Tabs and Ribbons

Desktop designer uses a standard Windows-based interface.

The Desktop designer's top section interface segments are described below.

Tabs

Tabs represent subsets of Desktop designer features. The tabs contain interrelated commands that are available to the user in an organized way – grouped, and labeled:

File (background): opens the print form and document management panel.
Home: offers commonly used commands such as copy/paste, print, and style commands.
Data: offers data source related commands.
View: gives you control over layout tools, zooming options and element markers visibility.
Contextual tabs: appear after clicking an object. They allow you to define object-specific settings. The type of contextual tabs adapts to the selected object.
Help: besides offering the access to F1 help, this tab leads you to multiple helpful resources that make your work with Desktop designer easier and more efficient.

Ribbon

Ribbon is a rectangular area that spreads across the top of an application window. Related commands are divided into ribbon groups. The ribbon changes along with the selected tabs and adapts to the currently used tools using the contextual tabs.

File Tab

File tab serves as document management panel. The following options are available:

Start: takes you to the Desktop designer landing page.
New: creates a new stand-alone label.
Open: allows opening existing label.
Save: saves the active label.
Save As: allows saving the active label file by defining its name and location.
Print: opens the printing form.
Close: closes the current Desktop designer document.
Options: opens the dialog for configuring the program defaults.
About: provides license and software version information.
Exit: closes the application.

Start

Start panel takes you to Desktop designer landing page. Use it to create or open documents, access recently opened files, preview files, and learn more about Desktop designer.

New

New Label creates a new stand-alone label. New Label Setup Wizard opens after clicking this button.

Tip

There are two ways of opening new labels. You can open each additional document in a separate instance (window) of Desktop designer. An alternative way is to open documents within the already opened instance. To select the way that suits you better, go to File > Options > Designer.

Open

Open dialog allows opening existing label files.

Browse allows selecting the label on local or connected network drives.

Recent Files field lists the latest files that have been edited. Click any of them to open the file.

Save

Save panel saves the active label using the same file name that was used to open it.

Note

If a file has been opened for the first time, Save directs you to the Save as on the File tab.

Save as

Save as allows saving the active label file by defining its name and location.

Recent folders field lists the folders that were recently used to save the label files.

Print

Print opens the print pane. In Desktop designer, the print pane hosts a powerful default printing form.

Options (Configuring the Program)

To customize the general program configuration of Desktop designer, open the Options dialog which is accessible from the File tab.

Desktop designer configuration options are grouped on the following tabs:

Folders: allows you to set the default locations for storing the labels and picture files.
Language: selects the user interface language. Select the preferred language from the listed options.

Folders

When moving or sharing the documents you create in Desktop designer, the locations of related documents and files might become inaccessible. To prevent broken references, define the default search locations that instruct Desktop designer to search for the documents and files on alternative locations.

Use the Folders tab to define the default search locations for the documents and files that you work with in Desktop designer. These folders serve as the default search location if:

Desktop designer cannot find labels on the specified locations. In this case, Desktop designer searches for them in the Labels folder.
Desktop designer cannot find the connected database on the specified location. In this case, Desktop designer searches for the database in the Database folder.
Picture object file paths in labels are incomplete or missing. In this case, Desktop designer searches for them in the Picture folder.

Note

Make sure read/write rights are granted to the account under which the Desktop designer is running.

Tip

Details about the check algorithm which is used to locate the label files is described in detail https://help.nicelabel.com/hc/articles/4405121431953.

Note

When opening and saving your documents, Desktop designer remembers the last used location. The next time you open or save your documents, Desktop designer goes to the last used location.

Language

Language tab allows selecting the Desktop designer interface language. Select the appropriate language and click OK.

Note

Restart is necessary to make the user interface appear in the selected language. Make sure you save your work before closing the program.

Designer

Designer tab enables you to configure opening behavior of Desktop designer.

Opening Mode group defines how your Desktop designer opens new documents.

Display each document in its own window: If enabled, additionally opened documents appear in separate windows of Desktop designer. This applies to both – newly created and existing documents.

