Training Guide: Adding TextArt and RichTextFields to LABELVIEW/CODESOFT

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Product: LABELVIEW, CODESOFT

Version: All Versions

About TextArt Objects

Overview
TextArt objects allow you to add a line of text that "bends" to follow the border of a selected shape type (such as for printing CD or DVD labels).
The TextArt feature also allows you to create WordArt-like text elements, such as outlined text, text with a drop-shadow, or rotated text.

TextArt Properties

Below are the properties that can be edited within the TextArt object:

Font: Click the browse button to access the Font dialog box, where all character font options can be set.
Text: Used to enter or modify the value of the TextArt object if using fixed data. If using a variable data source, the Text box contents are populated automatically based on the data source selected.
Data source: Click the drop-down arrow to select an existing variable data source to populate the value of the TextArt object.
Fill: Checked by default, this box allows you to choose the color or pattern to use to fill your TextArt characters.
Outline: When checked, this box allows you to specify an outline color and width to apply to your TextArt characters.
Shadow: When checked, this box allows you to specify a shadow color and width to apply to your TextArt characters. (The Width setting determines the size of the gap that separates the shadow from the TextArt characters.)

The following are the properties you can edit after clicking the Extended button under the Text settings tab:

Bend text to shape: When this box is checked, the text will follow the border of the shape (ellipse, rounded rectangle, etc.) selected on the Shape Settings tab.
Start angle: Allows you to define a starting point in the TextArt object, based on an angle of 360º.
Sweep angle: Allows you to define the sweep angle at which the text will be displayed.
Alignment: Used to define the horizontal and vertical alignment characteristics of the TextArt object in its allocated space.
Break: Used to define where text breaks should occur when the text must bend to adapt to the shape.
Char spacing: Used to define the spacing between characters. You can select the Custom option to define custom character spacing based on a scale of 20 to 200. (The default setting of 100 corresponds to standard spacing.)
Rotated characters: Used to rotate individual TextArt characters counter-clockwise by 90º.

Adding a TextArt Object to a Label

Procedure
To add a TextArt object to a label:

1. On the Creation toolbar, click the Extended objects tool and then click TextArt in the submenu.

2. A TextArt object placeholder is automatically added to the label. Double-click the TextArt object.

3. Select the Text settings tab at the top of the window.

4. The Properties dialog box appears. To specify a font for the TextArt, click the browse button and select these font properties:
Font: Impact
Font style: Regular
Size: 10

NOTE: Only TrueType fonts can be used for TextArt objects. If your printer does not support TrueType fonts, they are processed as graphics, requiring more memory and thus, they will take longer to print than fonts that are resident on the printer.

5. In the Text box, type This TextArt bends text into a circle!

6. Leave the Data Source set to <None>.

7. Ensure that the Fill check box is checked, and then click its Color setting and select a color for your TextArt characters.

8. Click the Shadow check box, and then click its Color setting and select a color for the shadow to be applied to your TextArt characters. Leave the shadow's Width set to 0.020.

9. (After pressing the Extended button) Click the Bend text to shape check box, and leave the Sweep angle set to 360.

10. Leave the other TextArt tab settings at their defaults. Click OK.

11. Click the Shape settings tab.

12. Click the Shape drop-down list and select Ellipse.

13. Click the Background check box and select a color for the background shape.

14. The General and Rendering tabs have the same properties we covered in the Lesson: Fixed Objects Training Guide in the Knowledge base. Leave these properties at their default settings. Click OK.

15. The modified TextArt object displays on the design screen. Click and drag the bottom center object handle to stretch the ellipse into a circle shape. Your label should look something like this

About RichTextField Objects

Overview
RichTextField objects allow you to use multiple fonts and text styles within one object on the label. Using TrueType fonts, you can apply various styles and effects—such as underline, italic, bold, superscript and subscript—as long as the selected font supports them.

When using fixed data, a RichTextField object can be created and formatted directly in the RichTextField Input dialog box.

Alternatively, you can create and save Rich Text Format files (.rtf file extension) in other Windows applications that support .rtf files, such as Microsoft Word or WordPad, and then link to the external file containing the RTF data.

RichTextField Input Toolbar

Overview
The RichTextField Input toolbar provides quick access to commonly used text formatting commands.

Rich/Plain Text Mode toggles between Rich Text display and Plain Text display in the text editing box.
Cut/Copy/Paste allow you to perform standard cut, copy and paste procedures on characters selected in the text editing box.
Undo allows you to undo the last operation you performed in the text editing box.
Font Name/Font Size allow you to specify the desired font type and size by selecting them from the drop-down lists of options.
Bold/Italic/Underline allow you to apply standard text formatting styles to characters in the text editing box.
Strikeout allows you to apply strikethrough formatting to characters in the text editing box.

Character Offset allows you to apply superscript or subscript formatting to characters in the text editing box.
Text Color allows you to select a color to use for characters selected or typed in the text editing box.
Alignment buttons allow you to apply standard Left, Center, and Right alignment settings to the entire paragraph where the cursor is currently located within the text editing box.
Bullets allows you to apply bulleted list formatting to the entire paragraph where the cursor is currently located within the text editing box.

Adding a RichTextField Object to a Label

Procedure
To add a RichTextField object to a label:

1. On the Creation toolbar, click the Extended Objects tool icon, and then click the RichTextField in the submenu. A RichTextField object placeholder is automatically added to the label.

2. Double-click the RichTextField object. The Properties dialog box appears.

3. Leave the Data source set to <None> and click the Edit Text button.

4. The RichTextField Input dialog box appears. Click to the right of the existing text. Then press Delete on the keyboard to remove the entry.

5. Click on the Font name drop down list and select a Font.

6. Click on the Font size drop down list and select a size.

7. Click the underline icon to turn off and on the Underline style.

8. Click the Text color button and select a color.

9. Click the Center alignment button to center the text.

10. Click to place your cursor in the text editing box, and then press Enter once to add a carriage return above your text.

11. Type H20. Highlight the 2, to select it, and then click the Subscript button to select the subscript position.

12. The RichTextField should look something like this. Click OK to return to the RichTextField tab.

13. Click the Shape settings tab.

14. Click the Shape drop-down list and select Round rect.

15. In the % x axis box type 35 and in the % y axis box type 65.

16. Click the Background check box and select a color for the background shape.

17. Click the Border check box and leave its settings at the defaults.

18. The General tab has the same properties we covered in the Lesson: Fixed Objects Training Guide in the Knowledge base. Leave these properties at their default settings. Click OK.

19. The label should look something like this:

Keywords: Text Art, Rich Text Fields