Views:

Product: LABELVIEW, CODESOFT

Version: All Versions

 

OVERVIEW 
A variable object is a variable that has been assigned to a text, bar code or image object so that it can be represented in a document. When you add a variable to a label, you assign the variable to one or more of these objects:

  • Text object, which displays the variable in a text box
  • Bar code object, which displays the variable as a bar code
  • Image object, which displays the variable as a graphic

NOTE: Several objects can be associated with a single variable.

PREREQUISITRES 
To complete this procedure, you must have a variable already defined.

PROCEDURE: ADDING A VARIABLE TO AN EXISTING TEXT OBJECT 

1. In the document, right-click an existing text object, and click Properties. The properties dialog box for the text object appears.

2. Click the Data source tab.

3. Click the Data Type drop down and select Variable data. The list of data sources and existing variables appears.

4. Select the variable that you want to populate the selected field. Click OK. 

In this example, the drop-down arrow next to When Printed was clicked, which displays the different variables available to choose from. 

5. To display the variable name in the document, on the View menu, click Mode and choose Name. Alternatively, you can click the Display field Name button on the View toolbar. This can be done for Content as well. 

          

 

PROCEDURE: ADDING A DATA VARIABLE AS TEXT

1. In the Data sources tab, drag and drop the data variable that you created onto the label. A box appears from which you must select Text, Bar code or Image.

                

2. Click Text. The data variable appears in a text box on the label.

3. Right-click the text box, and click Properties. The properties dialog box for the text object appears.

4. Adjust the Properties for the text object as desired, then click OK.

NOTE: For more information about text properties, please see Training Guide: Fixed Objects - About Fixed Objects.  

NOTE: You cannot change the size of a variable text object. It is defined by the length of its text and its text formatting characteristics.

5. Right-click the text box again, and click Data source properties. The variable dialog box appears.

6. Notice that you can change the properties of the variable. These are the same properties we covered in when creating a data variable. Click OK.

7. Once you place an object on a label, click and drag the object to move it.

 

PROCEDURE: ADDING A DATA VARIABLE AS A BARCODE

1. In the Data sources tab, drag and drop the data variable that you created onto the label. A box appears from which you must select Text, Barcode or Image.

                   

2. Click Barcode. The data variable appears as a bar code on the label.

3. Right-click the barcode, and click Properties. The properties dialog box for the barcode object appears.

4. Notice that you can change the code, options, human readable, and character properties for the barcode object. Click OK.

5. Right-click the barcode again, and notice that you can also access the Data source properties for the barcode object.

             

 

THE VIEW TOOLBAR 
The View toolbar allows you to view the objects on a label in one of three different modes. You can also turn on the display for forms, the Document Browser, and the grid; and zoom in on label details.

 

  • View Mode allow the selection of the Name, Size and Content view modes
    • Name mode displays the object’s variable name.
    • Size mode displays the length of the field, represented by a series of X’s with each X representing one character.
    • Content mode displays the actual data that populates the object.

 NOTE: Name, Size and Content modes can also be selected from the View > Mode command.

  • Zoom + allows you to zoom in to display a close-up view of your document.
  • Zoom -  allows you to zoom out to display a wider view of your document.

NOTE: Zoom factors can be selected from the View > Zoom command or by right-clicking the horizontal ruler.

  • Zoom Width allows you to zoom to the document width.
  • Zoom to page allows you to zoom to the whole document
  • Views allows the ability to show/hide the Data sources and Objects windows.

 

Keywords: variable objects, labelview variables, codesoft variables