EspressoID FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I move EspressoID to another computer?

The best way to move EspressoID to a new computer is to create a backup file on the old computer before activating on the new computer. Then after you activate on the new computer you can restore the backup file from the old computer.

Please see the answer to "How do I backup my data?" below for more detailed instructions.
Can I use EspressoID on more than one computer?

It requires a separate license for each computer. The backup files are portable between computers but can be protected by a password if desired. The data is not directly synchronized between the computers, you will need to use the export/import or backup/restore to move data between the computers.
Can I use EspressoID to print on 8-1/2 x 11 plain paper or card stock?

Using 8-up printing you can put 8 credit card sized cards on one page. This is really intended for perforated 8-up Teslin sheets but you can certainly print onto normal 8-1/2 by 11 paper if you want to.

You can select multiple card holders by clicking on them while holding the CTRL key down or you can select an entire range of card holders by clicking the first one you want then hold down the Shift key and click the last row you want to select. Once you have them all selected you can select Print 8-Up from the Template menu.

If your current card template isn't credit card sized then you'll need to make a new template before printing the 8-up cards. Just create a new card template and set the card type to Credit Card Teslin. Build the card template to look like you want. After selecting the card holders you want to print you can assign the card template to them all at once. This will replace the current template assignment so you might have to go back and adjust them later.

If you would like to print more than 8 on each page then there is one more option, Cardholder List printing. Cardholder List printing will give you six columns and six rows on one page. To make a Cardholder List print you create a new card template and set the card type to Cardholder List 36-up, select portrait or landscape mode and build your card as you normally would except that it's a very small card – just 1 inch by 1.4 inch. Once you have the card built you switch to tab 3 and select the card holders you want to print then select Print Cardholder List from the Template menu. In the printing wizard you can select a few options like how sort the prints and what text to put at the top of each page. Then, if you have multiple Cardholder List templates you can pick which one you want to use for the print. Finally you get to select which fields to use to sort the data.
How do I save my changes?

EspressoID automatically saves all changes to card design and card holder data. However, we recommend that you perform regular backups and store them on an independent system or drive.
How do I get my pictures into EspressoID?

Your two primary options for getting a picture into EspressoID are:
1) Use a compatible webcam and let EspressoID take the picture for you.
2) Use a separate camera, copy the file to your computer then browse to the file in EspressoID.

Setup for option 1: If you have a webcam connected to your computer with USB then this is probably the option for you. For it to work you need to select how to communicate with the camera. Most likely with a modern web camera you would do that using a technology called Direct Show. Under the File menu look in Camera Settings and select Configure Direct Show Camera. Look in the Select Camera dropdown to see if your camera appears there. If it does not then your camera does not support Direct Show. If it does appear then select it and in the Resolution dropdown pick a resolution that makes a live image from the camera appear. Then click the Select button to save your configuration. If this worked then go back to the File menu Camera Settings and click Use Direct Show to make sure EspressoID knows to use those settings.
If you have a camera directly connected via USB and it did not appear in the Direct Show camera list then close that configuration screen and in the File menu Camera Settings select Configure TWAIN Camera. It might just tell you there are not TWAIN devices attached to your computer. In that case your camera doesn't support TWAIN. If it comes up then you can check for your camera there, similar to the explanation above.

Setup for option 2: If you have a separate handheld camera then you need to get the files copied off of that camera and onto your computer. That's outside the purview of EspressoID. Once they are on your computer then you can proceed.

On tab 3 create a new card holder. Click on an image field in the list in the center. By default there should be one named Photograph unless you changed it. A form will pop up with options to Acquire or Browse.

Option 1: Using a directly connected camera.
Click Acquire and it will show a live feed from your webcam. Get the live preview how you want the picture to look and click the Take Picture button. You can click the Take Picture button again if you don't like the results. When you are happy click the Save button.

Option 2: Using a separate camera after copying files to your computer.
Click Browse and it will show you the files on your computer. Navigate to the location where you copied the files, select the file you want to use for the picture and click Open.

