Layer Object Properties and Commands

The following are properties that describe a layer object and commands that you can apply to selected fields and areas. They include Label The output or part of the output from a job, either printed on physical media or stored in a digital file. properties, but no Form The interface for data entry by a data provider. A form is a separate object in Loftware, but it can be combined with a label template so that the form serves as the Form view for the label template. properties.

Tip: For general information about layers or information about adding a layer area A type of area that contains a reference to either an existing layer object or to a data ref that resolves to the path to a layer object. A layer area can be added to the Label view of a label template. to a label template, see Using Layers. For information about creating a layer object A type of object that can contain fields appropriate for the Label view of label template. To be used by a label template, a layer object must be referenced by a layer area in the label template., see Create a Layer Object.

Label properties affect printed labels produced by using the layer object. The Label View is displayed by default when you open a label template.

Home

Clipboard

Icon	Command	Description
	Paste	Apply cut or copied fields and areas to the workspace.
	Cut	Remove selected fields and areas, and place them in the system clipboard.
	Copy	Put a duplicate of selected fields and areas into the system clipboard.

Tools

Icon	Command	Description
	Select All	Select all fields and areas in the current view (Label View or Form View, if in a label template) so that you can cut, copy, paste, or delete them.
	Select None	Deselect all fields in the current view.
	Delete	Remove the selected fields or areas from the label template.

Label Properties

Property	Description	Values	Notes
Font Category	The type of fonts to be used on the label.	TrueType® DPL Datamax-O'Neil Programming Language, a printer control language. EasyPlug EasyPlug, a printer command language by NOVEXX Solutions. NOVEXX Solutions originated from Avery Dennison's Industrial Paint & Apply (IPA) line of business. ESC/Label Epson ESC/Label, a printer control language. IPL Intermec Printer Language, a printer control language. PGL Printronix Graphics Language, a printer language from Printronix. SBPL SATO Barcode Program Language, a programming language for communication between a computer and a printer. TPCL Tec Printer Command Language, a programming language from Toshiba for communication between a computer and a printer. ZPL II Zebra Programming Language II, a printer control language.
Document DPI	The resolution in dots per inch that fields and areas on the label should be printed. Important: The value selected affects the size at which bit mapped fonts are displayed. For example, a bit mapped font appears larger at 203dpi than at 400dpi because a 400dpi device produces smaller pixels. Note: The value selected affects the values available for the Line X-Dim and Line Y-Dim properties in any barcode symbology in which they exist.	200 203 300 400 406 600 1200	Set to the DPI of your device.
Shape	The appearance of the outside edge of the printed label.	Rectangle Rounded Rectangle
Print Rotation	The orientation of the printed label relative to the print stock.	0 90 180 270	Ignored on PCL 5 devices. See note above. Not displayed in layer objects.

Label Orientation or Orientation

Property	Description	Values	Notes
Orientation	The direction objects are aligned in the printed label.	Portrait: Objects are aligned on the narrowest span of the label, like the pages of a book. Landscape: Objects are aligned on the widest span of the label, as on a typical video display.	This property is ignored on PCL 5 devices. Orientation is controlled by the Device Specific Options Orientation property.

Property

Description

Values

Notes

Orientation

The direction objects are aligned in the printed label.

Portrait: Objects are aligned on the narrowest span of the label, like the pages of a book.

Landscape: Objects are aligned on the widest span of the label, as on a typical video display.

This property is ignored on PCL 5 devices. Orientation is controlled by the Device Specific Options Orientation property.

Label Size or Size

Property	Description	Values	Notes
Size	The dimensions of the label or stock used for printed labels.	Letter Legal A4 2 x 2 4 x 4 4 x 6 Custom	To view or configure the unit of measurement, in Home tab select Units.
Units	The measurement standard used to size and position items in a label template.	inches cm (centimeters) mm (millimeters)
Canvas Width	The horizontal span of the printed label. If the Size is set to Custom, you can manually configure this value.	Millimeters (up to 914.4mm) Centimeters (up to 91.44cm) Inches (up to 36in)	To view or configure the unit of measurement, in Home tab select Units.
Canvas Height	The vertical span of the printed label. If the Size is set to Custom, you can manually configure this value.	Millimeters (up to 3810mm) Centimeters (up to 381cm) Inches (up to 150in)	To view or configure the unit of measurement, in Home tab select Units.

