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Product: LABELVIEW, CODESOFT

Version: All Versions

 

What is a When Printed data source?

A When Printed data source allows you to set up one or more fields in which the user can enter values at the time the label is printed. At print time, a form can be displayed for the user to enter values in the fields.

Why use a When Printed data source?

Forms can be used to enter a product name, part number, or any other type of information that may vary but cannot be populated by an automatic data source, such as a database, clock, or counter.

Creating a When Printed data source

Properties of a When Printed data source

You can set the following properties for When Printed data sources:

  • Input properties: Define the parameters of the values that can be entered into the form.
  • Output properties: Define how the When Printed data sources will be printed.
  • Counter properties: Allow you to attach an incrementing value to your output.

Procedure: Create a When Printed data source

1. Go to Data Source, select When Printed, and then click Add. A new When Printed data source is created with a system-assigned name, such as Var0. You can now define input properties for the form.

Defining Input Properties

Input properties

When Printed data source input properties govern the limits and formats of the user input that will be allowed at print time.

Procedure

To define the input properties for a When Printed data source:

2. The first tab is the Input tab.

In the Input tab, review these properties:

  • Name: Allows you to assign a unique name to the variable to replace the system-assigned name.
  • Value data: Allows you to enter a default value for the field. The default value is the initial value of the field and the value that will be printed first. This is the normal mode of operation.
  • Local: Identifies a variable that is internal to the label and linked to the current document only.
  • Shared: Identifies a variable that is saved in an external file after printing. This allows the value to be used in other documents.
  • Delete spaces: Automatically eliminates spaces before and after the variable value.
  • Restore after printing: Resets the variable to its default value after printing. The value may be changed during user input but is restored to its initial value after printing.
NOTE: If you do not define a default value and select the Restore after printing check box, the variable value will be set to empty after each print job.
3. The second tab is the When Printed tab.

In the When Printed tab, review these properties:

  • Prompt: Allows you to enter a message to be displayed in the form. This message is often used to prompt the user for the appropriate input value, such as "Part Number" or "Product Name."
  • Minimum length: Allows you to set the minimum number of characters that can be entered. A value of zero means there is no minimum-length check.
    • If the user enters a value that does not meet the minimum length, an error message appears when printing is launched.
  • Input mask: Allows you to limit the types of characters that can be manually entered. Each character entered by the user must correspond to a character in the input string. For example, if the value should be a five-digit number, enter ##### in the Input mask box.
  • Force data to come from the list: Requires the user to select a value from the Pick list. If this option is not enabled, the user can enter a new value or select a value from the list.
  • Pick list: Allows you to create a list of valid input values on the form. Input is limited to the items on this list. You can select shared values, if applicable, or select the Local option to apply the values only to this variable.
  • Pick list button: Displays the Pick list dialog box, which allows you to enter values linked to the variable.

It is also possible to insert separator characters into the format string. These characters are included in the input mask.

NOTE: Input format characters appear in the form to assist user input but do not appear in the output or printed label.

Defining Output Properties

Output properties

When Printed data source output properties define the limits and formats of the form field output, or what actually appears on the label.

Procedure

4. Click the Output tab.

In the Output tab, review these properties:

  • Maximum length: Represents the maximum number of characters allowed in the When Printed data source field.
  • Prefix: Allows you to define one or more characters to precede the variable.
  • Suffix: Allows you to define one or more characters to follow the variable.
  • Output mask: Formats the variable as you want it displayed.
  • Display decimals: Indicates that you want the variable formatted with decimal places.
  • Number of decimals: Allows you to specify the number of places to the right of the decimal point.
  • Decimal separator: Allows you to specify the character used to represent the decimal point.
  • Thousand separator: Allows you to enter a thousand separator.
  • Pad with: Adds a character to the left of a variable to ensure the variable occupies the maximum field length. For example, if the field length is 4 characters and the padding character is 0, a variable value of 12 will print as 0012.
    • Up to X characters: Allows you to specify the maximum number of padding characters. For a counter, this value is set to the number of characters in the maximum counter value.
  • Include in the log file: Causes the When Printed data source to be recorded in the printing log file.
  • Accumulate value: Stores the value of the variable in a separate file. The value is added to the value already stored in the file. To select the file, click the button to access the folder containing these files.
NOTE: Input values that exceed the maximum length are truncated. For counter variables, maximum length is calculated automatically by the reset value of the counter.

Defining Counter Properties

Counter properties

When Printed data source counter properties govern the content and format of counters included in your form. You can learn more about counter variables here .

Procedure

5. Click the Counter tab.

In the Counter tab, review these properties:

  • Counter: Allows you to define counter properties. A counter is a value that increments from one label to the next during printing according to an initial value, an increment value, and a reset value.
  • ISO counter: Specifies that each label printed is counted, regardless of whether it is an original or a duplicate.
  • Type: Identifies the type of counting base. Decimal (base 10 calculation) is the default. See the online Help for a complete description of available counting bases and instructions for creating a customized base.
  • Current value: Specifies the counter value to be printed on the first label. For counter variables, this value is established when the variable characteristics are determined.
  • Increment: Defines the value by which the counter is incremented. It can be a positive or negative value.
  • Min/Max Value: Allows you to set the minimum and maximum values of the counter. The counter resets to the minimum value each time the maximum value is reached.
  • Increment after: Allows you to print multiple labels before incrementing the counter. These options are not available when ISO counter is selected.
  • Having printed: Specifies the number of labels to be printed before incrementing the counter.
  • Each reset of: Allows you to specify that incrementing occurs based on the reset of another counter variable. Multiple counters can be cascaded to carry out complex counting.
  • Reset after variable value change: Allows the counter to be reset at the end of a regular cycle, such as weekly or monthly.
NOTE: The increment value is decimal. Adding an asterisk (*) at the end of the increment forces it to match the base of the counter.
 
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