Either option you take will likely offer to let you crop the image (depending on your settings). Select how you want the picture cropped and click OK.
How do I backup my data?

We recommend that you perform regular backups and store them on an independent system or drive.

Normal Backup
In the Import/Export menu select "Back up Card Holders", select a location to save the backup file and click Save.

Please note, if you have a lot of card holders the backup file might be quite large. You'll need some way of transferring the file to the new computer. Most people transfer it across a network but you can certainly burn a CD with the data on it or use a USB flash drive.

Manual Backup
If you don't have a backup file from EspressoID you will need to manually move all the data to the new computer. The location of the data depends on what OS you are running and how new your EspressoID is.

In Windows 7 or later with a current version of EspressoID the data will be at:
C:\Users\Public\Documents\EspressoID\Data\

If you installed a very old version of EspressoID under Windows 7 or later the data might be at:
C:\ProgramData\EspressoID\Data\

In Windows XP the data will be at:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EspressoID\Data\

Note: On Windows XP systems the Application Data folder will likely be a hidden folder. If you have access to the address bar you can add "Application Data" to the end of the path there and hit enter and it will open up the folder anyway. Otherwise you will need to change a Windows setting to show hidden folders. In the Windows Explorer you select the Tools menu then Folder Options. Then select the View tab and select "Show hidden files and folders". Click OK and the folder will be visible.

Once you've found the Data folder you should copy the entire folder to the new computer and put it in the appropriate place on the new computer. If you have already installed and run EspressoID on the new computer you will find its Data folder and you'll replace it with the one from the old computer.
How do passwords work?

From the File menu select Options then select the Password tab. There are two types of passwords, their use is described in the Options form.
How do I add a mag-stripe to my card design?

When in tab 2, from the Template menu select Properties. If you select a Teslin type card then the mag-stripe won't show up since there are no teslin sheets with mag-stripes. At the bottom of the card properties form you will find a checkbox to enable the mag-stripe. There is also a drop down box where you pick the printer type. If your printer brand is not listed then we don't currently support mag-stripe printing for that brand. If that's the case, please email us to let us know which printer you have so can determine which printers we need to support. The Mag-Stripe will appear on the back of the card per the ABA/IATA Specifications.

Once you have the mag-stripe visible on the card (always the back of the card so make sure the back is visible) you can drag text fields to the back of the card. Then right-click on the text field and you'll have the option to move it to the different tracks on the mag-stripe. You can right click on the fields once they are on the mag-stripe to move them between tracks or to take them off of the mag-stripe.

Note: The trial version of EspressoID does have mag-stripe support.
How do I select a rectangle I added to my card design?

If the rectangle is not filled with a color you must left-click on the border of the rectangle to select it. If it is filled with a color then you can left-click anywhere on the rectangle.
How do I change the printer I am using?

To change the default printer for all programs:

If you're running Windows XP you can follow this step by step tutorial.

If you're running Windows 7 then use this method.

To change the printer used for a template in EspressoID:

Go to tab 2.
Select the template you want to modify using the Template drop down box
From the Template menu at the top of the program select Printer Settings
If Printer Settings isn't in the menu select Page Settings then click the Printer button
From the form that pops up you should be able to change the printer for that template to your desired printer. Click OK to save the change to the template.
How can I move EspressoID to another computer?

The best way to move it isn't too hard. We tried to make it as easy as possible.

Backup EspressoID on the old computer (found in the Import/Export menu).

Copy the backup file to the new computer.

Install EspressoID on the new computer.

Activate EspressoID on the new computer.

Restore the backup from the old computer (also found in the Import/Export menu).

Verify that your data is all there.

Uninstall EspressoID from the old computer using the icon in the start menu or use "Add or Remove Programs" in the Control Panel.

Optionally, delete data from the old computer by removing the folder found at:

In Windows XP : C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EspressoID

In Windows 7 or later: C:\ProgramData\EspressoID\Data

You shouldn't have any trouble at all.
How do I import data into EspressoID?