If you decide to disable this option, additionally opened documents will appear within the currently active instance of Desktop designer.

About

The About dialog page provides information about your NiceLabel product license, enables license purchasing (when in trial mode) and activation,provides software details, and enables you to change the Desktop designer product level.

Product level tells you the product level you are currently running.
Change product level: opens the product level selection dialog. When in trial mode, you can choose and evaluate all product levels. With an activated license, you can change your product level only to lower levels.
Trial mode duration: information about the remaining days for product evaluation.
Purchase License: button directs you to the NiceLabel online store.
Activate license: button opens the Desktop designer license activation dialog. See NiceLabel 10 installation guide for details about the license activation process. After activating the license, this button is renamed to Deactivate License – after clicking it and confirming the deactivation, your copy of Desktop designer is no longer activated.

Note

These segments are no longer visible after purchasing and activating the product license.

Note

Product level changes take effect after you restart Desktop designer.

Note

If NiceLabel 10 has been installed with predefined product level (i.e., the level has been defined by the license key), product level selection is not required during first start.

License type: is the type of license that you are using to run the NiceLabel 10.
Upgrade license: opens the product level upgrade dialog. See NiceLabel 10 installation guide for details about the license upgrade process.

Note

NiceLabel 10 upgrades automatically if the upgraded license is available on your network.

Software information contains information about the installed copy of NiceLabel 10 – license, license key, and installed version. If a newer version is available, a notification link appears on the page automatically. Click on the link to download and install the latest version.

Home Tab

Home Tab provides access to frequently used commands and settings in the following ribbon groups:

Clipboard: group temporarily stores the selected elements, objects or groups of objects.
Font: group lets you define the font properties.
Action: group contains the Print button which starts the printing procedure.
Management: group provides direct access to Document properties.
The Align group options define relative horizontal and vertical positioning for the object content.
Objects: group allows you to align, group or arrange label objects.

Clipboard

Clipboard group temporarily stores the selected elements, objects or groups of objects. Use the selected and stored objects to transfer them from one label to another.

Tip

Copying and pasting of textual and graphical (bitmaps) content between multiple applications is supported.

Paste: pastes the clipboard contents on the design surface. Multiple reuses of a single clipboard item is allowed.
Cut: removes the selected element(s) from the design surface and adds it to the clipboard to be pasted elsewhere. Note that the first element is selected by clicking it. When selecting additional elements, press and hold <Shift> key while clicking these elements.
Copy: copies the selected content to the clipboard. Multiple objects can be copied at once – select them and click Copy.
Delete: deletes the selected elements or objects. They are not stored in the clipboard.
Format painter: copies the formatting properties from one object to another. This is how you multiply the style of your reference object.

Example 2. Example:

Use the format painter to copy font, font size, font color, alignment and spacing from your reference Text object to all other Text objects using a single action.

To copy the object style properties:
1. Click your reference object. This is the object you want to copy the properties from.
2. Click the format painter.
3. Click the target object. This object now has the same properties as your reference object.
When using the format painter for different objects, you are copying and pasting the object's properties from the Style tab. If there are matching Style properties between the objects, Desktop designer transfers these properties to the target object.

Example 3. Example:

When multiplying the properties from a Rectangle object to Ellipse objects, all Style tab properties apply, except for the corner radius. This property is only applicable to the Ellipse object.

Font

Font group defines font properties:

Show/hide printer fonts: button allows you to exclusively display internal printer fonts on the list of available fonts. Graphical fonts are hidden in this case. After pressing this button again, all available fonts are visible on the list once more.
Font: defines the font family to be used in a selected object.
Font Size: defines the text size in an object. Select the desired point size from the dropdown selector or enter it manually.
Font Style: defines the object text stylistic characteristics of text, such as bold or italic.
Alignment: defines horizontal text positioning in an object: Left, Center or Right.
Justify: makes a paragraph aligned along the left and right object margins.

Tip

When changing a font during the design process, Desktop designer remembers the last used font type and size.

