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Updating to BarTender 11.4

Jarryd Bailey

BarTender Content Team

  • Updated

Overview

BarTender 11.4 is here! This guide will help you plan and prepare for your update to BarTender 11.4 and make the transition as smooth as possible.

Applicable to 

BarTender 2016-2022

Before You Update

Major Changes in BarTender 11.4

These are the features being added through the BarTender 11.4 update:

  • Print Portal OneDriver, a server-side print code generator that seamlessly connects to printers without you needing to install a specific printer driver to the server.
  • The Common Template Library, a single online template library shared between all BarTender products with the most current pre-built label templates.
  • Google Fonts support, all of which are installed automatically with BarTender 11.4.
  • Support for .NET 8, mitigating potential security vulnerabilities.
  • BarTender 11.4 is incompatible with BarTender 2019, 2021, and 2022 License Servers. You must update your License Server to version 11.4 if you wish to utilize BarTender 11.4 anywhere in your BarTender setup.
  • Documents saved in BarTender 11.4 are now backward-compatible with BarTender 2022, as long as the document does not utilize any new 11.4 features (such as Google Fonts).

Factors to Consider When Updating BarTender

General

No matter what version of BarTender you're updating from, there are things you should be aware of before updating:

  • A new Product Key Code (PKC) isn't required to update to BarTender 11.4; just make sure that the maintenance plan for your BarTender license has not expired.
  • As mentioned above, BarTender 11.4 is incompatible with BarTender 2019, 2021, and 2022 License Servers. You must update your License Server to version 11.4 if you wish to utilize BarTender 11.4 anywhere in your BarTender setup.
  • Installing SQL Server Express isn't a requirement. You can prevent it from installing by selecting Advanced during installation and unchecking the SQL Server Express box. Some BarTender features, however, require the use of a BarTender System Database stored on a local (possible for Automation and Enterprise Editions) or remote (Enterprise Edition required) SQL Server instance.
  • Once the BarTender System Database is updated to the BarTender 11.4 schema, older BarTender clients will have read-only access to Librarian data. When using Librarian, it is highly recommended to first create a backup of the BarTender System Database before the update starts.

  • BarTender 11.4 is only available as a 64-bit version and can only be installed on a 64-bit version of Windows.

Expand the section below that's applicable to the version you're updating from for further important details.

I'm Updating From BarTender 2019, 2021, or 2022

Things to be aware of: 

  • BarTender 11.4 is incompatible with BarTender 2019, 2021, and 2022 License Servers. However, BarTender 2019-2022 clients are compatible with the BarTender 11.4 License Server.
  • You can use Provisional Activation to test BarTender 11.4.

I'm Updating From BarTender 2016

Things to be aware of: 

  • All editions of BarTender are now licensed by printer. When you use your BarTender 2016 Product Key Code to activate BarTender 11.4, the equivalent BarTender 11.4 edition will be:
    • BarTender 2016 Basic corresponds to a BarTender 11.4 Professional, 1 printer license.
    • BarTender 2016 Professional corresponds to a BarTender 11.4 Professional, 2 printer license.
    • BarTender 2016 Automation Edition corresponds to BarTender 11.4 Automation Edition. The printer count will be the same.
    • BarTender 2016 Enterprise Automation Edition corresponds to BarTender 11.4 Enterprise Edition. The printer count will be the same.
  • BarTender 11.4 uses a new Licensing Service that replaces the Seagull License Server used by BarTender 2016. This Licensing Service is not backward compatible with older versions of BarTender. This means that you must update your BarTender clients at the same time that you update your master License Server. Provisional Activation can help make your update process easier.
  • BarTender 11.4 greatly simplifies and improves the installation process, as most BarTender components are installed upon installation. Choose Specify advanced installation options to have more granular control over what gets installed.

Making an Update Plan

As with any software update, we recommend that you create an update plan that covers your entire BarTender installation. A typical upgrade plan for BarTender 11.4 might look like this:

  1. Backup BarTender documents (.btw).
  2. Backup Data Files (such as database files, transactional data, etc).
  3. Backup Integration designs (.btin).
  4. Backup the BarTender System Database.
  5. Backup other resources such as BarTender components (.btc), graphic files, VBScript functions, etc...
  6. Document how each existing integration and BarTender document works. Verify other possible resources linked to BarTender and document/back them up.
  7. Export your printer driver settings if you’re also planning to update/reinstall your Seagull printer drivers.
  8. If using local security settings for your Active Directory user-based authentication, backup the security settings data file.
  9. Create a test environment that closely replicates your production environment.
  10. Complete comprehensive testing in the test environment.
  11. Upgrade the live environment during a maintenance window or slowdown in production.
We strongly recommend creating a test environment before updating your version of BarTender.