You can import a csv file into EspressoID. EspressoID's import feature requires the first line of the csv file to contain the field names. The names for fields you want to import must exactly match the variable field names in EspressoID. You don't have to import all of the fields so every field in EspressoID doesn't have to appear in the csv. Likewise every field in the csv doesn't have to appear in EspressoID, just the ones you actually want imported. The field names in the first line of the csv file should not have quotes around them.

Each record you want to import should be contained on a single line. Some editors will let you embed more than one line of data in a field but that will throw off EspressoID because it parses the file line-by-line.

Once you have the csv file prepared you can use EspressoID's Import/Export -> Import Card Holders feature to pull the data into EspressoID.

The csv file might look something like this:
First Name,Last Name,Title,Email Address
Jerry,Seinfeld,Commedian,js@example.com
George,Costanza,Side Kick,gc@example.com
Cosmo,Kramer,Neighbor,k@example.com
Elaine,Bennis,Ex-Girlfriend,eb@example.com

If you are merging this into existing data then your file must contain a unique identifier of some sort so EspressoID can determine which record to update. The unique field is often a numeric ID but it can also be a combination of fields like FirstName and LastName if you don’t have a specific ID field. Just be aware that if you had two people with the same first and last name (or the same id) then the import feature would have no way to tell them apart so it will likely assign the image incorrectly. During the import process you can indicate which field or fields are unique.

Importing images

If you want to import images with your data it will require some more preparation on the csv file prior to importing it into EspressoID. In order to import pictures you will need to set up one of the fields in the import file to contain the name of the picture file.

The csv file might look something like this:
First Name,Last Name,Title,Email Address,Photograph
Jerry,Seinfeld,Commedian,js@example.com,jseinfeld.jpg
George,Costanza,Side Kick,gc@example.com,george_costanza.jpg
Cosmo,Kramer,Neighbor,k@example.com,cosmo.jpg
Elaine,Bennis,Ex-Girlfriend,eb@example.com,

The image files must be in the same folder as the csv file for EspressoID to import them. It does not support folder paths.
I am not able to run EspressoID because I am getting .NET Framework errors. What should I do?

Normally the EspressoID installer should download and install .NET Framework for you but just in case it doesn't.

Go here:

Microsoft's .Net Framework 2.0 SP2 Download

Click the download button for NetFx20SP2_x86.exe. When another form pops up click the Run button. When it's done downloading it will probably warn you about installing things off the internet, let the install anyway. Proceed with the installation and when it's done you can run EspressoID.

Make sure, after you have EspressoID running, that you go to the Help menu and run Check for Updates. That will download the latest version of our software so you'll have any new features we've added.
I already have a license for EspressoID 1.0 or EspressoID Mocha, how do I upgrade to the new version?

Please for more information. You will need to provide your name, business name and original serial number in the email request.
I already own EspressoID Mocha, will I lose features by upgrading to the new version?

No, the new version of EspressoID includes all the features previously only available in EspressoID Mocha.
I am not able to register and activate EspressoID. What should I do?

Most customer's computers are able to communicate with our server properly so there must be something different about your computer configuration. It's difficult for me to know why that would be since there are multiple possibilities.

The most common reason for this kind of problem is a proxy server on your network. Many corporate or school networks have very restrictive proxy servers and sometimes they won't let our software communicate through them. EspressoID normally picks up the proxy settings from Internet Explorer but some proxy servers require authentication for each request, in those cases you have to fill in your proxy user id and password in our options form. Under the File menu you'll find Options. On the Proxy tab you can put in the address of your proxy server, your user ID and password.

Another possibility is a content filter on your network. Corporate or school networks often filter the sites you are allowed to visit. It is not sufficient to verify that you can browse our web site because the activations don't happen through that web server. We have an activation specific server located here. Verify that you can browse to that link. If you go there and get a web page titled "EspressoID Licensing Activation Server" then it likely isn't a content filter blocking our site.

Talk to your IT department about whether or not a proxy server or content filter might prevent you from accessing our server.
I am having problems with my EspressoID recognizing my TWAIN compatible camera. What can I do?

