Views:

Product: CODESOFT

Version: All Versions

 

ListField objects allow you to take data from external data sources and organize it into a structured table format that will display on the label design screen and appear on the printed document (label). The ListField feature is very useful for creating order and invoice forms, or other similar business documents. ListField objects are typically connected to external data files, such as those commonly generated by an ERP or Legacy system.
ListField Properties
These are properties you can edit for a ListField 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 ListField object if using fixed data. In most cases a variable data source would be used, in which case the Text box contents would be 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 ListField object with the data to be spread into columns in a table format.
  • Text color: Click the drop-down arrow and select a color to be used for the ListField object's text.
  • Number of vertical blocks: Used to define the number of blocks required.

 
The Control characters group of settings includes:

  • Column separator: Used to define the character that marks a change of column.
  • Line separator: Used to define the character that marks a change of line.
  • Tab: Used to define the character that marks a tab.

 
The Line separator group of settings includes:

  • Style: Used to define the style of the border separating each line.
  • Width (mm): Used to define the width of the border separating each line.
  • Color: Used to define the color of the border separating each line.

 
The line-height and margins group of settings includes:

  • Height: Used to define the height of the ListField lines.
  • Margin (1st) (mm): Used to define the margin between the top of the ListField object and the start of the text.
  • Margin (mm): Used to define the margin between each ListField line.

 
ListField Column Properties
These are additional properties you can set up and edit for the ListField object's columns.

  • Table preview window: This window at the top of the ListField Columns tab allows you to view the settings you define for the ListField columns.
  • Add: Allows you to add a column in the table.
  • Delete: Allows you to delete a column in the table.
  • Move up: Allows the settings defined for the selected column to be moved up within the table.
  • Move down: Allows the settings defined for the selected column to be moved down within the table.
  • Width (%): Used to define the width percentage of the selected column, in relation to the total number of ListField columns. The total width percentage for all columns cannot exceed 100%.
  • Tab: When a tab has been inserted in the ListField text, the Tab drop-down list allows you to define its size.
  • Ind. left (mm): Used to define the minimum spacing between the left-hand edge of the selected column and its contents.
  • Ind. right (mm): Used to define the minimum spacing between the right-hand edge of the selected column and its contents.
  • Line style: Used to define the style of the border line between the selected column and the one to its right.
  • Line width: Used to define the width of the border line between the selected column and the one to its right.
  • Line color: Used to define the color of the border line between the selected column and the one to its right.
  • Alignment: Used to align text to the left or right edge of the selected column, or to center text within the selected column.

 

Adding a List Field Object to a Label
Procedure

To add a ListField object to a label:

1. Open a new label. Select a Windows printer, such as a laser or inkjet printer. Right-click within the label and click Page setup. The Page setup dialog box appears.

              

2. Click the Page tab and ensure that the Page size (inches) settings is set to Letter.

3. Click the Label tab and set the Label size and Number of labels properties as follows: Width 8.250, Height 10.750, Corner Roundness 0.098, Per Row 1, and Per Column 1.

4. Click the Margins tab, and set both the Left and Top margins to 0.250. Click OK.

5. On the View drop down menu, click Mode and select Name.

         

6. Go back to the View drop down menu, click Zoom and select 100%.

7. Find the Data Sources drop down, select Advanced and then Add. If the Data Sources pane is open you can click on Advanced and then right click and choose Add. The Var0 properties dialog box appears.

           

8. Look for the drop down box, which is set to Local, and change it to From a File.

9. When the browse window opens, select the Order file (Order.txt), located in the program’s Data folder (Shared Documents\Teklynx\Common\Data). Click Open.

10. Click the Output tab, and in the Maximum length box, type 999. Click OK to add the new data source.

11. On the Creation toolbar, click the Extended objects tool, and then click ListField in the submenu. A ListField icon asks where to place it on the label.

12. Click where to place the ListField. The Properties dialog box appears.

13. To specify a font for the ListField object, click the browse button and select these font properties: Font: Verdana, Font style: Bold, and Size: 12.

14. Click the Data source drop-down arrow, and select the Var0 variable we just created. The Text box is automatically filled with the variable data from the selected data source.

15. For the Control characters settings, enter the following values: Column separator: ; Line separator: $ Tab: \t

16. Set the Line separator settings for Style, Width, and Color as desired.

17. For the Line height and margins settings, select or enter the following values: Height: 1.5 lines Margin (1st): 0.114 Margin: 0.059

18. Click the ListField Columns tab.

19. Click Add four times to create the four columns that will display in our table.

20. Click to select the top row (representing the left-most column in our table), and then set the following column properties:
Width (%): 45
Tab: 2
Ind. left: 0.079
Ind. right: 0.079
Line style: (leave at default)
Width: 0.008
Line color: (choose a dark color)
Alignment: Left

<insert image of step #2>

21. Click to select the second row from the top (representing the second column from the left in our table), and then set the following column properties:
Width (%): 20
Tab: 2
Ind. left: 0.079
Ind. right: 0.079
Line style: (leave at default)
Width: 0.008
Line color: (choose same dark color)
Alignment: Left

<insert image of step #2>

22. Click to select the third row from the top (representing the third column from the left in our table), and then set the following column properties:
Width (%): 15
Tab: 2
Ind. left: 0.079
Ind. right: 0.079
Line style: (leave at default)
Width: 0.010
Line color: (choose same dark color)
Alignment: Center

23. Click to select the bottom row (representing the right-most column in our table), and then set the following column properties:
Width (%): 10
Tab: 4
Ind. left: 0.079
Ind. right: 0.079
Line style: (leave at default)
Width: 0.008
Line color: (choose same dark color)
Alignment: Center

24. Click the Shape settings tab.

25. Leave the Shape set to Rectangle. Click the Background check box and select a light shade of gray for the background shape. Click OK.

26. The ListField object displays on the design screen. To increase the size of the table to accommodate the data, click and drag the bottom-right object handle to stretch the table as needed.

 
Keywords: adding listfield, listfield, listfield in CODESOFT