Action

Action group creates a printing shortcut or starts the printing procedure.

Print button opens the Desktop designer Print pane as defined by the Default Printing Form.

Create Shortcut for Printing: allows you to create a printing shortcut to a label. Creating the printing shortcut requires you to save the label first.

Note

When creating shortcut to a label, the shortcut is named Print [label name]. After double-clicking it, NiceLabel NiceLabel Print starts – it enables you to print the saved label instantly.

Management

Management ribbon group provides direct access to:

Document Properties opens current label properties.

Align

The Align group options define relative horizontal and vertical positioning for the object content:

Align Objects Left: aligns objects with the left border of the first selected object or with the leftmost object.
Align Objects Center: aligns objects with the horizontal center of the first selected object or with horizontal center of the largest object.
Align Objects Right: aligns objects with the right border of the first selected object or with the rightmost object.
Distribute Horizontally: distributes objects using equal horizontal spacing.
Align Objects Top: aligns objects with the upper border of the first selected object or with the highest object.
Align Objects Middle: aligns objects with the vertical center of the first selected object or with vertical center of the largest object.
Align Objects Bottom: aligns objects with the bottom border of the first selected object or with the lowest object.
Distribute Vertically: distributes objects using equal vertical spacing.

Objects

The Objects group helps you work with multiple objects.

Group objects unites the selected objects and makes them behave as a single object.
Ungroup objects: separates the grouped objects.

Arrange the positions of the objects so that they appear either in front of or behind each other.

Send Backward: sends the element back one level.
Send to Back: sends the element behind all other elements on the label.
Bring Forward: brings the element forward one level.
Send to Front: sends the element in front of all other elements on the label.

Delete allows you to remove the selected individual or group objects from your label template.

Data Tab

Data tab displays the Desktop designer ribbon with groups that enable you to instantly connect an object with commonly used data sources, or to define data connections in more detail:

Step-by-Step Database Wizard ribbon group opens database wizard for typical database connection types.
Data Source Management ribbon gives direct access to Prompt Order dialog.

Step-by-Step Database Wizard

Database wizard is a guided process that allows the user to configure a connection to a database and to select which tables and fields will be used.

Edit Database allows you to edit all existing connected databases using a wizard.

The wizard additionally allows you to sort, filter records, and to define how many label copies will be printed per database record.

Data Source Management

Data Source Management ribbon provides access to:

Prompt Order: dialog for defining the order of prompted variables on the print form.

Variable Prompt Order Dialog

Variable Prompt order dialog defines the order in which the variable values are prompted at print time.

The dialog displays the entire range of currently defined variables.

To change the prompt order, select a variable from the list and change its position using drag and drop or Move up and Move down buttons. Repeat this step for each variable, whose prompting position needs to be changed.

View Tab

View Tab gives you control over document zooming, marker visibility, visual aids and design surface rotation. It makes the following ribbon groups available:

Zoom: defines design surface zoom level and Desktop designer window zoom behavior.
Object Markers Visibility: defines visibility settings for object properties.
Alignment and Gridlines: sets object positioning behavior and defines properties for design surface gridlines.
Rotation: rotates the design surface clockwise for 90 degrees per click.

Zoom

Zoom group defines the design surface zoom level.

Zoom to Document: displays the entire label in the Desktop designer window.
Zoom to Objects: displays all objects in the Desktop designer window.
Zoom In: magnifies the design surface by a percentage of the currently defined zoom level.
Zoom Out: decreases the design surface by a percentage of the currently defined zoom level.
Zoom percentage drop-down menu: allows you to type in or select the exact zooming percentage for your current document.

Object Markers Visibility

Alignment and Gridline Guides

Alignment and Gridlines group sets object positioning behavior and defines properties for design surface gridlines.

