Counter

Counter is a type of variable whose value increments or decrements along with the changing value of system or printer counter.

Thermal printers are usually equipped with an internal incremental counter. This is a dedicated counter that counts the printed labels internally. The printer only receives the first value and automatically increases or decreases it on the subsequent labels. This option reduces the amount of data transferred between your computer and printer as only initial value is sent to the printer. Internal counter speeds up the label production significantly.

General Tab

About group of settings identifies the variable and defines serialization details.

  • Name: unique variable name. This name is used as variable reference.

  • Description: is a field that allows adding additional information and suggestions.

Definition group of settings defines the counter behavior.

  • Counter type: counter value increasing or decreasing.

    • Incremental: value increases along with the printed labels.

    • Decremental: variable value decreases along with the printed labels.

  • Step: amount of units that represent the next state of counter value.

  • Repetition: number of repetitions for each counter value.

  • Initial value: value that is used when the counter starts.

  • Preview: displays the counter value sequence.

Example:

Counter Step = 3, Repetition = 3 and Initial value = 1 are: 1, 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 7, 7, 7, 10, 10, 10, 13, 13, 13, ...

Prompting group of settings defines the print time behavior of a data source. Read more about prompting here.

Dynamic value group defines how the last used dynamic value of a variable is handled.

Warning

If you use dynamic values and you store and print your labels in Control Center (in Documents), the dynamic variables file (.dvv) must be checked out. If .dvv file is checked in, an error will occur when printing, and labels will not print.

Instead of using dynamic values, use global variables or Save Variable Data / Load Variable Data actions in your solutions.

  • Remember the last used value (dynamic value):Desktop Designer stores the last used value of a variable. The last used value is stored in an external text file at the same location as the label or solution file. Files that store the last used values have the same filename as the label or solution, followed by .dvv extension.

    Note

    When sharing labels with dynamic values, make sure not to share only label or solution files (.nlbl or .nsln), but also files that store last used dynamic values (.dvv).

    Note

    Label or solution must be saved before enabling this option.

Example:

The last used value is useful when the continuation of numbering from the last printed label is required (e.g., serial number). Counter's last value is stored and the numbering is continued from this point at the next use.

Printer Counter defines which counter should be used as a counter variable value source.

  • Use printer counter if supported: printer counter is set as the counter of choice if supported by the active printer. If the printer counter is not supported, system counter is used instead.

  • Always use printer counter: printer counter set as the exclusive counter value source. If the printer counter value is not available, the default (system counter) value is used.

    Note

    An error is reported if the selected printer has no support for internal printer counter. Printing cannot continue.

  • Always use computer counter: computer counter set as the only counter value source.

Tip

Input rules help the user when inserting the variable data. They act as a filter that defines the type, length, and other input data properties.

Output rules set the final variable formatting – they define how the variable value is going to be presented in an object.

To use internal printer counter, follow these rules:

  • The variable's maximum length is limited by the printer. The value should be included in the printer user guide.

    Tip

    If the exact maximum variable length value is not available, Loftware recommends making a few test prints for determining the value.

  • Set variable length to fixed.

  • Set variable format to numeric.

  • Text object that is linked to the variable must be formatted using an internal printer font.

  • Enable Always use printer counter option.

  • Ensure the Internal Element icon is visible next to the counter text.

  • Ensure an internal printer font is used for the counter text.

Input Rules

Data defines the counter input criteria.

  • Allowed characters: permitted characters for variable values. Groups of allowed characters for data input filtering are described in section Groups of Allowed Characters.

    Example:

    Non-numeric characters can also be used as counter values. Alphanumeric sets the sequence with Step = 3 and Initial value = 1 as 1, 4, 7, A, D, G, J, M, P, S, V, Y, b, e, h, ...

  • Limit length: maximum length of a variable value.

    • Length (characters): specifies the exact number of characters permitted.

  • Fixed length: variable must contain the exact number of characters as defined in the Limit variable length.

Check range group defines minimum and maximum counter values.

  • Minimum value: minimum counter value.

  • Maximum value: maximum counter value.

Rollover settings group defines the condition at which the counter automatically resets its value to default.

  • Using min/max: minimum and maximum counter values activates the rollover.

  • When the selected data source changes: data source value change activate the rollover.

  • When date or time changes: date or time value change activates the rollover.

    Note

    Date/time change is defined by computer clock.

Output Rules

Prefix and Suffix are characters that are added to a variable value.

  • Prefix: text placed in front of the variable value.

  • Suffix: text placed behind the variable value.

Pad Character fills an empty character position until the maximum variable length for a variable is reached. Pad character is enabled only if the Limit variable length in the Input rules tab is enabled.

  • Padding: defines the mode of padding.

    • Not used: does not use padding.

    • On left: adds pad characters on the left side of the data value.

    • On right: adds pad characters on the right side of the data value.

    • Surrounding value: adds pad characters on both sides of the data value.

  • Character: character used for padding.

Example:

Pad character is in most cases zero (0) added on the left side of the variable value. If the maximum variable length is set to 5 characters and the value is 23, the padded result is 00023.


Multiline group divides text into multiple lines.

Warning

Avoid using this setting if possible. The recommended alternative for presenting multiline text on a label or form is to use the Text Box object.

  • Number of lines: maximum number of lines for a variable value.

  • Line length: maximum number of characters in a single line.

  • Word wrap: divides the text into multiple lines at space character locations.