Insert

You can add the following fields to a label template or other object by dragging from the ribbon to the canvas.

Insert Field Tools

Icon	Tool	Description
	Barcode	You can add barcodes to a label template or various other objects. A list of the supported barcode symbologies is displayed in Loftware Enterprise SP. For more information about barcode fields, see Using Barcodes.
	Image	Opens a window that allows you to select an image from your computer or network and place it in a label template. For information about images, see Using Images.
	Reusable Object	You can add reusable objects An item that can contain components of a label and a form so that you can incorporate them into labels and forms efficiently and consistently. to a label template or various other objects. For more information about reusable objects, see Using Reusable Objects.
	Fixed Text	Text that does not change for each printed label or each time a form is displayed. For information about text fields, see Using Text.
	Variable Text	Text that may change for each printed label or each time a form is displayed.
	Text Box	Text that may change for each printed label.
	Oval	Add a round shape. For information about shape fields, see Using Shapes.
	Rectangle	Add a box.
	Line	Add a straight line.

View

Views

Icon	Command	Description
	Fields	View the name, type, and data ref of each field in this label template or other object. This command is not displayed when viewing a layout.
	Layers	View, configure, and manage the layers in this label template or other object. You can add or remove layers and configure the properties of each layer, including visibility. For more information, see Using Layers. This command is not displayed when viewing a layer object or a layout.
	Properties	Display the Properties pane if it is closed.
	Tags	View, configure, and manage the tag values applied to this label template or other object. For more information, see Categorize a Label Template or Other Object.
	Field Data Catalogs	View, configure, and manage the field data catalogs in this label template, layer object, or reusable object. For more information, see Using Field Data Catalogs.
	Data Sources	View, configure, and manage label data sources that are part of this label template or other object. For more information, see Configuring Label Data Sources. This command is not displayed when viewing a layout.
	Data Sets	View, configure, and manage data sets for this label template or other object.
	Format Sources	View, configure, and manage format sources for this label template. For more information, see Configuring Format Sources. This command is not displayed when viewing a layout.
	Linked Text Box Group	View, configure, and manage linked text boxes for this text box or layer. For more information, see Link Text Boxes.
	Label Specific Options	View, configure, and manage Label Specific Options to override device settings on a per-device model basis for this label template or other object. For more information, see Override Device Options with Label Specific Options. This command is not displayed when viewing a layer object.

Tools

Icon	Tool	Description
	Barcode Wizard	Run a wizard to guide you through the creation of a new barcode field.
	DaVinci Compare	Run a tool to compare label templates.
	Field Validation	If validation was configured on the field data catalog, check whether the fields and data on the label template are compliant with the field data catalog. For more information, see Add a Field Data Catalog.

Grid

Note: The Grid menu group is available from both the View and Arrange tabs.

Command	Description	Values
Grid (Points)	Display or hide an overlay grid on the label template or other object to assist with aligning objects. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.
Field Envelope	Display or hide a dotted line envelope border for the selected field.
Align to Grid	Force the top left corner of an item to align with the nearest alignment overlay intersection or dot.	Align to Grid
Grid Spacing	Height and width of a grid square. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Line	The type of alignment overlay. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.	Dot Line Dotted Line Dashed Line

Zoom

Icon	Command	Description	Values
	Zoom	Change the magnification level at which the label template or other object is displayed.	500% 400% 200% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50%

Icon

Command

Description

Values

Zoom

Change the magnification level at which the label template or other object is displayed.