Display gridline guides: makes the design surface grid dots visible.
Grid Size X: defines horizontal distance between the grid dots.
Grid Size Y: defines vertical distance between the grid dots.
Grid Offset X: defines the horizontal offset of the grid from the design surface center.
Grid Offset Y: defines the vertical offset of the grid from the design surface center.
Align to Objects: makes an object align with other objects on the design surface. When an object is aligned, a line which marks the object alignment appears.
Align to Gridlines: aligns the selected objects with gridlines.
Note

Certain continuous inkjet (CIJ) printer models only print on predefined label surface positions. If such printer is currently selected, grid settings are defined by the printer driver and grayed out for this label. The Align to Gridlines option is automatically enabled.
Do Not Align: makes the object position independent of gridlines and position of other object(s).

Rotation

Rotate view button rotates the design surface clockwise. Horizontal and vertical rulers adapt to the current position of the design surface.

Tip

Rotation type is defined by the printer driver. Certain drivers support complete 360 degrees rotation (90 degrees per click), while others allow 90 degrees rotation clockwise (portrait/landscape).

Contextual Tabs

Contextual tab is a hidden tab that becomes visible when a specific label object is selected on the design surface. Contextual tabs appear on the right side of the standard Desktop designer tab. The selection of displayed tabs depends on the object that you are currently editing.

Label-specific Contextual Tabs

When editing various label objects, the following contextual tabs appear depending on the selected object:

Design tab
Barcode tab
Shape tab
Picture tab
Text tab

Design Contextual Tab

Design tab serves as a contextual tab that defines the layout and positioning of the selected label object.

The following groups of settings are available on the Design tab:

General: defines object's visibility and printability on a label.
Positioning: defines the object's position on the design surface.
Arrange: positions the object relative to neighboring objects on a label.

General

General group defines the object's visibility and printability on a label.

Not printable: when enabled, this option prevents the object from being printed on the label. The object remains visible on the label preview.
Visible: when disabled, the object neither appears on the print preview nor on the printed label. The object is treated as if it does not exist.
Visibility settings: define if the selected object is going to appear on the printed label or not.
Name: allows you to enter object name and its description.

Positioning

Positioning group sets the object location and size on a label.

Position button opens:

X and Y: coordinates set the exact position on the design surface.
Width and Height: object dimensions.
Keep Aspect Ratio: makes sure both object dimensions change proportionally while resizing.
Rotation angle: rotates the object clockwise.

Anchoring Point button defines the spot where an object is pinned to the design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.

Keep Aspect Ratio: makes sure the object is resized proportionally.

Lock prevents the selected object from being moved during the design process.

Arrange

Group objects: adds selected objects to a group.

Group objects: unites the selected objects and makes them behave as a single object.
Ungroup objects separates previously grouped objects.

Arrange: defines how objects are positioned in a group.

Bring forward: moves the selected object up one layer.
Bring to front: moves the selected object to the top of the object stack.
Send backward: moves the selected object down one layer.
Send to back: moves the selected object to the bottom of the object stack.

Align group allows setting the alignment and spacing for objects on the design surface. All objects can be aligned according to the neighboring object or according to the document border.

Horizontal alignment options are:

Left: aligns the selected objects with the left edge of the leftmost object or with the left edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's left border.
Center Horizontally: aligns the selected objects with the horizontal center of the largest selected object or with the horizontal center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the horizontal center of a label.
Right: aligns the selected objects with the right edge of the rightmost object or with the right edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's right border.
Distribute Horizontally: equalizes horizontal spacing between the objects.

Vertical alignment options are:

Top: aligns the selected objects with the top edge of the topmost object or with the top edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's top border.
Center Vertically: aligns the selected objects with the vertical center of the largest selected object or with the vertical center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the vertical center of a label.
Bottom: aligns the selected objects with the bottom edge of the lowest object or with the bottom edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's bottom border.
Distribute Vertically: equalizes vertical spacing between the objects.

Barcode Contextual Tab

Barcode tab serves as a contextual tab that defines the type, layout and positioning of barcode object.

The following groups of settings are available on the Barcode tab:

Barcode: defines basic barcode symbol type and its dimensions.
Settings: defines barcode details.
Arrange: positions the object relative to neighboring objects on a label.