Many TWAIN problems are caused by incorrect TWAIN library installation. Fortunately the most common installation problem can be corrected fairly easily.

The first thing to do is to verify that there is only one copy of the TWAIN libraries on your computer.

In Windows XP:

Close EspressoID if it's open.
Click the Start button, click Search.
Click All Files and Folders
In the "All or part of the file name" type:
twain
Click the drop down arrow under "Look in"
Select the bottom option "Browse…"
Navigate to your Windows folder
Expand My Computer (by clicking on the + sign)
Expand C: drive
Scroll down and select Windows and click OK
Click the Search button

It might take a while to search the drive. When it's done you will be presented with a list of files.

In the "Name" column you should look for the file TWAIN.DLL and TWAIN_32.DLL. Next to them in the "In Folder" column it should say "C:\Windows". It should not say "C:\Windows\System32". If any of the entries for TWAIN.DLL or TWAIN_32.DLL have "C:\Windows\System32" listed as the folder then right-click on the file name and select "Rename" from the popup menu. Add ".OLD" to the file name so it will become TWAIN.DLL.OLD or TWAIN_32.DLL.OLD.

Now in the left column click "Change file name or keywords".

In the text box change twain to twunk

Click the Search button again

You should find files named TWUNK_16.EXE and TWUNK_32.EXE in the list. As with the other files the "In Folder" column should say "C:\Windows\" not "C:\Windows\System32". If there is a TWUNK_16.EXE or TWUNK_32.EXE file listed in the "C:\Windows\System32" folder you should right click on the file name and select "Rename" from the popup menu. Add ".OLD" to the end of the file name.

Now open EspressoID and try to acquire an image from your camera.

If these files are in the wrong location on your computer it is due to your camera driver or other software installing the file in the wrong place. EspressoID does not install any TWAIN or TWUNK files on your computer.
I have a proxy server, how do I register my software?

The proxy settings are in the Options form. You can open the Options form by clicking the File menu and selecting Options then select the Proxy tab.
You may need to contact your network administrator for further assistance with the proxy settings.
I tried to activate my software and I get a message stating the connection was dropped?

The proxy settings are in the Options form. You can open the Options form by clicking the File menu and selecting Options then select the Proxy tab.
You may need to contact your network administrator for further assistance with the proxy settings.
What image formats does EspressoID support?

EspressoID supports jpg, bmp, png, gif, tiff, wmf and emf files.
What type of database does EspressoID use?

EspressoID uses a proprietary encrypted data format to protect you confidential user data against theft. If you need to transfer your data to another program EspressoID can export your data to a comma separated file supported by many programs.
What happened to the school specific features like Eagle and SASI export?

From the File menu select Options then select the Features tab. Check the Show School Specific Features check box. Enable the school specific features under the File menu Options form. Those features include exporting to SASI and Eagle school database formats.

In the Import/Export menu select "Export to Eagle/Aeries using ID". Select which card holders you want to export, hit OK, select a single unique field name to use for the file name and hit OK. It will save a text file with the limited info used by schools as well as all the images in a subfolder named EIDData. If you don't have a unique field to use for naming the pictures you can use "Export to Eagle/Aeries" which will give them sequential file names like EID0001.jpg, EID0002.jpg. Both of these methods will export a file with the image cropped like it is in EspressoID.

If that isn't what you want then you can get to EspressoID's images directly by pulling them out of the data folder. Be careful when working in the data folder. If you change things in the data folders you could cause problems with how EspressoID runs and we don't provide support for problems caused by changing files in the data folders. As long as you limit yourself to copying pictures out of that folder you should be fine. The folder that contains the pictures depends on what OS you have and how old your EspressoID is.

In Windows 7 with a current version of EspressoID the pictures will be at:
C:\Users\Public\Documents\EspressoID\Data\Pictures

If you installed old version of EspressoID under Windows 7 or later the pictures might be at:
C:\ProgramData\EspressoID\Data\Pictures

In Windows XP the pictures will be at:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EspressoID\Data\Pictures

The pictures in the Pictures folder are the original uncropped pictures.
Where do I find a Quick Start Guide?

