In Shulchan Aruch (O"Ch siman 340) is mentioned that there is an argument if one is prohibited from opening books with writing on it.
The reason to be lenient is because one doesn't really do an "action" as the letters are pre-written, you just bring them closer or further from each other. (The Shulchan Aruch HaRav says that the custom is to be lenient).
According to the side that says it is prohibited to open books with writing on Shabbos, it would appear that bottles should be opened before Shabbos.
However, the Yalkut Yosef permits it because opening a can is a Psik Reisha Dlo Nicha Lei (One doesn't care to have the letters erased) in a Derrabannan case (only erasing for the purpose of writing is from the Torah).
However, it is still possible that according to the Shu"a Harav it would still be prohibited to open soda bottles, as a soda cap may be considered one entity with the ring (when it is closed), and opening it may be considered erasing, while in the book it was never on one surface.
In the Mishna Brura, it writes that it is forbidden to write and erase any language. Therefore, one could say that a letter made from dots is the same letter with a different "font" (just like braille would be the same letter with a different "font").
http://www.torahlab.org/calendar/article/kosev_writing_on_shabbos/ mentions that writing in braille is prohibited.