Barcode Tab

Barcode group allows you to choose the barcode type and to set the dimensions of your barcode symbol.

Note

Settings in Barcode group depend on the selected barcode type.

Barcode Type: defines the type of the barcode symbol to be used on a label.

Tip

By default, Code128 barcode type is selected. For more details about the available barcode types, see section Barcode Types and Available Settings.

DataBar Type: if one of the DataBar barcode types is selected, DataBar Type defines its specific subtype to be used on the label.
X dimension: width of the barcode's narrow bar in the selected Unit of measurement.
Height: vertical dimension of your barcode in the selected Unit of measurement.
Ratio defines the ratio between the barcode's narrow and wide bar widths.

Each barcode type's range of permitted ratios is limited by the standard. Desktop designer only allows you to use valid ratios. By default, the ratio is set to 3. This means that the wide bar is 3 times the width of a narrow bar.

Note

The available ratios depend on the selected X dimension. If you are changing the X dimension, this also affects the selection of available ratios.

Row height defines the height of a single data row in 2D barcodes. Row height is specified as a multiple over the X dimension.

Settings

Settings group allows you to configure barcode details.

Human Readable button defines the human readable content's layout.

No human readable: makes the barcode appear without the human readable text.
Above barcode: locates human readable text above the barcode.
Below barcode: locates human readable text below the barcode.

Style group allows you to set custom properties for human readable text.

Custom Font: enables font and font size selection. Internal printer fonts cannot be used as a custom human readable font.
Auto font scaling: If enabled (default setting), human readable text grows or shrinks proportionally along with the changing size of the barcode. To set a custom size for human readable text, disable this option and select the appropriate font size.
Bold: makes human readable text appear bold.
Italic: makes human readable text appear italic.

Tip

Barcode Details differ according to the barcode standards. Define the options that are given with regard to the currently selected barcode type. Details for 1D and 2D barcodes are described in dedicated sections:

Tip

Check digit is derived from the preceding barcode digits and is placed as the final digit of a barcode.

Color: sets the barcode's line and human readable content color on the printed label.

Arrange

Group objects: adds selected objects to a group.

Group objects: unites the selected objects and makes them behave as a single object.
Ungroup objects separates previously grouped objects.

Arrange: defines how objects are positioned in a group.

Bring forward: moves the selected object up one layer.
Bring to front: moves the selected object to the top of the object stack.
Send backward: moves the selected object down one layer.
Send to back: moves the selected object to the bottom of the object stack.

Align group allows setting the alignment and spacing for objects on the design surface. All objects can be aligned according to the neighboring object or according to the document border.

Horizontal alignment options are:

Left: aligns the selected objects with the left edge of the leftmost object or with the left edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's left border.
Center Horizontally: aligns the selected objects with the horizontal center of the largest selected object or with the horizontal center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the horizontal center of a label.
Right: aligns the selected objects with the right edge of the rightmost object or with the right edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's right border.
Distribute Horizontally: equalizes horizontal spacing between the objects.

Vertical alignment options are:

Top: aligns the selected objects with the top edge of the topmost object or with the top edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's top border.
Center Vertically: aligns the selected objects with the vertical center of the largest selected object or with the vertical center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the vertical center of a label.
Bottom: aligns the selected objects with the bottom edge of the lowest object or with the bottom edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's bottom border.
Distribute Vertically: equalizes vertical spacing between the objects.

Shape Contextual Tab

Shape tab serves as a contextual tab that defines the appearance of ellipse, rectangle and line objects.

The following groups of settings are available on the Shape tab:

Outline: defines how the line of the selected shape should appear.
Fill: group defines the shape's fill style and color.
Arrange: positions the object relative to neighboring objects on a label.

Outline

Outline group defines how the line of the selected shape should appear.

Outline Style button options are:

None: makes the object line invisible.
Solid: makes the object line solid.
Dot: makes the object line dotted.
Dash: makes the object line dashed.
Clear: makes parts of other objects underneath the line invisible.

Outline Color defines the color of the shape's line.

Thickness defines the object line's width.