You can find quick start under the Start Menu in the EspressoID folder. It will provide a quick overview of what each tab is for. Also, try moving your mouse around the screen and notice that the goldenrod colored area at the bottom of the screen will change. Down there is where you find some help text for whatever you hover the mouse over. Most common questions should be answered just by reading those help messages.

The first tab is for setting up the general fields you want on your cards. The Static Fields list contains the list of fields that will remain the same between cards. The most common of these is Company/School Name and Background image. Since the company or school name is likely to show up on every card you print this is where you create the field. Once you've added the fields you want you can click on them in that list and you will be given the opportunity to tell EspressoID what data they should contain (over on the right side of the screen). Click on Company Name and on the right half of EspressoID will turn into a text box where you can type your company name.

The Variable Fields list contains the names for data that will be different for each card. This list should contain things like First Name, Last Name or Student ID. Some people make the mistake of putting the data in that list rather than putting in the name of the field. For instance, they'll put "Bob Smith" in the list but all that does is create a field named Bob Smith, it doesn't create a card for a person named Bob Smith. The data for Variable Fields will be filled in on the third tab labeled Enter Data and Print.

The second tab is where you build your card. On that tab you click and drag fields from the lists on the left onto a card background. This tab is where you can select to make the card portrait or landscape oriented. You can select that option when you initially create the card or from the Template menu you can select Properties and change it there. There are other interesting properties you might want to look at there too. Position the fields as needed for your design then switch to tab 3 where you will create records for each of your card holders.

It's on tab 3 where you fill in the data for the Variable Fields. Here is where you would fill in the First Name field with "Bob" and the Last Name field with "Smith". There are buttons on that tab for creating a new card holder or deleting one you no longer need. The first thing you should do when you create a new card holder is select the card template that applies to that person. When a school uses our software they often have quite a few templates, one for each grade level and one or more for the staff. After selecting the template you should see the data appear on the card as you fill out each of the variable fields. You can use the buttons in the upper right to show just the front of the card (F), just the back of the card (B) or both (FB). The side that is showing is the side that will be printed when you click the print button.

Notice that there is also a search feature at the lower left of the third tab. This is typically the quickest way to find a card holder. It searches all text fields for the data you enter in the search box. Next to the find button is a button you can use to expand the data sheet to the full width if you want to be able to see all the fields at once. Use the Filter By drop down at the upper left to show only the card holders that have a particular template assigned or have other characteristics like card holders without photos or cards that haven't been printed.
Why are my cards are printing oversize.

This issue is typically related to the overbleed setting on templates. If overbleed is turned on the background image will print slightly larger than the card dimensions in order to avoid leaving a white border around the card since printer alignment is never exact. It sounds like one of your cards has overbleed turned on.

Switch to tab 2 and select the troublesome card in the dropdown. From the Templates menu select Properties. On the left side you will find "Overbleed on Print". I'm guessing it will be checked for that template but unchecked for the other templates. While you're looking in the template properties you can take the time to verify that all 4 card templates are using the exact same card type. Since we support different card sizes I want to make sure you didn't mistakenly select an incorrect card type for that one card which would cause it to print a different size.
Will the word "Trial" appear on my card if I let my subscription expire?

No, when EspressoID expires it doesn't affect program functionality. Purchasing an annual license renewal gives you another year of updates and tech support. EspressoID is continually being improved and many features have been added. Our license renewal is a great deal.
How can I use OpenType (.otf) fonts in EspressoID?

EspressoID doesn't directly support OpenType fonts, however, there are programs available that can convert them into TrueType (.ttf) fonts that will work in EspressoID. We have had a user report that Type works. There is a pay version as well as a free version and the customer reported that the free version worked for him. In Dave's words:
"You will have to open the font with the app, click the global menu and select 'Convert to TT curves' and click the Font menu, select font options and uncheck OpenType. Save As TTF and you are good to go."