DesignCreate an Alternate Data Source

To create an Alternate data source so that you can incorporate data from a file external to Loftware Enterprise SP into a label, a DesignerClosed Person who creates and designs label templates, forms, and applications for use by Data Providers. can use this procedure.

Before You Begin: A Data Service AdministratorClosed A local administrator who creates and configures data services for use by Designers who configure Database data sources and Alternate data sources. must create the File data service or HTTP data service with which you intend to associate the Alternate data source. (If you are a Data Service Administrator, see Managing Data Services for more information.)

  1. In Label Design Label Design or Application Design , open an existing label template or form, or create a new label template or form.
  2. In the View tab, click Data Sources.
  3. Click Alternate Data Source, and click Add Data Source. The Alternate Data Source dialog box is displayed.
  4. In the General Data box, enter a data source Name by which to refer to this label data source.

    Note: The name of a label data source can include letters and numbers. Additionally, the following characters are permitted but cannot begin or end the name: double quotation marks, single quotation marks, grave accents, hyphens, underscores, and periods.

  5. In the Data Ref field, enter the Result Name given when the Data Service was configured.
  1. In the Data Service box, select the data service to use, and then click OK.

    Tip: You can use the Relative Path check box to control whether the path is represented as an absolute path or a relative path. Using a relative path may be helpful if an object is likely to be transferred to a different Loftware Enterprise SP instanceClosed A Loftware Application Server and a Loftware Database Server that are associated with each other by a Loftware Enterprise - SP License.. The check box is available to select after the object has been saved for the first time. For more information, see Relative Paths.

  2. Edit the data service configuration. Depending on how the data service is configured, you may be able to edit some of the configuration information or data service parameters that were provided by the Data Service Administrator.
    1. If text boxes are displayed, you can enter either static values or data refs using the format ${<DataRef>}. After you begin typing in the field, a message may be displayed about the type of data required until you finish entering a value or data ref. For information about parameters, see Configuration Parameters for File Data Services or Configuration Parameters for HTTP Data Services.
    2. When you have finished configuring the data service parameters, click OK.
  3. In the Data Sources box, the Alternate section now lists the Alternate data source that you created. You can continue with any of the following:
    • Drag the data source onto a field in the Label view such as a Variable Text field to assign the data source as the data ref for that field, or enter a data ref manually. For more information, see Use a Data Source to Fill a Field.
    • Create a formula and select the data refs for the data source for use in the formula.
    • Configure a control to run the data source. For more information, see Configure a Control to Run a Data Source.