Desktop Designer offers multiple dialogs that help you configure and manage the active document and connected data sources. Read the following topics for detailed instructions:
Label Properties editor selects the printer, sets label dimensions, and defines the printing paper properties.
The label properties settings are listed below and appear as dialog tabs:
|
Label Property |
Description |
|
Selects the preferred printer. |
|
|
Defines the Unit of measure and label dimensions. |
|
|
Defines the printing paper properties. |
|
|
Selects the stock type. |
|
|
Defines the label style parameters. |
|
|
Defines details for grouped printing of labels. |
|
|
Enables label roll cutting during or after the printing procedure. |
|
|
Inserts the label description. |
Tip
To open the Label Properties Editor, double-click the design surface.
Form Properties dialog is used for defining various form properties.
Tip
To open the Form Properties dialog, double-click the design surface.
The settings are available on the below-listed dialog panels.
|
Form Property |
Description |
|
Defines form title, size, initial form state and startup form position. |
|
|
Selects form scripting language. |
|
|
Defines form background color and picture. It allows picture embedding and saving as external file. |
|
|
Defines the order of focus Shifting among form objects. |
|
|
Contains form help text which is shown to the user after pressing F1 when the form is running. |
|
|
Defines the events which occur after the form is loaded, closed, and after a specified time interval completes. |
|
|
Selects the variables that are monitored for changes in their values. |
|
|
Adds a variable that stores the data received via serial port. |
|
|
Defines the content which serves as a hint or as a guidance for the form user. |
Dynamic Data Manager is a dialog that enables the user to manage the dynamic data sources for label and form objects.
Label and formobjects can be connected to multiple variables, functions, and databases.
To open the dialog, click the Dynamic Data Manager button in the Desktop Designer ribbon.
Read more about how to define the data sources in the following sections:
Use the Dynamic Data Manager ribbon commands to efficiently manage your data sources. If you want to delete, copy or cut/paste your data sources, always use the commands in the Dynamic Data Manager ribbon.
Dynamic Data Manager ribbon consists of the following functional groups:
General group provides access to the following actions:
-
Undo: undos the entire sequence of actions since the last file save. The range of actions is selected from the dropdown list.
-
Redo: repeats the requested range of actions. The range of actions is selected from the dropdown list.
-
Copy: copies the selected data source to the clipboard.
-
Cut: cuts the selected data source to the clipboard.
-
Paste: pastes the clipboard data.
-
Delete: deletes the selected data source.
Add group gives access to dynamic data sources:
-
Add New Variable: allows defining multiple types of variables.
-
Internal Variables: adds system and user related variables. Their role is to identify the label or form, system name, user, or file revision number.
-
Add New Function: button opens the selection of available functions. Select the appropriate one to start editing it.
-
Database Connections: button opens the selection of supported database types. The New Database Connection Properties dialog opens.
The step-by-step Database Wizard group is the entry point for database wizards:
-
All Databases allows adding all types of supported database types.
Variables group gives access to the Prompt Order dialog. This dialog defines the order under which the variables are prompted at print time.
Import and Export group enables you to import or export the data model used in a NiceLabel 10 document.
-
Import Data Sources: allows you to import data sources from an external label or solution file.
-
Export Variables: allows you to export variables from an existing label or solution file into a .NLVR file.
The data model includes all data sources and their relations that are part of a label or solution file. To import a data model means that you can import the external data sources into an existing label or solution file. These imported data sources can be further used as dynamic content for label or form objects.
The ability to import data sources helps you keep the data sources in your labels and solutions uniform and consistent. If you have a standard range of data sources, you can share these data sources across the company with your label designers. The label designers import the shared data sources, which ensures that the label templates are equipped with the relevant variables, functions, and databases.
Note
Importing data sources that share the same name with your existing data sources causes conflicts.
When importing data sources with the same name you, you can:
-
Overwrite existing data source with the imported ones.
-
Merge the data sources. Merges your data sources (of the same type). When merge is not possible (For example, a text variable and a date variable with the same name), NiceLabel 10 keeps both data sources and renames the imported ones (For example, Variable and Variable_1). The definitions of your imported variables, functions, or databases override the values of your existing variables, functions, or databases.
To import a data model, go to Management ribbon group > Dynamic Data Manager drop-down list and click Import Data Sources.
Import Options: allows you to import data models using multiple file formats. They can either be a complete label or solution file, or a separate NiceLabel variable export file (.NLVR extension):
-
Solution File (*.nsln) imports data sources from a NiceLabel solution file.
-
Label File (*.nlbl) imports data sources from a NiceLabel label file.
-
Label File (V6) (*.lbl) imports data sources from a NiceLabel V6 legacy label file.
-
XFF Form File (*.xff) imports data sources from a NiceLabel V6 legacy solution file.
-
Variables export files (*.nlvr) imports data sources from a previously exported NiceLabel 10 variable export file.
-
Oracle WMS File (*.xml) imports variables from external Oracle WMS files. These are XML files generated by Oracle Warehouse Management system that include instructions for 3rd party label printing software.
Tip
Variables export file is described in section Variables Export File Definition.
Variables from an existing label or solution files can be reused in another document. The Export Variables option allows you to export all variables into a variable export file (.NLVR extension). This makes the variables reusable in any other NiceLabel 10 document.
Tip
The exported variables can be included in another NiceLabel label or solution using the Import Data Sources option.
To export variables, go to Dynamic Data Manager > Import and Export ribbon group and click Export Variables.
Note
Only variables without any references to other data sources can be exported. Each export ends with a report containing a list of exported and non-exported variables from the file. The reason for potential variable export failure is always included in the report.
The definition of variable export (.NLVR) file is available in the section Variables Export File Definition.
The Dynamic Data Explorer performs two roles. It serves as a shortcut for adding new variables, functions, and data sources and gives an overview of the data sources that are currently in use.
To toggle between the two explorers, click the appropriate tab:
-
Dynamic Data tab activates the Dynamic Data Explorer.
-
Solution Explorer tab activates the Solution Explorer.
-
Add new variable: adds an additional variable to the label or form data sources. There are four default variable types available. Their values are defined via dialogs described in dedicated sections
-
Variable: a type of variable that obtains value when a label or form is printed.
-
Current date: displays the current date in the requested format.
-
Current time: displays the current time in the requested format.
-
Counter: displays a counter value.
-
-
New function: adds a new function that serves as a dynamic data source.
-
Database wizard: starts the wizard that adds a new database in a guided process.
-
Internal Variables: displays the list of available internal variables.
-
RFID Tag: If you are working with an RFID compatible printer, you can directly add the content encoded in the RFID tag to your label as Text, Text Box, or Barcode objects.