Decide How You Want to Install/Deploy Your BarTender 11.4 Update

Deciding how available you want your existing BarTender production environment to be is perhaps one of the most crucial decisions you will need to take during the update process. The following scenarios should help you with that decision:

I'm Setting Up a Totally New Environment for BarTender's 11.4 Licensing Server and BarTender Clients

This option is recommended, especially if your current environment is running BarTender 2016.

  • No matter what version you update from, you can make this a gradual process. A possible update plan would be:
    1. You provisionally activate the 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server on a separate server.
    2. You install new BarTender 11.4 clients.
    3. You test your BarTender 11.4 clients against the BarTender 11.4 Licensing Server.
    4. You make the provisionally-activated 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server your permanently activated license.
    5. You could now optionally update some of your old BarTender client computers to 11.4 and have them locate the new BarTender 11.4 Licensing Server.
  • This update plan optionally allows you to reuse your test environment and make it your new production environment before provisional activation expires.
  • We recommend that you update during production slowdowns or a maintenance window.
  • Contact Technical Support if you have questions about this type of update process or if you want to make sure your license is under maintenance.

I'm Setting Up a New Environment for BarTender's Licensing Server and Will Update Existing BarTender Clients to 11.4

This is a recommended option that allows your current production system to continue operation while you update to BarTender 11.4.

  • While BarTender 2019, 2021, and 2022 License Servers cannot contact 11.4 clients, BarTender 2019-2022 clients can contact the BarTender 11.4 Licensing Server. A possible update plan would be:
    1. You provisionally activate the 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server on a separate server.
    2. You test your BarTender 2019, 2021, and 2022 clients against the BarTender 11.4 Licensing Server.
    3. You upgrade BarTender 2019, 2021, and 2022 clients to BarTender 11.4.
    4. You test BarTender 11.4 clients against the BarTender 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server.
    5. You make the provisionally-activated 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server your permanently activated license.
  • If you are updating from BarTender 2016, there is some possibility to make this a more gradual process thanks to Provisional Activation:
    • You could provisionally activate the 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server on a separate server.
    • Existing BarTender 2016 BarTender clients won't be able to detect the new Licensing Server, so you'll have to skip this step.
    • Update existing BarTender client machines to BarTender 11.4. This can be a gradual process, as your old Seagull Licensing Server is still running in production.
    • Once you gradually update the BarTender clients to 11.4, make the provisionally activated 11.4 BarTender Licensing Server your permanently activated license.
  • Make sure to create system backups, especially for the BarTender clients, just in case you need to restore the previous BarTender environment.
  • We recommend that you update during production slowdowns or a maintenance window.
  • Ensure you have fully tested BarTender 11.4 on your sandbox environment with your existing files and configuration, especially for BarTender 2016.
  • Contact Technical Support if you have questions about this type of update process or if you want to make sure your license is under maintenance.
  • You can install BarTender 11.4 clients on top of an existing BarTender installation. This means you do not need to remove your older version of BarTender. Simply run the BarTender 11.4 installer to perform the update.

I'm Installing BarTender 11.4 Over My Existing Production Environment

Remember that your production system will be unavailable until this update is completed. If your update is not successfully completed, you may need to restart the installation process or roll back to the previous version.

  • Update the BarTender License Server first, then update the BarTender clients. Provisional Activation can help make your update process easier.
  • Make sure to create system backups, just in case you need to restore the previous BarTender environment.
  • Ensure you have fully tested BarTender 11.4 on your sandbox environment with your existing files and configuration.
  • Only update during a maintenance window.
  • Contact Technical Support if you have questions about this type of update process or if you want to make sure your license is under maintenance.
  • When you're ready, you can install BarTender 11.4 by overwriting of an existing BarTender installation. This means you don't need to remove your older version of BarTender. Simply run the BarTender 11.4 installer to perform the update.

I Want to Keep Two Separate Production Environments: One Running BarTender 11.4 and the Second Running My Older Version of BarTender

If you want to keep your previous BarTender version running rather than update it, you should consider purchasing a separate license for BarTender 11.4.
We don't recommend connecting your new environment (sandbox or production) with your existing BarTender System Database until you have updated all your BarTender clients to 11.4. This is because once you update the System Database schema to the 11.4 version, it won't be fully backward compatible with older BarTender clients. For more information, see the Updating the BarTender System Database section.