Corner radius makes the rectangle corners round. Higher values make the curve broader.

Fill

Fill group defines the shape's fill style and color.

Fill Style options are:

None: makes the object completely transparent.
Clear: makes other objects beneath the active one invisible.
Solid: fills the object with solid color.
Right Diagonal: fills the object with diagonal lines that ascend toward the right side.
Left Diagonal: fills the object with diagonal lines that ascend toward the left side.
Vertical: fills the object with vertical lines.
Horizontal: fills the object with horizontal lines.
Cross: fills the object with crossed lines.
Cross Diagonal: fills the object with diagonally crossed lines.
25% of color: sets fill color opacity to 25 %.
50% of color: sets fill color opacity to 50 %
75% of color: sets fill color opacity to 75 %.

Background Color defines the color of the shape's fill.

Arrange

Group objects: adds selected objects to a group.

Group objects: unites the selected objects and makes them behave as a single object.
Ungroup objects separates previously grouped objects.

Arrange: defines how objects are positioned in a group.

Bring forward: moves the selected object up one layer.
Bring to front: moves the selected object to the top of the object stack.
Send backward: moves the selected object down one layer.
Send to back: moves the selected object to the bottom of the object stack.

Align group allows setting the alignment and spacing for objects on the design surface. All objects can be aligned according to the neighboring object or according to the document border.

Horizontal alignment options are:

Left: aligns the selected objects with the left edge of the leftmost object or with the left edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's left border.
Center Horizontally: aligns the selected objects with the horizontal center of the largest selected object or with the horizontal center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the horizontal center of a label.
Right: aligns the selected objects with the right edge of the rightmost object or with the right edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's right border.
Distribute Horizontally: equalizes horizontal spacing between the objects.

Vertical alignment options are:

Top: aligns the selected objects with the top edge of the topmost object or with the top edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's top border.
Center Vertically: aligns the selected objects with the vertical center of the largest selected object or with the vertical center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the vertical center of a label.
Bottom: aligns the selected objects with the bottom edge of the lowest object or with the bottom edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's bottom border.
Distribute Vertically: equalizes vertical spacing between the objects.

Picture Contextual Tab

Picture tab serves as a contextual tab that defines picture resizing options and object arranging.

The following groups of settings are available on the Picture tab:

Resize: resizes the object relative to neighboring objects on a label.
Arrange: positions the object relative to neighboring objects on a label.

Resize

Resize group defines if the picture adapts to the label size at print time or not.

Picture Fit button opens the picture sizing options.

Resize options: define how the source file dimensions adapt to the size of object at print time.
- Keep original picture size: disables resizing. The source file is displayed using the object with its original dimensions.
- Resize proportionally: makes the source file resize proportionally. The aspect ratio of source file dimensions is preserved.
- Resize to the designed size: resizes the picture horizontally and vertically to make it fit into the bounding box. Using this option will most likely make the picture distorted.
Original size: displays the picture's Width and Height before resizing.
Revert to original picture size: removes resizing actions.

Keep Aspect Ratio makes sure both object dimensions change proportionally while resizing.

Arrange

Group objects: adds selected objects to a group.

Group objects: unites the selected objects and makes them behave as a single object.
Ungroup objects separates previously grouped objects.

Arrange: defines how objects are positioned in a group.

Bring forward: moves the selected object up one layer.
Bring to front: moves the selected object to the top of the object stack.
Send backward: moves the selected object down one layer.
Send to back: moves the selected object to the bottom of the object stack.

Align group allows setting the alignment and spacing for objects on the design surface. All objects can be aligned according to the neighboring object or according to the document border.

Horizontal alignment options are:

Left: aligns the selected objects with the left edge of the leftmost object or with the left edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's left border.
Center Horizontally: aligns the selected objects with the horizontal center of the largest selected object or with the horizontal center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the horizontal center of a label.
Right: aligns the selected objects with the right edge of the rightmost object or with the right edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's right border.
Distribute Horizontally: equalizes horizontal spacing between the objects.

