NICELABEL / DATABASE / UPDATED 17 OCT 2026
NiceLabel Alternative for Databases: Five Engines, Read-Only, Pro
Replace NiceLabel database labels with LabelInn: five engines, read-only SELECT queries, Windows app, Pro plan, a worked MySQL queue, and what you rebuild.
SHORT ANSWER
Short answer. A NiceLabel label that reads a database moves to LabelInn if the database is SQL Server, MySQL or MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle or SAP HANA and the label only needs a SELECT. The connection runs in the Windows app and needs Pro. A .nlbl import brings the design across but not the database link, so the query and the field bindings are built again.
NiceLabel (Loftware) is licensed per printer or by quote and we found no public price list we could verify, so we quote no figure. LabelInn: Database sources are on Pro at $24.90 a month ($249.00 a year). Yearly billing is ten months for twelve; signing up starts a 14-day Pro trial. See pricing.
Test the connection with a read-only account. Download →
HOW IT WORKS
Three screens from data to printed label.
No copy-paste, no hunting for templates. The same flow repeats for every record.
Choose the engine, test the connection and browse the schema.
A named, parameterised query returns the rows a label needs.
Preview, pick the printer and print the result.
01 / DECISION
Switch or stay for this job
Find your situation in the left column.
| Your situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Labels read a table or view in one of the five engines | LabelInn (Pro) | Connection wizard, schema browser, named query, then columns drop onto fields. |
| New rows in a queue table should print once, automatically | LabelInn (Pro) | Watched tables with a row key and a readiness column, and a mark-as-printed step. |
| NiceLabel reaches the data through SAP or another certified connector | Stay on NiceLabel | LabelInn has no RFC, IDoc or BAPI connector; SAP HANA is reachable as a database. |
| Another ODBC source such as Access, DB2 or Informix | Stay on NiceLabel | Only the five engines are offered. |
| Labels are designed on a Mac | Split the work | The database connection runs in the Windows app; design anywhere, query from Windows. |
02 / MAP
What maps one to one, and what does not
| In NiceLabel | In LabelInn | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Database connection in the label | Database wizard: engine, host, port, credentials, test | Rebuild by hand |
| Query or table selection | Named, parameterised SELECT query | Rebuild by hand |
| Field bound to a column | Drop the column on an element | Rebuild by hand |
| Row limit | TOP n, LIMIT n or FETCH FIRST n ROWS ONLY by engine | One to one |
| Write-back to the database | Workflow step, not the label | Rebuild by hand |
| Other ODBC sources | Not available | Not supported |
03 / WORKED EXAMPLE
Worked example: a MySQL label queue
A packing system inserts a row per parcel into a queue table. The label needs the parcel number, the recipient and a barcode.
SELECT id, parcel_no, recipient, postcode
FROM label_queue
WHERE printed = 0
ORDER BY id
LIMIT 20Import the .nlbl, then bind parcel_no to the barcode, recipient and postcode to text elements. Run the query: the grid shows the next 20 rows and the print dialog the label count. Check the barcode on the first row against NiceLabel before you trust the queue.
04 / STEPS
Moving it across, step by step
- Ask for a read-only database account and note host, port and schema.
- Add the database in the Windows app, test the connection and open the schema browser.
- Write the query with your engine's row-limit syntax and run it.
- Import the .nlbl and bind each field to a query column.
- Print a few rows next to NiceLabel and compare. Retire the old link at renewal, not before.
All NiceLabel comparisons: NiceLabel alternative. Moving the labels themselves: import .btw and .nlbl files.
ANY PRINTER
Design it, bind your data, print on the printer you already own.
Zebra, TSC, Toshiba, Epson and more — over USB, network or Bluetooth, with no driver to install.
PRICING
Start free. Pay when it earns its keep.
QUESTIONS / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which databases can LabelInn read for labels?
SQL Server, MySQL and MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle and SAP HANA, read-only, through the Windows app.
Do NiceLabel database links import?
No. A .nlbl import rebuilds the design (text, barcodes, pictures, lines, boxes) but not the database link or variables. Attach the database and bind the fields again.
Which plan do I need?
Pro, at $24.90 a month ($249.00 a year). The 14-day trial at signup is Pro, so you can test with your own query.
Does LabelInn have a certified SAP connector?
No. SAP HANA can be queried as a database, and any SAP system can call the REST API, but there is no certified RFC, IDoc or BAPI connector.
KEEP GOING
Related
NEXT STEP / LABELINN
Run one query and print
Test with a read-only account before you move a production label. · Five database engines · Read-only queries · Pro, 14-day trial