500%

400%

200%

150%

125%

100%

75%

50%

Design Data

Command	Description	Values
Design Data	What data to show in fields when displaying a label template or a reusable object in Label Design . This option affects what is displayed in the Label View and Form View in Label Design , as well as what is displayed when you preview or print a label in Label Design . More specifically, this option affects what is displayed in text fields, barcode fields, and variable image fields. Default Value: The values specified in the Default Value property for each field are used. Placeholder: The data used for each field is placeholder data For a Variable Text field, the series of digits 1234567890, repeated until the maximum number of characters allowed for the field is displayed. For a barcode field, a sample barcode that adheres to the specified properties. For an image field, a sample image. Whether placeholder data is used in Label Design is controlled by the selection for Design Data. provided by Loftware Enterprise SP. Live Data Set: If configured, values from a live data set A collection of data (names and values) that was retrieved from a data source and is specific to a label template or a reusable object. A data set can be used to populate fields displayed in Label Design, in a preview, and when test printing. obtained from a Database data source, an Alternate data source, or a Date/Time data source are used. You can also add entries to the data set manually. Tip: If the Default Value field or the value from a live data set is empty or contains only a space and that option is selected, then a placeholder value is displayed in the Label View or Form View in Label Design . No visible indication of the field is displayed when you preview or print in Label Design . For more information, see Select Data to Display in Label Design.	Default Value Placeholder Live Data Set

Command

Description

Values

Design Data

What data to show in fields when displaying a label template or a reusable object in Label Design . This option affects what is displayed in the Label View and Form View in Label Design , as well as what is displayed when you preview or print a label in Label Design . More specifically, this option affects what is displayed in text fields, barcode fields, and variable image fields.

Default Value: The values specified in the Default Value property for each field are used.
Placeholder: The data used for each field is placeholder data For a Variable Text field, the series of digits 1234567890, repeated until the maximum number of characters allowed for the field is displayed. For a barcode field, a sample barcode that adheres to the specified properties. For an image field, a sample image. Whether placeholder data is used in Label Design is controlled by the selection for Design Data. provided by Loftware Enterprise SP.
Live Data Set: If configured, values from a live data set A collection of data (names and values) that was retrieved from a data source and is specific to a label template or a reusable object. A data set can be used to populate fields displayed in Label Design, in a preview, and when test printing. obtained from a Database data source, an Alternate data source, or a Date/Time data source are used. You can also add entries to the data set manually.

Tip: If the Default Value field or the value from a live data set is empty or contains only a space and that option is selected, then a placeholder value is displayed in the Label View or Form View in Label Design . No visible indication of the field is displayed when you preview or print in Label Design .

For more information, see Select Data to Display in Label Design.

Default Value

Placeholder

Live Data Set

Arrange

Grid

Note: The Grid menu group is available from both the View and Arrange tabs.

Command	Description	Values
Grid (Points)	Display or hide an overlay grid on the label template or other object to assist with aligning objects. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.
Field Envelope	Display or hide a dotted line envelope border for the selected field.
Align to Grid	Force the top left corner of an item to align with the nearest alignment overlay intersection or dot.	Align to Grid
Grid Spacing	Height and width of a grid square. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Line	The type of alignment overlay. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.	Dot Line Dotted Line Dashed Line

Arrange

Property	Description
Left	The distance from the left edge of the selected field or area to the left edge of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Top	The distance from the top edge of the selected field or area to the top of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Center X	The distance from the middle of the selected field or area to the left edge of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Center Y	The distance from the middle of the selected field or area to the top of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.

Size

Property	Description
Width	The horizontal span of the selected field or area. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Height	The vertical span of the selected field or area. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.

Rotation

Property	Description
Rotation	The angle of the selected field or area in relation to the printed label. The value is in degrees.

Object Alignment

Icon	Command	Description
	Left	For a selected field or area, align its left edge to the left of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their left edges.
	Center	For a selected field or area, align its horizontal center to the center of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their horizontal centers.
	Right	For a selected field or area, align its right edge to the right of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their right edges.
	Top	For a selected field or area, align its top edge to the top of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their top edges.
	Middle	For a selected field or area, align its vertical midpoint to the middle of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their vertical midpoints.
	Bottom	For a selected field or area, align its bottom edge to the bottom of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their bottom edges.

Position

Command	Description
Distribute Horizontally	For two or more selected fields or areas.
Distribute Vertically	For two or more selected fields or areas.
Group	Associate the selected fields or areas so that they can be moved and configured in unison.
Ungroup	Disassociate the selected group of fields or areas so that the they can be moved and configured separately.
Bring Forward	Move a selected field or area forward in the stacking order.
Bring to Front	Move a selected field or area to the front of the stacking order.
Send Backward	Move a selected field or area backward in the stacking order.
Send to Back	Move a selected field or area to the back of the stacking order.