Updating to BarTender 11.4

What You'll Need Before Updating

You'll need access to a few things before you can update BarTender:

  • The latest BarTender 11.4 installer. You can download this here.
  • Your BarTender Product Key Code (PKC).
  • An active Maintenance & Support agreement.
  • Administrator access to the computer(s) that you will be updating.

Activating BarTender

During the BarTender installation, you will be prompted to activate Bartender. You can use your existing BarTender Product Key Code to activate. See Activating the BarTender Suite for further details.

Provisional Activation

The provisional activation cannot be on the same system or subnet as the current activation (the current license owner). Otherwise, provisional activation will fail.

When you're activating BarTender, you have the option to choose a Provisional Activation. Provisional Activation allows you to temporarily activate a BarTender 11.4 license on one computer while your older license remains active in production.

  • Professional and Automation editions can provisionally activate for 30 days.
  • Enterprise editions can provisionally activate for 180 days.

After this period, BarTender's provisional installation is automatically deactivated. Warning messages will be periodically displayed to inform you that BarTender is provisionally activated and will be deactivated after the specified period. If you deactivate your production BarTender Licensing Server before the provisional activation expires, your provisional BarTender Licensing Server will become your active license instead.

Provisional Activation is useful for two reasons:

  • You can use Provisional Activation to test BarTender 11.4 while keeping your older version running in production.
  • Since the 2016 BarTender client cannot communicate with the BarTender 11.4 Licensing Service, you can use Provisional Activation to keep concurrent versions running while you migrate all older BarTender installations to BarTender 11.4.
 You will require an active maintenance contract if you plan to make use of Provisional Activation.

 You could retrieve a 30-day Trial PKC for BarTender 11.4 as an alternative to Provisional Activation,

Updating the BarTender System Database

Once you update BarTender, the new version will be unable to connect to and log into an older version of the BarTender System Database. You must also update the BarTender System Database to continue logging information and/or using Librarian.

The first time you launch BarTender following an update, you will be prompted to update the BarTender System Database. We strongly recommend backing up your current BarTender System Database before you update.

To create a System Database backup:

  • Open Administration Console.
  • Navigate to the System Database node.
  • Click Administrative Tasks.
  • Select Backup Database...
  • Follow the prompts to choose a location and create your backup.

Generally, after you update to a new version of BarTender and the BarTender System Database, it is best to upgrade any other BarTender installations that are connected to that database.

System Database Backward Compatibility

If you are still running an older version of BarTender, it can connect to a new BarTender 11.4 version of the BarTender System Database to retrieve and log information. Note, though, that these older BarTender installations will only have read-only access to Librarian data. (This is a consideration only if you run multiple versions of BarTender connecting to the same remote BarTender System Database.)

Updating Print Portal

To update Print Portal (Web Print Server for some older BarTender versions), follow these steps:

  1. Run the BarTender installer.
  2. Read and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
  3. Choose the Specify advanced installation options and click Next.
  4. Choose the option BarTender with Print Portal and click Next.
  5. If you have a previously installed version of Print Portal (or Web Print Server), or if you have created an IIS_WEBPRINT account on your own, you will be asked to enter your IIS_WEBPRINT password. Enter the password and click Next.

Changing Your IIS_WEBPRINT Password

If you forgot your IIS_WEBPRINT password or never changed it from the default, this is how to reset it:

  1. In Windows 10, go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage User Accounts.
  2. Click IIS_WEBPRINT and then Reset Password...

Document Backwards Compatibility

Please be aware that, from BarTender 2022 R5 onward, the oldest version of BarTender you can back-save a document to is version 10.1.

Documents created in an older version of BarTender can always be opened and used in a newer version. 

Documents saved in BarTender 11.4 are now backward-compatible with BarTender 2022, as long as the document does not utilize any new 11.4 features (such as Google Fonts). However, if you are using multiple versions of BarTender and sharing documents between these versions, you should consider saving all new documents to the oldest version available in your company.

To change the version format for a single BarTender document:

  1. Open BarTender Designer and the document that you want to change.
  2. Click the File menu and select Save As...
  3. In the File Type drop-down menu, choose the version you would like to save to.

To automatically save all documents for an older version of BarTender:

  1. Open BarTender Designer.
  2. Click the Administer menu, then BarTender Document Setup...
  3. Use the Default Type dropdown menu to select your desired version. Click OK.
Saving documents to older versions of BarTender may remove some features that aren't supported in the older version.

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