Text Box

Text box object is a container for textual content on a label. Text box object is very similar to the standard Desktop Designer Text object. The difference between these two is the presentation of textual content with variable length. Text object is always expanding or shrinking to adapt its size to the amount of entered characters. In contrast, Text Box can either adapt (expand/shrink) its height to the content or make the font increase or decrease its size to fit into the object frame.

Tip

To ensure that the content fits the predefined box is especially useful when working with variable data. No matter how long the text value is, it is always placed and displayed on a label within the pre-designed frame.

Source

Connected data source defines the content source of the selected object.

Fixed data: manually entered fixed text.
Variables: predefined variable values which are used as object content.
Functions: input data transformation tools.
Databases: database values which are used as object content.
Counter: displays counter value on the label.

The content field allows you to type the object content.

Mask group sets the format of the input data before it is displayed on a label.

Content mask sets the format of the input data before it is displayed on a label.
Mask character is a character used in the mask that is replaced with actual data on the printed label.

Example 15. Example

A user needs to format a phone number to be more readable on the label. Data input is not formatted since it is read from a database.

If the input value read from a database is:

+38642805090

and the content mask is:

(****) **** - ****

the resulting output is:

(+386) 4280 - 5090

If the data contains the asterisk "*" character, change the Mask character. The character should have a unique value that does not appear anywhere in the data.

Style

Font color sets text font and underline color.

Font selects the typeface. Fonts are divided into two groups: OpenType fonts and Printer fonts.

Note

If the currently selected printer is a thermal printer, additional fonts become available. These are the internal Printer fonts that are installed on the printer. Printer fonts are identified by the printer icon in front of their names.

The font may appear Bold, Italic, Underlined, or as a Strikethrough text.

Font Scaling sets the font-stretch factor. If the factor is set to 100 %, the font appears in a normal scale. If the factor is set to 200 %, the font appears twice as wide. If set to 50 %, font width is shrunk to half its size.

Alignment defines the horizontal positioning of the entered content.

Left: text aligned with the left object border.
Center: text positioned in the center of the object.
Right: text aligned with the right object border.
Justified: distributes text evenly along both sides.

Note

Justified is enabled in Text box only.

Spacing sets the space between text characters and lines.

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

Text Fit

None makes Text box size and font non-adaptable.

Note

If the content amount exceeds the object size, an error message appears. The label is not printed. To suppress such error and print the text box, enable Ignore excessive content at print.

Adjust height to fit content: automatic adaptation of Text box height.

Fit content by adjusting font size: increases or decreases the font size to make it fit inside the Text Box object.

Minimum size: minimum permitted font size.
Maximum size: maximum permitted font size.

Fit content by scaling font: shrinks or stretches the font to make it fit inside the Text Box object.

Minimum font scaling: minimum font stretch factor.
Maximum font scaling: maximum font stretch factor.

Use the same font size for all Text boxes in a group equalizes font size for all Text box objects in a group. If one of the Text boxes in a group changes its size, the font size adapts. Font sizes of other Text boxes in a group are automatically set to the same size.

Same size group defines group name.

Tip

This option can be used if Text Fit is enabled. Both Text Fit options are supported – by adjusting the font size or by scaling the font.

Effects

Inverse: inverted text and object background colors.

Mirror: mirrored text.

RTL printing: the right to left text printing.

Tip

Most thermal printers print right-to-left scripts automatically. This option becomes useful if the operating system does not provide native RTL support.

Boundaries

Left border group defines the text boundary along the object's left border.

Shape: selects a customizable basic shape of text boundary.

Width: extends or shrinks the selected basic left boundary horizontally.
Height extends or shrinks the selected basic left boundary vertically.

Right border group defines the text boundary along the object's right border.

Right shape selects the basic shape of the object's right boundary.

Width extends or shrinks the selected basic right boundary horizontally.
Height extends or shrinks the selected basic right boundary vertically.

Example 16. Example

Boundary defines how the text flows inside the object.

Position

Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.

Position group defines the object's position.

X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.

Size group sets the object's dimensions:

Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.

Note

If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.

Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.

Tip

There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The icon rotates the object around its central point.

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

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

Relative Position options define the position of an object when label size or positions of neighboring objects are changing during the label design process.

Enable horizontal relative position: activates horizontal relative positioning.
- Relative to label border: the position of object is defined relative to the reference label border. Define horizontal offset for the object with regard to this border.
- Relative to another object: the position of object is defined relative to the border of a neighboring object. Define horizontal offset for the object with regard to this object.
- Object: selects the reference object for horizontal relative positioning.
- Border: neighboring object's reference border or label border (if there are no other objects on the label) for horizontal relative positioning.
- Offset: horizontal distance from label border or reference object's anchoring point.
Enable vertical relative position: activates vertical relative positioning.
- Relative to label border: the position of object is defined relative to the reference label border. Define vertical offset for the object with regard to this border.
- Relative to another object: the position of object is defined relative to the border of a neighboring object. Define vertical offset for the object with regard to this object.
- Object: selects the reference object for vertical relative positioning.
- Border: neighboring object's reference border or label border (if there are no other objects on the label) for vertical relative positioning.
- Offset: vertical distance from label border or reference object's anchoring point.

Note

Object position changes if label size or position of the related object change.

When designing double-sided labels, you can also take objects on the opposite side of the label as reference objects for relative positioning. In this case, objects on opposite sides move together if you change their positions.

Note

Label sides of reference objects are clearly identified on the Object selection list with (Front Side) and (Back Side).

Note

If the measurement unit is changed, the value transforms automatically.

General

General tab identifies the object and sets its status.

Name sets a unique object ID. It is used for object referencing when defining functions, variables, scripts, etc.

Note

Avoid using spaces or special characters in object names.

Description allows adding notes and annotations for an object. It provides help during the label design process.

Status group defines object visibility on print preview and on printed labels.

Not printable: prevents the object from being printed. The object still remains visible on the print preview and affects other objects in relative positioning. This option is useful when printing on predesigned or stock-specific labels.

Visible: if the checkbox is not selected, the object neither appears on the print preview nor on the printed label. The object is treated as if it does not exist.

Option	Print Preview	Printout	Relative positioning
Not printable (selected)	YES	NO	YES
Visible (cleared)	NO	NO	NO

Condition: makes an object enabled (editable) if the result of the given condition is "True". This setting defines object visibility on form startup and when the connected variable's value changes.

Tip

Equals (=) and slashed equals (≠) signs are allowed to be used in object visibility condition. Click the Equal/Not equal button, then select the appropriate sign type.