates.
Click Add New Label Template.
If you're a 3PL provider, select the Client, or leave it as ALL.
Select the Type of document you're uploading, either Product or Location.
Click Choose File, then select the template.
Type a name in the Name field.
Click Add.
Fix issues scanning EAN labels
Scanning issues usually relate to the size of the barcode and the barcode type being generated. If the barcode is 13 characters long, a check digit may change the last digit of the barcode or stop the barcode generating at all. To fix this issue, you can:
Create another template with a different barcode type that handles the number of characters in your barcode, for example, CODE128 rather than EAN.
Check that all your barcode field tags are correctly formatted.
Test your labels using different barcode types, such as CODE128, and check that the generated barcodes meet the expected design and function.
Simplify your template design to avoid overlapping tags and excessive information.
Tip: Mintsoft processes templates more efficiently when they only include the fields you need.