Note: Variable images can be useful if you wish to have a different picture of each of your products on their corresponding label. Variable images may be specified as coming from a database or the keyboard.
The Database-Data Data Source directs Loftware Label Manager to retrieve data for the field from a specified field in the database. This is the most common type of look-up.
Returning to the telephone directory example, assuming that we have defined some other field as Database-Key (Name field in the telephone database), we could then attach the Database-Data to the Phone Number field in the telephone book database. At print time, whenever the user types a Name in the associated Database-Key field and presses Enter, the telephone number is automatically entered into the field associated with the Database-Data.
The top part of the Database-Data setup dialog defines the connection to the database. This connection is the same as described above for Database-Key.
Important Note: If you want to link to a Unicode Field, you must set up the field via the Language Properties Wizard and set the data format to UTF-16.
Options for Database-Data Data Source fields
Data Source - Select the name of the database you want to connect to through ODBC. (This is the data source name (DSN) you assigned to the database in the ODBC Control Panel. See Database Key: notes on Data Source Name)
Table - Select the name of the specific table in the database to which you want to connect.
Field - Select the name of the field in the database from which you want to retrieve data.
Note: If you have previously made a database connection, Loftware Label Manager “remembers” the last database and table selected. If you are setting up a number of fields from the same database, the database and table are automatically pre-set for you. You need only specify which field in the database contains the information for the field on your label.
The bottom part of the Database-Data dialog box defines how this field is set up on the On-Demand Print Form. The options are:
Display on Form - Defines if the retrieved data is displayed on the On-Demand Print Form and if the user is able to override the retrieved data.
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When you select ... |
Loftware Label Manager... |
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Don’t Display |
Retrieves and prints the data, but it is not displayed on the On-Demand Print Form |
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Display, Do Not Allow Changes |
Retrieves and displays the data in the On-Demand Print Form so the user can verify that the correct data has been retrieved. The user, however, cannot change the data. |
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Display And Allow Changes |
Retrieves and displays the data in the On-Demand Print Form so the user can verify that the correct data has been retrieved, as well as allowing the user to make changes to the retrieved data. |
Data: Help Text - The Help Text field allows you to enter a customized prompt that is displayed in the Status Bar (at the bottom of an On-Demand Print Form) to assist the user in data entry.