Vertical alignment options are:

Top: aligns the selected objects with the top edge of the topmost object or with the top edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's top border.
Center Vertically: aligns the selected objects with the vertical center of the largest selected object or with the vertical center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the vertical center of a label.
Bottom: aligns the selected objects with the bottom edge of the lowest object or with the bottom edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's bottom border.
Distribute Vertically: equalizes vertical spacing between the objects.

Text Contextual Tab

Text tab serves as a contextual tab that defines formatting of Text and Text box objects.

The following groups of settings are available on the Text tab:

Format: lets you define the text format.
Text Settings: lets you define the layout of any textual content that is added to label object.
Arrange: positions the object relative to neighboring objects on a label.

Format

Format group lets you define the text format.

Show/hide printer fonts: button turns visibility of printer fonts on the font list on/off.
Font: allows specifying the typeface and its size. Fonts fall into two groups, OpenType fonts and Printer fonts.

Note

If the currently selected printer is a thermal printer, additional fonts will be visible on the list of available fonts. These are the Printer fonts identified by the printer icon in front of their names.
The font may appear Bold, Italic, Underlined or as a Strikethrough text.
Alignment buttons allow you to align the text to the left, center, right, or evenly.
Font color: specifies font and underscore color.
Increase/decrease font buttons allow you to gradually change the font size.
Scaling: factor that defines how much the font is stretched from its original proportions.

Note

If the stretch factor is set to 100 %, the font has a normal look. If factor is 200 %, it means that font is twice as wide as normal. If it is 50 %, the font is half as wide.

Text Settings

Text Setting group allows defining the layout of any textual content that is added to the object.

Character and Paragraph button opens line and character spacing options:

Line spacing: distance between each line in a paragraph.
Character spacing: distance between individual characters.

Effects button displays the available text effects:

Inverse: inverts the colors of text and background.
Mirror: mirrors the text.
RTL printing: prints the text from right to left.

Tip

Most thermal printers automatically print Arabic and Hebrew text from right-to-left. Enable this option it if the operating system does not provide native RTL support.

Arrange

Group objects: adds selected objects to a group.

Group objects: unites the selected objects and makes them behave as a single object.
Ungroup objects separates previously grouped objects.

Arrange: defines how objects are positioned in a group.

Bring forward: moves the selected object up one layer.
Bring to front: moves the selected object to the top of the object stack.
Send backward: moves the selected object down one layer.
Send to back: moves the selected object to the bottom of the object stack.

Align group allows setting the alignment and spacing for objects on the design surface. All objects can be aligned according to the neighboring object or according to the document border.

Horizontal alignment options are:

Left: aligns the selected objects with the left edge of the leftmost object or with the left edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's left border.
Center Horizontally: aligns the selected objects with the horizontal center of the largest selected object or with the horizontal center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the horizontal center of a label.
Right: aligns the selected objects with the right edge of the rightmost object or with the right edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's right border.
Distribute Horizontally: equalizes horizontal spacing between the objects.

Vertical alignment options are:

Top: aligns the selected objects with the top edge of the topmost object or with the top edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's top border.
Center Vertically: aligns the selected objects with the vertical center of the largest selected object or with the vertical center of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed in the vertical center of a label.
Bottom: aligns the selected objects with the bottom edge of the lowest object or with the bottom edge of the first selected object. If a single object is selected, it is placed on the label's bottom border.
Distribute Vertically: equalizes vertical spacing between the objects.

Help Tab

Help tab provides direct access to various resources that help you design and use labels quickly and efficiently.

Help ribbon group includes buttons with links to the following resources.

Help: Desktop designer online help.
User Guides: online collection of NiceLabel user guides. The collection includes user guides for the entire product portfolio.
Training Videos: NiceLabel collection of training videos.
Knowledge Base: online library of articles that describe many technical solutions, tips, and solved issues for labels.
Technical Support: connects you with NiceLabel technical support department.

Product ribbon group includes links to:

Software About page
NiceLabel Home Page: www.nicelabel.com